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Here are our best crossbow bolts 2020 choice:
If I had to give a quick answer, then I would definitely recommend you to get Carbon Express PileDiver as the best crossbow bolts. They are a perfect combination of cost and quality.
You’ll get amazing penetration and accuracy as well as durability with this set of six crossbow 20-inch bolts for a very affordable price.
Contents
So you’ve got yourself a brand new recurve or compound crossbow and want to go shoot some targets, but you’re not sure how to pick the best crossbow bolts? It may seem that bolts and arrows you choose are not that important, but they can be crucial to your accuracy.
It blew my mind how better my shots were after I bought some high-quality models. I had the luck to try all kinds of crossbow arrows and gain tons of experience with them.
That’s why I wanted to share with you some of the best for everyone’s budget. You also get a neat user guide on how to pick the perfect one for your needs.
Best crossbow bolts for 2020
| Price | Reviews | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | 1. Carbon express PileDiver bolts
|
 | | 2. 20-inch Barnett outdoors bolts
|
 | | 3. Carbon express Maxima hunter bolts
|
 | | 4. Ten Point Pro-elite
|
 | | 5. MTech USA 16-inch Bolts
|
 | | 6. Speed track pistol bolts
|
There is a vast variety of them out there. With the new models being made every day, it’s hard to choose the best crossbow bolts, especially for a beginner.
I want to make sure that you don’t spend your money on some cheaply made ones or even worse, some overpriced and over-advertised models.
With my crossbow bolt reviews, you’ll see what exactly you can get for your money and if it’s worth it.
In case you don’t find anything you like on my this list, check my user guide below and go for a bolt hunt yourself.
1. Carbon express PileDiver crossbow bolts
Topping my list of best crossbow bolts is a set of Carbon Express arrows.
The PileDiver model is designed for hunters that want ultimate target penetration as well as accuracy from their arrows.
They made out of heavier carbon that helps you fire them with more kinetic energy and more knock-down power.
PileDiver bolts are carefully designed to get the spine consistency that results in incredible accuracy.
The straightness of the bolt is lowered down to 0.004” due to the careful precision sorting. Due to their high power, they are extremely durable and suitable for repeated performance.
Every set comes with standard 4” vanes, inserted moon nocks and additional 6 universal flat nocks.
Upon shooting I found almost no downsides to them, which makes them the best on this list. They shoot with amazing force and accuracy and despite that, manage to stay intact and ready for the next shot.
Pros
- Bone-crushing penetration power.
- Strong and durable.
- Laser sorted straightness.
- Great price-quality ratio.
- Perfect for deer hunting.
Cons
- Field tips not included.
2. 20” Barnett Outdoors crossbow bolts
Barnett arrows are well known for being a great combination of price and quality. With over 600 5-star reviews on Amazon, it’s no wonder they rank up so high on this list.
The set consists of five 20-inch bolts with strong but lightweight carbon shafts. The wall thickness of these 8.1-ounce arrows is improved for more durability.
The bolts were made with 13.78 grains per inch and combined with the 100-grain point, this helps you get maximum accuracy and penetration.
They are compatible with Ghost 350, Penetrator, Wildcat C-5 and Jackal crossbows. I’ve read that sometimes, nocks tend to break easier than they should, but besides that, these arrows are some of the best you can get.
Pros
- Good price-quality ratio.
- Extra thick walls.
- High accuracy and penetration.
- Five-year warranty.
Cons
- Nocks break easily.
3. Maxima Hunter Carbon express bolts
These Maxima Hunter by Carbon Express bolts will help you shoot up to 50 yards with great accuracy. What makes them stand out is their special dual spine weight forward (two spines in one bolt) design.
With this, you will get much more downrange accuracy, quicker recovery, and an optimized trajectory. Each of the 6 carbon arrows is laser sorted for weight and straightness down to 0.0025”.
Like most of their models, they owe their strength and accuracy to the patented BuffTuff Plus carbon weave. Most of the bolts are coated with this type of finish.
Every set of these bolts also comes with 100-grain field points, high-performance vanes, inserted moon nocks, and 6 extra universal flat nocks.
Pros
- Strong and accurate with BuffTuff Plus design.
- Great downrange accuracy.
- Camouflage design.
- Fletched with 3″ fusion vanes.
