Money can’t buy everything. But money can buy you crossbows and that’s everything to us. What if we didn’t find the necessity of spending thousands of dollars behind a crossbow? Should we just sit around and do nothing? Or should we find the best possible alternative in our given budget? If you are the 2nd one, then welcome. We are here to present you some of the best crossbows under $800 you can purchase.
All of them won’t be the best or the only option for you. There will be at least one type of crossbow for everyone. Sit tight, have a glass of coffee and enjoy the read.
What To Look When Buying A Crossbow Under $800
There are more than one quality that makes a crossbow great. All of them won’t be present in the same crossbow either. But here are some qualities that you should keep in mind while buying a crossbow at any given price-point.
Speed is something that you need to consider on crossbows of any budget. It’s not limited to high-end or budget only options. If the crossbow is not fast enough to hunt a deer, what’s the point? That’s right. It doesn’t need to be the fastest crossbow on the market, it just needs to be decently fast.
Kinetic energy is the power that a crossbow can generate. Just like we weigh the punches we throw or weighing the force of a machine behind each thrust, the kinetic energy works the same way for a crossbow. a crossbow can have nearly 200lbs of kinetic energy and can only have 70 or less than that too. You need to find the sweet spot that speaks to you.
Draw weight is the force required to load a bolt on the crossbow. You need to apply force to pull back the bowstring to the latch. That force is draw weight. Depending on the crossbow, the draw weight will vary drastically. Recurve crossbows can easily have nearly 300lbs of draw weight. I know, it sounds like a joke but it isn’t one. If you are using a cranking device, then you don’t need to worry about draw weight at all.
Safety. Crossbows are safer than guns. That doesn’t mean they are immune to accidents. Misfiring a crossbow while cocking or decoking is an everyday occurrence. To prevent misfires from happening, companies add different types of safety features on their crossbows. One of the most common safety features is anti-dry fire safety mechanism. It prevents the crossbow from misfiring while loading or unloading it.
Warranty. Depending on the brand of choice, the warranty of that crossbow will vary highly. Cheap crossbows tend to have a lower warranty period.
1. Barnett HyperTac 420 Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 420 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 149 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 15.5 Inches; Draw Weight: 210 LBS; Axle To Axle: 9.1875 / 18.75 Inches; Length: 35.9 Inches; Weight: 7.9 LBS.
Barnett has one of the richest lore in the crossbow industry. They were the first manufacturer to breach the 300 FPS barrier. Their recent crossbows aren’t getting as attraction like before, yet Barnett provides some of the best budget crossbows in the market. I know best is a strong word. Barnett did their best to value that word.
Speed. The speed as the name states is 420 FPS. Without a doubt it’s one of the fastest crossbows in this price range. But speed isn’t everything on a crossbow. If speed is all you wanted, there you go. The perfect match for you.
Kinetic energy. One of the main selling points of this crossbow is the incredible strength it possess. The kinetic energy of this crossbow is 149ft-lbs. I definitely didn’t expect this crossbow to be so powerful. But it is. And that’s a good thing.
Cranking device compatible. The crossbow is compatible with Barnett’s own cranking device. But you need to pay $100 extra for that. I do recommend getting the crossbow with the cranking device. Otherwise you need to use a rope cocker device to cut down the 210lbs draw weight.
Quick Facts:
The Speed. The Kinetic Energy. Cranking device should have been compulsory. It is what it is. I highly recommend you to take this bow with the cranking device.
Pros
- Super-fast.
- Compact.
- 149 ft-lbs of kinetic energy.
- Cranking device compatible.
- Good scope included.
Cons
- You need specific set of arrows from Barnett. Those are quite expensive.
- There are some complaints about the cocking device as well.
2. Wicked Ridge RDX 400 Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 400 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 116 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 15.5 Inches; Draw Weight: 175 LBS; Axle To Axle: 9 / 15 Inches; Length: 33.25 Inches; Weight: 7.1 LBS.
Wicked Ridge RDX400 is the first reverse draw crossbow we have on the list. Reverse crossbows have the limbs facing inwards instead of outwards like regular bows. Reverse draw crossbows are usually lighter and more compact than regular compound crossbows.
400 FPS. As the name suggests, the RDX is capable of reaching up to 400FPS. Why up to? Because, Tenpoint uses different arrows to measure their crossbow. Depending on which variant of arrow you choose, you might get less speed than that.
140ft-lbs of kinetic energy. It seems like the jump from $600 to $800 introduced a lot of powerful crossbows. Quite powerful for a crossbow of this size.
Speaking of size. It’s a compact reverse draw crossbow. The weight of this crossbow is rather on the heavier end. Dry weight is 7.6lbs and it will easily go towards the 9lbs mark with all the added accessories.
Cranking device compatible. As Wicked Ridge is owned by Tenpoint crossbows and their parent company. Wicked Ridge can use the ACUdraw cranking technology. Keep in mind the cranking device will increase the cost of the crossbow.
