You might think the old-school crossbow is losing its charm and appeal with technological developments at such an unprecedented pace in evolving weapons and guns. However, the manufacturers are continuously developing crossbow with innovative technologies and crafting methods to compete with the modern-day weaponry.
Unlike traditional bow and arrow, the crossbow is legal for hunting purposes in almost all states. It is a powerful, high-speed weapon that helps you to kill the prey at one-go, very quietly and aggressively. Whether you are a professional hunter or want to try hunting for the first time, choosing the perfect crossbow is really essential for you. Good crossbow shouldn’t always be very costly; you can also find the best crossbow under 400 which will be perfectly lethal to kill whatever you want.
All of the crossbows reviewed below are chosen based on various factors such as draw weight, bow weight, shooting performance, features, pulling mechanism, and range of shooting. These crossbows are perfect for newbies and seasoned hunters alike.
Here is the list of Best hunting Crossbows Under $400 on the market along with their specification, features and detailed buying guide!
Comparison Table of Best hunting Crossbows Under $400
1. CenterPoint Specialist XL 370: Best Crossbow under 400 Dollars
CenterPoint archery is one of the most widely known crossbow brands amongst whitetail warriors and big game hunters.
CenterPoint Specialist XL 370 is one of their fastest and most accurate low-budget crossbows.Without a doubt, XL 370 is among the crossbows offering the most beautiful designs on the market. The construction features solid and durable CNC machined aluminium to guarantee that you face as little difficulties as possible while hunting.
The polymer crossbow bolts provide a firm grip, and the quiver stands easily on the crossbow, allowing a stable hold. It has a wide foot stirrup to fit your big hunting boots and the metal frame is placed at the front of the crossbow, all you have to do is put your foot inside the stirrup to secure the bow.
It is a long-lasting, lightweight, and perfectly suitable weapon for hunting big games. The sleek and slim XL 370 is covered in a beautiful Camo finish. Knowing that hunting demands stealth, this design helps you to blend in with your environment flawlessly. Now speaking of its performance, it is the fastest crossbow with a blazing speed of 370 FPS that hardly misses any shot. The bow also guarantees downrange accuracy with the help of its illuminated scope and 5-brightness settings to hunt down the target in low-light conditions.
Another highlight of the XL 370 Camo is its adjustable buttstock, foregrip and rear stock, which makes it much easier to shoot because you can adjust it to your desired position with minimum strain. The most undesirable problem is noise while shooting, thankfully XL 370 includes noise suppressing string stops inside the package to reduce noise and limit vibration while firing the shot. It also comes with a cocking aid to cock the bow easily. When it comes to hunting with a crossbow, safety is extremely important.
For the best crossbow under 400 dollars, it is a well-designed, efficient, powerful and accurate weapon. Therefore, you should go ahead and enjoy hunting without risking yourself or others
Specifications:
Draw Weight: | 185 Pounds |
Power Stroke: | 13.5 Inches |
Kinetic Energy: | 110 Foot-Pounds |
Axle-To-Axle (cocked): | 18 Inches |
Axle-To-Axle (un-cocked): | 21.5 Inches |
Overall Size | 35 Inches |
Bolt Size: | 20 Inches |
Speed: | 370 FPS |
Warranty: | 5 years Limited |
Bow Weight: | 7.9 Pounds |
🗸 Adjustable Foregrip And Rear Stock
🗸Noise Suppressing String Stops
🗸Large Foot-Stirrup
🗸Anti-Dry Fire Mechanism And Auto-Safety Trigger
🗸 AR-Style Butt Stock With Adjustable Cheek Piece And Extended Butt Pad
- Light and compact with a solid grip
- Sturdy build and strong construction
- Accurate and fast shots
- Easy to assemble whole package
- Crossbow with adjustable stock to fit all body sizes
- This crossbow is light and compact
- Included scope is illuminated with 5-brightness settings
- Trigger has lots of creeps
- Front is little heavy
XL 370 is the powerful, fast and precise weapon with negligible vibrations, solid construction and improved performance. With its beautiful features and safety considerations, it makes hunting enjoyable and safe.
