Pistol crossbows are among the most preferred archery equipment used for many applications, including target practice, sport, competition, and especially for hunting. Today, you will find a wide array of crossbows ranging from the compound, recurve, hunting, and pistol.
Due to availability and ease of usage, pistol crossbows gained popularity among hunters and shooters looking for a light and compact designed crossbow for their shooting needs. Since there are many manufacturers producing different pistol crossbows for catering to the needs of a wider audience, which makes it is challenging for you to choose an ideal product for your needs.
In this guide, we have shared a list of favorite and powerful pistol crossbows that you will find on the market, along with other essential things that you may have to consider before making a potential purchase.
What Is A Crossbow Pistol?
Crossbow pistols are designed smaller in size and lightweight than regular crossbows to make them easier for you to carry and use. They feature a short draw that allows you to shoot, like holding a pistol gun with one hand, while regular crossbows are rested against the shoulder to get better support.
And you all know that full-size crossbows are powerful compared to these smaller versions. Hunters love the mini bolts or arrows as ammunition, even though they are more expensive than regular crossbows.
The best thing is that crossbow pistols are easier to maintain for many years and offer a better shooting experience as well. You can use a crossbow pistol for practice shooting and hunting.
What Is The Purpose Of Using A Crossbow Pistol?
These crossbow pistols offer a great value for your money to enhance your shooting experience. But before you make any potential purchase, you must consider for what purpose you are using this archery equipment. Are you using it for hunting? Or for practice shooting? Once you have considered these questions, it will help you find the right model for your needs.
Remember, pistol crossbows can be used for taking down small games like small rodents, squirrels, and vermin. It also offers a lot of fun when using it for target shooting. So, it is better to know more about for what purpose you are buying a pistol crossbow as it will help you find the right product and allow you to get the most out of your shooting experience.
The best thing is that you can easily maintain pistol crossbows as they don’t wear out too much during target shooting or hunting.
What To Look For Before Buying The Most Powerful Pistol Crossbow?
Since there are a lot of pistol crossbows available in the market, which makes it is challenging for you to find the best one for your archery needs. So, here are some factors that you must consider when buying the most powerful pistol crossbow.
- Pistol Crossbow Size
Even though pistol crossbows are smaller than full-size ones, but you don’t have to worry about pistol crossbow grip. Some people may think that it will be smaller than other regular ones. The best thing is that you will also find different options in overall size, which enable you to choose an ideal pistol crossbow for your archery hunting.
If you are looking for a portable pistol crossbow, you should look for a smaller design but remember it will be less powerful. Its smaller design is the biggest advantage of pistol crossbows, where you don’t have to compromise the space of storing a pistol crossbow.
- Draw Weight
One of the crucial factors that will determine the amount of force required for drawing the bow back is its draw weight. Usually, you will get draw weight options ranging from 50-80 lbs in pistol crossbows, which allows you to choose the best draw weight according to your fitness level. Remember, the heavier the pistol crossbow’s draw weight, The faster an arrow will travel after releasing.
Apart from this, you must also know that using a heavier draw weight will take more time to reload, which will reduce your chances to act quickly after spotting the target. So, it would be better for you to choose a lower draw weight that enables you to act as quickly as possible. However, if you want more power, you should consider using a heavier draw weight. It will allow you to transfer more power to the bolt. This factor is essential for hunters to find the best pistol crossbows for their needs.
- Self-Cocking
It becomes crucial for archers to consider this feature as it allows them to cock the gear using a self-cocking mechanism. However, one should not confuse this with that the pistol crossbow will cock itself. Instead, it means that you can use the self-cocking mechanism like a rope cocking device to draw the bow and prepare it for the next target.
This small assistance works wonderfully when you have to act as quickly as possible to take down your potential target. Then, you don’t have to use anything else other than your hands and the bow.
Remember, this factor can determine how successful an archer you would become using a pistol crossbow. You all know that pistol crossbows are specially designed to be compact and lightweight, which ensure quick actions. You probably don’t want any other equipment for drawing the bowstring.
- String, Bolts, And Additional Accessories
Hunters often like the additional accessories that would come along with the potential purchase. You should know that there are several things that you may have to buy apart from your pistol crossbow purchase.
So, you should look for a product that comes attached with additional accessories to make it a cost-efficient solution for your needs. For instance, when buying a pistol crossbow, you will have to invest in extra strings, arrows, and a rope cocker if your crossbow does not come with a self-cocking mechanism.
The best thing about attaching more accessories to your bow gives you a competitive edge to shoot with utmost accuracy, and even beginners can learn to shoot precisely from a pistol crossbow that comes attached with additional accessories. This factor becomes essential when you are buying an archery kit.
