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12 Fastest crossbows in 2023 (Up to 460 FPS)

Posted by Andy Ryan

Posted at March 12, 2023

Let me show you the fastest crossbows out there in one list. I will compare them, tell you some details and compare them up against each other so it will be easy for you to choose the one that best fits you.

Before you pick the fastest crossbow on this list, I will show you a few of the pros and cons of choosing the path of ultra-speed. There isn’t necessarily all good going on this path, but first, let’s explore the positive sides of choosing a fast crossbow.

12 fastest crossbows reviewed and rated

Let’s jump to the fun part; here are the top 12 fastest crossbows, reviewed, rated, and ripe for taking.

Scorpyd Aculeus (460 fps) – Fastest crossbow on the market

If you are looking for a fast crossbow, look no further; the scooped aculeus is one of the fastest crossbows in the world, with a mind-blowing 460 fps. There isn’t any crossbow that can stand up against this beast in a head-to-head comparison.

As I mentioned earlier in this article, the fast, thus harder, it is to master. So I would recommend against buying such a bow for starters, but if you are an experienced hunter, then I have no doubt you will love this crossbow.

The crossbow has a draw weight of 180 pounds which is quite a lot, but it is equipped with an AcuDraw cocking mechanism, which makes the 180 pounds feel like it’s 90 pounds.

The Acudraw isn’t the only amazing feature on this crossbow; it comes with a Hawke illuminated scope, fuse quiver, and grim reaper; those are only a few of the things that come along with the purchase. You can find more information on amazon.

Because of all the extra features and access equipment, the weight of this crossbow is 7.5 lbs, but having all the features and power, this crossbow brings to the table, the crossbow’s weight is far from questionable.

What I like about this crossbow:

• It comes as a complete kit with everything you need: arrows, broadheads, and even a scope.
• The fastest bow on the market
• It is equipped with high-quality, up-to-date parts that can handle the bow’s power.

What I didn’t like about the fastest crossbow on the market was its price tag. It isn’t the cheapest one out there, so I only recommend buying this one if you are a serious hunter.

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Ravin R20 Crossbow Package (430 fps)

The next on this list is the Ravin R20; this is a machine in itself that has a lot of features and pros to enjoy.

When choked, the Ravin R20 is only 6 inches wide and 10.5 inches wide when uncocked; there are no issues if you have to sneak through a bush or brushwood to snipe down your prey.

I had the pleasure of trying the Ravin R20 once, and I can promise you that from the first you take this bow, it will make a strong impact on you, making you starve for a fast crossbow yourself after the first shot.

Like the other premium crossbows, this one also comes in a package with other high-quality accessories that you can enjoy. My favorite part is that you don’t have to find parts that fit or order from different companies to use the bow.

These are some items included in the set: six pre-tuned arrows, mounting brackets, and an illuminated scope. There are more than enough accessories in the package to use the crossbow immediately when it arrives at your door, which is always a good thing.

I am impatient, so when I get a piece of equipment such as this one, I don’t want to wait for any other equipment to start shooting.

What I like about this crossbow:

• Slim can be used in tight wood areas because of its width.
• High FPS
• It comes as a complete set.

The price can be too high for recreational archers, but for those who want a premium and fast crossbow, I suppose this is the price we are obligated to pay.

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TenPoint Stealth NXT (410 fps)

We are looking for speed on these crossbows to shoot accurately and kill our prey smoothly and efficiently. And that is precisely what this crossbow offers with 410 fps. With such a high fps, you never need to be concerned about speed again.

Tenpoint has also integrated its quad cable technology on this crossbow; instead of only having two cables, you have 4 pushing the arrow a lightning speed towards your archery target, resulting in higher strength and stability.

The Stealth NXT is equipped with a DFI, which means dry fire inhibitor, preventing you from dry firing the bow, which is a neat feature. This is not equipped on all bows, but most crossbows are mentioned on this list.

The crossbow comes with aluminum, making it very lightweight, but my part on this scope is the ability to adjust and compensate for arrow drop. The option to change exterior conditions is always a great feature once you have learned to use it.

