These are some of the things that you should look for in a crossbow:
1. Speed
Crossbows should have a feet-per-second (FPS) firing speed of 300 or better at minimum. However, if you are planning to take on bigger game, then you should look at 400 FPS crossbows.
In addition, feet-pound kinetic energy (FP KE) also matters. This relates to the momentum of your arrow. With a higher FP KE, you’ll be able to take down any game, which is 75 FP KE or higher.
2. Safety
If you are just starting out, then your crossbow should have a few things to make it safer to use, such as anti-dry fire and auto-engaging safety.
Dry fire refers to a crossbow firing without any arrows in the flight groove. This is the worst thing that you can do because it can hurt you and it can destroy your crossbow. Models that have an anti-dry fire component are the best to avoid this.
An auto-engaging safety helps to keep the trigger from releasing when the string is in place, just like a safety on a rifle that is loaded. This is so you don’t fire unintentionally, avoiding hitting yourself or injuring those around you.
3. Forward Grip Design
This piece is located right under the rail where you place a hand to hold your crossbow in place. Just like with a rifle, the grip is typically a piece of wood where you can hold your weapon while shooting without having to worry about the safety of your fingers.
With a crossbow, the arrow is contained in the flight groove, but the bow string will slid quickly down the rail when you fire. If you have a finger or thumb out of place, then you will likely suffer an injury.
Forward grip designs prevent this by using wings that stick out and prevent the string from sliding too far down.
4. Draw Weight
Your local laws will actually determine this for you. While it differs from state to state, you probably won’t go over a maximum of 125 pounds of draw weight. While larger draw weights are better because they can shoot faster, you may opt for a lower draw weight if you don’t have the strength to operate the higher weights.
5. Accessories
When calculating the price of your crossbow, you don’t want to forget about other parts, such as a bow case or scope.
Here is a list of accessories to look at for your crossbow:
Bow case: Choosing a lightweight case for the field and a hard case with a lock for at-home storage is recommended.
Bolts: You should pick bolts based on the draw weight and power stroke of your crossbow. Bolts differ based on their weight. You typically use 400-grain bolts with most crossbows
Field Tips: These bolts are for target practice
Broadheads: These bolts are for hunting
Scope: These typically come with a crossbow but you may want to upgrade
Quiver: to hold your arrows
Cocking Device: To help load your crossbow
One thing to keep in mind as you look at different crossbows is the entire kit and assembly. Most crossbows should come with a scope, quiver, bolts, field tips, cocking aid, and case. You should always look at reviews beforehand to see what kind of issues people have with a crossbow.