How to Choose the Best Pistol Crossbow for You
There’s
something impressive about the power of a crossbow. In fact, they
changed the course and tactics of warfare during their advent. Today the
crossbow remains a staple of hunting. And somewhere along the lines hand crossbows and mini crossbows snuck into the imagination of progressive users.
What if we could pack the power of a crossbow down into a miniature version, still powerful enough to deal serious damage for sport or hunting?
Popularized by fantasy novels and TV shows, sneaky characters seem to do their dirty work with these fun-sized weapons. So how do you find a pistol crossbow that you can use to practice your aim? I’m going to help you decide.
There are only two real uses for a pistol crossbow if you’re going to be an upstanding citizen about it. First, you could use it just for fun and target practice. Second, you could use it for hunting small game. We urge against dressing up like a ninja and fighting crime with your new hand crossbow.
What Will You Use It For?
Pistol crossbows come in many weights and designs. They’re all made for a different purpose! We’ll talk more about the details, but first you need to think about why you want this hand crossbow.
Will you use it just for target practice? Is budget a big concern, or are you willing to pay more for improved accuracy?
If you’re going to try to hunt with it, what type of game will you try to kill? To learn more about bowhunting (including pistol crossbow hunting) and to stay up on changing trends and regulations see these resources: Horizontal Bowhunter Magazine and North American Crossbow Federation.
Maybe you want a hand crossbow so that you can use to get started in competitive crossbow shooting, and you”re looking for the cheapest pistol crossbow to get started. For information about competitive crossbow shooting and events see: USA Crossbow, Inc.
Decide the purpose of your purchase first!
Draw Weight
Like any bow, pistol crossbows and mini crossbows are mainly categorized by their draw weight. That is, how many pounds of force does it take to pull the string back?
For a traditional bow like a longbow or a recurve a standard draw weight might be between 40 – 80 pounds today. Full size crossbows can draw as much as 300+ pounds!
Pistol crossbows typically range from about 50 – 100 pounds of draw weight. Most pistol crossbows tent to hover around the 80 pounds mark. This draw weight, depending on many factors, can usually result in a bolt speed of 100 – 200+ fps.
https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Sen_X_AR_6_Tactical_Arrow_Repeating_Crossbow_by_Steambow/5004
Size
Don’t be fooled – size does matter when it comes to hand crossbows. Essentially the whole point of a pistol crossbow is mobility and, at a nefarious level, concealment. Their lighter weight makes them easier to carry over longer distances, through thick brush, or in tight confines. Compared to a full-size crossbow, they’re less accurate and produce less power but they make up for that in their size advantages.
Most
pistol crossbows today offer very little appreciable size differences.
By and large, they’re all within a pretty narrow range of size variance.
If size is critical to you, however, be sure to consider this factor
before making an order.
Draw Method
Traditionally there were several ways to draw a crossbow. Cranks, levers, and hooks have all been common options over the years of crossbow evolution. Today’s pistol crossbows pretty much rely on just two variations of drawing the string and loading the bow.
Popular among lower draw weight bows is the direct draw method. These “mini crossbows” use a direct draw because the draw weight is low enough that no mechanical advantage (leverage) is required. They typically have a simple handle on the back of the crossbow that’s pulled straight back to draw the string.
Nearly exclusively among pistol crossbows is the lever
cocking method. Usually integrated directly into the back of the bow is
an elegantly hidden lever. These bows are “break action” and depressing a
lock switch allows you to use the lever to draw the bow string back.
This creates a marginal amount of mechanical advantage (think back to
physics class) to help when drawing the string.
Attachments
Because accessorizing is as popular for adults with ranged weapons as it is for children with Barbie dolls, we must address this major concern. Attachments for modern ranged weapons typically mount to a standardized system known as a picatinny rail. To attach any fancy tactical gear to your pistol crossbow, you’ll need a picatinny rail.
A few pistol
crossbows come with pre-mounted picatinny rails. If you’re interested in
putting a red dot sight, flashlight, or other neat looking gadget on
your bow you’ll need to make sure you purchase a bow with this
capability!
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for a hunting weapon for the varmints on your bird feeder or you just want to practice, there’s a pistol crossbow or mini-crossbow waiting for you. While these make great introductions to shooting for kids, they’re not to be mistaken for toys.
Even for the experienced shooter, a bow like the Prophecy 80-pound has enough accuracy and speed to be a viable tool! Remember, before you make a purchasing decision, be sure to decide on your personal needs.
