For many people, particularly women, the pistol crossbow is the ideal hunting tool. It’s easy to operate, lightweight, and immensely powerful.
In fact, its relative ease of use has made it an increasingly popular option for bear hunters from Alaska to Canada, not to mention the growing number of hunters who are disabled.
However, unlike the more commonly known crossbows, this is the one to choose for the most stealthy of kills. As USA Today recently noted, the best pistol crossbows are not just powerful, but are also “silent” when fired and are small enough to fit in a coat pocket, which means you can carry them in any season without being noticed.
In fact, if you want to have a stealthy hunting weapon and you can’t carry a gun legally, a pistol crossbow is the perfect solution…
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow | Best Overall |  |
| Southland Archery Supply SAS Stringer | Budget Pick |  |
| KingsArchery Crossbow Pistol Self Cocking 80 LBS Adjustable Sights | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow
Pros:
- Hunting friendly
- Simple setup
- Quick takedown
Cons:
- Narrow limbs
- Narrow string
- Stiff limbs
This particular model from Southwest Archery combines a classic recurve body shape with a takedown design for easy transport.
The recurve shape of the limbs provides power that you won’t find in shorter, more compact designs. The design of the limbs also helps to stabilize the bow and make it more accurate. The bow is further stabilized by its pull-back string that ensures the riser and limbs remain aligned when you fire the bow.
The bow features a high-strength riser with two mounting holes for attaching sight and stabilizers. You can easily mount this bow on a stand or a wall if you’d prefer to leave it in the house.
2. KingsArchery Crossbow Pistol Self Cocking 80 LBS Adjustable Sights
Pros:
- Totally Adjustable
- Easy Assembly
- Pistol and arrows are included
Adjustable, Foldable Stock.
If you’re into weaponry in the least, I’m sure you’ve heard of the Kings Archery Crossbow Pistol. It is capable of a great deal of destruction.
All the way back in 2008, the Chinese began using crossbows that could fire projectiles over 200 meters.
3. Snake Eye Tactical 80lbs Self Cocking Cobra Crossbow
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- High-quality build
- Great Hunting Crossbow
- Reinforced Rubber Footings
- 80-lb Draw Weight
- Scope Included For Improved Accuracy
- Have Arrow Retention System
- Can Be Bolted On The Wall For Convenient
- Great For Hunting Hogs And Small Snakes
Cons:
- Shoots Quite Loudly Despite The Supposed Muffler
- Might Be Annoying To Store In The House
- Might Not Be Ideal For Kids Since It Shoots Arrows
The Cobra tactical crossbow is a great crossbow for your hunting needs. It will ensure that you take every shot with utmost accuracy. The scope will let you scope in on your target and make sure that you take every shot with accuracy.
The arrows have a knock-out tip that is capable of taking down a bear, so you know that this crossbow will have no trouble killing a hog in your backyard.
The footings allow for maximum stability while the design is lightweight enough to let you carry it around. The aluminum rail is adjustable and allows for a custom fit for your convenience.
4. ROGUE SAS 80 lbs Self Cocking Pistol Crossbow
Pros:
- Adjustable stock
- Fiber optic sights
- 80-pound draw weight
- Light weight, 5.5 pounds
- Light and easy to handle
- Quick and easy to assemble
- Much cheaper than an airbow
The Rogue SAS is a competitively-priced pistol crossbow. It is lightweight and shoots well, and delivers lots of great value for the price. It is a great choice for those looking for their first crossbow, and makes a perfect gift for older children.
When it comes to arrow speeds, the Rogue SAS doesn’t disappoint. The order of the weapons was taken with a draw length of 13.5 inches. You are looking at speeds of up to 220fps with 16.5”, 235fps with 18”, and 235fps with 20” arrows.
The package comes with 12 20” aluminum arrows, which are very durable and can withstand a lot of punishment.
5. Southland Archery Supply SAS Stringer
Pros:
- Adjustable tension
- Easily bolts onto pistol crossbow gauntlet
- Easy to carry this around
Con:
The Southland Archery Supply SAS Stringer for Prophecy Pistol Crossbows is the best out there. It has an adjustable tension, which means it can be used on various crossbows.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best pistol crossbow to buy?
Is it possible to get a crossbow that is both powerful and portable? Most crossbows are either powerful or they are compact, but not both. To find the best pistol crossbow in 2022, we review the best compact crossbows from each major manufacturer. Find out which compact crossbows make our top picks list and how they compare to each other and to the classic pistol crossbow. Knowing that, we then present you with the best overall compact crossbow for 2022 that packs a significant punch and is small enough to fit in your car’s glove compartment.
What is the most powerful crossbow pistol?
The best crossbow pistol is the Excalibur Spider Fire Pistol Crossbow. It's lightweight but powerful, and it comes with top accessories such as a scope, quiver, mounted broadhead, cocking rope, and 2 bolts.
The Spider Fire uses a telescopic cocking design, unlike some crossbow pistols that require a cocking device or lever. It allows you to cock the crossbow pistol crossbow quickly with just one hand, which makes it ideal for self-defense and survival applications.
If you don’t have the strength to cock the Spider Fire Pistol Crossbow fully by hand, you can use the included cocking rope to provide the extra leverage needed.
What is the best crossbow for 2022?
Crossbows aren’t just for shooting at targets. These weapons are incredible for harvesting game and if you own some land, hunting from a tree stand using a crossbow will give your arms a great workout. There is some risk involved in using a crossbow however. Compared to a longbow while shooting at larger game; they are more akin to a high-powered rifle. As such, they require as much care as a rifle and need to be treated with respect when loading. And they are in fact very powerful, with the right ammunition they can be lethal much faster and at much greater distances than a bow.
The end result of a crossbow are usually more accurate kills, and since your hands are not as far from the target the crossbow is often considered safer to use in close range shooting.
Can an 80 lb crossbow kill?
Even though this crossbow only draws 30 lbs at the most, it is still pretty powerful. However, it is likely that you will only need to worry about killing small or medium-sized game such as raccoons, possums, coyotes, and foxes.
This is not a crossbow that you would want to take down an elk with, but it can be used for many smaller animals that you will find in the urban and suburban areas. Even better, they make a smaller version for women and children. Make sure you take safety precautions while using any crossbow.
Conclusion
Pistol crossbows were designed for people not to hunt with, but to play with. You can use a pistol crossbow for target practice, accuracy practice, or just to shoot foam darts at your friends. They can be made to shoot rubber bands or arrows (hence why we included them in this guide). You can even get a pistol crossbow that shoots crossbow bolts which are impressive. The way they work is by using a regular sized crossbow, and placing the target board on the front of the crossbow. When the trigger is pulled, the board will shoot out and stick to the target.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow | Best Overall | |
| Southland Archery Supply SAS Stringer | Budget Pick | |
| KingsArchery Crossbow Pistol Self Cocking 80 LBS Adjustable Sights | Upgrade Pick | |