The 6 Best Crossbow Brands

If you're in search of the best Best Crossbow Brands on the market, we've got the blog for you! Knowing this can assist everyone from the beginner searching for their first crossbow, to an experienced hunter looking for something new.

There are quite a few top brands out there when it comes to crossbow manufacturers. Some have been around for years, while others are relatively new to the game - but don't let that fool you. The advancements within the crossbow industry are increasing now more than ever!

We're summarizing not only the top brands, but what makes them unique when compared to the rest. We'll also take a look at their newest technology and most popular models. We hope you enjoy the blog, and good luck this season. 

1. Ravin

Ravin has been engineering crossbows for over 20 years, and in this time they've produced some of the most brilliant crossbows available to hunters. No matter your budget or experience level, you'll find a suitable crossbow with Ravin. 

Ravin was and still is a company full of die-hard crossbow enthusiasts, and it shows in the construction of their products. They entered the industry with one goal in mind - make the most accurate crossbow on the market. And they didn't stop at that! Ravin has continued to make their models better each and every year. 

One thing that sets themselves apart from many other brands, is the fact that they listen to crossbow hunters when it comes to laying the foundation for their newest products. It's clear that the company truly takes what hunters need, and finds the most affordable and efficient way to incorporate these aspects into its crossbows. 

What Makes Ravin Crossbows Unique?

As far as what makes them different, Ravin Crossbows broke new ground with the introduction of their HeliCoil technology. As Ravin states, HeliCoil is the "engine behind Ravin crossbows".

To quickly summarize, HeliCoil technology is the system that coils the cables away from the top and bottom of the cams in helical grooves. This keeps the cams perfectly balanced while rotating them 340 degree for downrange accuracy. 

Pro Tip: Ravin recommends changing out the strings/cables every 2 years or 400 shots.

Other top technological features include the following:

- Frictionless Flight System: Ravin's solution to eliminating friction as the HeliCoil technology allows the arrow and string to sit freely above the rail.

- Trac-Trigger Firing System: This firing mechanism slides forward on the rail to create a straight-line nock travel by clasping directly to the center of the string. 

- Versa-Drew Cocking System: Features a nominal 12-pound cocking force that's built directly into the stock, and allows hunters to easily cock and un-cock from both sides of the crossbow. 

Most Popular Ravin Crossbow: Ravin 29x Crossbow Package

Newest Ravin Crossbow: Ravin R500E

Before you purchase one of these top products, check out our blog ranking the Best Ravin Crossbows!

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2. TenPoint

TenPoint has been around for over 27 years, and has been manufacturing crossbows in the good ol' U.S. of A the entire time! Who would've though this type of world class production could come out of Mogadore, Ohio? (Just Kidding)

As Tenpoint notes, they've been the industry standard for "safety, accuracy, precision engineering, durability, performance and power". Additionally, because the crossbows are designed and manufactured in the US, they control the process from beginning to end. This minimizes inefficiencies, giving hunters a reliable, durable, high-quality hunting tool!

Since inception, TenPoint has made a ton of advancements in the crossbow world. Additionally, they've made their presence known with two additional brands: The inception of Wicked Ridge Crossbows, and the introduction of their technology into Horton Crossbows. 

If you're looking for a crossbow brand that guarantees high-quality finished products that meet hunters' demands, take a look at TenPoint for your next purchase.

What Makes TenPoint Crossbows Unique?

TenPoint's most notable proprietary technology is obviously the ACUdraw features present on many of their crossbows. This cutting-edge cranking feature reduce bowstring draw weight by up to 95%. As many hunters already know, this cranking device is available in the ACUdraw, ACUdraw Pro, and ACUslide.

Fun Fact: Since 1984, TenPoint has created over 95 crossbow patents.

Outside of this, TenPoint's most popular features include the following: 

- RX8 Cam System: A feature on reverse-draw crossbows that rotates cams an outstanding 404 degrees. This produced the longest speed-generating powerstroke available today.

- Micro-Trac Barrel: Takes string-to-barrel contact down by 50% to increase string life and minimize interference. 

- S1 Trigger: Incorporated to provide more trigger control, this two-stage, zero-creep trigger design improves accuracy with zero drawbacks. 

Most Popular TenPoint Crossbow: TenPoint Viper S400

Newest TenPoint Crossbow: Tenpoint Nitro 505

Take some time and read our article summarizing the Best TenPoint Crossbows.

 

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3. Barnett

Barnett Crossbows started their journey in 1962 as a hobby, but quickly expanded to a company that's routinely called pioneers within the crossbow industry. The company eventually brought operations over to the US in 2003, and hasn't looked back since. 

You probably don't know this but Barnett brought quite a few "firsts" to the crossbow world. The list includes the following:

- Crank Cocking Device

- Rope Cocking Device

- Break Action Cocker

One of the best things about Barnett is the fact they offer reasonable prices for every hunter. They realize that hunters come in all different shapes and sizes, and their crossbow should too. While they provide a large amount of differentiation, they are still focus on one thing - producing a lethal hunting weapon and an effective tool to get the job done. 

Fun Fact: Barnett was the first to break speeds of over 300 FPS.

