You did your homework and the clear choice between a crossbow and compound bow is the crossbow. Crossbows can be very expensive and if you’re in a need of quality yet affordable crossbow – you’re in the right place.
It’s not easy to find a cheap hunting crossbow that will last for long and be manufactured decently. However, it’s definitely not impossible and all you need to do is know what to look out for and where to look for it.
In this post, we’ll show you everything you need to know before choosing an ideal crossbow for yourself but we’ll also review some of the best hunting crossbows available on the market – so keep on reading!
Is it Possible to Find Quality yet Affordable Hunting Crossbow?
As we’ve said earlier – getting a quality yet affordable (cheap) crossbow isn’t impossible, but you really need to invest a bit of your time into the search and learn a couple of things along the way.
The first thing that hunters with a budget do is that they stay away from the well-known brand names. The main reason for this is the price.
However, we believe that no matter how small your budget is – you shouldn’t stay away from well-known brands.
Why?
These brands are the experts at producing the best products in the category and this means that in this case, we’re talking about the best manufacturers of crossbows for hunters.
And what most people don’t realize is that even the largest brands on the market tend to have more affordable products in their lineup.
Therefore, it’s definitely possible to find quality yet affordable crossbows even without staying away from the well-known brands in the hunting industry.
Of course, there’s a big quality difference between the top products and the entry-models but you’re still getting an incredible quality for the price you pay.
Quality yet Cheap Hunting Crossbows
As promised, we’re here to find and review some of the best yet most affordable hunting crossbows – so check out below what we have for you!
Wicked Ridge Invader 400 Crossbow Package
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One of the most affordable picks on the market is Wicked Ridge Invader 400 which is a crossbow that comes in a package with everything you would need to go hunting right as it gets delivered to your door.
It’s a crossbow that’s built-in America and it has the incredible power of being 40 feet per second faster than its predecessor.
What we like the most about this crossbow is the ultra-lite stock that has a built-in cocking device which makes cocking effortless and accurate.
The dimension of 15-inches wide and 35 1/2 long makes this crossbow perfect for hunters who require ultimate handling and maneuverability. You’ll never have to worry about transporting this crossbow either.
Invader 400 comes pre-sighted at 20-yards and it’s a 1-bolt assembly so, within this ready-for-hunt package, you’ll get everything you need.
In the hunter package, you’ll also receive:
- TenPoint’s Pro-View scope
- ACUDraw cocking device
- 3-arrow instant detach quiver
- 3 aluminum arrows with practice points
Considering the price of this bow and the package – you’ll definitely get a quality crossbow plus all the accessories that will make use a lot easier.
Therefore, you won’t end up spending any money in addition and yet the price is really worth the value this package offers.
Click Here to Find the Price!
Wicked Ridge Rampage 360 Crossbow Package
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If Invader isn’t your favorite crossbow on the market, you are also able to find a decent Rampage crossbow that also comes in a hunter package.
We believe that this crossbow offers a lot more than the most average hunter requires and yet it’s a part of a package that improves the overall value and gets you ready for the hunt.
360 after the model name stands for the ability to shoot 360 feet per second which helps deliver an unmatched box accuracy.
Just like Invader, Rampage is built in America and offers unparalleled quality which is considering the price – way too valuable.
Even though it’s one of the industry’s first entry-level crossbows – it has everything a hunter would need to get ready for the next hunt.
We are a big fan of the effortless cocking built-in device that can accurately cock your bow in just seconds without requiring a lot of force.
It comes pre-sighted at 20 yards and it features a super-simple one-bolt assembly so we believe that you can really get prepared for your next crossbow hunt within the next couple of days.
In the package, you’ll also receive:
- TenPoint 3X Multi-Line scope
- ACUdraw cocking device
- 3-arrow instant detach quiver
Click Here for the Price!
Sa Sports Beast 400 Reverse Cam Crossbow
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Sa Sports Beast 400 might not be every hunter’s ideal crossbow but it’s a reverse cam crossbow that will definitely be suitable for some hunters out there.
That’s one of the reasons why it’s our third pick and as you can guess – a great price to value ratio really plays the role here too.
Empire Beast 400 is known as the supreme leader of the Empire line as it introduces modern technology into crossbow manufacturing that will leave you speechless and breathless after every shot you take.
Considering the price, we were really surprised to see patented technology being introduced to this crossbow.
With narrow limb technology and long power stroke, every shot you take will have devastating wrath on the target.
A lot of parts are CNC machined which improves the overall quality you get for the money you spend so that’s another thing we like.
However, knowing that you won’t be able to track the arrow at the speeds this crossbow can project them is really fascinating – especially considering the price.
Click Here for the Price!
Barnett White Tail Pro Crossbow Package
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The reason why White Tail Pro is very significant, especially at this price point features a fiberglass composite step through riser which combines perfectly with the floating bristle arrow retainer.