Cons
- Some packages came without tips.
4. Ten Point crossbow bolts Pro elite
If you are looking for more professionally-oriented bolts, Ten Point crossbow bolts are always a great choice.
Coming from one of the best manufacturers, these 20” bolts fire quickly and accurately.
Each arrow is tuned to its broadhead and weight-matched, allowing you to shoot with extra precision.
In this Ten Point set, you’ll get 3 great carbon fiber arrows with 68-grain brass inserts, weighing 425 grams in total.
Specially designed Omni-Brite lighted nocks will help you find the bolts easily in darker conditions after a missed shot. The only downside is that I’ve read some stories where the nocks separated from the bold after going through a live prey.
Pros
- Extremely strong and durable.
- Individually tuned and weighed.
- Great for professional use.
- Omni-brite lighted nocks included
Cons
- Relatively high price.
- Nocks could be tighter.
5. MTech USA 16-inch crossbow bolts
Sometimes, 16-inch bolts can be awfully hard to find. That’s why I had to include them for anyone with 150lbs or 180lbs crossbows that take this type of model.
You can get this set of 5 bolts by manufacturer MTech USA for a very affordable price, considering how rare they are.
MTech has years of making outdoor and hunting equipment behind it so you can be sure that you’ll get a quality product.
Measuring 9mm in diameter, these 16-inch bolts are made of the aluminum shaft with strong metal inserts for durability and accuracy.
Even though they can be used for both target practice and real hunt, be careful since there are cases of bolts bending on harder targets.
But if you need only 16-inch crossbow bolts, then look no further.
Pros
- Good for older crossbows.
- Hard to find bolts of this length.
- Affordable.
Cons
- Bend on hard targets.
6. Speed track pistol crossbow bolts
This set of 60 pistol crossbow bolts by manufacturer Speed track is perfect if you are just starting and don’t have too much money to spend.
The set consists of 60 randomly selected black and yellow 6.25” bolts with premium sharp arrow tips. You will need either 50lbs or 80lbs style crossbow to use them.
These lightweight mini plastic projectile can fly quite accurately and quickly and are much better and durable than the stock aluminum ones.
What I don’t like is that the tip tends to fall off quite often when shooting hard targets. However, they don’t break easily and you can even prevent this by applying some superglue.
They are definitely not the best ones out there, but you get an amazing deal for this price.
Pros
- Affordable.
- Lightweight and reusable.
- Quick and accurate shooting.
Cons
- Tip tends to fall off.
- Not suitable for hunting.
Where to Find Crossbow Bolts for Sale
Finding bolts for sale often isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Your first choice is probably to go to a local hunting or weapon shop.
However, most of the time they don’t have a rich selection at their disposal and the prices tend to be overblown by my experience.
Your best option for finding them on sale is to go online. The selection is almost limitless and you can always check reviews of others, compare prices and features to get the best model for yourself.
The Difference Between a Crossbow Bolt and Arrow
If you don’t have much experience you might wonder what is the difference between crossbow arrows and bolts. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. To make things simple, arrows are made to be shot with regular bows and tend to be much longer than the bolt.
On the other hand, bolts are shorter, less flexible and usually heavier than arrows and are designed for crossbows. They fire with much more power and its ammo need to be stronger and more durable than the ordinary arrow.
How to Choose the Right Crossbow Bolt
There are several factors that come to play when choosing the right bolt for your needs. However, it’s not as difficult as it seems to be.
You simply have to check the requirements of your crossbow and find the model that matches them. Incompatible bolts can even lead to crossbow damage or some serious injuries.
Here are the things you need to look for to get the best bolts possible for your crossbow:
- Power stroke and brand.
- Draw weight.
- Weight and length.
Picking the right bolts, crossbow and scope can make a huge difference for a beginner. Lousy gear can turn this fun sport into a turmoil and make you quit.
However, you don’t have to worry. I’m sure that this guide will give you more than enough information to pick the best crossbow bolts for your needs.
But in case you still have some questions, you can leave it in the comment section and I’ll help you out.
Rick says
Which bolts are best value for the money?
Editorial team says
Carbon Express PileDriver Have good combination of price and quality.
Mitch says
Is Piledriver made in USA?
Editorial team says
Hi Mitch. Yes, they are made in USA