2. Barnett Recruit: Tactical Compound CrossBow
BARNETT is known for manufacturing high-quality hunting gear for professional hunters as well as recreational shooters. And, the Recruit Tactical is one of their best-selling bows for newbies and small-framed hunters in an affordable price range.
Barnett is developing revolutionary designs and technologies to introduce high-quality crossbows to the market. It is a compact and portable tool with an adjustable stock to accommodate any height and body structure.
Barnett did a pretty good job employing composite limbs and stocks for this black beauty. It includes high strength quad limbs and an ergonomically crafted pistol grip for better handling and shooting experience.
Recruit is based on a pulley system that allows you to cock a string with no difficulty. The draw weight seems to be just 130 lbs., which is suitable for hunters and shooters who just don’t have a lot of strength and stamina.
Barnett Recruit Tactical can efficiently achieve the objective with its exceptional accuracy and precision. It also includes an anti-vibration system to enhance consistency and noise-free shooting.
It employs the TriggerTech function for the frictionless release of the trigger, which further uses a roller between the trigger elements to eliminate friction. This critical innovation will supply you with a timely and seamless release every time.
Crossbow safety has always been a main consideration for manufacturing companies; Recruit Tactical is packed with anti-dry fire technology to avoid accidental fire. The foregrip also comes with finger reminders, which aim to protect the fingers from the cable and the string.
The Barnett Recruit lands with all you need to start shooting straight away. The kit contains a Red-Dot optic, a rope cocking device, arrow quiver, three arrows, and a lubricant wax. Barnett provides a limited 3-year warranty on all their crossbows. Barnett Customer Service is also very knowledgeable when it comes to solving the issue you might have with your product.
All in all, a popular yet inexpensive member of the popular Recruit Series, this crossbow is a must-have for even the most tactical hunters who want to enter the next hunting season.
Specifications:
Draw Weight: | 130 Pounds |
Power Stroke: | 12.5 Inches |
Kinetic Energy: | 91.9 Foot-Pounds |
Overall Size: | 37.5 Inches |
Width: | 27.5 Inches |
Bolt Size: | 20 Inches |
Speed: | 245 FPS |
Warranty: | 5 years Limited |
Bow Weight: | 4.9 Pounds |
🗸ADF (Anti Dry Fire) Trigger System
🗸Composite Limbs And Composite Stock
🗸Rope Cocking System
🗸Soft-Lok™ Floating Bristle Arrow Retainer
🗸Premium Red Dot Sight
🗸Pistol Grip
🗸Anti-vibration Foot Stirrup
🗸CrossWire String System
🗸Finger Safety Reminders
- Single-bolt assembly
- Exceptional performance and unparalleled quality
- Long-lasting durability
- Sized for women and smaller-framed hunters
- Affordable price range
- Lightweight and maneuverable
- Sling not included
- Not suitable for large shooters
Noiseless shooting, crisp trigger movement, and advanced features, Barnett Recruit is a compact and maneuverable crossbow for beginners at an affordable price. On the other hand, seasoned and professional hunters can also benefit from this crossbow, as it can be used for routine practice.
3. Carbon Express Blade X-Force: Camouflage CrossBow
Designed with agility and performance in mind, this crossbow is loaded with features that make it ideal for entry-level hunters interested in skill development.
One of the best crossbow under 400 that shoots bolts with a speed of 320 FPS to destroy anything from within thirty yards.
Blade X-force is constructed from durable yet lightweight material making it a breeze to take with you on a longer adventure. It has a SilenTech coating that provides the bow with a spongy texture and also acts as a sound suppressor. This coating works pretty well and you wouldn’t need additional sound dampeners for most occasions. It also contains an embedded aluminum rail that won’t compress even after repeated use to deliver consistent performance.
It is a sleek and slim crossbow so that you can easily move it around the thick bushes while hunting. Blade x-force has a very stable and balanced design because even the most lightweight crossbow can feel massive when the equilibrium is too far forward. Therefore, it is very comfortable to hold and carry for a long period of time without causing any discomfort.