Quick Facts:
If the cranking device wasn’t an add on and was there from the beginning, this could have been the best crossbow under $800.
Pros
- Reverse draw crossbow.
- 400 FPS.
- 140ft-lbs of kinetic energy.
- Cranking device compatible.
- Compact.
Cons
- Tenpoint uses different arrows to measure speed and kinetic energy.
- Trigger creep can be too high for a lot of people.
- Could have used a better scope.
3. SA Sports Empire Punisher Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 420 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 158 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 15 Inches; Draw Weight: 175 LBS; Axle To Axle: 7.75 / 12 Inches; Length: 31.75 Inches; Weight: 8 LBS.
A great reverse draw crossbow. Reverse draw crossbows tend to be super expensive. As we can see today, they are coming to the budget range as well.
420 FPS. The top speed of this crossbow is 420 FPS. Making it one of the fastest crossbows under $800. You can do any hunting or tactical sport with this crossbow.
158ft-lbs of kinetic energy. Saved the best for the last. SA Sports Empire Hunter is the most powerful crossbow under $800. If you are looking for a powerhouse and don’t want to spend a ton of money for it, don’t need to search anymore. This right here is the bow you were looking for.
Adjustable foregrip. Most of the time the foregrip is installed directly on the bottom frame and it’s not moveable. The foregrip here is adjustable. A great plus for people that don’t like the default foregrip location.
Compact. It’s also the most compact crossbow we have here. 7.75” cocked is quite impressive.
Illuminated multi reticle scope. Finding this sort of scope is nothing groundbreaking in this price range. But what makes this scope unique is the built quality and the lens coating. Making Punisher scope much more powerful than any competition.
Quick Facts:
It deserves the spot in the best crossbow under 800 dollars list. It earned that. If you just want one crossbow suggestion and don’t want to bother looking at others, go for this one. You won’t regret.
Pros
- Compact.
- Super-fast.
- Extremely powerful.
- Good scope included.
- Adjustable foregrip.
Cons
- Noise suppression is not the best.
4. Tenpoint Titan M1 Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 370 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 113 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 14 Inches; Draw Weight: 180 LBS; Axle To Axle: 9 / 14 Inches; Length: 32.5 Inches; Weight: 6.4 LBS.
Named after a species of great giants, the Titan promises a lot of features. We all know just how good Tenpoint crossbows are. They also own Wicked Ridge under their banner.
370 FPS on a crossbow is quite fast. You can do any sorts of hunting with that much of speed. Besides hunting, you can do tactical shooting, camping, scaring away strangers and what not.
116ft-lbs of kinetic energy. We talk about this all the time. Kinetic energy is as important as every other part of a crossbow. Kinetic energy determines just how powerful your crossbow is.
9” width. The axle-to-axle width of this crossbow is quite insane. It’s one of the most compact crossbows in this price range. The width is only 9”. That’s quite admirable. You can take the crossbow anywhere without any issues. As this is a lightweight and compact crossbow.
ACUdraw cranking device. You have the option to go for a built-in cranking device. Like always, the option costs more money than the base version. That will put the crossbow over the $800 budget. Yet, I recommend getting one. The cranking device Tenpoint make is super good. It’s one of the best in the market.
Quick Facts:
It’s not only named Titan, it performs like one as well.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact.
- 370 FPS.
- 116ft-lbs of kinetic energy.
- Good scope included.
- Highly accurate.
- T5 Trigger.
Cons
- Noise dampening isn’t the best on this crossbow.
5. Wicked Ridge M-370 Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 370 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 118 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 13.8 Inches; Draw Weight: 180 LBS; Axle To Axle: 9.5 / 14 Inches; Length: 35 Inches; Weight: 5.8 LBS.
Wicked Ridge M-370 is a lightweight hunting crossbow. It was made by Wicked Ridge currently owned by Tenpoint. It’s a lightweight and compact beginner hunting crossbow. You might be wondering, why beginner at this price-range? Well, the ease of access of this crossbow is quite good. That’s why it’s also considered as a beginner crossbow.
370 FPS. It’s not as fast as 400 FPS Wicked Ridge crossbows. But it’s fairly fast. 370 FPS is nothing to joke about. 370 FPS is more than enough for all sorts of hunting and tactical sports shooting.
Lightweight and compact. It’s one of the lightest compound crossbows on the market. Without any accessories, the naked crossbow weighs 5.8lbs. Even with the added accessories, the crossbow won’t weigh over 7lbs. For an everyday use, this will come in handy.
ACUdraw options available. ACUdraw pro cranking device is one of the best cranking devices on the market. without a doubt Tenpoint has mastered the art of making cranking devices for their crossbows. You won’t get this for free. The upgrade is available while purchasing. Will cost you more than $800 but more than worth it.
Quick Facts:
Overall, it’s a solid crossbow with a solid price tag. What more could you want?