- Crossbow Attachment
You all know that additional accessories help you improve the ability of your pistol crossbow and enable you to make precise and accurate shots. So, it is better to find a model that features design and space for attaching new accessories like flashlights, sights, scopes, and others.
Most hunters recommend adding a red dot sight to a pistol crossbow, which changes the way you use this smaller crossbow. It will increase the accuracy of your pistol crossbow and enable you to add a few extra accessories to ensure a precision shooting experience.
- Pre-Assembled Package
Some models even come attached with additional accessories, which saves a lot of hassle and time in reading the instructions and attaching the accessories properly. You all know that it is hard for someone to assemble a pistol crossbow if they don’t have the proper knowledge.
Sometimes they may assemble the crossbow incorrectly, which can affect your performance. So, for those who don’t know how to assemble a pistol crossbow, it is recommended to buy a product that comes pre-assembled.
Now that you know what to consider when choosing the most powerful pistol crossbow. To ease down your hustle, we have compiled a list of top powerful pistol crossbows that you can choose from and find out the best one to cater for your shooting needs.
Most Powerful Pistol Crossbows
| Image | Product Name | Editor’s Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | PSE Viper Ss Crossbow Viper Ss Handheld Crossbow | ★★★★★ 5 Out Of 5 | Buy Now In Amazon |
 | Ace Martial Arts Pistol Crossbow | ★★★★★ 5 Out Of 5 | Buy Now In Amazon |
 | Iglow 80 Lb Aluminium Hunting Pistol Crossbow | ★★★★★ 4.8 Out Of 5 | Buy Now In Amazon |
 | Kingsarchery Crossbow Pistol Self Cocking | ★★★★★ 5 Out Of 5 | Buy Now In Amazon |
 | SAS Prophecy Self-Cocking Pistol Crossbow | ★★★★★ 4.7 Out Of 5 | Buy Now In Amazon |
① PSE Viper Ss Crossbow Viper Ss Handheld Crossbow
Most hunters love this pistol crossbow as it is lightweight. Even if it is made from sturdier polymer, but it offers a precise and accurate shooting experience. With its comfortable and ergonomic designed grip, even beginners can get the hang of this archery equipment and shoot at close-range targets with more accuracy.
If you are looking for a lightweight pistol crossbow, the PSE Viper SS Crossbow Viper SS Handheld Crossbow has got you covered. It weighs around 1.6lbs and features a maximum draw weight of up to 50lbs. It will help you release bolts at a whopping speed of 215 FPS that will quickly pierce your potential targets.
The best thing is that it comes integrated with an anti-dry-firing mechanism that prevents damage to the bow. Apart from this, you will also get features like windage, rear sight, and elevation adjustment.
This pistol crossbow offers the best combination of functionality and high quality. It is recommended for serious hunters looking for a reliable and lightweight companion for their hunting journey.
Features
- Bow weight ranges up to 1.6lbs.
- Draw weight available up to 50bs.
- The length of this crossbow measures 19.5.
- Offers a whopping speed of 215 FPS.
- Made from the sturdiest polymer.
- Provide a comfortable and easy to use grip.
✔ Pros
- Small and lightweight design.
- Offers precise shooting experience.
- It can be tuned for different users.
- Finger protection and auto safety protection systems.
❌Cons
- Bolts are made of low quality.
- Difficult to assemble.
② Ace Martial Arts Pistol Crossbow 80-Pound
The Ace martial arts pistol crossbow has become popular among hunters due to its excellent casual target practice or small game hunting. With a draw weight measuring up to 80 lbs, you can quickly shoot bolts at the speed of 165 FPS.
The best thing is that you will get high precision and accuracy in close-range shooting. The company has a durable plastic body, which makes it lightweight and easy to use. You will get three aluminum arrows integrated with metal tips for easy piercing. You can use the adjustable sight for easily acquiring targets and ensuring precision shooting.
Remember, the safety lock mechanism offers great protection to your fingers, hands and, more importantly, the bow as it will prevent it from dry-firing. The ergonomic design makes it easier to assemble and use for both naive and professionals. However, you may need a second pair of hands for cocking the bowstring.
Features
- It weighs around 2 lbs.
- The draw weight ranges up to 80 lbs.
- Offer a good bolt speed up to 165 FPS.
- The bow length measures up to 23 inches.
- Excellent self-cocking mechanism.
- Include aluminum arrows and an adjustable sight.
- Made from durable plastic.
✔ Pros
- Easy to assemble and use.
