Crossbows have gained popularity over the years as hunting tool alternatives to the widely popular compound bows. They are available in different shapes and sizes, each having its own advantages and disadvantages. However, Barnett has managed to develop a wide range of crossbows with different features that are designed to suit every type of hunter. Although it’s a good thing, this wide range means that there is quite a lot to choose from, which might be very confusing.
This article narrows it down to the top best Barnett crossbows, making it easier for you to decide. These are explained in detail below.
Table of Contents
The 9 Best Barnett Crossbows Review
Click on the Barnett crossbow name in the box below to read the corresponding review and learn about their features.
1. Barnett Whitetail Pro STR
Barnett’s Whitetail Pro-STR is built for tight maneuvering in the woods when moving between tree stands and the ground line. This is because it has a sleek profile, measuring a mere 17.6” wide, across its limbs. It is also very light, weighing only 6.9 pounds, which makes it easy to carry along, including up tree stands.
This reduced weight is mostly due to its patented step-through riser, which is made of a fiberglass composite material. This design cuts off the unnecessary weight and gives you better balancing because more weight is shifted towards the stock. This results in more stability and hence, more accurate shots.
It also features Barnett’s TriggerTech Frictionless Release technology. This basically means that its trigger mechanism features a free-floating roller between the trigger and the sear, reducing the friction between the two, giving you total trigger control. This means that you get a very responsive trigger that can be released with as little as 3 pounds of pressure. Apart from being responsive, this technology makes it very safe to use, without compromising on its reliability in the field.
Features at a glance
• 165-pound draw weight and a power stroke of 16.375”
• Delivers the arrows at speeds of up to 400 FPS, generating 140 Ft. lbs. of kinetic energy
• Laden with safety features such as an Anti-Dry fire trigger system, Nock sensor, finger guards and finger safety reminders.
• Features string dampeners to enhance your stealth capabilities
• Requires only a single bolt assembly before first use
• Soft-lok floating bristle arrow self-adjusting retainer
• Comes with 2 22” arrows, a side mount quiver, a rope cocking device, a 4×32mm illuminated scope and lubrication wax.
• Comes in Tru bark camo color pattern
2. Barnett Whitetail Hunter II
The Whitetail Hunter 2 does not have a step-through riser but is surprisingly 0.5 pounds lighter than the whitetail STR. Instead, it features a magnesium riser and an anti-vibration foot stirrup, which has a slim design. In fact, the whole crossbow has a slimmer form factor as compared to the whitetail pro and this largely contributes to making it lighter. In the field, this bow will be easy to carry and easy to maneuver with, especially considering that its width from axle to axle is only 16.125”.
Its limbs are made of a lightweight composite material while its string has dampeners waiting for it after firing. These make it super quiet and very effective at hunting stealthily in the woods. Additionally, it is built with Barnett’s trigger technology, which makes the firing process effortless, quick and reliable. This technology complements its stealthy characteristic to make it a very effective and efficient hunting tool.
When cocking its string, you pull a 150-pound draw weight over a 12.5” power stroke and engage several features such as an anti-dry fire trigger system and a finger safety reminder system, which basically make the bow safer to use. On firing, the bow delivers the arrow at speeds of up to 350 FPS, generating 103 Ft. lbs. of kinetic energy, making it effective at long-range shooting.
Features at a glance
• Requires a single bolt assembly before first use
• Self-adjusting soft-lok floating bristle arrow retainer
• 7/8” Picatinny rails
• 6.4 pounds in weight
• Comes with a with 2 22” headhunter arrows, a side mount quiver, a rope cocking device, a 4×32mm illuminated scope and lubrication wax.
• Comes in real tree extra color pattern.
3. Barnett Raptor FX2
Unlike other Barnett crossbows, the FX2 requires no assembly at all. It comes ready to shoot straight out of the box. Having being introduced in 2016, it is a relatively new crossbow and introduces the fully assembled range of expected Barnett crossbows.