The performance of a crossbow is largely dependent on its speed, Blade x-force is designed to ensure you hit the target within the blink of an eye with extreme accuracy. It is capable of reaching 320 FPS, which is a prominent feature, especially when considering the lightweight and compact structure. This crossbow is remarkably quiet while loading and the firing mechanism is designed to produce very little string vibration upon release.
The crossbow comes with a magnifying scope having six reticular crosshairs that enable you to target at varying distances. The scope is resistant to water, fog, shock and can also withstand harsh weather conditions. For the safety of the hunter, Carbon Express has employed an ambidextrous safety switch and anti-dry fry system to increase the crossbow’s service life. The ready to hunt package comes with 3-crossbow bolts with moon nocks, 3-Field points, scope, quick detach quiver, rope cocker and rail lubricant.
Overall, this Carbon Express crossbow is one of the cheapest crossbows for hunting and can be used from within 30 yards to easily kill animals of any size.
Specifications:
Draw Weight: | 165 Pounds |
Power Stroke: | 12.5 Inches |
Kinetic Energy: | 86.3 Foot-Pounds |
Axle-To-Axle (cocked): | 13 Inches |
Axle-To-Axle (un-cocked): | 17.5 Inches |
Overall Size | 36.5 Inches |
Bolt Size: | 20 Inches |
Speed: | 320 FPS |
Warranty: | 5 years Limited |
Bow Weight: | 6.5 Pounds |
🗸Built-In Aluminum Rail
🗸Adjustable Butt Stock And Multi-Position Foregrip
🗸Large Foot Stirrup
🗸Anti-Dry-Fire Technology
🗸Ambidextrous Safety
- Durable and lightweight construction
- Compact and easy to maneuver
- Comes with a water-proof scope to target at various distances
- Fast and powerful performance
- Quiet and vibration free
- Good safety features
- Scope quality is not impressive
- Carrying case not included
Carbon Express Blade X-force offers a great quality and performance, especially considering its price range. It is relatively easy to load and shoot, therefore a great choice for beginners and young hunters.
4. Killer Instinct BOSS: Hunter STR CrossBow
Killer Instinct is known for its powerful and effective crossbows in an affordable price range. They launched the latest BOSS crossbow package; a hard-hitting crossbow over 400 FPS, with a compact and adjustable frame built for skilled hunters or those just getting started.
This crossbow is developed to provide better performance and durability to last you for a long time. It is robust, reliable, and incredibly durable and would not easily break, chip or corrode in harsh weather. Killer Instinct is famous for its reliability and downrange accuracy, made from a modern Micro-Lite aluminum barrel that reduces unnecessary weight while also delivering dead-on precision.
One of the aspects that we most loved about this crossbow is its innovative design. The lightweight frame consists of sturdy and high-quality components to provide a comfortable feeling and can also be adjusted to accommodate a range of body sizes; the 6-position buttstock can both shorten and extend the length of the crossbows for a convenient, tailored fitting. Also, the compact and lightweight structure of the crossbow makes the weapon easy to maneuver and handy to hold.
You won’t be able to successfully hit the target from the first time unless your crossbow is designed to offer precise shooting; resulting in a waste of bolts and time. The latest BOSS 405 crossbow boasts an upgraded Micro-Lite aluminum barrel and a 3.5 lbs. KillerTech triggers to provide consistent and accurate shooting every time. The crossbow does not shift its position even if you fire the bolts one after the other, thus helping you to increase the accuracy and lower the risk of missing the crossbow target.
The crossbow should be as silent as possible so that the target does not notice you in advance. The BOSS 405 is designed to reduce the noise to the lowest possible level. Furthermore, the frame and strings used to minimize vibrations to a minimum, providing better performance regardless of whether you are a novice or a pro. The pro package includes an illuminated scope, HyperLite bullets, side mount quiver, rope cocker, and rail lube.
All in all, it is an excellent low-budget fastest crossbow for hunters who appreciate high-speed and killer performance.