Adjustments have been made for the reduction of sound and increase in smoothness of each shot by using high-quality parts attached in a scientific way creating the best results for the user.

What I like about this crossbow:

• Smooth cocking and great reduction of draw weight
• It comes with arrows and an aluminum scope.

It doesn’t have the same level of quality as the crossbows mentioned earlier in the article but is still a top competitor, but this isn’t the crossbow taking home the victory.

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7. CenterPoint Amped 425

Centerpoint amped is a great piece of art and is well-known in the crossbow community for its deadly silent shots. Centerpoint has put a great deal of effort into making the shot, cocking, and noise at a level of perfection to satisfy their customer’s needs. In addition, to do this, they maintained a high level of speed in their bow with 405 fps.

Their famous silencing system consists of two limb dampeners and two spider silencers, equating to the ultimate noise and vibration reduction.

The draw weight of the crossbow is 200 pounds, but because of the rope cocker, this number is divided in half, but many users have stated that the draw weight feels even far less than 100 pounds when cocking the crossbow. So there is no worry about this aspect; you should be able to cock this crossbow perfectly.

The crossbow also comes with many additional accessories so that you are ready for the hunt when the package arrives at your door. The package includes an illuminated crossbow scope, quad limbs technology, three 20″ carbon bolts, a quiver, and the rope cocker, which is very helpful for making the cocking of the crossbow a dream.

What I like about this crossbow:

• Great silencing system
• Easy to draw
• It comes in a complete package.

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8. Barnett Whitetail Pro STR (400 fps)

No, Barnett doesn’t only have one crossbow on this list; they have three! As I mentioned earlier, Barnett is famous for its quality and attention to detail. When they make crossbows, they make them good.

The Barnett whitetail is not an exception, the Barnett whitetail is strong enough to take down whitetails with its 400 fps, and that’s while staying camouflaged. As you can see, the Barnett whitetail pro is designed with true bark camo patterns, which keeps you concealed in your hiding spot as long as you are dressed properly.

The Barnett whitetail pro doesn’t create as much kinetic energy as the ghost 420, but it’s more than enough for most tasks.

Suppose you cover up your clothes properly and hide properly. In that case, there is no reason for your prey to see or hear you because this fast crossbow is covered with camo and equipped with Barnett dampers that ensure that you are both silent and deadly by making very little sound and by maintaining the high speed this crossbow offers.

This excellent high-speed crossbow will take care of the hunting for you for years to come if you take proper care of your crossbow.

What I like about the Barnett whitetail:

• Full Camo
• Specially designed for hunting

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9. Barnett Whitetail

The Barnett BC is one of their heavy crossbows, but the weight isn’t as high as the power it can create. This Barnett crossbow can create kinetic energy of 145 lbs because of its 400fps.

This crossbow even prevents you from making mistakes with its anti-dryfire system. This is a great feature; I am known to be clumsy, so the ADF system is always something I look for so I don’t mess up my crossbow.

The Barnett BC Revengeance comes with trigger tech assembly and is assembled as well! You don’t need to put anything together; your only task is to open the box, aim, shoot and bring the trophy home.

As the Whitetail pro, this is a camouflaged crossbow that will hide you from your prey, the riser is fully camouflaged, and the scope is also. So stay hidden, and there won’t be any reason for the animals to see you.

Some accessories that come with it are a scope, cocking system, quiver, headhunter arrows, and lube wax. You can see the full item list on our amazon link below.

What I like about this crossbow is:

• Full Camo
• High speed
• Ready to go from the package

10. Excalibur Matrix Bulldog (400 fps)

The Excalibur matrix bulldog perfectly balances smooth mechanics and high speed. It’s designed to take down most big games on the planet. Their new rest stock is responsible for each shot’s added comfort and smoothness.

When you order this crossbow, you will get the whole package, hunting ready from the get-go with their diablo crossbow arrows, rope chocker, crossbow case, a high-end suppression system, and an Anti-dry fire system that can handle up to 400 fps. These are some of the things included in this package.

This great crossbow can take down nearly any out there while you maintain your comfort.

