If you searched for Parker crossbows, you probably own one, are looking at a used one, or remember the brand as the solid, fairly priced crossbow made in Virginia. Here is the short version: Parker Bows closed in December 2018. You can’t buy a new Parker anymore, and there is no factory warranty. This page explains what happened, how to keep an older Parker shooting safely, and which crossbows on sale today make the most sense if you liked what Parker offered.
We haven’t shot the bows below for this article. The specs come from each maker’s own site or manual. Stock was checked on Amazon on October 3, 2026, and it changes often.
What happened to Parker Bows
Parker started in 1984 as Nationwide Archery, founded by Robert “Bob” Errett, who ran the company until 2016. It was based in Augusta County, Virginia, near Staunton, and sold Parker crossbows and compound bows plus Red Hot accessories such as scopes, bolts and nocks. Bows like the BushWacker, Enforcer, Challenger and Thunderhawk were popular because they were American-made and cost less than the big names.
On December 17, 2018, after 34 years in business, Parker announced on social media that it was closing, effective immediately. After Bob Errett’s death in 2016, his son-in-law Tom Woodworth had taken over as president. He told the local paper that the industry and the market had changed and made it harder to operate.
The part that still matters to owners: from that day, every Parker and Red Hot product was sold without warranty, whatever the box or manual said. Warranty claims had to reach the Staunton office by December 31, 2018. Nothing has been honored since.
If you own a Parker: what it means for you
A Parker that’s been cared for can still kill deer cleanly. The problem is support. You can’t call the factory, so you depend on pro shops and aftermarket suppliers.
Warranty
There isn’t one. That includes “new old stock” Parkers that still turn up for sale. If you are offered one, treat it as a used bow with no backing and price it that way.
Strings and cables
Strings and cables wear out, and these are the parts you are most likely to need. Custom string makers such as 60X Custom Strings and Proline Bowstrings still list Parker string and cable sets, matched by model. You’ll need the exact model, and ideally the year. Most compound crossbows need a crossbow press to change strings, so unless you have the tools and know how, let a pro shop do the swap. Replace the set if you see fraying, flat spots or broken strands. Wax the string regularly.
Limbs, cams and other parts
Ridgemont Outdoors sells leftover Parker and Red Hot parts, including limbs, cams, triggers, stirrups, scopes and axle kits. Stock comes and goes, and limbs and cams are the hardest to find. If a limb is cracked or splintered, or a cam is bent, stop shooting the bow. Unless you can find the exact matching part, a damaged limb or cam usually means the bow should be retired. Never dry-fire a Parker (or any crossbow) to “test” it.
Bolts and nocks
This is where owners get into trouble. Later Parker crossbows were built around 20-inch Red Hot bolts with Capture nocks, and Parker labeled those nocks as required. Older models used half-moon nocks. Check your manual (if you’ve lost it, archived copies often turn up online) for the right length, minimum weight and nock type, and match all three. Lumenok still makes a lighted nock for Parker Red Hot bolts with a .300-inch inside diameter. Don’t switch nock styles because a bolt is cheaper. A nock that doesn’t seat on the string can cause a dry fire. For more on choosing arrows, see our guide to the best crossbow bolts.
Should you keep shooting it?
If the limbs and cams are sound, the string is in good shape and the trigger feels the same as always, yes. Have a pro shop look the bow over once a season. Many shops will still work on one. When parts run out, or if you just want a warranty again, it’s time to replace it.
Quick picks: the best Parker alternatives
Most Parker buyers wanted three things: a fair price, a complete package, and a bow that hunts well without fuss. These four are in stock new on Amazon and hit that mark:
- Closest to a Parker: Wicked Ridge Warrior 400. American-built, 400 fps, under $500.
- Most proven: Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR. 375 fps, lots of owner feedback, under $500.
- Best budget pick: Killer Instinct Boss 405. 405 fps for under $300, close to old BushWacker money.
- Most compact: CenterPoint Wrath 430. 9 inches wide cocked, with a built-in crank, under $750.
The picks
1. Wicked Ridge Warrior 400: closest to a Parker
Wicked Ridge is the value line from TenPoint, an Ohio company, and TenPoint markets these bows as American-built. That makes the Warrior 400 the nearest thing on sale today to what Parker was: an American-built crossbow at a working hunter’s price. The Warrior 400 is the 2026 entry model.
