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I would advise anyone looking for cheap crossbows for deer hunting to pay a bit extra and get Wicked Ridge By TenPoint Invader G3.
It shoots hunting arrows at impressive 330 fps and features a 165lbs draw weight, while still being light to carry around. You will also get really nice accessories with it.
Contents
- 1 Good Cheap Crossbows for Deer Hunting
- 1.1 Wicked Ridge Invader G3 Crossbow
- 1.2 CenterPoint Sniper 370 Crossbow
- 1.3 XGear Green Camo Crossbow
- 1.4 Karnage Apocalypse Crossbow Package
- 1.5 Camouflage Hunting Crossbow
- 1.6 1. Wicked Ridge By TenPoint Invader G3 – Best Inexpensive Crossbow
- 1.7 2. CenterPoint Sniper 370 Good Cheap Crossbow
- 1.8 3. XGear 285fps Crossbow Set by Generic
- 1.9 4. Karnage Apocalypse Crossbow Package
- 1.10 5. iGlow Black/Camo 175 lbs Good Cheap Crossbow
- 2 How Much Draw Weight is Required for Deer Hunting
- 3 Let’s summarize
I know that you may be tempted to go for the cheapest one, but a small bump in price can mean a huge difference in quality. That’s why I decided to find 5 best inexpensive crossbows for deer hunting that will serve you well until you hone your skills.
The cheapest crossbows can be rather bad and cost you more in the end and I’ll explain to you how later in the article.
Good Cheap Crossbows for Deer Hunting
You know how they say that the difference between a 5$ wine and a 20$ wine is bigger than the difference between a 20$ wine and a 100$ wine. You can take this logic and use it when looking for good cheap crossbows for deer hunting.
The cheapest crossbow isn’t always the most affordable, as they won’t give you a good hunting experience and may break easily. Even if you are going to hunt just a few times a year, you should still at least try to find good cheap crossbows for deer hunting.
There are tons of crossbows on the market nowadays and if you weed out the lousy ones, you can find decent crossbows for an affordable price. Here are 5 good cheap crossbows for deer hunting that I would recommend to any beginner.
1. Wicked Ridge By TenPoint Invader G3 – Best Inexpensive Crossbow
I know what you are thinking, this isn’t really among cheap crossbows for deer hunting. However, it’s still really affordable considering what you can get out of it.
It’s probably the best inexpensive crossbow that you can get for less than 500$ and it’s even better than some more expensive models. If you want the best value for your buck, Invader G3 will be a great choice for you.
The crossbow can fire the bolts at 330 fps, allowing you to catch even the fastest prey. This gives you more than enough kinetic energy to shoot down any big game out there.
Together with the crossbow, you will get TenPoint 3X Multi-Line scope, 3 Wicked Ridge 400-grain arrows with 100-grain tips and ACUdraw cocking mechanism. It comes with various safety features, making it great for beginners.
Shooting mechanism works smoothly with its 165-pound draw weight, making quiet and accurate shots over and over. The 3.5 lbs trigger has a great and satisfying response while making a shot.
Even though it’s one of the most silent crossbows on the list, it still can scare off prey if you miss your shots.
Pros
- Lightweight but sturdy
- Features ACU-52 for easier cocking
- Smooth draw and accurate shots
- Best value for the money
Cons
- Can be a bit loud
2. CenterPoint Sniper 370 Good Cheap Crossbow
If you are on an even tighter budget, but still looking for a good cheap crossbow, Sniper 370 by CenterPoint will be just what you need. It’s the best from cheap crossbows for deer hunting that I’ve found in this price range.
The crossbow can fire arrows at impressive 370 feet per second, thanks to its CNC-machined cam system. Many hunters choose it since it’s lightweight and easy to carry around, but still powerful enough to take out big game.
Made with a combination of aluminum and composite, the crossbow weighs 7.9 pounds and still durable enough to survive many hunts.
Since it’s a crossbow set, you will also get a 4×32 mm scope for more accurate shooting, three 20” carbon bolts with a quiver to store them, rope cocker and a shoulder sling. You can even choose the color as it comes in either black or camo.
Even though it comes with noise suppressing technology, it still can be a bit loud and scare off the prey if you are not accurate enough. Overall it’s a great lightweight, compact and powerful good cheap crossbow, probably the best at this price.
