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A hunting crossbow should arrive ready to sight in: a scope, bolts, a quiver, and a rope or crank. It should be light enough to carry to a stand, narrow enough to swing in a blind, and fast enough to keep a 40-yard deer shot flat. These five are the best crossbows for hunting that were in stock and ready to ship when this page was written.
Recent prices ran about $300 to $750. Ratings are buyer scores on the current listings, not a lab test.
Quick picks
Compare the five
| Crossbow | Speed | Weight | Recent price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Hunter II | 350 fps | 6.4 lb | $339 | First deer bow |
| Boss 405 | 405 fps | 6.7 lb | $300 | Speed on a budget |
| Whitetail Hunter STR | 375 fps | 6.6 lb | $430 | Most hunters |
| Whitetail Pro STR | 400 fps | 6.9 lb | $449 | Step up in speed |
| Wrath 430 | 430 fps | bullpup | $750 | Narrow blind bow |
The picks
1. Barnett Whitetail Hunter II — best seller
This is the bow most hunters in this price range actually buy. The current listing is a best seller, about $339, with a 4.6-star score from more than 1,200 ratings. Published speed is 350 fps from a 165 lb draw, at about 6.4 lb.
It ships as a hunting package: 4×32 scope, quiver, rope cocker, and bolts. Owners call out the light carry and how easy it is to shoot from a stand. A few report limb trouble after a couple of seasons, so wax the string and do not dry-fire it. For a first deer bow that is in stock now, start here.
2. Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR — best all-around
The STR is the same idea with a step-through riser, which shortens the bow and puts the stirrup in the riser. Barnett rates it at 375 fps and 6.6 lb, in Mossy Oak Bottomland. The current listing sits near $430, with about 4.5 stars from more than 2,300 ratings.
The box includes a 4×32 multi-reticle scope, two 22-inch Headhunter arrows, a side quiver, a rope cocker, and wax. A TriggerTech release, an anti-dry-fire trigger, and a soft-lok arrow retainer are the details that matter in the field. Buy this if the Hunter II feels a step slow and you still want a complete package under $500.
3. Killer Instinct Boss 405 — best bargain
The Boss 405 is the speed buy. Killer Instinct rates it at 405 fps, about 6.7 lb, with an adjustable stock. The Pro Package was $299.99, with a 4.0-star score from about 1,000 ratings.
You get a 4×32 illuminated scope, rope cocker, string suppressors, a 3-bolt quiver, three Hypr Lite bolts, field tips, and rail lube. Buyers praise the groups and the easy assembly. The weak spot in reviews is durability — some limbs failed early — so keep bolts at the maker’s minimum grain weight and retire a frayed string. It is the right pick if $300 is the ceiling and you want more than 350 fps.
4. Barnett Whitetail Pro STR — more speed, same platform
The Pro STR is the longer-stock version of the step-through riser. Published specs are 400 fps, a 187 lb draw, a 16.375-inch power stroke, about 140 foot-pounds, and 6.9 lb. Axle-to-axle is 17.6 inches. Recent price was about $449, with a 4.4-star score from roughly 600 ratings.
The package matches the STR: 4×32 scope, two 22-inch arrows, quiver, rope cocker, and wax, in TruBark. It accepts a crank if the rope is too much. Buy this over the Hunter STR only if you want the extra 25 fps and a stock sized for a bigger frame.
5. CenterPoint Wrath 430 — narrowest hunting bow
The Wrath 430 is the bow that fits a ground blind. It is a bullpup, about 9 inches wide when cocked, rated 430 fps from a 200 lb draw, with a silent crank. Recent price was $749.99, with a 4.0-star score from about 90 ratings.
You pay for the width and the crank, not for a huge review count. A few buyers reported string trouble early, so confirm bolt weight and follow the crank sequence in the manual. If the stand is tight and the budget reaches $750, this is the listing that solves that problem.
How to choose a hunting crossbow
- Speed. 350 fps kills deer inside 40 yards. 400-plus flattens the bolt. It does not add 20 yards of ethical range.
- Width. The Barnett STR bows are short axle-to-axle. The Wrath 430 is the narrow one, at about 9 inches cocked.
- Cocking. Every bow here includes a rope, except the Wrath, which uses a crank. Use it. A 165 to 200 lb draw is not a hand pull.
- Package. Scope, bolts, and quiver should be in the box. Do not hunt with a bolt under the listed minimum grain weight.
- Price. Under $350, the Hunter II or the Boss 405. Around $430 to $450, the STR or Pro STR. At $750, the Wrath 430.
Which one to buy
Buy the Whitetail Hunter II if you want the proven seller. Buy the Whitetail Hunter STR if you want the best balance of speed, width, and reviews. Buy the Boss 405 if price is the limit. Buy the Wrath 430 if the blind is the problem.
Specs are manufacturer figures. Prices were checked in October 2026 and will move. Confirm stock, included accessories, and your state crossbow rules before you hunt.