Collectively, we have more than a century of bowhunting experience and have taken an estimated 400 big-game animals with archery equipment, crossbows included. This year’s test panel members included me, as well as Danny Hinton and Keith Meador, both of whom also helped me with the vertical bow test. Along the way, we took subjective notes on things like cocking and de-cocking effort, handling, safety, and quality of accessories. We measured group sizes with a digital caliper and then crunched the numbers to get an overall average group size for each crossbow. (I’ve learned that as crossbow arrows get faster, shorter, or longer, and as fletching and nock styles change, good broadhead flight can become elusive.) The author, F&S hunting editor Will Brantley, jots down notes as he evaluates different crossbow models. Finally, we fired additional shots with compact, fixed-blade broadheads (this year we used Muzzy Ones and G5 Montecs) to see where they hit relative to field points.

After that, each of our three test-panel members fired three-shot groups through each crossbow from a seated position using Bog DeathGrip tripods. We checked trigger pulls with a Lyman trigger scale, and then zeroed each crossbow at 40 yards. We chronographed every crossbow with the supplied arrows (or bolts saying either is correct), and weighed the arrows on a powder scale. We tested each submitted crossbow with the accessories provided by the manufacturer, though it’s worth noting that some brands offer upgraded accessory packages, such as better scopes and cocking devices, for extra coin. The Field & Stream crossbow test is an invitational. How We Pick the Best Crossbows Members of the F&S test team cock crossbows, measure groups, and shoot at 40-yard targets.

Most Accurate: Excalibur Assassin Extreme.

Here’s what else we found, including our picks for the best crossbows of 2023. This year, a pair sub-$600 models broke the 400-fps threshold-just two of several surprises our test panel uncovered during this year’s annual crossbow test. I remember when 400-fps speed was a big deal and you had to pay through the nose to get it. The average speed for all crossbows we tested this year was 392 fps-about 50 fps faster than the average speed from 10 years ago. That’s good because crossbows are bulky, and they seem to triple in size once you’re up in a tree stand.Īlthough none of the top 2023 models threaten the 500-fps mark, they’re far from sluggish.

But for now, crossbow manufacturer seem focused on giving hunters a more compact package rather than additional raw power. I bet we’ll see a 600-fps model within the next decade. Is the race to build the most powerful crossbow over? Probably not. After the introduction of two 500-plus-fps crossbows in 2022, there’s something of a performance plateau this year. If you’re hoping to find the new fastest-ever model among the best crossbows of 2023, well, you won’t.

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