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Some new standards are being set in the crossbow world in 2024. On the premium, extreme-performance side of things, TenPoint has a new speed champion that shoots to a staggering 515 feet per second. Meanwhile, most of the mid-priced compound crossbows—the models most deer hunters buy—are faster, too, in excess of 400 fps. For those who prefer simpler designs, there are several new recurve models on the market this year; a couple from Excalibur, as you’d expect, and a sub-$200 bow from Barnett.
We won’t call this roundup a “review” because these crossbows are so new we haven’t had a chance to test any of them yet—but we plan to. Meanwhile, consider this our first look at what’s new for the year, based on information provided by the manufacturers, our previous experiences with similar models, and a long history of testing virtually every new crossbow
that hits the market year in and year out. That said, here are the hottest new crossbows for 2024.
TenPoint TRX 515
As its name implies, TenPoint’s newest crossbow fires bolts at an impressive 515 fps. TenPoint Crossbows
Specs
Width: 6 inches wide (cocked)
Weight: 7.2 pounds (bare bow)
Speed: 515 fps
Price (including accessories): $3,450
TenPoint broke the 500-fps mark a few years ago with the Nitro 505 (which I used this past fall to shoot my best Kentucky buck to date). The new TRX 515
is even faster at—you guessed it—515 feet per second. The foundation of the new crossbow is the Twin Riser Technology and Zero Trac barrel, which are designed to be more rigid and reduce friction between the arrow shaft and barrel for improved accuracy. The bow also sports the ACU-Lok scope bridge, which strengthens the scope-mounting platform, and the excellent ACU-Slide cocking system. I’ve extensively tested all of the flagship crossbows from TenPoint in the past half-dozen years or so, and last year’s Flatline 460
won an F&S Best of the Best award
. I feel safe in saying that you can expect this one, and all the accessories that go with it, to be a top performer. Just don’t expect it to be cheap.
Ravin R50X
Ravin’s R50X boasts advertised speed of 505 fps from a very compact package. Ravin Crossbows
Specs
Width: 4 inches (cocked)
Weight: 8.5 pounds (with accessories)
Speed: 505 feet per second
Price: $2,450
Ravin’s newest flagship crossbow looks quite a lot like the existing R500, but it has a slight speed boost and cam modification that’s designed to get more life out of the crossbow. The R50X boasts advertised speeds of 505 fps in a package that’s just 4 inches wide axle to axle when cocked. The new DuoMax Cam System is designed to harness more power out of the crossbow while reducing stress on the limbs. Meanwhile, the patent-pending Frictionless Flight System allows the arrow shaft to free-float over the rail, greatly increasing string and cable life. The R50X is available with various accessory packages and is supposed to be available to hunters beginning this spring.
Excalibur Rev X
The new Rev X features what promises to be a much-improved cocking system. Excalibur Crossbows
Specs
Length (width not provided): 33 inches
Weight: 7 pounds (bare bow)
Speed: 400 fps
Price (including accessories): $1,600
Excalibur recurves are never the fastest or quietest crossbows, and they’re certainly not the most compact. But they’re the ones I often gravitate to for hunting because they’re accurate, equipped with outstanding accessories, and unquestionably durable. In a decade of testing crossbows, I’ve seen fewer Excaliburs malfunction than any other brand. My chief critique of their recent flagships has been in their cocking devices, which have steadily improved each year, still haven’t been as seamless as the competition. This year’s new Excalibur Rev X
might change that with its new and integrated ChargerX cranking system, built right into the crossbow’s streamlined stock. Shooters can expect 400 fps with a 350-grain arrow and about 16 pounds of cocking effort. And if past models are any indication, I’d also expect one of the best triggers and accessory packages in the business, too.
Wicked Ridge RDX 410
With an advertised speed of 410 fps, the latest from Wicked Ridge packs a lot of performance for the money. Wicked Ridge
Specs
Width: 9 inches (cocked)
Weight: 7.5 pounds (bare bow)
Speed: 410 fps
Price (including accessories): $899.99
Wicked Ridge, TenPoint’s budget-friendlier sister company, consistently produces some of the best compound crossbows you can get for the money, even if the speeds and features aren’t always all that exciting. But this year’s reverse-draw RDX 410
is exciting, as it packs 410-fps velocities and compact dimensions in with premium accessories, like the ACU-Draw Silent cocking device, Pro-View 400 lighted scope, and 3.5-pound trigger, but all with a suggested retail price of well under a grand.
CenterPoint Sinister 430 Crossbow
The Sinister 430 is impressively fast and comes with an integrated crank-style cocking system for well under under a grand. Centerpoint Crossbows
Specs
Width: 9 inches (cocked)
Weight: 8.6 pounds
Speed: 430 fps
Price (including accessories): $800
Like Wicked Ridge is to TenPoint, CenterPoint is Ravin’s more cost-conscious sister brand. New to their lineup this year is the Sinister 430
, which features a fully integrated crank-style cocking system and speeds to 430 fps with a 400-grain bolt. The bow is nimble and narrow (9-inch-wide limbs were reserved for more expensive flagships only a few years ago), and weighs 8.6 pounds. It has an adjustable bullpup stock and sports a 1-5×32 scope with illuminated reticle.
Barnett XP405
Yes, there are still a few fast and capable crossbows for $500, and the new XP 405 promises to be a good example. Barnett Crossbows
Specs
Width: 14 inches (at rest)
Weight: 13 pounds (rigged with accessories)
Speed: 405 fps
Price: $500
Several of Barnett’s mid-tier crossbows have won “Best Value” awards in hands-on testing from Field & Stream over the years, including last year’s Hyper Raptor. The new XP405
looks to be another solid crossbow option for the money. Specs include 405 fps velocities with a 3-pound TriggerTech trigger (a system used in other crossbows, too, but Barnett triggers are consistently top-notch). The XP405 also features a CNC machined aluminum flight track, five-position buttstock to fit shooters of all sizes, and three picatinny accessory rails. The accessory package includes a 4×32 scope with illuminated reticle, quiver, and arrows.
Barnett Wildcat CRX
The new Wildcat CRX is an entry-level recurve crossbow at a very friendly price. Barnett Crossbows
Specs
Width: 12.75 inches (at rest)
Weight: 9 pounds (rigged with accessories)
Speed: 260 fps
Price: $200
In a crossbow market dominated by speed and compound technology, it’s refreshing to see an entry-level recurve crossbow hit the market. The new Wildcat CRX
is lightweight at 6.1 pounds (bare bow), easy to operate, and with few frills (though it does have an anti-dry-fire mechanism). With a 195-pound draw weight and 12.25-inch powerstroke, it’ll shoot 380-grain bolts to 260 fps. That’s slow, as crossbows go, but still comparable to an adult-sized vertical compound hunting bow set at 60 pounds. This crossbow should be just fine for whitetail hunting out to 30 yards or a touch farther, if you replace the included red-dot sight with a good crossbow scope. The package includes the red dot sight, arrows, and quiver, and if the bow shoots like most Barnetts, it should be a hell of a bargain.
