The Best Barnett Crossbow

Barnett Crossbows: Our Favorites

We’ll get into the nitty gritty details below, but for now, take a look at our list of favorites. Of the many Barnett crossbow models out there, these are six that really stood out.

The Barnett Wildcat: our choice for total beginners because it’s a ready-to-hunt package with important safety features.

The Barnett Assault 350: a solid entry-level option for beginners who still want speed and power.

The Barnett Explorer XP: our first pick for intermediate archers thanks to two different speed options and a smooth but safe trigger system. 

The Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR: the solid construction and high craftsmanship made this crossbow our runner-up intermediate model.

The Barnett TS 390: high-end features make this crossbow a good option for intermediate archers ready to move up.

The Barnett HyperGhost 425: our favorite for advanced and experienced archers due to blistering speed and penetrative power.

The Best Barnett Crossbows: Our Reviews

Now that you know our favorites, you can read our in-depth reviews to see which specs and features earned them that place on our list. This way, you can pick the best barnett crossbow for your needs and experience level.

Barnett Wildcat

Summary: The Barnett Wildcat is a starter bow that still packs enough power and features to do serious archery and bowhunting and improve your skills in your new hobby. 

Pros:

Ready-to-hunt package

Extensive safety features

Comes mostly assembled

Cons:

Wide ATA length

The Barnett Wildcat can jumpstart your archery career and take you from a novice archer to experienced bowhunter. That’s because it’s a ready-to-hunt package that includes the basics you need to hit the treestand and learn the ropes without being too much power to handle.

Specifically, the Wildcat has 165 pounds of draw weight that produces 260 FPS of bolt speed and 53 FPKE of kinetic energy. That meets draw-weight requirements in most states (check first to be sure) and is enough to take down small- to mid-sized game including whitetail deer at close range. You can still use this crossbow seriously, but it’s not too much to control. This way you can more easily work on your accuracy.

Additionally, the extensive safety features of the Wildcat make it great for beginners. There’s a floating bristle bolt retainer which helps prevent dry firing on top of the anti-dry-fire trigger system. Dry firing a crossbow can damage the crossbow, or worse, the person using it. 

Similarly, the Wildcat has finger safety reminders. As a beginner, you’re more likely to forget important safety steps, so having these safeguards is really important and can protect both you and your crossbow, meaning you can get more experience.

Finally, the various accessories included in this ready-to-hunt help you get started on the right foot There’s a 4×32 multi-reticle scope, two aluminum bolts, and a mounted quiver as well as string and rail lube. Plus, it comes mostly assembled. As a beginner, you want your energy to be put into learning archery, not trying to figure which accessories to get when you don’t know how to use them yet anyway. As a result, the Barnett Wildcat is a great option to get a new archer who’s itching to start bowhunting, whether that means it’s for yourself or a loved one.

Barnett Assault 350

Summary: Lightweight and powerful, the Barnett Assault 350 manages to pack high-end specs into an entry-level model to help you get the most out of your first hunting experiences.

Pros:

350 FPS bolt speed

Rope cocking aid

Lightweight

Cons:

Bowstring wears easily

The Barnett Assault 350 is another great starter option that can work for both total beginners and casual archers who may not put in that many hours in the tree stand each season but still want something that can take down big game when they do go out. Its 350 FPS of bolt speed and 104 FPKE of kinetic energy is certainly enough for whitetail deer and will also produce enough kinetic energy to hunt big game like elk and moose.

This power comes from the 165 pounds of draw weight that acts along a 12.5-inch power stroke. Since this may be a lot for beginners to handle, Barnett was sure to include a rope cocking aid. This along with the front stirrup lets you use more leverage to cock more easily, quickly, and safely. 

Nevertheless, despite being an entry level model, the Assault 350 has a lot of specs and features you’d expect from a deluxe model, and this makes it a formidable hunting weapon. For example, the skeleton stock keeps the crossbow stable but lightweight. In fact, it’s only 6.4 pounds. Combined with the TriggerTech Frictionless Release Technology Trigger, you can shoot smoothly and therefore much more accurately.

Another high-quality spec is the ATA length of just 16.125 inches. This is due to the effective cam system that’s also partly responsible for the crossbow’s power. This narrow width makes the Assault 350 more maneuverable which can keep you from making noise while moving through thick brush and can also help get a better angle on your shot in a cramped tree stand.

Finally, the Assault 350 comes with several accessories that get you ready to hunt faster, including a quiver, 4×32 multi-reticle scope, and lube wax, that last one being especially important because the string on this model wears easily unfortunately. There are several important safety features as well including an anti-dry fire trigger system and finger guards to protect the beginner who hasn’t quite perfected their form.