Construction wise, its stock is made of a lightweight composite material and contains CNC machined 7/8” Picatinny rails for attaching accessories to enhance the FX2’s performance. The stock also has a pass-through foregrip that enables you to hold the bow using both hands, making it more stable to shoot with. Additionally, this foregrip has finger savers and an adjustable butt pad that makes it very comfortable to hold, giving you more stability.
The crossbow’s axle to axle length is 16”, which is quite small and thus very maneuverable when making your moves towards your target. It has a draw weight of 150 lbs. over a power stroke of 12.5” and this enables the bow to propel arrows at 330 FPS with 97 Ft. pounds of kinetic energy. This amount of thrust is quite powerful for hunting and it comes with a 4×32mm multi-reticle scope to help you direct all this energy accurately towards the target.
Features at a glance
• Features an anti-vibration foot stirrup for easy and quiet drawing when reloading
• Comes with a 3 arrow capacity quiver attached
• Self-adjusting soft-lok floating bristle arrow retainer
• Weighs 6.5 pounds
• Comes with a 4×32mm multi-reticle scope, a rope cocking device, a 3-arrow quiver and 3 20” headhunter bolts.
• Comes in a Realtree hardwood camo color
4. Barnett TS390
This crossbow is meant for the tactical hunter. It has a draw weight of 187 pounds, which is quite heavy, but it features Barnett’s patented step-through riser and comes with a rope cocking device to aid you in drawing the string, making this weight feel a lot less heavy. The good thing about this huge draw weight is that you get very fast shots, reaching up to 390 FPS, with a kinetic energy of 128 Ft. lbs. This means that it is quite effective at thrusting arrows through skin and bone, making it an instant killing machine, which is all you need as a tactical hunter.
The step-through riser is also advantageous because it incorporates the foot stirrup and riser into one, eliminating the extra weight and length caused by an extra stirrup. Additionally, it is made of a fiberglass composite material, which makes it very light. This means that most of the crossbow’s weight is felt on the stock, providing an incredible balance when placed on the shoulders. The result is more stability and better handling, leading to more accurate shots.
It features the trigger tech frictionless release technology, which gives you fast responses on pressing the trigger. This technology gives you total trigger control, leaving you with a zero-creep, 3-pound release, which is very easy to press, making it a very reliable hunting tool.
Features at a glance
• 3 Picatinny rails built into the stock
• 14.25” power stroke
• 16.75” axle to axle length
• Requires only a single bolt assembly
• CNC machined aluminum flight track
• Metal injection molded trigger
• Buttstock is adjustable to suit hunters with different arm lengths
• Finger safety reminder and anti-dry fire features make it very safe to use
• String dampeners make it very quiet
• Compatible with a crank cocking device
• Comes with a 4×32mm illuminated scope, a rope cocking device, side mount quiver, lubrication wax and 2 20” headhunter bolts.
• Digital grey in color
5. Barnett Recruit Terrain
This is the only full-sized Barnett crossbow that has a desert tan colored stock. It does not have a camo pattern and thus, hunters who do not feel like blending in; those who are confident enough to forge their own hunting ways should have a go at this.
As you forget your own hunting path, this crossbow assists by enabling you to deliver arrows at 330 FPS with 91.9 Ft. lbs. of kinetic energy. This gives you just the right amount of power to bring down your targets in medium range. To achieve this, it has lightweight composite limbs that give the string a draw weight of 140 lbs. over a 12.5” power stroke. Once drawn, everything is set to deliver the powerful punch.
It is quite lightweight, weighing in at just 6.4 pounds, and has a narrow axle to axle length, measuring 16.125”. This narrow width makes it easily maneuverable between trees and bushes while its weight makes it easy to carry when stocking the prey or even when climbing up tree stands.
Features at glance
• Incorporates the use of trigger tech frictionless release technology with a 3 pound, zero-creep release.
• Pass through foregrip makes it easy to handle
• Compatible with a crank cocking device
• Features an anti-vibration foot stirrup
• Requires only a single bolt assembly
• 7/8” Picatinny rails
• Finger safety reminders and anti-dry fire trigger system
• Comes with a rope cocking device, a 4x32mm multi-reticle scope, a quiver with 2 20”headhunter arrows and lubrication wax.