Specifications:
Draw Weight: | 220 Pounds |
Power Stroke: | 13.5 Inches |
Kinetic Energy: | 134 Foot-Pounds |
Axle-To-Axle (cocked): | 14.75 Inches |
Axle-To-Axle (un-cocked): | 18.75 Inches |
Overall Size | 36 Inches |
Speed: | 405 FPS |
Warranty: | 5 years Limited |
Bow Weight: | 5.5 Pounds |
🗸X-Lok Adjustable Foregrip
🗸Easy-To-Handle Narrow Frame
🗸Noise-Reducing Integrated Dead Silent Kit
🗸Camouflage Design
🗸3.5-Pound Killer Tech™ Trigger
🗸6-Position AR-Style Buttstock
🗸HYPR Lite Bolts
- Easy to handle and lightweight to carry
- Custom-fit to meet the requirements of all hunters
- Constant accuracy shot after shot
- Fastest crossbows within this price range
- It is easy to set up and cock
- Silent crank need to be bought separately
- Only three bolts are included with the package
The Killer Instinct crossbow is built of high-quality components for providing a lightweight yet durable weapon that is comfortable to carry along and use without making any noise. It would have been cool for the package to have more bolts, but you can still buy more separately and choose the kind that suits you best.
5. Barnett Whitetail Hunter II Crossbow
Barnett has designed modern crossbows for timely and efficient shooting with high-quality materials and designs. Whitetail Hunter II blends precision, elegance, and affordability into a package that offers something for everyone. It’s without a doubt the best cheap crossbow in this category.
It is an ideal hunting partner for hunters of all shapes and sizes, particularly those with smaller body frames, due to its lightweight and portable layout.
While there is a misconception that lighter crossbows cannot deliver the optimum speed, the Whitetail Hunter II nullifies this perception by delivering an impressive speed of 350 fps. Low profile also makes it much easier to carry for long distances and keep your target focused before you’re ready to fire.
The Barnett Whitetail is an extremely durable compound crossbow with complete stainless steel construction so that even during rains you can keep hunting.
The Whitetail Hunter II pattern is Realtree Xtra, which provides a better level of flexibility, guaranteeing hunters can stalk game throughout the year while maintaining excellent camouflage.The Barnett Whitetail is an incredibly powerful crossbow with a full stainless-steel structure so that you can continue hunting in all weather conditions.
The Whitetail Hunter II comes with a Realtree Xtra pattern, to offer a better degree of versatility, ensuring that hunters can hunt game throughout the year while maintaining exceptional disguise.
Even a more innovative technical aspect of the Whitetail Hunter II is the integration of the Frictionless Release Technology, which offers a seamless and smoother triggering experience. In addition, safety is also ensured by the provision of knock sensors, foregrip and an anti-dry fire system.
You can also make the necessary adjustments to your butt-side for a more relaxed hunting experience. The efficient and consistent Whitetail Hunter II comes with a rope-cocking tool, a portable quiver, a multi-reticle sight, two headhunter arrows and a lubricating wax.
Specifications:
Draw Weight: | 160 Pounds |
Power Stroke: | 16.125 Inches |
Kinetic Energy: | 103 Foot-Pounds |
Axle-To-Axle: | 18.25 Inches |
Overall Size: | 34.25 Inches |
Bolt Size: | 20 Inches |
Speed: | 350 FPS |
Warranty: | 5 years Limited |
Bow Weight: | 6.2 Pounds |
🗸Bristle Retainer and Foregrip with a Finger Safety Reminder
🗸Anti-Dry Fire Trigger System
🗸Anti-Vibration Foot Stirrup
🗸Metal Injected Molded (MIM) Trigger
🗸Barnett’s Premium 4×32 Scope
🗸Rope Cocking Device
🗸Includes Two 20″ Arrows And Side-Mount Quiver
🗸Hi-Def Camo
- Best crossbow for deer hunting.
- Compact and lightweight
- Shorter width and length for easy maneuvering
- Comes with useful accessories and warranty
- A ready-to shoot full package
- Extremely accurate and Powerful
- Excellent safety features
- Cost-effective
- Scope quality is not very good
Whitetail Hunter II has all the attributes of being the perfect gear for hunting deer, such as its velocity, precision, design and features. If you really want the best crossbow in a budget of $400 for an enjoyable hunting experience, this one is definitely for you.