But these aren’t the only two great things you can expect from White Tail Pro crossbow. You’ll also benefit from tech-advanced features such as an anti-dry fire trigger system, metal injection molded trigger, and aluminum flight track.
All of these components provide speed and power without the unnecessary bulkiness that you can usually find in other crossbows.
We believe that this specially sized crossbow is ideal for full-frame shooters as this crossbow feels natural when you shoulder it.
Concealment is another thing we really like and it’s nice to see that Barnett didn’t only provide one of the best-combined crossbows on the market for this budget – but they’ve also put effort into the concealment which is really important for hunters.
The crossbow comes almost fully assembled and you’ll only need to do one-bolt assembly once you receive the crossbow.
The package is included within the price and along with the crossbow, you’ll also receive:
- Illuminated scope
- Rope cocking device
- Side-mount quiver
- Headhunter arrows
- Lubrication wax
Click Here for the Price!
Wicked Ridge Ranger X2 Crossbow Package
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Even though there isn’t a lot of difference in the price between the crossbows we tested and reviewed for this post – we’re sure that it’s good to have a variety of quality crossbows to choose from.
This increases the chances of finding the right crossbow for your needs and yet it offers a lot of technologically advanced options.
Wicked Ridge Ranger X2 is another example of a very quality crossbow that comes with a package included and yet it’s very decently priced.
It features all modern features such as a built-in cocking device but probably one of the best features of this crossbow is its very lightweight frame and assembly.
We believe that this crossbow will fit well someone of a smaller body frame or someone who’s just starting out with a crossbow as it’s fairly easy to handle and maneuver.
The combination of the powerful components and design gives this crossbow power to produce a speed of 330 feet per second with the help of 4S cams.
It’s worth mentioning that this crossbow comes pre-sighted at 20 yards, it requires only 1-bolt assembly, and it’s a part of the ready-to-hunt package.
Along with the crossbow, this package includes the following:
- Multi-Line Scope
- ACUdraw cocking device
- Instant detach quiver
- 3 arrows with 100-grain practice points
Click Here for the Price!
Excalibur Micro Axe 340 Crossbow Package
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If you’re looking to invest in a crossbow that will be ideal to start out with and yet is suitable for all upgrades that you plan on doing later on – Excalibur Micro Axe 340 is the crossbow we highly recommend.
This crossbow gives hunters an easy-to-maneuver performance that is more than enough for hunters to take down any game.
We like that Micro Axe 340 is anchored on a very lightweight aluminum frame that gives the authentic Excalibur recurve limbs which can launch arrows up to 340 feet per second.
Even though it’s a fairly compact crossbow, it very easy to move with it and stay on the go which is important for every hunter out there who wants to take a better position in the tight treestands.
Excalibur managed to combine the top-notch performance and accuracy with a very affordable entry-model crossbow that is compatible to be upgraded with Excalibur components.
Click Here for the Price!
How to Choose the Ideal Hunting Crossbow?
Shopping for a crossbow involves many factors that you should consider before making your decision. However, being on a budget doesn’t help either.
But we believe that you just need to learn a couple of things, search for longer and dig better to find a crossbow that will fit your needs.
Here are a couple of the most important things to look out for:
- Type of a crossbow
- Speed
- Safety
- Weight
- Additional accessories
The main two types of crossbow are recurved and compound crossbow. Each one has pros and cons so you should definitely look into both types and see which one would fit you the most.
We have a post fully covering the compound crossbow so we highly recommend giving it a read.
You could notice that we were mentioning the shooting speed for each crossbow. Depending on the bow’s build, type, components, and a couple of other factors, speed will be determined.
However, if you’re looking into hunting bows (such as ones we’ve reviewed and listed) – you can rest assured knowing that these bows can take out a big game.
At the same time, you shouldn’t ignore the safety as the most modern bows come with modern safety features that improve the overall use of the crossbow.
Then there’s the weight which will mostly be determined by the lightness of the frame but also by the included components. The more premium material – the lighter the crossbow will be. However, as you can probably guess – the lighter the bow, the higher the price will be.
There are many additional accessories and equipment that you might even need from the beginning. However, there are also way too many upgrades you can do from the start or later on.
We like these hunting packages as you get a great deal on the crossbow, but you also get all the needed accessories to be ready for your next hunt.
Depending on the crossbow and the manufacturer, you’ll most likely be able to upgrade your bow later on with compatible accessories.
Conclusion
There are way too many things to consider when choosing a new hunting crossbow and we know that you might feel that budget sometimes isn’t the biggest worry you have.
However, as long as you take it back to basics, stick to well-known brands, and know exactly what you’re looking for (or what would fit your hunting needs the most) – you’ll be able to find a cheap hunting crossbow that won’t break your bank and yet won’t leave you with a crossbow that might break on you sometime soon.
We took our time to find, test, and review these 6 bows that come are ideal for hunters, come with plenty of accessories, and incredible value for the price you will pay.
What is your favorite crossbow hunting brand?