- Smooth cocking system.
- Adjustable sight for fast target acquisition.
- Durable and reliable design.
❌Cons
- Some people might face problems in stringing the cable.
③ Iglow 80 Lb Aluminium Hunting Pistol Crossbow
Another powerful pistol crossbow made from aluminum is the iGlow hunting pistol crossbow. Hunters will be amazed to know that it provides value for your money, which makes it ideal for naive and professional archers to shoot precisely from close-range.
The best thing is that you will get 15 arrows and two additional strings inside the package. With a maximum draw weight of 80lbs, you can shoot from an arrow at a speed of 160 FPS. The black aluminum stock and fiberglass limbs make it easier for you to cock and release the arrow without any hassle.
You can rely on its durability as it features an aluminum barrel to ensure enhanced performance. Additionally, this pistol crossbow comes integrated with an automatic safety feature to keep the bow cocked with no bolts or arrows.
As mentioned above, this powerful pistol crossbow enables you to make precise and accurate shots, which makes it best for small hunting games.
Features
- Maximum draw weight up to 80 lbs.
- Offer a maximum speed of 160 FPS.
- Made from durable aluminum.
- It weighs around 1.62 lbs.
- Include 15 arrows and two additional strings.
✔ Pros
- Auto safety features for enhanced protection.
- Powerful, precise and accurate.
- Lightweight and compact design.
- Sturdy construction.
❌Cons
- Some people may face difficulty getting used to this design.
④ Kingsarchery Crossbow Pistol Self Cocking 80 Lbs
This pistol crossbow by KingsArchery offers the best self-cocking mechanism, which enables you to cock the bowstring without hassling much. With an ergonomic and lightweight design, you will also get additional features that enable you to shoot with more accuracy and precision.
The company has used fiberglass to design this extremely lightweight crossbow to make your shooting experience a great venture. The best thing is that teenagers can also practice shooting from this mini crossbow under the supervision of an adult. You would be amazed to know that the company has included additional items like 63 PVC and aluminum bolts, which allow you to start shooting as soon as you receive this product.
The self-cocking mechanism ensures that you don’t have to use too much force cocking this beast. That means you can fastly cock this archery equipment and shoot at your target in minimal possible time.
Features
- Made from durable aluminum.
- It weighs around 3.55 lbs.
- The draw weight measures up to 80 lbs.
- The bolt speed would range up to 165 FPS.
- Include 63 PVC and aluminum bolts.
✔ Pros
- Easy to assemble and use.
- Adjustable sight for fast target acquisition.
- Durable and reliable fiberglass.
❌Cons
- Hunters are concerned as it does not include Picatinny rail.
- Bolts made from PVC are easily breakable.
⑤ SAS Prophecy 80 Pound Self-Cocking Pistol Crossbow
If you are looking to ace your small hunting games, the SAS Prophecy 80 Pound Self-cocking Pistol Crossbow has every feature to offer you a precise and accurate shooting experience at a close range.
With its sturdy aluminum body and self-cocking mechanism, you don’t have to struggle while cocking it again and again. You can even mount a precise red dot scope, which makes it convenient for scouting and hunting. It will offer silent and clean kill within short-range shooting and hunting.
The best thing is that the self-cocking mechanism enables you to load the bolts without any interruption. That means you can easily cock this pistol crossbow for repetitive shooting. You can even let your kids shoot from this mini crossbow under your supervision. Also, you can shoot from this excellent pistol crossbow with accuracy and precision.
Features
- Made from sturdy aluminum.
- Draw weight available up to 80lbs.
- The highest shooting speed ranges up to 165 FPS.
- Comes attached with additional accessories
- Suitable for close-range hunting and targeting shooting.
✔ Pros
- Available in an affordable price range.
- Offer a silent and instant operation.
- Shoot with high accuracy.
- Lightweight and ergonomic design.
❌Cons
- Bolts in the package are made of low quality.
How To Use A Pistol Crossbow?
When hunting down big or small games, it can be challenging for beginners to shoot from a pistol crossbow. You all know that the draw weight of a pistol crossbow would range up to 80 lbs compared to larger crossbows with 150lbs.
That means it will offer decent power at its capacity, but unlike full-size crossbows, you will get a compact and lightweight design that you can use to shoot from either hand. Now that you know, pistol crossbows should target close shots for a precise and accurate shooting experience.
However, you may also find it challenging to shoot from a long-range as it is hard to aim at your target. So, here are some tips that will help you get the most out of your shooting experience.
1. Additional Accessories
You should buy bolts with broadhead tips after investing in a high-quality pistol crossbow. You all know that pistol crossbows have a smaller design, which makes it challenging to use the cocking ropes.