Barnett Explorer XP

Summary: The Barnett Explorer XP comes in two different speed options, both of which can help intermediate archers take their hunting to the next level thanks to a smooth trigger system and included carbon bolts, in addition to its power.

Pros:

Both 370 and 380 FPS options

Carbon bolts included

Single-bolt assembly

TriggerTech frictionless release

Cons:

Scope for 380 model not illuminated

Scope for 370 model not multi-reticle

If you feel like you have a good grip on crossbows and are ready to step it up, the Barnett Explorer XP might be a good option. The dual cam system produces a lot of power and shoots arrows at 380 FPS. You can also downgrade to the 370 FPS option if you want. Either way, these high speeds are enough to potentially take down big game like elk and moose if you know what you’re doing.

The cams also help keep the Explorer XP compact. The axle-to-axle width is just 16.25 inches, narrow and agile. Along with its power, this provides a good opportunity for still hunting because you can maneuver more easily through thick brush without making noise. It’ll also take up less room in a tree stand.

Similarly, the Explorer XP is very lightweight, only six pounds. This alone helps with accuracy, but when combined with the included multi-reticle scope (or illuminated red-dot scope that comes with the 370 FPS model), this crossbow is capable of really accurate shots, even at long range. Again, this can be important for still hunters who may have to take longer shots when they come across their quarry.

Furthermore, a number of included features make this more accessible for the intermediate archer who needs a bit more punch. For example, the Explorer XP comes with two 20-inch carbon bolts. Lightweight but still stiff, these high-quality bolts can fly straight and penetrate deeper for the same draw weight, making you more effective against big game.

There’s a mounted quiver as well, and Barnett made it lightweight to keep you balanced and accurate. The TriggerTech Frictionless release also helps improve your stability because you don’t have to move much to pull the trigger, which can keep you from accidentally jerking or changing your aim. The trigger system also includes an important Soft Lok floating bristle bolt retainer designed to prevent dry firing and consequent injury or damage to your crossbow. 

Lastly, this crossbow model comes mostly assembled. Just one bolt is required. This is great for the intermediate archer who’s built up their skills but still isn’t an expert crossbow mechanic yet. With the Explorer XP, the intermediate archer can hunt in most situations with confidence.

Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR

Summary: The Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR not only comes with some great accessories, it’s expertly crafted to provide stability and durability while producing the speed and power needed by the intermediate archer. 

Pros:

Step-through riser

Skeleton stock

Single-bolt assembly

Cons:

Wide ATA length

The first thing that stands out about the Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR is the quality construction. This means the durability and stability the intermediate archer needs now that they’ve built up their skills and are dedicated to continuing their archery career. Plus, it’s a single-bolt assembly that’s easy to set up even if you don’t know everything about crossbow construction.

The quality construction also means a fiberglass composite step-through riser. Because it’s built into the bow itself as opposed to a mounted stirrup, it’s much sturdier and can give you more confidence and stability when cocking the crossbow. Cocking is also made easier by the included rope cocking device, and it’s also compatible with the Barnett cocking crank. Unfortunately, you have to get that separately, though.

Similar to the step-through riser, the skeleton stock also gives you a firm and stable anchor when you take a shot without adding undue weight to the crossbow’s frame. In fact, the Whitetail Hunter STR only weighs 6.6 pounds.

As for specs, the Whitetail Hunter STR fires bolts at around 375 FPS and produces 118 FPKE of kinetic energy. At the intermediate level, you’ve probably practiced enough to handle this speed and get the most out of it. It’s powerful enough to take down big game and from a decent distance as long as you’ve honed your accuracy. Of course, the Whitetail Hunter STR helps maximize this with a multi-reticle scope that you can use for several different distances.

We also like that Barnett includes some more accessories with this model like a mounted quiver and lube wax. It also comes with two 22-inch bolts, but you can upgrade and get a package with seven bolts. This is a good option if you plan to hunt a lot, especially in thick woods where you’re more likely to lose your bolts.

Finally, like with all their models, Barnett takes safety into account with the Whitetail Hunter STR. Its anti-dry-fire technology keeps the intermediate archer from accidentally shooting the crossbow without a bolt in it and damaging the bow or even injuring themselves.  

Barnett TS 390

Summary: The Barnett TS 390 is a crossbow in between intermediate and high end that includes a lot of deluxe features like string dampeners and an adjustable butt stock to give the experienced archer an edge on the hunt. 