Final Verdict
We have tried our best to compile a list of some of the best budget crossbows, along with their features, specifications, pros, and cons. In short, the above-mentioned hunting crossbows are the finest in a reasonable price range all under $400.
Out of all these crossbows, we highly recommend the Whitetail Hunter II for its outstanding speed and impressive performance. It checks all elements of being an ideal weapon for game hunting given its speed, accuracy, power, and features. If you want the best crossbow in a budget of 400 dollars, this one is definitely for you.
Another very impressive and affordable model is the CenterPoint Specialist XL 370. It is a well-constructed, powerful, and accurate best crossbow for the money. The package comes with everything you need to start shooting right away.
Hunting Crossbow Buyer’s Guide 2021
Whether you’re new to the crossbow shooting world, or perhaps an experienced hunter, there’s always a lot to learn. You can choose between various types of crossbow available on the market depending on your needs and requirements. This buying guide will explain all the things to consider before purchasing the crossbow under 400 dollars.
Various Technical points For the hunting Crossbow
Velocity:
Velocity is directly linked with the amount of power with which the bolt will hit the target. It is recommended to go for options that propel the bolt faster so that you can achieve the kill with a single hit. A crossbow demonstrating 300 fps or more would be ideal.
Draw Weight:
The draw weight is the amount of power that is applied to draw back the arrow to take a shot. Higher draw weights ensure increased range and higher velocity. However, it can also add up to fatigue and affect your accuracy. It is therefore recommended to consider options with bearable draw weights.
Weight of the Bow:
Hunting expeditions can require long durations of movement. The weight of the bow can have a significant impact on the overall hunting experience as it can increase fatigue levels.
However, since heavier bows are more stable than lighter ones, it is recommended to find the perfect middle ground so that both hunting experience and shot stability are not compromised.
so the focusing on the need for speed does not guarantee that you are purchasing the best crossbow at a given price range
Budget Considerations:
Budget remains one of the top considerations while purchasing crossbows. While there can be tradeoffs between budget and most expensive crossbows, beginners can opt for cost-effective options and opt for better options later on as they progress.
Safety System:
When it comes to shooting with crossbows, the safety feature is a major consideration. Crossbows should be able to disconnect the safety lock before shooting the arrow after loading and also inhibit dry-fire.
However, safety mechanisms vary from brand to brand. Several companies are paying a little consideration while others have sophisticated safety systems and sensors.
FAQs
What’s the difference between the entry-level crossbows and those under $1000?
The entry-level crossbows have adequate precision and strength but do not match the power, efficiency, and accuracy of the premium models. Moreover, many entry-level crossbows do not come with complete accessories like $1000 ones.
Are crossbows better and more accurate than traditional bows?
High-quality crossbows are more precise and accurate than conventional bows. They offer better pace, strength, and reliability than bows. Conversely, crossbows of a lower quality are not reliable and safer than bows due to lack of a safety system and other features.
Is it bad to dry fire a crossbow?
Dry-firing a crossbow can cause catastrophic damage to your weapon. Luckily, crossbows are equipped with a DFI (Dry-Fire-Inhibitor) system. In case you accidentally press the trigger without loading the crossbow, the string will be stopped by the DFI mechanism.
Are cheap crossbows any good?
For beginners, crossbows lying under a cost-effective range can be a good start. As you progress, you can move to higher quality and more expensive options; depending on your requirements.
How Long can I keep my crossbow cocked?
It is advisable to not keep your crossbow cocked for more than 24 hours. Anytime more than this can damage the performance and punch of the crossbow.
Master of Modern Bowhunting, Watson knows archery equipment forward and backward. An accomplished bowhunter in his own right, his successes in the field demonstrates to novices that bowhunting isn’t something to be kept behind closed doors. Making it more accessible to beginners and advanced bowhunters alike; Watson has become an expert in the construction and use of longbows, compound bows, crossbows, archery and bowhunting gear; he now shares his knowledge openly.