Even if you consider hunting at a close range, you must invest in a good sight to ensure precision shooting. Apart from other hunting weapons, you must keep your shooting licenses and suitable clothing that is best suited for different weather, such as orange safety vests.
2.Fire A Crossbow
You need to use the cocking mechanism and pull back the bowstring. Most pistol crossbows models are integrated with a foot strap cocking mechanism, which allows you to draw the crossbow without any hassle. Remember, only a few models that feature rope cocking systems can work efficiently.
So find a product that will feature the most suitable cocking mechanism to ensure easy cocking. You may have to apply some force for cocking the string and keeping it centered. After cocking the string, you must engage the safety mechanism to prevent dry firing. Now, it’s time for you to place a bolt inside the firing groove and slide it inside until the arrow nock.
This sound ensures that your pistol crossbow is ready to be fired. Next, you must disengage the safety mechanism and aim for the target. Squeeze the trigger to release the bolt and de-cock the crossbow safely.
3.Choose An Effective Shooting Range
You all know that compound bows are lethal for taking down large games, even at a distance of 40-50 yards. On the other hand, a pistol crossbow is smaller and will fire bolts with less kinetic energy.
That means these hand-held crossbows are much more suitable for taking down targets that are close to 20 yards or less. Moreover, most pistol crossbows are front heavy, which makes it difficult to get precise and accurate shots at a range of more than 25 yards.
4.Aim And Fire
Once the target comes inside your shooting range, you must wait until it shows the sweet spot towards you. Aiming at the sweet killing spot will allow you to take down the target at a faster pace.
So, it is better to know about the sweet killing areas where you can easily pierce through the lungs or heart to get an instant kill. Targeting these areas increases your chances to get a clean kill.
So, take a deep breath, aim at your target and exhale half of the air while you squeeze the trigger to release the bolt. Remember, you should keep an eye on your target as they often bound away after being shot.
Safety Measures To Take When Using A Pistol Crossbow!!
Here are some safety measures that you must take in order to remain protected throughout the shooting experience.
- Remember to point the loaded arrow and the crossbow in the safe direction.
- Keep the safety mechanism engaged until you are ready to shoot.
- Only load the bolt when it’s safe to shoot.
- Be well aware of the surroundings of your target to ensure nobody else gets hit.
- Avoid shooting from over a ridge.
- Shoot only when you have a safe shooting area or range and a safe background.
- Prevent shooting your bolts straight up in the air.
- Store your crossbow in an uncocked state, and hard storage cases are recommended to prevent damage.
- Keep your breathing, emotions and thinking under control before shooting to ensure safety.
- Avoid drinking any alcohol or taking any medication for mood-altering, during or after releasing the bolts from the pistol crossbow.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What Is The Maximum Draw Weight That You Can Get In A Crossbow?
Usually, the highest draw weight that you can get in a crossbow would range between 50lbs – 80lbs. Adult men often consider using crossbows with 80 lbs draw weight while women start from 50 lbs according to their fitness level.
- What Is The Ideal Arrow Speed From A Crossbow Pistol?
Usually, the speed of a crossbow pistol is determined by two things: the bolt weight and the pistol’s draw weight. You all know that these are available in several designs, but you will notice that most crossbow pistols offer a speed of 160 FPS. On the other hand, some models might provide a whopping speed of 200 FPS.
- Can You Use A Crossbow Pistol For Hunting?
Yes, you can use a crossbow pistol for hunting, especially for taking down small targets like squirrels and rabbits. You all know that these small animals run fast, which means you have to keep them in close range, like 20ft or less, to get a precise shooting experience.
- Is A Crossbow Pistol Heavy?
Crossbow pistols are designed and manufactured using plastic or fiberglass to make hunting easier. That means they are compact and lightweight, which makes them easier to carry around and use. The weight of a crossbow pistol would range from 4lbs to 8lbs due to different designs.
- How Far Can You Shoot From A Crossbow Pistol?
A perfectly tuned crossbow pistol will allow you to shoot as far as 500 yards if you don’t worry much about shooting with accuracy. However, if you want an accurate shooting experience, it is recommended to keep your shooting range between 20 yards to 80 yards. Naive archers should stick to 20 – 40 yards to hone their shooting skills.
Conclusion
Whether you want a hunting weapon or lightweight gear for taking down big and small games, you can easily find a crossbow pistol that would align with your needs. You can choose from the products mentioned above that provide you with the best value for your money and come with excellent features to enhance your hunting experience.
Leave a Reply