Pros
- Compact and durable
- Nice accessories in the set (scope, bolts, quiver)
- Impressive firing speed
- Affordable price
Cons
- Can be a bit clunky
3. XGear 285fps Crossbow Set by Generic
As we go down the list, the price is also dropping, Generic presents us with another great model in our cheap crossbows for deer hunting list. It’s one of the most powerful crossbows in this price range, generating the draw weight of 175 pounds.
XGear crossbow measures 36.5” in length and 27.5” in width and it weighs only 7.48 pounds. Despite its lighter weight it still can shoot arrows at 285 feet per second, strong enough to bring down any big game.
Together with the crossbow, you will get a 3-red-dot sight scope, padded sling, quiver, cocking rope and four 20” aluminum arrows. This will give you everything you need to go on your first deer hunt.
For example, it uses the anti-dry fire safety mechanism to protect your fingers and crossbow itself from getting damaged.
It also has a quite heavy trigger pull of 5 pounds so not anyone can shoot it, which can be a downside too. In the end, it’s a cool crossbow if you are starting and don’t have too much to spend.
Pros
- Nice set of accessories
- Lightweight and compact
- Very affordable
- Comes with anti-dry fire system
Cons
- Heavy trigger pull
4. Karnage Apocalypse Crossbow Package
In case the first crossbow is too expensive for your budget, but you still want something on the higher end, Karnage Apocalypse may be the right for you. This great kit comes with one of the best cheap crossbows for deer hunting at this price.
Besides this powerful crossbow, you will also get three great K20 carbon bolts with a quiver, detachable sling, cocking rope and rail lube/string wax. To make your shots as accurate as possible, the crossbow is equipped with a 4×32 scope with a multi cross reticle.
It’s 18” wide and it narrows to 14” when at full draw. It features a powerful draw weight of 175 lbs, blasting the bolts out an incredible 370 feet per second.
The dual mount string recoil on this Karnage crossbow is designed to reduce friction and noise, making you more efficient in the hunt. You will probably need to upgrade the scope later, but it still gives you more than enough for this price.
Pros
- Shoots at 370 fps
- Noise reduction technology
- Decent accessories
- Strong impact
Cons
- Mediocre scope
5. iGlow Black/Camo 175 lbs Good Cheap Crossbow
Still didn’t find a crossbow affordable enough for your budget? This crossbow set by iGlow is good if you really want to spend as little as possible on a good cheap crossbow. It’s the cheapest crossbow that I found to be still strong enough to shoot big game.
The crossbow comes in two distinctive designs, black and vista camouflage. In the set, you will also get 8 arrows, rail lube, stringer, and a rope cocking device. It’s worth noting that the crossbow already has an auto-safety cocking mechanism.
Measuring 30.5” in length and 26” in width, it’s compact and light enough to carry it around with ease. It’s a good cheap crossbow for hunting beginners or younger members of the hunting family.
Shooting speed averages at 250 feet per second and the draw weight measures 175 pounds. To get the power stroke, set the length at 10.5”.
Instructions can be a bit confusing, so you should probably ask some help or look it up online if you are new to the hobby. For such a cheap price, it’s still a good crossbow, but I would advise you to spend some extra on a better good cheap crossbow if you can.
Pros
- Really affordable
- The auto safety cocking mechanism
- Lightweight
- Accurate shots
Cons
- Instructions not the clearest
How Much Draw Weight is Required for Deer Hunting
Crossbows can vary a lot depending on what you need them for, you can use them for competitions, practice or different kinds of the hunt. We will, however, focus on cheap crossbows for deer hunting and how much draw weight they need.
Cheap crossbows are often not strong enough to kill deer, so you should be careful what you choose. I tried to help you out by choosing cheap crossbows for deer hunting that are strong enough to make every shot count.
Naturally, if you aim for bigger and bigger game, the draw weight and velocity of your crossbow will need to increase. Some hunters will argue about kinetic energy, as one of the important factors too, but it just makes things more complicated than they need to be.
Make sure that you read draw weight and shooting speed carefully when choosing cheap crossbows for deer hunting and you will be good to go.
Let’s summarize
As you could see, you don’t have to spend a thousand dollars to get a good crossbow for deer hunting. However, you still don’t want to go for the cheapest option available, since cheap doesn’t always pay off.
I’ve tried to choose some good cheap crossbows for deer hunting at different prices so there’s something for everyone. I’m sure that you will be happy whichever you pick.
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