6. Barnett Ghost 420
The Ghost 420 is a stunner that will definitely make your hunting buddies feel jealous. The good thing about it is that it even performs much better than it looks. It features a step-through carbonlite riser, which shifts the weight balance towards the stock, giving you more stability and better handling whenever you place it on your shoulder.
It also has a wider limb span, with an axle to axle length of 20.125”. Its string is pulled over a 15.375” power stroke with a draw weight of 185 pounds, resulting in shots that reach up to 420 FPS with a kinetic energy of 153 Ft. lbs. This effectively gives you bone crushing speeds at your disposal and a longer hunting range as well.
The accessories that come with it make it even better at this art. It comes with a top of the line 1.5-5×32mm premium illuminated scope, a sling that makes it easier to transport, a side mount quiver that detaches with the push of a button and has a capacity of 2 arrows, and an adjustable rubber butt pad, which enables you to personalize it to fit your size. Other add-ons include a rope cocking device, lubrication wax, and 2 22”Headhunter arrows.
Features at a glance
• Trigger tech frictionless technology with a 3 pound, zero-creep release
• CNC machined aluminum flight track
• Compatible with a crank cocking device
• Pass through foregrip makes it easy and comfortable to handle
• 7/8” Picatinny rails
• Requires a single bolt assembly
• ADF system and finger safety reminders make it safe to use
• Comes in a mossy oak treestand monochromatic color
7. Barnett Ghost 375
Although named the 375, it actually has a top speed of 385 FPS, which is very quick, and delivers these arrows with a kinetic energy of 125 Ft. lbs. This thrust, coupled with its Realtree Max-1 camo pattern, make it very effective at hunting big game in broad terrain, thick bushes or in the woods.
It features a carbonlite step-through riser, which doubles up as the foot stirrup, eliminating the extra weight and length that would have otherwise been on the additional stirrup. This means that the ghost 375 is weightier towards the stock, making it balance very well as you place it on your shoulders. This achieves a level of stability that enables you to make very accurate shots over long distances. Additionally, it has a pass-through foregrip that makes it much easier to hold using both hands, making it more stable when firing.
It has a power stroke of 14.125” and a draw weight of 165 pounds, which might be a bother to weak hands. However. It comes with a rope cocking device, which works in tandem with the step-through riser to simplify the drawing process and make it a little bit bearable. It is also compatible with a crank cocking device, which when installed, significantly reduces the required loading effort.
Features at a glance
• Trigger tech friction-less release technology gives it a simple to press, 3-pound release trigger, which is a joy to use.
• 7/8” Picatinny rails
• Anti-vibration limbs
• Finger safety reminders and ADF system make it safe to use
• Soft-lok floating bristle arrow retainer
• Requires assembly before use. The riser is attached to the stock using a single bolt.
• Comes with a 4×32mm illuminated scope, a side mount quiver, 2 20” headhunter arrows, lubrication wax and a rope cocking device.
8. Barnett Droptine
The new Barnett Droptine features a composite stock in which a magnesium riser is attached. These two, which form the main part of the crossbow, are lightweight and thus, make it quite easy to carry and balance it on your shoulders as you aim for the shot.
It has a draw weight of 160 pounds and is equipped with a foot stirrup to help you pull the string and cock it in place. The combined effort of this draw weight, wide limbs (19.5”) and a 13.5” power stroke, enable it to propel arrows at speeds of up to 350 FPS, which is sufficient for big game hunting.
All Barnett crossbows feature the trigger tech frictionless release technology and this is no exception. This gives it a very responsive trigger, which can release the arrow after only applying 3 pounds of pressure. With such a mechanism in place and a multi-reticle scope in position, you can achieve high levels of accuracy on every shot.
Apart from the scope, it also comes with a 3 arrow quiver and 3 20” headhunter arrows to help you get started immediately after unboxing.
Features at a glance
• Features a bristle arrow retainer
• Top speed of 350 FPS
• 160 pound draw weight
• Lightweight construction with a composite stock and magnesium riser. 7 pounds total in weight.
