Crossbow vs compound
Crossbows vs compound bows
Easier to shoot, harder to carry, slower to reload, and it has to be unloaded at the end of a sit. The honest version of this comparison.
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Ranked
Quick picks
| # | Product | Cocking effort | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank 1 | TenPoint Titan X De-Cock | 5 lb | 9.0 | $799.99Amazon |
| Rank 2 |  Wicked Ridge Rampage XS | 5 lb | 8.8 | $649.99Amazon |
| Rank 3 |  Barnett Crank Cocking Device | 8.6 | $149.99Amazon | |
| Rank 4 |  CenterPoint Padded Crossbow Shoulder Sling | 8.4 | $34.95Amazon | |
| Rank 5 |  TenPoint 3-Arrow Instant Detach Quiver | 8.4 | $49.99Amazon |
A crossbow is easier to shoot accurately with little practice, because it holds itself cocked and you aim from a stock with a scope and a trigger. It is heavier, louder, slower to reload, has to be unloaded at the end of a sit, and the cocking stroke can be harder than a compound's draw.
This comparison is usually argued as a culture war. The useful version is a list of trades, and most of them point in the crossbow's favor for the reader this site is written for.
The comparison
| Crossbow | Compound bow | |
|---|---|---|
| Learning curve | Short — a rifle-style stock, scope and trigger | Long — form, anchor, release |
| Holding at the ready | Stays cocked indefinitely | You hold full draw; seconds, not minutes |
| Cocking or drawing | 5-110 lb depending on the aid | Hold the full peak weight at the moment of truth |
| Weight carried | 6-8.4 lb plus scope and quiver | 3-5 lb typically |
| Width | 6-18 in uncocked — a real constraint | Narrow; no blind-fit problem |
| Reload time | Slow; one shot in practice | A few seconds |
| Unloading | Needs a de-cocking system or a discharge shot | Let down, no ceremony |
| Noise | Louder | Quieter |
| Season access | Varies by state — check your rules | Full archery season almost everywhere |
Where the crossbow wins
Accuracy with little practice
The decisive advantage. A crossbow is cocked and locked before the animal arrives, so the shot is a rifle shot: shoulder it, place the aim point, squeeze. A compound requires you to draw while the animal is close, hold at full draw, and execute a release under pressure.
It holds itself
A compound shooter can hold full draw for seconds. A crossbow stays cocked for the whole sit. If the deer takes four minutes to turn, the crossbow does not care and your arms do not shake.
Cocking effort is solvable
This is where the site's premise lives. A compound's peak draw weight has to be pulled by you, at the worst possible moment, with no mechanical assistance. A crossbow's cocking effort is whatever the aid leaves: 5 lb with an integrated crank. That is why a shoulder that cannot draw a compound can shoot a crossbow. See cocking aids for a shoulder injury.
A scope
Calibrated aim points to 100 yards, illuminated for low light, with magnification. A compound has pins.
In detail
The crossbow kit that makes the switch work
TenPoint Titan X De-Cock
The de-cocking version of TenPoint's best-selling bow, and the most complete answer on this site to the question that brings most people here. The integrated ACUdraw De-Cock drops cocking effort to 5 pounds, and it backwinds, so you can unload the bow at the end of a sit without firing a bolt into the dirt. 400 fps and a 9.75-inch front end are the supporting cast.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Speed | 400 fps |
| Cocking effort | 5 lb |
| Cocked width | 9.75 in |
| Cocking aid | ACUdraw De-Cock, integrated |
| De-cocks | Yes, backwind the handle |
| Trigger pull | 3.5 lb |
| Included | Pro-View 400 lighted scope, three Pro Elite 400 arrows, quiver, bow hanger |
What it does well
- 5 lb of cocking effort is the lowest figure any bow on this site publishes
- Safe de-cocking: the Auto-Brake gear system holds the handle wherever you let go
- A 9.75-inch front end clears blind windows and stand rails
- Ships assembled and pre-sighted, so first setup is a scope zero and nothing else
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 9.6
- 8.4
- 8.5
- 9.0
- 7.8
- 8.6
Wicked Ridge Rampage XS
An ACUdraw crank built into a 31.5-inch bow that shoots 390 fps, from TenPoint's value brand and made in America. This is the cheapest bow on the site with an integrated 5-pound crank, which makes it the default recommendation when your shoulder, not your budget, is the limiting factor.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Speed | 390 fps |
| Cocking effort | 5 lb |
| Overall length | 31.5 in |
| Cocking aid | ACUdraw crank, integrated |
| Trigger pull | 3.5 lb |
| Scope | Lighted 3x Pro-View, 20/30/40/50 yd |
| Included | Three Match 400 carbon Alpha-Nock arrows, quiver |
What it does well
- 5 lb cocking effort from a built-in crank at an entry-level price
- 31.5 inches overall is short enough to swing inside a blind