You might also be interested in these related review articles:
SHOOTING & ARCHERY AIR RIFLES | AIR RIFLE SCOPES | COMPOUND BOWS | CROSSBOWS | PISTOL CROSSBOWS | RECURVE BOWS | HANDGUN SAFES | BIOMETRIC GUN CASES | RIFLE CASES | COMPOUND BOW CASES | CROSSBOW CASES
HUNTING GEAR HUNTING BOWS | CROSSBOWS | HUNTING ARROWS | TREE STANDS | HUNTING BOOTS | HUNTING BACKPACKS | HUNTING RIFLE SCOPES | HUNTING BINOCULARS | LASER RANGEFINDERS | HUNTING HEADLAMPS | TRAIL CAMERAS | HUNTING GPS | BOW SIGHTS | SPOTTING SCOPES | HUNTING BLINDS
Also see: The Family Guide To Air Gun Shooting And Safety.
https://www.outsidepursuits.com/best-pistol-crossbows/#ace
Pistol Crossbow Reviews
#1 Prophecy Pistol Crossbow
There’s no doubt about it – this is the best bow your money can buy at the moment according to user reviews. Having used this exact bow many times myself, I can say that it is extremely satisfying, fun, and accurate. It’s easy to operate and will make a great target shooter or hunting crossbow for varmints.
Features of the Prophecy Pistol Crossbow:
- Draw weight: 80 lbs
- Arrows travel speed: 150 feet per second
- The power stroke is 6-4/5”
- Easy assembly and dis-assembly
- Unique Cobra limb system for easy cocking
This lever cocking crossbow has a nearly 7” stroke, drawing 80 pounds using a mechanical lever built into the bow. I like the sights on the bow – it comes with iron sights. It’s also easy to replace the limb (if it ever breaks) and replacement strings are easy enough to find. You’ll want to order an extra string and tons of extra darts as the plastic fletching’s tend to break all too often.
This pistol crossbow comes with a picatinny rail and is available with a red dot sight!
#2 Kings Archery Pistol Crossbow
Nearly identical to the Prophecy bow we reviewed above, this lever cocking bow features a more prominent brass coloring. If you’re purchasing a hand crossbow for the stealth factor, this shiny yellow metal may be a turn off for you.
Features of the Kings Archery Pistol Crossbow:
- Draw weight: 80 lb
- Easy to use self-cocking mechanism®
- Includes 60 aluminum and PVC arrow bolts
- Bow is made of durable molded fiberglass
- Self cocking unit provides easy and fast reload
- Includes adjustable sights
One thing that I love about the KingsArchery bow is that it comes with a 60 pack of darts. If that seems like too many, keep in mind that they’re made of PVC (plastic) and will likely break about every other shot. The savvy among you may consider making your own darts out of hollow aluminum and a little handiwork…
While there is no picatinny rail on this one, you do get more darts with your purchase. Plus, both the KingsArchery bow and the Prophecy both sport equal 80-pound draws. Which factor is more important to you?
#3 PSE Viper SS Handheld Crossbow
PSE is a well-established manufacturer of high end compound bows and full-size crossbows. It’s no surprise to see them entering the handheld crossbow market. They have brought us a 50-pound draw bow that’s a lever cocking piece we would expect.
Features of the PSE Viper SS Handheld Crossbow:
- Draw weight: 50 lbs
- Weight: 1.6 lbs
- Velocity: 215 FPS
- Integrated, simple cocking mechanism
- Auto safety lock & anti-dry Fire trigger
- Finger guard
While similar in appearance to the above bows, there are a few major changes I do like. I’m a fan of the textured foregrip which mostly improves the leverage you’re able to get when loading the bow. I also like the string protectors on the tips of the bow arms. Considering that these hand crossbow strings tend not to last very long, any protection helps!
PSE included a vertical foregrip on this crossbow as well which I think is a big improvement over the traditional style grips on the other bows.
#4 Rogue River Tactical Pistol Crossbow
This is yet another lever cocking hand crossbow, this time with an 80-pound draw weight again. It’s like the KingsArchery bow in that it features brass components which make it stand out aesthetically.
Features of the Rogue River Tactical Pistol Crossbow:
- Self Cocking Mechanism
- Easy to Re-cock and Load
- 80-pound draw weight
- 160 feet per second velocity
- Solid metal frame
- Includes 15 aluminum arrows w/ metal tips
- Adjustable sight
I like the thumb screws on the iron sights. These make it easier to adjust the bow and sight it in as you work with it to dial in the accuracy. Like most of the bows in this category there’s an automatic safety which immediately engages when the bow is loaded.
