PISTOL CROSSBOW REVIEWS MANUAL

Easy to shoot offhand, kneeling, or seated.These are new crossbows released and tested in 2023. Read Next: Best Trail Cameras Best Crossbows of 2023: Reviews and Recommendations The Caldwell Lead Sled provided a steady rest to bring out the best groups from each crossbow. We chose it over a traditional chronograph because it provides consistent reading no matter the lighting conditions. The Labradar uses doppler radar to track a projectile and measure its speed. But I don’t recommend shooting field points into a foam broadhead target-especially from the 500 fps crossbows- unless you’re looking for a workout. For broadheads, we used a Rhinehart RhinoBlock, which worked great at stopping the bolts, and the broadhead-tipped bolts were easy to remove. The Extreme 500 reliably stopped arrows throughout our accuracy testing, and we never struggled to pull bolts. We used the Big Shot Extreme 500 because standard targets aren’t up to the task of stopping bolts from the Ravin R500 and the TenPoint Nitro 505. Gear We Used for Testing Target: Big Shot Extreme 500 We tested accuracy from the bench, but that’s probably not how you’ll shoot when hunting, so we also tested crossbows offhand, kneeling, and off a tripod to see how they handled.

PISTOL CROSSBOW REVIEWS MANUAL

We also took note of safety features, the nosiness of cocking mechanisms, and each crossbow’s manual of arms. We evaluated each crossbow for how easy and intuitive it was to cock and load. Accuracyįor every crossbow, each shooter shot three, three-shot groups at 50 yards from a lead sled. You’ll also see momentum calculated for each crossbow instead of kinetic energy because momentum provides a more accurate figure of an arrow’s lethality and ability to pass through an animal. For context, the bolt weight and momentum are also listed for each bow. Each crossbow was shot three times, and we averaged the speeds to give you the spec listed for each crossbow. We measured crossbow speed using a Labradar Doppler chronograph. How We Tested Crossbows A Labradar doppler chronograph was used to get an average speed for each crossbow. Best Recurve Crossbow: Excalibur TwinStrike TAC2.Best Value: Wicked Ridge Raider 400 De-Cock.So whether you want the flattest shooting crossbow or the most bang for your buck, you’ll be able to find the best crossbow for you. They’ve all been thoroughly tested and represent the latest in crossbow technology. In this review, you’ll find crossbows with speeds from 368 fps to 515 fps and posted prices from $550 to $4,000. This is refreshing after the speed race of last year, where two top crossbows surpassed the 500 fps mark, but struggled to shoot tight groups. The best crossbows of 2023 strike the right balance of speed and accuracy. I’ve tested crossbows that check a few of those boxes, but manufacturers have had a hard time building bows that check them all-until this year. It has to be accurate with field points and broadheads.

Learn More ›Ī good crossbow needs to do a few things well: It must be easy to load and unload. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

Pistol crossbow reviews