Best Types of Crossbow Bolts For Your Needs

Bolts can make or break your whole hunt. Even the best crossbow in the world is almost useless with the wrong bolts. Personally, I’ve found using the bolts that are just right for my crossbow means I’m more likely to land a precise shot. But what are the best types of crossbow bolts for your needs?

After much trial and error, I’ve put together a list of what I consider the best crossbow bolts on the market. One thing you should look out for is safety above all else and use bolts that are the right size and fit for your crossbow. If not, there’s a chance you can hurt yourself, or even damage your equipment.

When you’re trying out the bolts I’ve shortlisted here, make sure to check if they fit the specs your crossbow manufacturer recommends, and then pick the right one. 

How I Chose the Best Crossbow Bolts

As someone who’s been passionate about hunting for nearly two decades, my favorite weapon for the job is the crossbow. I’ve had the chance to try out all sorts of bolts, some even sent to me by manufacturers. When putting together this article, I thought about what’s worked well for me and reached out to some top crossbow shooters in the industry for their thoughts and recommendations. They also shared some of their personal favorites. As a result, I’ve compiled a list of what I believe are the best crossbow bolts out there.

Keep in mind that not all bolts are made the same, and there’s no one-size-fits-all standard for comparing them. Bolt preferences can be pretty personal, so what’s perfect for me might not be ideal for you. That’s why instead of ranking the crossbow bolts, I’ve chosen the ones that are the best for each category. So, let’s jump right in!

Best Crossbow Bolts by Category

The first part of choosing the right bolt comes down to knowing what you plan to use it for, because different crossbow bolts may perform very differently in the same situation. The bolt that might be good for a veteran hunter is not going to be the best choice for someone who is taking up shooting for the first time. So, instead of ranking the crossbow bolts, I’ve chosen the ones that are the best for each category. 

Best Crossbow Bolts

Best Overall TenPoint EVO-X CenterPunch		Alpha-Blaze Lighted Nock Modulus carbon fiber construction 5” Bohning X-Vanes	Buy on Amazon
Best For Hunting TenPoint Lighted Pro Elite 400		Carbon crossbow arrows 5” Bohning X-Vanes Increased string-to-nock engagement	Buy on Amazon
Best Heavyweight Carbon Express PileDriver		Advanced construction for maximum kinetic energy Durable Good penetration power	Buy on Amazon
Best Aluminum Easton FMJ Crossbow		FMJ flat or half moon nocks 40-grain RPI inserts 7 GPI	Buy on Amazon
Best Beginners REEGOX Bolts		Durable Beginner-friendly Easy repair	Buy on Amazon
Best Budget Black Eagle Executioner		Executioner brass inserts installed Speed kinetic energy Designed for accuracy	Buy on Amazon

Best Crossbow Bolts Specifications

Below is a table of the crossbow bolt specs. Click the name of the bolt to jump to that review.

Best Crossbow Scopes

Here is our list for the best crossbow bolts:

1. TenPoint EVO-X CenterPunch
2. TenPoint Lighted Pro Elite 400
3. Carbon Express PileDriver
4. Easton FMJ Crossbow
5. REEGOX Bolts 
6. Black Eagle Executioner 

Best Crossbow Bolts – Reviews

Let’s take a detailed look at each of these crossbow bolts alongside their specs to see why I believe they are the best in their category. 

Buyers Guide to Crossbow Bolts 

If you are new to crossbows and their accessories, buying a good bolt can be a confusing process. It’s normal to feel lost and have a lot of questions. Let’s narrow this down and get you the right answers.     

What to look for when buying crossbow bolts?

There’s just so much to keep track of when you want to buy a good crossbow bolt, so buckle up, because this is going to be a crash course on what you need to look for when bolt shopping. 

Purpose 

When buying bolts, you need to first decide what you are going to use them for. If it’s target shooting, opt for lightweight bolts. For hunting, choose between standard and heavyweight bolts based on your game. The range you’d need for target practice, on the other hand, depends on your personal preference.

