The Barnett Ghost 410 was one of the fastest hunting crossbows you could buy when it came out, and plenty are still in use. If you own one or are looking at a used one, this page covers what it was, how to keep it shooting, what to check before buying, and which current crossbows to consider if you’d rather buy new.
We haven’t shot a Ghost 410 for this article. The specs come from Barnett’s archived product pages and the Ghost 410 owner’s manual. Stock was checked on Amazon on October 3, 2026, and it changes often.
Barnett Ghost 410 at a glance
- Speed: 410 fps with a 400-grain arrow (Barnett’s manual lists 418 fps with a 380-grain arrow)
- Energy: 149 ft-lb
- Draw weight: 185 lb
- Power stroke: 15.375 inches
- Weight: 7.2 lb
- Size: 37.375 inches long, 21.875 inches wide, 20 inches axle to axle
- Arrows: 22-inch, half-moon nocks, straight fletching
- String: 38.875 inches, 28 strands (Barnett part 16193; cables part 16194)
- Sold: about 2013 to early 2017
What the Ghost 410 was
Barnett’s website listed the Ghost 410 as new in early 2013. It topped the Ghost line and was built around Barnett’s CarbonLite riser (CRT), which Barnett said was 43% lighter than a conventional riser, with a 5-to-1 safety factor. It also had a machined aluminum flight track, a Picatinny rail, an anti-dry-fire trigger and laminated limbs.
The package included an illuminated scope, a rope cocker, a quiver, a sling and three 22-inch Headhunter arrows. Barnett’s press release said it won both Editor’s Choice and Great Buy in the Outdoor Life bow test. It came in black (model 78220) and Mossy Oak camo.
The Ghost 415 Revenant joined it in 2016. By spring 2017 the Ghost 410 was gone from Barnett’s site, replaced by the Ghost 420. Barnett no longer sells any Ghost crossbow.
Is the Ghost 410 still worth it?
As a shooter, yes, if it’s in good condition. 410 fps is still faster than most of Barnett’s current bows; the Whitetail Hunter STR, for example, is rated at 375 fps.
The catches are age and support. The newest Ghost 410s are close to ten years old, and Barnett no longer lists a string or cables for it. At 37.4 inches and 7.2 lb it’s long and heavy next to today’s bows of about 33 inches. And Barnett’s warranty requires the buyer to register the bow within 10 days of purchase, so assume a used one has no warranty.
A Ghost 410 you already own is worth maintaining. A used one is worth buying only at a price that leaves room for new strings and an inspection.
Ghost 410 owner guide
Strings and cables
Barnett’s current parts store lists strings for newer models but not for the Ghost 410. (Its “Ghost and Pro STR” string is 39.75 inches, for the Ghost 375 and others, so it won’t fit.) Aftermarket string makers still build Ghost 410 sets: a 38 7/8-inch string and 21 1/2-inch cables. One option is the 60X Custom Strings Ghost 410 set. GAS Bowstrings and Blue River Bowstrings also list Ghost 410 sets.
Changing cables takes a crossbow press, so let an archery shop do it. Wax the string and cables regularly, and replace them if you see fraying, broken strands or separating serving.
Arrows and nocks
The manual is clear: use 22-inch carbon arrows with half-moon nocks and straight fletching, with the odd-colored vane in the flight groove. Barnett’s 410 fps rating uses a 400-grain arrow. The manual warns that arrows that are too light act like a dry fire and can damage the bow, so don’t go lighter than the arrows that came with it.
Barnett still sells 22-inch Headhunter arrows with half-moon nocks, though the plain 5-pack was sold out when we checked, and other makers offer 22-inch half-moon arrows too. Our crossbow bolts guide explains how to pick length, weight and nocks. For broadheads, the manual suggests a low-profile three-blade fixed head no wider than 1 3/16 inches, or a mechanical head that flies like a field point where those are legal.
Cocking
You can cock the Ghost 410 by hand, but Barnett calls the rope cocker the preferred method. Make sure the string sits evenly on both sides of the rail every time. If 185 lb is too much, Barnett’s Standard Crank Cocking Device lists the Ghost 410 (carbon and camo) as compatible. It was sold out on Barnett’s site when we checked. Never let a cocked Ghost down by hand. Shoot it into a target with a field point.
Used-buying checklist
- Limbs: look for cracks, splinters or lifted laminations. Don’t buy a bow with limb damage.
