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These days you can spend $4,600 on a brand-new crossbow, and there are a lot of premium bows around $2,500. Those options have excellent scopes, shoot arrows at high speeds, and represent the current peak of engineering. Don’t get me wrong, I think they’re very cool, and if you’re passionate about hunting with a crossbow, you can justify going for the very best.
But most people just need a good crossbow that’s easy to shoot, accurate, and will fill tags without any fuss. If that’s what you’re looking for, I’d suggest looking at crossbows in the $800 to $1,2000 range. To me, that’s the sweet spot for value. You’ll get a lot of premium features and performance at a fraction of the cost.
Here are two crossbows in that price-to-value sweet spot and one that’s a few hundred dollars cheaper.
Two Great Crossbows You Can Actually Afford
Test Results
| Crossbow | Price | Accuracy | Speed | Weight | Trigger Pull |
| Barnett Hyper Raptor T-Rex | $1,200 | 2.7 | 423 fps (399-grain arrow) | 9.2 | 2.2 |
| Tenpoint Titan X | $800 | 1.4 | 400 fps (410-grain arrow) | 8.5 | 4.4 |
| Crossbow | Trigger Reach | Length of Pull | Width | Overall Length |
| Barnett Hyper Raptor T-Rex | 3.5 | 14 | 16.25 | 32.75 |
| Tenpoint Titan X | 3.2 | 14 | 16 | 34.75 |
Get It From Lancaster Archery Supply
Get It From Bass Pro Shops
The Tenpoint Titan X does everything you’d want a hunting crossbow to do at ⅓ the price of the most expensive crossbow I tested this year. It shot the smallest 50-yard group average in this year’s test (1.43 inches), despite it having a very heavy trigger (4.4 pounds).
The Titan X is easy to cock and load, but the process is slower because it uses a retractable sled. The cocking effort is minimal and smooth. Decocking is also a simple operation, and you’ll never have to carry a bag target in your truck bed again. I can’t overstate the value you get from a crossbow that’s easy to cock and load. It makes practicing with your crossbow much more enjoyable, which means you’re going to shoot it more often. Even though these crossbows are accurate and flat shooting, practicing with them is still critical to good shot placement.
The trigger reach is pretty long; it measures 3.2 inches compared to the Ravin R10 Pro at 2 inches. I wear an XL glove, and the trigger reach just fits me, so this wouldn’t be the best option for a youth hunter. One workaround is to float your thumb instead of wrapping it around the pistol grip.
Overall, this is an affordable crossbow that’s accurate and is easy to load and unload. You can’t ask for much more than that.
Get It From Midway USA
Get It From Lancaster Archery Supply
The Barnett Hyper Raptor T-Rex is an impressive crossbow, and it’s worth serious consideration if you want premium features at an affordable price.
It shot a 2.75-inch group average, which is respectable and plenty accurate. It uses micro diameter arrows that lightly click onto the string. It’s a railless design and, like all the crossbows I tested, was easy to cock and decock. Its cocking mechanism is like what you’d find on more expensive options with a couple cool features. If you’re holding the crossbow level on a tripod or shooting rail, most crossbows require you to manually guide the firing mechanism until it clicks onto the string, but the Raptor T-Rex extends out on its own. Its crank handle clicks onto the stock with a magnet, making it easy to connect in the dark or with cold hands. Another unique feature is that the fore-end of this crossbow has a fold-out vertical grip.
Like the Tenpoint Titan X, this crossbow has a long trigger reach, but it does have a light and crisp trigger pull. Overall, it’s a great option in this price range, especially if you like the idea of shooting micro diameter arrows.
See It
- Length (w/o foot stirrup): 35.75″
- Width Axle-to-Axle (uncocked/cocked): 14.5″ / 11″
- Power Stroke: 12.5″
- Draw Weight: 190
- Weight: 7.3 lbs.
- Speed: 400 fps (410 grain arrow)
- Includes: Scope and three arrows
- Price: $600
Crossbows are like cellphones. What was once cutting-edge technology is now a remnant of the past and therefore less valuable. The Wicked Ridge Commander is very similar to Tenpoint’s flagship crossbows from 10 years ago. The key differences are its speed and price. The Wicked Ridge Commander is faster than bows like the Tenpoint Stealth FXR (2015) and it’s ⅓ the price once adjusted for inflation. What hasn’t changes is this crossbows ability to shoot small groups and reliably place arrows into vital zones.
Like the crossbows above, it has a crank that’s easy to use. It only requires 5-pounds of cocking effort. It doesn’t have a de-cock function, so you’ll need to shoot it to let down the string.
Read Next: The Best Crossbows, Put to the Test
Final Thoughts
Budget and mid-priced crossbows are so good these days that they are the logical choice for most hunters. Unless you really need a bow that shoots over 440 fps or something ultra-compact, the options above have all the capability you need at a reasonable price.
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