 

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11. Excalibur Micro

This crossbow is for those looking for a quiet, high-speed crossbow that can take down most big game animals it encounters. This crossbow is for serious and experienced hunters; as we know, high-speed crossbows are much more expensive than slower ones.

Like the others on the list, it comes as a complete package with great scope and several other great accessories, such as an anti-dry-firing system that prevents you from damaging your bow.

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12. Barnett Ghost 375 Crossbow

Still, if this crossbow is the last on the list, it’s very good. If you don’t need 400+ fps, this is the best crossbow because it perfectly balances speed, weight, and smoothness.

The only downside of this bow is that it makes more noise than the other crossbows on the list, but having the price tag, if you are getting this Barnett crossbow, it’s a steal.

The crossbow is only 7 pounds which makes it easy to use in all positions and can be used in tough terrain and is a crossbow you can easily take with you while climbing up the tree stand.

Compared to the other crossbows on this list, this crossbow is cheaper, lighter, and still offers a good amount of speed.

The only draw is the sounds, as I mentioned, but I firmly believe this is one of the best crossbows you can purchase online, with the price tag in mind.

If you want a higher-end and are willing to spend the extra money, I suggest you scroll further up the page.

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The Best and Fastest Crossbow Award

By carefully comparing several crossbows against each other, I have concluded that the Barnett Ghost 420 is the best crossbow you can get taking all the aspects in mind, such as speed, weight, sounds, and draw weight. It has the perfect balance between them all; at least, it’s the one with the best balance, it’s not perfect, but it is good.

This is my opinion; which crossbow you think is the best depends on your needs and requirements; if you want the fastest crossbow out there, then I recommend you to go with the Scorpion and show those with recurves what speed is.

More Recommendations

The first advantage of choosing fast is that you can shoot and travel longer distances. There isn’t much explanation needed why, but the more power behind the bolt, the further the bolt will travel. But I don’t recommend you buy off these fast crossbows and start shooting at the longest distances you can shoot because you need to practice on the shorter distances first and learn to hit your target from a shorter distance before you increase the distance between you and your archery target.

More power behind the shot Having a higher-speed crossbow will give the bolt more power which can benefit you in many ways, such as the increased chance to kill your prey faster and more ethically. You don’t want that deer to run away after it has been shot because of too little speed and power. Minimize the drop rate and increase your accuracy.

If you choose to buy a crossbow from this list, you will have a decrease in your drop rate; the high-speed crossbows can resist the power of gravity a little longer than slow-speed crossbows making the bolt fly in a straight line a bit longer than the other crossbows.

It will be a little simpler to aim and “know” where you will hit if you have a faster crossbow than a slow one. You will notice that you will get a flatter trajectory line. Negative aspects of owning a fast crossbow now, let’s move to the less funny part of owning a fast crossbow; here are a few of the negative parts of buying a crossbow from this list.

More noise when you shoot Since there is a lot more power behind these crossbows, each shot will also make more noise. It doesn’t sound like a huge deal, but if you are a hunter, you know that sound can also mess up your shot.

By shooting at closer distances, preferably under 60 yards, you don’t have to think about this, but if you are shooting beyond this range, the deer you so precisely want may react faster than your arrow will. Harder to find great archery accessories, and they break more often. Slower crossbows are still the most popular ones. Thus there are more cross-manufacturers creating equipment and accessories for them.

If you own a crossbow with 400+ fps, you will have a harder time finding good crossbow scopes. And when you find the right parts for your crossbow and speed, they will also break faster. Because of the increased speed and power of the crossbow, it will also do more beating to your crossbow parts.

Harder to use and master When you have a fast crossbow, you must be extra careful about your stance and movements while you shoot. A quicker crossbow will get easier affected by your actions; thus, it’s easier for you to mess up your shot.

So if you are a beginner and want to buy the fastest crossbow straight away, then I suggest you don’t. A faster crossbow is a lot harder to handle. I only recommend these fast crossbows to archers with a decent amount of experience behind them.

Last words

Combine these super-fast crossbows with an excited hunter and a camera from our best trail camera list, and you should be more than fine throughout the hunting season!