- String and cables: look for fraying, flat spots or loose serving. Assume a new set is needed unless the seller has a receipt.
- Cams and axles: they should be straight, turn smoothly and have no bent or chipped string tracks.
- Riser and rail: check for cracks around the riser and deep grooves worn into the flight track.
- Trigger and safety: the safety should engage on cocking, and the anti-dry-fire should block a shot with no arrow loaded.
- Dry fires: ask directly. A dry fire can crack limbs or cams even if the damage is hard to see.
- Extras: 22-inch arrows, the rope cocker and the scope add real value.
We couldn’t find a reliable published source for used Ghost 410 prices, so we won’t quote one. Compare recent sold listings near you, then subtract the cost of a new string set. Compare the result with a new Whitetail Hunter STR.
Today’s best alternatives for a Ghost 410 fan
If you’d rather have a new crossbow with a warranty, these four were in stock new on Amazon and cover what Ghost owners liked: speed and a complete package.
- Closest Barnett: Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR. 375 fps, 22-inch arrows, under $500.
- Compact Barnett: Barnett XP385. 385 fps, 13 inches axle to axle cocked, under $500.
- Nearly as fast, lighter: Wicked Ridge Warrior 400. 400 fps, 6.4 lb, under $500.
- Faster than a Ghost: CenterPoint Wrath 430. 430 fps with a built-in crank, under $750.
1. Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR: closest Barnett
The STR is Barnett’s most proven current bow. Like the Ghost 410, it ships with 22-inch Headhunter arrows with half-moon nocks. That means your spare Ghost arrows are the right length and nock type, but check the STR manual for its minimum arrow weight first.
Barnett rates it at 375 fps with a 380-grain arrow and 118.6 ft-lb, from a 187 lb draw and a 15 7/16-inch power stroke. It weighs 6.6 lb and is 32.88 inches long: shorter and lighter than a Ghost, but slower. The box includes a 4×32 multi-reticle scope, rope cocker, quiver, two arrows and wax.
2. Barnett XP385: compact Barnett
The XP385 is far more compact than a Ghost: 13 inches axle to axle cocked. Barnett rates it at 385 fps and 122 ft-lb from a 185 lb draw and a 13.8-inch power stroke. It weighs about 6 lb, and the adjustable stock gives a length of 35.5 to 38 inches. It comes with a 4×32 multi-reticle scope, two 20-inch arrows (so your 22-inch Ghost arrows won’t carry over), a quiver, a rope cocker and wax.
3. Wicked Ridge Warrior 400: nearly as fast, lighter
Wicked Ridge is TenPoint’s value line, and the Warrior 400 nearly matches the Ghost’s speed in a much smaller bow. TenPoint rates it at 400 fps and 146 ft-lb with its 410-grain Match 400 arrow, from a 190 lb draw and a 12.625-inch power stroke. It weighs 6.4 lb, is 33.5 inches long and measures 11 inches axle to axle cocked. It comes with a lighted Pro-View 400 scope, a rope cocker and a six-position adjustable stock.
It’s a 2026 model, so the listing had very few ratings; you’re relying on TenPoint’s reputation more than owner reviews.
4. CenterPoint Wrath 430: faster than a Ghost
If speed is what you loved about the Ghost, the Wrath 430 beats it. CenterPoint rates it at up to 430 fps and 164 ft-lb from a 200 lb draw and a 15-inch power stroke, close to the Ghost’s 15.375 inches. It’s a bullpup, 28.26 inches long and 9 inches wide cocked, with a built-in silent crank. The trade-off is weight: 8.3 lb, a pound more than the Ghost. CenterPoint’s manual calls for 20-inch arrows with half-moon nocks, 400 grains or heavier.
Amazon had only 6 left, sold by a third-party seller and shipped by Amazon. Check who the seller is before you buy.
The bottom line
A sound Ghost 410 is still a fast, capable deer crossbow. Keep it in fresh strings, feed it 22-inch half-moon arrows of the right weight, and have a pro shop look it over if you’re unsure. If you’re buying new, the Whitetail Hunter STR is the safe Barnett choice, and the Wrath 430 is the pick if you won’t give up speed.
Unlike Parker, which closed in 2018, Barnett is still in business. To see the rest of the current lineup, read our Barnett crossbow reviews. To compare every brand, see our best crossbows guide.