TenPoint rates it at 400 fps and 146 ft-lb with its 410-grain Match 400 arrow. That comes 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 when cocked. It comes with the lighted Pro-View 400 scope (aim points to 70 yards), a rope cocker and a six-position adjustable stock.
Because the model is new, the Amazon listing has only a couple of ratings so far. You’re buying on the maker’s reputation more than on owner reviews. If cocking with a rope is a problem for you, the Wicked Ridge Commander 400 is the same 400 fps platform with a built-in ACUdraw crank.
2. Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR: most proven
If you’d rather follow the crowd, this is the safe choice.
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. The step-through riser puts the foot stirrup inside the riser, which keeps the bow short. The box includes a 4×32 multi-reticle scope, rope cocker, quiver, two 22-inch Headhunter arrows and wax. It also has a TriggerTech trigger and anti-dry-fire protection.
Note that Barnett uses 22-inch arrows, so your old 20-inch Parker bolts are not a match.
3. Killer Instinct Boss 405: best budget pick
Plenty of people bought a BushWacker or Enforcer because it cost a few hundred dollars and still killed deer. The Boss 405 fills that role now.
Killer Instinct lists 405 fps and 134 ft-lb from a 220 lb draw and a 13.25-inch power stroke. It weighs 6.7 lb, measures 14.75 inches axle to axle cocked, and has an adjustable stock (30 to 33 inches). It ships with a 4×32 lighted scope, a rope cocker and 20-inch HYPR Lite bolts.
The trade-off is long-term durability. Some owners report limb or string problems after heavy use. Stick to the recommended bolt weight and look the bow over before each season.
4. CenterPoint Wrath 430: most compact
The Parker Challenger had a following because it was small and handy in a blind. If that’s what you liked, look at the Wrath 430. It’s a bullpup design, and CenterPoint lists it at 28.26 inches long and 9 inches wide cocked (13 inches uncocked).
It’s rated at up to 430 fps and 164 ft-lb from a 200 lb draw and a 15-inch power stroke. A silent crank is built in, so cocking is easy. Like most crossbows, it can’t be let down with the crank: the manual says to de-cock it by shooting an arrow (carry a field-point bolt for that). The trade-off is weight: 8.3 lb, more than the others here. CenterPoint’s manual calls for 20-inch arrows with half-moon nocks, 400 grains or heavier.
Amazon had only a few left in stock, sold by a third-party seller. Check who the seller is before you buy.
Buying guide for former Parker owners
- Price. Most Parkers sold for under $750. You can still get a complete package in that range: the Boss 405 at the low end, the Warrior 400 or Whitetail Hunter STR in the middle, and the Wrath 430 at the top.
- Speed. A Parker shooting around 300 fps killed deer just fine inside 40 yards. Today’s 375 to 430 fps bows shoot flatter, but they don’t make a 60-yard shot ethical. Practice at the distances you actually hunt.
- Width and weight. Narrow bows are easier to handle in stands and blinds. Light bows are easier to carry. You rarely get both, so pick the one that matters more where you hunt.
- Cocking. Draw weights are higher than on most Parkers. If a rope cocker is hard on your back or shoulders, choose a bow with a built-in crank (Commander 400, Wrath 430).
- Bolts. Assume your old Parker bolts won’t fit a new bow. Buy the length, weight and nock the new maker specifies.
- Support. The lesson of Parker is to buy from a company with active service and parts, and register the bow when it arrives.
If you’re buying for a younger or smaller hunter, our list of the best youth crossbows covers lighter, shorter bows that are easier to cock. To compare more models across all brands, see our best crossbows guide.
The bottom line
Parker is gone, but a sound Parker can keep hunting if you look after the strings, inspect the limbs and cams, and use the right bolts and nocks. When it’s time to replace it, start with the Wicked Ridge Warrior 400 for the closest match, or the Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR for the most owner feedback. Go with the Boss 405 on a tight budget, or the Wrath 430 for a tight blind.
Sources for the closure: The News Leader, Shooting Sports Retailer and Bowhunting.com (December 2018).