Table of Contents
Best Pistol Crossbows
Are you looking for a great way to take down some small game or have an excellent time getting in some practice shooting? The pistol crossbows listed on this page are the best on the market, and although they are small and inexpensive compared with regular-sized crossbows, these are no joke.
Welcome to the best pistol crossbows for hunting page, where you’ll find a range of selected small bows to suite your shooting needs and your spending limits.
As always, happy shooting!
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Comparison Table: Best Pistol Crossbows in 2021
Award | Crossbow | Specs |
|---|---|---|
|  | Draw Weight = 80 lbs Self-Cocking = Yes |
|  | Draw Weight = 80 lbs Self-Cocking = Yes |
|  | Draw Weight = 80 lbs Self-Cocking = Yes |
|  | Draw Weight = 50 lbs Self-Cocking = No |
|  | Draw Weight = 50 lbs Self-Cocking = No |
Quick Links: Best Pistol Crossbows
- Best for hunting: KingsArchery Pistol Crossbow
- Best for the money: Ace Martial Cobra Crossbow
- Best tactical crossbow: Southland Prophecy Crossbow
- Best recreational crossbow: PSE Archery Viper Crossbow
- Best mini crossbow: Tactical Mini Crusader Crossbow
1. Best Pistol Crossbow
| Model | Draw Weight | Self-Cocking |
|---|---|---|
|
KingsArchery |
80 |
Yes |
Pros
- Self-cocking design
- Adjustable sight
- Aluminum arrow bolts
- Safety feature
- Easy to use
Cons
- 80-pound draw weight can be difficult to draw
- Package doesn't include lube wax
- Adjustable sight isn't great
Package includes:
- 15 aluminum arrow bolts
- 15 plastic arrow bolts
KingsArchery is the best pistol crossbow on the market. At the time this review was written, this handheld crossbows runs for less than $75, and this makes for a youth crossbow pick!
Get out and get shooting, quickly and easily with this KingsArchery. Don’t be mistaken by the price, however, read the recent customer reviews – people are raving about this little, yet powerful crossbow.
What Makes This Crossbow Great
- Constructed from durable fiberglass
- Extremely powerful for the size
- Easy to use right out of the box
- This model can fit any sized person
Who’s This Crossbow Best For?
The KingsArchery pistol crossbow is perfect for the young shooter to gain real target practice for UNDER $100!
2. Best for the Money
| Model | Draw Weight | Self-Cocking |
|---|---|---|
|
Ace Martial Cobra |
80 |
Yes |
Pros
- Self-cocking design
- strong plastic body and compressed molded fiberglass bow
- Fires arrows at speeds of 165 feet per second
- Easy and safe-to-use cocking mechanism
Cons
- 80-pound draw weight can be difficult to draw
- Package doesn't include lube wax
Package includes:
- 39 aluminum arrows with metal tips
- 2 strings
- Adjustable tactical sight
This is a high-impact pistol crossbow shooting with only an 80 pound draw weight. Easy to use, and cock because of it’s back cocking leverage, the Ace Martial Cobra is the best pistol crossbow for the money.
What Makes This Crossbow Great
- Explosively powerful shot
- Price-to-value ratio is high
- Easy to assemble to begin shooting
Who’s This Crossbow Best For?
The Ace Martial Cobra is the best buy for a person looking to get a big bang for their buck!
3. Best Tactical
| Model | Draw Weight | Self-Cocking |
|---|---|---|
|
Southland Prophecy |
80 |
Yes |
Pros
- Compact body and self-cocking design
- Power Stroke: 6-4/5"
- Speed: 165 FPS
- Aluminum Body
Cons
- Safety occasionally malfunctions
- Sight is cheaply made
- 80-pound draw weight can be difficult to draw
- Package doesn't include lube wax
Package includes:
- Bolts to shoot
- Hand grip
- Very nice carrying case
What Makes This Crossbow Great
- Body of crossbow is cast aluminum and has a durable feeling
- Crossbow bolts can be fired in a very short period of time
- Semi-automatic loading pistol
- Adjustable rear sight and bead foresight
Who’s This Crossbow Best For?
The Southland Prophecy is best buy for the money conscious shooter looking to enjoy the great outdoors without wrecking the wallet!
4. Best Recreational Crossbow
| Model | Draw Weight | Self-Cocking |
|---|---|---|
|
PSE Archery Viper Crossbow |
50 |
No |
Pros
- 215 feet per second shot
- Integrated cocking mechanism
- Anti-dry fire trigger
- Easy-to-use
- Durable fiberglass limbs
Cons
- Not built for hunting
- Challenging to get it sighted well
Package includes:
- 1 string
The PSE Archery Viper Crossbow comes from PSA, a known and well-trusted crossbow company. This Viper is the best recreational crossbow on this list.
This crossbow shoots well, and is perfect to take out in the yard and shoot for practice and enjoyment in the backyard.
This backside cocking device helps the shooter easily cock the pistol bow alone, and if you’re planning shooting by yourself and for fun, the Viper is your bow!
What Makes This Crossbow Great
- Little bow with lots of power
- Actually designed by bow enthusiasts for bow enthusiasts
- Has an integrated cocking mechanism for fast and easy set up, and is able to fire bolts up to a crazy 215 fps
Who’s This Crossbow Best For?
The PSE Viper is perfect for the person looking for a fun, recreational target shooting weapon.
5. Best Mini Pistol Crossbow
| Model | Draw Weight | Self-Cocking |
|---|---|---|
|
Tactical Mini Crusader Crossbow |
50 |
No |
Pros
- Hand-held pistol crossbow
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Bow becomes loose after a few shots, but keep an allen wrench handy and it'll be ok
- Can be difficult to string for a first-timer
- Sight is not stable
Package includes:
- Everything needed to start shooting
What Makes This Crossbow Great
- Body of crossbow is cast aluminum and has a durable feeling
- Small, light, easy to use, and wickedly powerful for its size
- Great fun, with actual brutal damage to be caused
Who’s This Crossbow Best For?
The Mini Crusader is right for a first-time buyer, woman, or junior looking to get in some fun, but serious shooting experience.
People Also Asked:
What Is The Best Pistol Crossbow To Buy?
The best pistol crossbow is the KingsArchery Pistol Crossbow
Can A Crossbow Pistol Kill?
Yes, a crossbow pistol can kill. It was designed to kill, and is extremely dangerous. Oftentimes, people don’t realize the effect these small crossbows can have. Understand that these, although small and inexpensive, are the real deal.
Are Crossbow Pistols Any Good?
Crossbow pistols are awesome! They are not only utilitarian for hunting small game, but are also a very fun time to shoot for practice.
How Powerful Is A Pistol Crossbow?
Pistol crossbows are powerful enough to take down mid-sized animals and smaller. Pistol crossbows often shoot around the 150 feet per second range.
How Far Can A Pistol Crossbow Shoot?
A pistol crossbow can shoot up to 60 yards. However, shooters should maintain within the 20 yard distance if shooting animals.
Best Bolts for Crossbow Pistol
Recap
Searching for your next pistol crossbow should be a fun and easy experience.
I hope reading this review page has helped with that process. The draw weight on a regular-sized crossbow often plays a role in deciding which bow to choose; however, these smaller bows only come in two weights, 50 and 80 lbs. This means draw weight isn’t as an important factor as it is if you were searching for a larger bow.
When choosing which pistol crossbow is best for you, check out the price, the reviews, and go with your gut.
All in all, these bows are about having a good time. Make sure to handle with caution, but avoid decision-paralysis and make the purchase that feels best to you.
Until next time, thanks for reading,
BowScanner
Best Pistol Crossbows
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