- Made in the United States at a price point where that is unusual
- Safety wings and an enclosed trigger guard keep fingers below the flight deck
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 9.4
- 7.8
- 8.0
- 8.8
- 8.6
- 9.4
Barnett Crank Cocking Device
Barnett publishes two numbers that almost nobody else does: 93 percent resistance reduction, and 13 pounds of actual pull at the handle. On a 150-pound Barnett that turns an impossible draw into something you can do one-handed from a seated position. The compatibility list on the listing runs to dozens of named models, which is the other reason to pick it — you can check your bow before you buy.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Effort reduction | 93% |
| Pull at the handle | 13 lb |
| Type | Crank, stock-mounted |
| Handed | Ambidextrous |
| Fits | Barnett Raptor, Whitetail Hunter, Ghost, Recruit, Droptine, Wildcat and more |
| Hardware | Crank plus all installation hardware included |
| De-cocks |
What it does well
- 93 percent reduction and a 13 lb handle pull, both published
- A named-model compatibility list you can check against your bow
- Ambidextrous handle
- Everything needed to install is in the box
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 9.6
- 7.8
- 7.4
- 6.4
- 8.2
CenterPoint Padded Crossbow Shoulder Sling
A 5-inch-wide padded sling with a non-slip shoulder surface and quick-detach swivels, for any CenterPoint bow. Five inches of padding is the figure that matters: a narrow strap on a 7-pound crossbow cuts into your shoulder inside a mile.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Pad width | 5 in |
| Surface | Non-slip |
| Attachment | Quick-detach swivels |
| Fits | All CenterPoint crossbows |
| Carry | Hands-free |
What it does well
- Five inches of padding spreads the load properly
- Quick-detach so it comes off at the stand
- A non-slip surface that stays on your shoulder
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 8.6
- 8.2
- 9.0
- 7.8
TenPoint 3-Arrow Instant Detach Quiver
4.75 ounces, three arrows, three mounting positions, and a rubber loop so it hangs silently from a treestand hook. The detach matters more than the weight: a quiver mounted under the barrel is the first thing that snags on a blind window.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.75 oz |
| Capacity | 3 arrows |
| Mounting positions | 3 |
| Mount | Traditional or side-mount bracket; under-mount included |
| Hanging | Flexible rubber loop for silent treestand hanging |
| Detach | Instant |
What it does well
- 4.75 ounces is light for a mounted quiver
- Three mounting positions to clear your blind window
- A rubber hanging loop for a silent treestand hang
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 8.6
- 8.4
- 9.0
- 7.8
Where the compound wins
Weight and width
A compound is half the weight of a crossbow and does not have a width problem. On a long walk in, or in a tight blind, that is a real advantage. The crossbow answers are a padded sling and a case with backpack straps.
Reload time
A compound shooter can nock and draw a second arrow in seconds. A crossbow has to be re-cocked, and in practice you get one shot. The Excalibur TwinStrike is the only bow on this site that addresses this, with two strings and two triggers.
Letting down
A compound shooter who decides not to shoot simply relaxes. A crossbow has to be unloaded, which means a de-cocking system or a discharge bolt into a target you carried in. See how to de-cock a crossbow.
Noise
A crossbow stores more energy and is louder. See crossbow noise.
Season access, in some states
Compound bows are legal through full archery seasons almost everywhere. Crossbow access varies by state and sometimes requires a permit. Check your own agency's rules. See crossbow hunting regulations.
Who should pick which
Match the weapon to the constraint
- A shoulder that cannot draw a compoundCrossbow with an integrated crank. This is the whole reason the category exists for you.
- Limited time to practiceCrossbow. Acceptable groups in a session rather than a season.
- A long walk in and steep groundCompound, unless you want the crossbow's other advantages enough to carry the weight.
- You want a realistic second shotCompound, or the Excalibur TwinStrike.
- A tight ground blindEither, with the crossbow's cocked width checked first. See cocked width and blinds.
- You already shoot a compound wellKeep it, unless something has changed physically. See switching from a compound.
Frequently asked questions
Is a crossbow easier than a compound bow?
Is a crossbow more accurate than a compound bow?
Is a crossbow harder to cock than drawing a compound?
Can you get a second shot with a crossbow?
Are crossbows allowed in archery season?
Sources
Read next
Cocking Aids
Crank vs rope cocker
Crossbows
The best crossbows for beginners
Cocking Aids
How to de-cock a crossbow