Pros
- 370 FPS.
- Lightweight and fairly compact.
- Highly accurate.
- ACUdraw compatible.
Cons
- Like always, Tenpoint uses different arrows to measure their readings.
6. Excalibur Micro Mag 340 Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 340 FPS; Crossbow Type: Recurve; Power Stroke: 13 Inches; Draw Weight: 270 LBS; Axle To Axle: 22 / 25 Inches; Length: 31.75 Inches; Weight: 5.5 LBS.
Excalibur Micro Mag 340 is the first recurve crossbow we have today. Recurve crossbows are favorite crossbows for a lot of hunters. They are easy to use and quite easy to fix yourself as well.
Recurve crossbow. The main selling point of this crossbow is this. It’s a recurve crossbow. Compound crossbows are quite crafty. They are hard to fix and manufacturers don’t recommend to fix them on your own. Changing a bowstring on compound bow is quite complex. You don’t need to worry about any of those with a recurve crossbow.
Highly accurate. If you know a little about recurve crossbows, then you already know that they are not known for their speed or long-range shooting capabilities. They are known for their ease of access and how accurate each shot is. The accuracy on this crossbow is something else as well. definitely the best recurve crossbow under $800.
Noise dampeners. The crossbow has two string stoppers. They help reducing the noise and vibration of the crossbow. it also comes with a ton of noise dampening material throughout the crossbow.
Quick Facts:
If you don’t want a recurve crossbow, then you don’t want a recurve crossbow. simple as that. This crossbow is meant for hunters that are looking for good recurve crossbow in their budget.
Pros
- 340 FPS.
- Anti-dry fire safety.
- Extremely lightweight.
- Dead-zone scope.
- Tons of accessories included.
Cons
- High draw weight.
- The scope could have been better.
7. EK Archery RX Adder Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 230 FPS; Crossbow Type: Repeating; Power Stroke: 7.5 Inches; Draw Weight: 130 LBS; Axle To Axle: – Inches; Length: 21.5 Inches; Weight: 4.4 LBS.
Are you tired of the draw weight on a crossbow? Are you tired of manually loading bolts after each shot? Fear not, the RX Adder is here to solve all of your problems. Or is it? let’s find out.
The concept of RX Adder is not new. But it’s something that no one bothers to do anymore. Simply because this type of crossbows can’t generate much power or speed.
Automatically loads. The theory behind this crossbow was to give a pistol like experience. While it’s bigger than a pistol crossbow, it’s still quite similar to a pistol crossbow. You put in some crossbow bolts that Adder comes with, then push them down. The mechanism inside will automatically load and cock the bolt for shooting. You don’t need to physically pull the string behind after each shot.
230 FPS. That’s not the best speed for hunting. You can still hunt deer with it but will have a ton of issues in the process.
The drawing force of this crossbow is 130lbs. That’s quite low compared to a lot of crossbows. It was possible because the crossbow isn’t power hungry.
Quick Facts:
Then why are we even recommending this? Because some of you might appreciate the loading time of this crossbow over the lacking. I can totally understand those people. That’s why this is my recommendation to them.
Pros
- Automatically loading.
- Quite safe.
- Easy to reload bolts into it.
- Comes with tons of accessories.
Cons
- Quite gimmicky and not that powerful.
Frequently ASK Questions
Is It Ok To Have A Crossbow Cocked Overnight?
No, it’s not okay. It’s highly discouraged to do anything of that sort. Leaving it overnight will cause premature stretching. Resulting in a lose bowstring. A lose bowstring will make the performance of a crossbow so much worse. None of us want that. Please, don’t leave crossbows cocked overnight.
Why Is It Bad To Dry Fire A Crossbow?
If you dry fire a crossbow, that means the crossbow is not firing any bolts. It’s just firing thin air and the wire will wobble a lot. If that happens, the string will become loose in the long-run. It can also lead to CAM damage. You really don’t want that to happen to your crossbow. It’s not a pistol where you fire empty shells for the sake of it. Never practice or encourage this behavior.
How Long Will A Crossbow Last?
That’s kind of a philosophical question, don’t you think? How long will this universe last? How long will any of us last? There is no definitive answer to that, is there? Think of the crossbow in a same manner. If you don’t break it or the crossbow doesn’t break accidentally, it should last more than 3-5 years. If something happens to the crossbow, then we might see a premature death of the crossbow. Make sure to send the crossbow in warranty before holding a funeral.
Best Crossbow Under 800: Conclusion
The best crossbow for me might not be good crossbow for you. That’s why it’s not possible to say it’s the best crossbow under $800. All we can say is, the crossbows we featured today are some of the best budget crossbows available in the market. Granted there was one gimmicky crossbow. I bet you can find useful use of that crossbow too.
Afterall, a lot of it will depend on you, the hunter. Getting the right gear is necessary. I hope our data were sufficient to complete your research. If not, you can always ask for more input. Till next time, see you later.