Length 

Bolts can vary from 16 to 22 inches. Shorter bolts hit harder and accelerate faster, while longer ones travel further with less power. Stick to the bolt length recommended by your crossbow manufacturer to avoid damaging your crossbow or getting disappointing shots.

Remember, your crossbow bolt should be shorter than your crossbow’s groove. You’ve found the perfect bolt length when it matches up exactly with the groove.

Distance

If you’re shooting within 30 yards, any crossbow bolt should suffice. For distances beyond 40 yards, you should opt for higher quality and straighter bolts. I tend to stick to the 40-yard limit when I’m out in the field, so I can vouch for how these bolts perform. 

Nock

The nock is the point where your bolt meets the crossbow string. With so many types, you’re probably wondering, “Which one is for me?”. Don’t worry, I’ve prepared a quick breakdown that should make it easier for you to decide:

• Flat nock – As the name suggests, the flat nock has a flat surface for nocking the string. For beginners looking for a safer option, the flat nock is ideal because it offers a wider surface area for the string to rest on and is easier to manage.
• Half-moon nock – The half-moon nock is suitable for experienced shooters who prefer a defined groove for the string. However, always keep in mind that bad positioning with the half-moon nock can cause nasty accidents.  
• Omni nock – The omni nock is basically the half moon nock but with more grooves. The grooves let you nock it more angularly and can give you a better grip than the flat nock. 
• Capture nock – The capture nock is the half moon nock but with deeper grooves. 
• Lighted nock – This nock is great for hunting in low light: it illuminates your shot and the flight path of your bolt, letting you track it down and retrieve it easily after shooting. 

I also need to mention the Alpha nock, which is a patented TenPoint nock. It has a deeper groove than any of the other nocks and features elongated points known as ‘ears.’

Shaft Material

There are three main types of crossbow bolts you’ll come across: 

• Aluminum bolts – They are cheaper and heavier than carbon bolts, but the issue is that they tend to bend with prolonged use. A bent bolt won’t fly straight, right? While they require frequent repairs or replacements over time, they are easy to fix. However, fresh out of the packet, they can deliver a powerful and accurate shot. 
• Carbon bolts – These are my favorites because they don’t bend with use and remain precise for a long time. Being very light and flexible, they have a flatter flight path and are less prone to drifting in the wind compared to heavier bolts. Carbon bolts offer faster shooting speed, but you may sacrifice some power. While they are durable and don’t break easily, repairs can be expensive if you do damage them.
• Combination bolts – As the name suggests, they make these bolts from a combination of both aluminum and carbon fiber. They are slightly more expensive than carbon bolts, but the upside is that they are strong, lightweight, and have a good range. Combination bolts bring the best of both worlds.

Tip Insert 

There are several types of tips you can use on your bolt, depending on what you’re shooting: 

• Field point tip – For target shooting, opt for a field point tip. It flares outwards at the base, ensuring superior accuracy without causing excessive damage. Another advantage is its suitability for hunting small game, eliminating the need for separate bolts. It’s versatile, and you can save money by hunting with a field point tip now and then.
• Broadhead tip – A broadhead has blades attached at the tips and is designed to cause damage. The idea is that a broadhead tip would penetrate your quarry and expand to cause additional damage. 
• Bullet point tip – Shaped like a bullet, these bolt tips don’t cause any additional damage to your target like the other tip types intended for hunting. While they lack precision and deep penetration compared to field point tips, they work well for hunting small game and certain target practices.
• Blunt point tip –  If you can aim accurately, blunt point tips are excellent for hunting small game. These tips aren’t designed to penetrate your target but instead are meant to kill with blunt force on impact. 

Shaft Diameter

The key point to remember about your shaft is that it should be thinner than your ferrule, where you insert the shaft into your broadhead. Otherwise, you may lose penetration, and changing broadheads can be difficult. Keep this in mind when purchasing your broadheads.