• 13.5” power stroke
• Finger safety reminders and ADF system
• Pass through foregrip makes it possible to handle using both hands
9. Barnett Predator
This crossbow is one of the most expensive Barnett crossbows, but it has the features to show for it. For starters, it has the ability to propel arrows at a top speed of 430 feet per second, backed by 156 foot-pounds of kinetic energy. This amount of thrust is very lethal at short range and very effective for long range hunting as well.
It features Barnett’s patented carbonlite step-through riser, which doubles up as a foot stirrup to enable you to pull its 187-pound draw weight with ease. This riser is lightweight and shifts most of the bow’s weight balance towards the stock, making it very stable and comfortable to hold as you place it on your shoulders.
It has a CNC machined aluminum flight track that enables the string to glide smoothly as it transfers its momentum to the arrow on pressing the trigger. This gives it a longer lifespan because it experiences a very small amount of friction.
Safety is prioritized in this setup. It has a nock sensor, an anti-dry fire trigger system (which eliminates any firing if the arrow is not set properly in place), finger guards and finger safety. All these work together to safeguard the bow’s components as well as to safeguard you as the user.
Features at a glance
• String dampeners make it a stealthy weapon
• Comes with a 1.5-5×32 illuminated scope, a rope cocking device, lube wax, a side mounted quiver and 2 22” Headhunter arrows.
• 16.25” power stroke
• The riser is attached to the stock using a single bolt
• The stock has four Picatinny rails built in and a pass-through foregrip
• Compatible with a crank cocking device
• Trigger tech frictionless release technology
• Features a retractable underarm counterbalance support system
Buying Guide
Before buying any Barnett crossbow, it is important to consider the following:
1. Type of scope
Scopes are important because they help “bring the target closer” for easy aiming and better accuracy. However, they have different magnification levels and the more powerful it is, the better. For instance, a 4×32mm scope means that it makes the target appear 4 times closer while the 32 indicates the objective lens diameter in mm. A 1.5-5×32mm scope means that its magnification ranges from 1.5 to 5 times.
Therefore, if you hunt targets at long range, you should pick a crossbow with a higher magnification scope. If you hunt in close range, a low magnification scope is best. However, scopes with magnification ranges are ideal for long or short range hunting, making them the best option for both worlds.
2. Step through riser or foot stirrup
There are some Barnett crossbows with step-through risers and others with foot stirrups. Basically, the choice between is down to personal preference. An STR crossbow is designed to have a lighter front part, meaning that the weight balances further back the stock. Some might find this comfortable, while others might be used to the heavy fronts. The best thing to do would be to try both types and find which one suits you the most.
3. Speed
Most people like fast crossbows because they are very lethal at short range and very effective at long range. The downside to this is that, the faster it is, the more expensive it is and the higher the draw weight that you will have to deal with when cocking the bow. It would be wise to consider whether you require a long range hunting tool or not, then choose the crossbow with the appropriate speed. This way, you won’t spend money on an extremely powerful tool that you will not use to its full potential.
4. Weight
Weight plays a huge role on how well you handle the crossbow when taking shots. If the crossbow it too heavy and you have weak arms, you will start shaking a few minutes into the process because it will be too heavy to hold.
Again, back to the step through riser vs. foot stirrup, the lighter front section of STR bows might feel more comfortable to hunters with weak hands as opposed to the foot stirrup option. Therefore, depending on your body strength and personal preference, consider the bows weight for your own good.
5. Accessories
Some accessories are standard across all Barnett crossbows. These include quivers, arrows, and lube wax. However, rope cocking devices and slings are not common but are valuable accessories to have. A rope cocking device is especially important if the bow has a huge draw weight while a sling can be very handy in carrying a heavy bow. Therefore, it is important to consider having many accessories because they are an added plus.
Conclusion
Looking at the features of these Barnett crossbows, there is the underlying technology that each piece has, then includes a few features to make it unique. This means that every bow utilizes very powerful hardware underneath, which puts even the weakest Barnett crossbow at a higher level than other types of crossbows. The result of this is unparalleled performance and all you need to do is to use the buying guide above so as to get the best Barnett crossbow to suit your needs.
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