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There are plenty of ways to hunt, and one that is becoming increasingly popular is hunting with a crossbow. Even though a standard crossbow is old technology, the modern versions are packed with useful features that make hitting targets and filling your tags much easier. Whether you’re a long-time hunter transitioning from a compound bow or are completely new to shooting a crossbow, you might be wondering what the best options are for your situation. With different draw weights, sizes, and included accessories, there are countless combinations to choose from depending on your goals. Thankfully, we’ve assembled this list of our best-rated and most popular crossbows to get you on the right track so that you can start shooting and practicing. 
Barnett Hyper Raptor 410 Crossbow Package
Starting off the list strong with a 5-star rated crossbow from the well-known makers at Barnett, the Hyper Raptor 410 Crossbow Package is an excellent choice for both newcomers and experienced crossbow shooters alike. Our reviewers rave about how the Hyper Raptor 410 shoots smoothly and easily, letting you keep sending bolts downrange without issues. It’s also lightweight, which makes trekking through the woods to get to your favorite hunting spot a breeze. With an adjustable buttstock to make shooting as comfortable as possible and a shooting mechanism that launches your bolts at 410 feet per second, the Hyper Raptor 410 pushes out significant stopping power to help you fill your tags.
One thing that makes the Barnett Hyper Raptor 410 Crossbow Package unique is that it doesn’t just come with the crossbow; instead, when you purchase this package you also get a premium side-mount quiver, a 4x36mm illuminated reticle crossbow scope, a sled-style rope cocking device (RCD), lubrication wax, and three 20-inch Hyperflite arrows! This means it comes with nearly everything you need to take it right out of the box, attach the included accessories, and start practicing. And best of all, this crossbow package is an excellent option for budget-conscious shoppers and new shooters who don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on their first crossbow! Whether you’re tearing up targets in the backyard or aiming to fill the meat freezer early this hunting season, you can’t go wrong with the Barnett Hyper Raptor 410 Crossbow Package.
Mission Crossbows Sub-1 Crossbow Pro Kit
Next up we have the incredible Sub-1 Crossbow Pro Kit from the talented team at Mission Crossbows with a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars! With 200 pounds of draw weight delivering bolts at a blistering 385 feet per second, the Sub-1 packs a serious punch that can help you take down everything from whitetail deer and mule deer to even larger game. At just over 30 inches long, almost 11 inches wide, and weighing in at 7.5 pounds, the Mission Crossbows Sub-1 packs a ton of features into its relatively small frame, allowing you to move through your hunting land, climb into a tree stand, or rest inside a blind comfortably.
Much like the Hyper Raptor 410, the Sub-1 Crossbow Pro Kit comes with more than just the basic crossbow. Designed to help you start shooting as soon as possible, this Pro Kit comes with a Hawke Optics XB-1 scope, quiver, three bolts, cocking rope, and a soft case. From transporting your crossbow to lighting up deer-shaped targets, you get everything you need to start practicing immediately so that you’re prepared for the shots that count. It even comes with rail lube to help prevent any accidental damage and ensure the crossbow shoots smoothly long after you buy it. One downside to the Sub-1 Crossbow Pro Kit is that it’s the most expensive crossbow on this list, so it’s not as budget- or beginner-friendly as some of the other options. However, when you need serious, uncompromising performance, the Mission Crossbows Sub-1 is the perfect addition to your arsenal.
Ravin R10 Crossbow
When you think of high-tech features on a crossbow, few are as impressive as the HeliCoil technology that Ravin packs into their crossbows, and the R10 is no exception, which is a big reason why this option has a 5-star rating. Using their Versa-Draw Cocking System, the Ravin R10 Crossbow features a measly 12 pounds of draw weight, which is less than 10% of the draw weight of most other commercial crossbows. While this seems like it would prevent bolts from reaching the appropriate speed, this is not the case. Instead, the HeliCoil technology only requires the user to use 12 pounds of draw weight, while the cams rotate an impressive 340 degrees and remain perfectly balanced and level. This process cranks up the tension and weight used to propel your bolt, resulting in a simple cocking and decocking process that also boasts rifle-like accuracy downrange. Plus, you don’t have to strain each time you want to cock the crossbow, making the entire experience more enjoyable.
And just like the previous two entries on this list, when you purchase the Ravin R10 Crossbow, you get plenty of accessories with it. In this package, you get a removable draw handle, 3 Ravin 0.003 premium arrows and field tips, and a 100-yard illuminated scope to help you dial in your shots right out of the box. And while our customers love the included accessories, they’re most excited about how accurate the Ravin R10 Crossbow is, with people saying it “shoots like a rifle” and “is unbelievably fast and accurate,” so you can be confident in every shot!
Steambow AR-Series M10 Tactical Crossbow
Just from the picture, you’re probably wondering what’s going on with this crossbow, and we’re excited to showcase it! The Steambow AR-Series M10 Tactical Crossbow is not like your grandfather’s crossbow or even your dad’s crossbow. The M10 is a repeating crossbow, featuring a 10-bolt refillable magazine that lets you fire off shots quickly and efficiently. With a draw weight of only 75 pounds, the M10 utilizes a pseudo break-action design where you get leverage with the buttstock, allowing for rapid cocking and shooting. Then, when you run out of bolts in your magazine, all you have to do is pop it out and insert a new fully loaded magazine, and you can get back to shooting. This lets you put dozens of bolts downrange faster than most other shooters can go through their standard quiver, making it an excellent option for self-defense, target shooting, and even hunting!
While it might not have the raw stopping power of other crossbows on this list, its extremely small size and total weight of less than 4 pounds means you can easily move around with this crossbow and put bolts downrange from a variety of positions and even while you’re on the move. And, the Steambow M10 Tactical Crossbow features an AR-style takedown pin that allows you to flip open the upper receiver for easy string maintenance and quick limb removal for cleaning and repairs.
Pull the Trigger on a New Crossbow Today!
Getting into crossbow shooting is a fun, rewarding experience, and our team at OpticsPlanet is here to make the process as simple and seamless as possible. Once you get your new crossbow, check out our huge selection of crossbow bolts to fill your quiver. Then, you can pick up some new broadheads and a crossbow scope that fits your shooting style perfectly!