Crossbow Speed

Your crossbow’s rated speed (FPS) indicates its power. More power means heavier bolts can be shot with greater speed, accuracy, and penetration. Crossbows are typically rated between 260 and 400 FPS. But choose carefully for hunting, as faster bows may be noisier and scare off your game. That’s why I suggest hunters go for around 300 FPS crossbows for less vibration noise.

Weight in Grains

Another way to classify the bolts is by weight class. I categorized the bolts by weight class and added a table below to show the category for each weight.

Classification	Weight (grains)
Lightweight Bolts	350-399
Standard Bolts	400-459
Heavyweight Bolts	460+

Bolt weight impacts your shot in many ways. From my experience, lighter bolts are fast but lack range, making them better for target shooting than hunting. On the other hand, heavier bolts offer more accurate, deeper penetrating shots for a quicker, more humane kill when hunting. If you opt for heavier bolts, you’ll need to gain more control over your shot. My advice? Go for a bolt with a longer shaft and larger fletching for better flight accuracy.

Spine

The “spine” of a bolt refers to its stiffness or flexibility. Lower spine ratings mean stiffer bolts, while higher ones indicate more flexibility, requiring a bow with more draw weight. It’s important, especially with high FPS bows, to match them with suitable bolts to prevent injuries and equipment damage.

FOC: Weight Forward Of Center

Every bolt has a balancing point, and the FOC is how far past the exact middle of your bolt the balance point is located. We usually express it as a percentage. 

It can be confusing to understand, so take a look at the image below. Here, 12% means your balance point is 12% past the exact center of your bolt. 

Now why is this important? Your FOC really determines how much the fletching/vanes at the back can balance your arrow. The further your FOC, the better your arrow can be guided. 

The recommended FOC for hunting is 10-15%. This is mainly because the broadhead has a larger surface area and that can destabilize the arrow in flight. So a higher FOC improves stabilization. 

Fletching

Bolts have three main fletching types (straight, offset, and helical) that influence their flight. The straighter the bolt, the more accurate it tends to be due to less in-flight bending. Bolts’ straightness typically ranges from .001″ to .006″, with .001” being the straightest and often pricier. Offset and helical fletchings may create more drag, but they’re designed to correct your bolt’s flight path.

Crossbow Warranty And Manufacturer Recommendations

When you get a crossbow, the manufacturer usually includes a manual suggesting a specific bolt length, weight, and nock type. I advise sticking to these recommendations to avoid damaging your crossbow or voiding your warranty. Before you make your purchase, look out for bolt packages and vendors that sell recommended bolts along with the bow. Some ready-to-shoot bolts may not be super high-tech, but at least they’ll fit right and shoot safely.  

What Is The Difference Between Arrows And Bolts?

Most of us, including me, use “crossbow bolts” and “crossbow arrows” interchangeably, as there’s little difference these days. But traditionally, “bolts” referred to crossbow projectiles.

In the past, blacksmiths made bolts and fletchers made longbow arrows. Both arrows and bolts have the same components: the shaft, fletching, broadhead, and nock. The main difference is that bolts are shorter and heavier (16” to 22”) than arrows (27”- 32”).

In crossbow talk, if someone mentions using bolts and arrows with their bow, they’re talking about the same thing. So, don’t get too hung up on it.

Just remember, not all crossbow arrows or bolts will be right for your crossbow. Always check the length and weight your crossbow manufacturer recommends. As long as you stick to that, it doesn’t matter what you call them. And if you want to learn more about the difference between a crossbow and a compound bow, learn more here.

Conclusion

Picking the bolts for your crossbow is definitely a big decision. Whether you are hunting or target shooting, having the right bolts that you find comfortable to work with can be the deciding factor between success and failure.  

Finding the right bolts for you depends on many factors, a lot of them personal. So while the reviews will be of help, it really comes down to what you need from the bolts. I also recommend staying curious and trying out different ones. They might just surprise you. 

Crossbow Bolts FAQs