Pros:

Adjustable butt stock

Illuminated scope

Included string dampeners

Nock sensor

Cons:

Heavy

The Barnett TS 390 is a great transition crossbow, right in the sweet spot between an intermediate and deluxe model. As a result, it can be a good choice for the archer with seasons of practice but who still only plans to bowhunt casually. 

Of course, the TS 390 comes with most of the features the intermediate archer is accustomed to and knows how to use to improve their hunt. This includes a step-through riser that gives you leverage when cocking, a 4×32 scope, a mounted quiver, rope cocking device, and anti-dry-fire system and finger guards for safety.

However, with the TS 390, Barnett has added to these features to make them even more useful. For instance, the scope is illuminated, meaning you can still see the reticles in dim light. Since many game animals like deer are most active at dawn and dusk, this is a great asset. 

Similarly, the anti-dry-fire system includes a nock sensor that can tell whether you’ve loaded a bolt into the crossbow. This high-tech addition can save your crossbow from damage not only if you’ve forgotten to load a bolt but if you’ve loaded it incorrectly, which could still lead to an accident. 

Our favorite advanced feature, though, is probably the adjustable butt stock. This lets you vary the length so you can get the most comfortable shooting position possible. It also makes it more accessible to archers on the extreme ends of height.

Now, it is important to have a decent amount of practice under your belt before going for this model. That’s because the TS 390 is a bit heavy at 7.6 pounds, so you need to still be able to shoot accurately while holding it steady. Of course, this heaviness reflects the tough construction of the crossbow, like the machined aluminum flight track that can shoot accurately while minimizing noise. Plus, the included string dampeners make it even quieter. 

It does this while maintaining 187 pounds of draw weight that produces 390 FPS of bolt speed and 128 FPKE of kinetic energy. That’s high-end power that can take on the biggest game like moose and bear.

Barnett HyperGhost 425

Summary: The Barnett HyperGhost 425 is an advanced, deluxe crossbow model with tons of speed and power and the tough construction to handle those serious hunting trips for the biggest and most elusive quarries.

Pros:

425 FPS

152 FPKE

Lightweight

Tough construction

Cons:

The Barnett HyperGhost 425 is a powerful deluxe crossbow and one of our favorite models on the market today. As you probably guessed, it shoots bolts at 425 FPS, blazing fast. This creates 152 FPKE of kinetic energy that can take down big bears and moose bulls while shooting accurately and penetrating deeply.

Along with that power, Barnett has designed the HyperGhost 425 with an exceptionally well-crafted frame made of high-density foam. It has a composite step-through riser that lets you use your foot for leverage when cocking it, which you can do using the included rope cocking aid or a Barnett cocking crank that you can get separately. Despite the sturdy frame, this crossbow is still lightweight, only 3.2 pounds without accessories, and easy to assemble. In fact, it has a single-bolt assembly that shouldn’t take much time at all to put together.

Other advanced features include the illuminated scope that helps you hunt in dim light when animals like deer are the most active and the Mossy Oak camo finish that keeps you hidden in your tree stand. We also like the contoured, recessed handle that provides a solid grip for improved accuracy.

More than is common for Barnett, they’ve also included three 22-inch bolts with the HyperGhost 425. These are quality Hyper Flite bolts that can fly straight and weather tough conditions. It’s a great choice for advanced archers who want to do some serious bowhunting.

Some Advice for Choosing the Best Barnett Crossbow

Barnett is one of the biggest crossbow manufacturers out there, so at first glance, there are a ton of models to choose from. You can narrow it down considerably, though, by paying attention to your experience level.

Barnett crossbows tend to fall within three main ranges: starter models, intermediate models, and deluxe or advanced models. There are also some that may be transition models. For example, a crossbow may have deluxe features but the lower power of an intermediate model.

When you’re just beginning your crossbow journey, you want a starter crossbow for a couple reasons. Most importantly, you might not have the skills yet to handle higher bolt speeds and draw weights. You can more easily learn and build your skill with a starter model.

When you’re ready you can move up to an intermediate model that has more features and more power. And if you’re really serious about bowhunting and want to hunt the biggest game in the toughest conditions, you can get a deluxe model once you’re confident enough with your skills.

Barnetts: Our Last Word 

With a legacy going all the way back to 1958, Barnett remains one of the top choices for bowhunters for a reason. Regardless of your experience level, there’s probably a Barnett model that will suit your needs and situation. Make sure you take a look at a wide range of models to get a feeling for all the options and choose the one that will lead to both fun and success.