Essentially identical features to many other bows in this category may make it hard to determine exactly which is the best for you.
#5 Cobra Pistol Crossbow
If you haven’t already decided that you’ve got enough options in the pistol crossbow arena, we’re going to give you one more to mull over. If it’s not the most affordable bow on our list, then it’s close to it!
Features of the Cobra Pistol Crossbow:
- 80lbs
- 160 FPS
- Self-cocking
- Free pack of metal arrows
- Plastic crossbow frame
- 6.8″ power stroke
It also comes with 15 arrows, which is the second-best deal we’ve got. PLUS, it’s an 80-pound lever cocking model which is arguably the most effective type of mini crossbow. Overall, I think the sights could be improved, but they’re simple iron sights with a minimal amount of adjustability.
Seen here with an optional Red Dot RD30 Rifle Scope in Matte Black:
If you’re looking for an 80-pound model with a decent number of darts to get you started, this might be a good contender for you.
Pistol Crossbows Comparison Table
| Draw Weight (lbs) | Self-Cocking (Y/N) | Vertical Foregrip | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prophecy Pistol Crossbow |  | 80 lbs | YES | NO | 4.1 / 5 |
| Kings Archery Pistol Crossbow |  | 80 lbs | YES | NO | 4.0 / 5 |
| PSE Viper SS Handheld Crossbow |  | 50 lbs | NO | YES | 4.2 / 5 |
| Rogue River Tactical Pistol Crossbow | 80 lbs | YES | NO | 3.4 / 5 | |
| Cobra Pistol Crossbow |  | 80 lbs | YES | NO | 3.9 / 5 |
Mini Crossbow Reviews
Technically
speaking, mini-crossbows seem to live in a niche of their own. These
crossbows usually have a lower draw weight and a simple pull loading
method.
#1 ACE Mini Crossbow
If you’re looking for something a bit smaller than our pistol crossbows listed above, this is your jam. Unfortunately, it’s a straight draw and you won’t get the mechanical advantage of the self-cocking pistol crossbows above.
If you struggle with lower hand strength or arthritis you may honestly want to avoid this type of draw method. With this method, you must be capable of directly pulling all 80 pounds of force to cock the bow.
Features of the ACE Mini Crossbow:
- 80 lb. draw weight
- ABS plastic and fiberglass bow
- Adjustable sights
- Includes 5 fiberglass arrows with field tips, bowstring and target
- Shoots 160 FPS up to 40 yards.
- 1.05 lbs
With that one drawback, almost everything else is reminiscent of the pistol crossbows above. The iron sights are easily adjustable with thumb screws.
Like other bows in the category, it self-engages the safety when it’s loaded. This is important because you don’t want a sharp plastic dart firing off unintentionally.
#2 Snake Eye Tactical Mini Crossbow
With a moderate 50-pound draw, this pistol crossbow somehow manages to pack a whopping 150 feet per second bolt speed. Like most mini crossbows it is a direct draw system but the lower draw weight makes it much more reasonable to draw than the 80-pound models.
Features of the ACE Mini Crossbow:
- 50lb draw weight
- 150 feet per second velocity
- Pistol grip handle
- Includes 15 arrows
I would like to have seen Snake Eye include a more pronounced fore grip. Why? Because it’s easy and painful to catch a finger in the bow string. Never wrap your hand around the bow! That string can do serious or permanent damage if it contacts flesh.
Is mini-crossbow would make a good choice for kids or those with hand problems due to its lower overall draw weight and direct draw method.
#3 Tactical Crusader Mini Crossbow
Customers seem to review this mini-crossbow as moderate at best. Some come right out of the box with frayed strings, others seem not to last very long in use. It’s no surprise with pistol crossbows or mini-crossbows that the strings must be replaced. Darts get lost and break easily.
It is, however, the absolute least expensive mini-crossbow on our list today. For that reason, we might expect that quality isn’t quite as tight as, say, the Prophecy self-loader at the top of our review list.
Features of the Tactical Crusader Mini Crossbow:
- 50 lb. draw weight
- plastic body
- replacement bowstrings available
- includes 4 arrows
- includes target
Make no mistake, this is not a toy! It will still do damage if used improperly and just because it’s small doesn’t mean it’s a good fit for the kids. This mini-crossbow has the potential to deal out some damage for target practice or varmints.
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