What Makes Barnett Crossbows Unique?

Barnett's most popular piece of technology is the TriggerTech precise trigger control. This particular feature was first introduced in 2012, and has changed the game when it comes to trigger mechanics. TriggerTech creates a free-floating roller between the sear and the trigger, which means a smoother, lighter pull than previously available. 

Barnett's other top features include the following:

- Soft-Lok Floating Bristle Arrow Retainer

- CrossWire String and Cable System

- Anti-Dry Fire Trigger

Most Popular Barnett Crossbow: Barnett Whitetail Hunter II

Newest Barnett Crossbow: Barnett Hyper XP405

As an additional resource, we've ranked the Best Barnett Crossbows available today!

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4. Wicked Ridge

Wicked Ridge began under the TenPoint umbrella as a way to provide more affordable crossbows to hunters without sacrificing quality. They knew that there was a market for entry-level, future crossbow enthusiasts, and there needed to be a crossbow option to help that journey begin. 

While Wicked Ridge might not have all the bells and whistles as its big brother TenPoint, they still offer quite a lot to the average hunter. Customers rave about the shoot characteristics of their products, and lean on them as reliable hunting tools for years and years. 

Also, Wicked Ridge's 8 models (as of 2022) have a price range of $400-$1,200. If you're looking for a beginner's crossbow that will still prove successful on hunt, make sure to check out Wicked Ridge's top crossbows!

What Makes Wicked Ridge Unique?

As you would expect Wicked Ridge's top features take from what was previously mentioned for TenPoint. The most notable common characteristic is the ACU draw system, which is available in a few options.

Other technology that's available within Wicked Ridge crossbows is the following:

- Patented Reverse-Draw Technology: Elongated powerstroke produces more speed with less draw weight.

- Patented Narrow Crossbow Technology: Great for hunting in treestands or blinds, this assembly is sure to satisfy. 

Most Popular Wicked Ridge Crossbow: Wicked Ridge RDX 400

Newest Wicked Ridge Crossbow: Wicked Ridge Fury 410 De-Cock

Fun Fact: The Fury is Wicked Ridge's fastest and shortest crossbow ever.

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5. Excalibur

Excalibur began in 1983 and from the start they've helped hunters enjoy the activity they love to do the most. Of course, they recognized that the joy of the sport is heavily reliant upon good, reliable equipment, so it was up to them to provide it!

Take a look at their website and you'll see that Excalibur's aim is to "make the most efficient, reliable, and accurate hunting crossbow that money can buy".  Similar to Ravin, Excalibur is made up of hunters and they know exactly where to search when it comes to producing better gear - HUNTERS.

Furthermore, all of their products go through rigorous testing before it ever leaves the building. They want to ensure that durability and reliability are at the top of their list when it comes to desired characteristics. If you own a Excalibur crossbow, you know you have a rock-solid item in your gear bag.

What Makes Excalibur Crossbows Unique?

It's easy to point out Excalibur's most unique features within their crossbows - the DualFire Technology. Introduced in early 2021, Excalibur created the first mechanism that provides a second arrow locked and loaded for an easy follow-up shot. If you haven't seen it before, we encourage you to check out Excalibur's YouTube channel for more information.

Outside of this, here are some other great features within Excalibur crossbows:

- Quick-Loc Technology

- Pro Shot ACP Trigger

- Charge EXT Cranking Aid

Most Popular Excalibur Crossbow: Excalibur GRZ2 Crossbow

Newest Excalibur Crossbow: Excalibur TwinStrike Tac2

 

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6. Killer Instinct

Killer Instinct was established in 2013 and aims to build "fast, dependable, and powerful crossbows". They offer a wide variety of different models that appeal to both novice level hunters and experienced crossbow experts.

Pro Tip: Killer Instinct recommends you lube the barrel/rail every 5-10 shots for optimal performance.

If you take some time and read any reviews, you'll notice that hunters appreciate the reliability of the crossbows at such a reasonable price. While their construction might be a little different when compared to some of the other brands previously mentioned, the forgiveness and simplistic design makes it great for those ready to quickly head to the woods. 

If you're looking for an easy way to get into the sport of crossbows, we'd recommend taking a look at some of their more cost-effective options. They're sure to give you the needed quality while not breaking the bank. 

What Makes Killer Instinct Crossbows Unique?

The best feature located on some of the newer Killer Instinct crossbows is the Accutac Barrel system. This new addition provides incremental guidance and support for the crossbow bolt. Additionally, the enclosed design helps to increase protection - something that benefits any new beginner.

For a full list of Killer Instinct crossbow features, check out the list below:

- Synchronized X Cam

- Compact DSL Crank

Most Popular Killer Instinct Crossbow: Killer Instinct Burner 415 Package

Newest Killer Instinct Crossbow: Killer Instinct Swat X1

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In Conclusion

There's nothing better than a powerful, clean shooting crossbow and you can guarantee the brands listed above are going to provide you with what you're looking for. 

In case we missed anything, share your comments, thoughts, and opinions below and we'll be sure to update the blog with more information as it becomes available. Good luck this upcoming season!