More and more women are participating in the crossbow shooting world. As a result, many manufacturers are responding to the demand by offering specific models that cater to women’s unique preferences. In the past, smaller women were only able to find crossbows in the youth section, if at all. Now, women crossbow shooters/hunters can enjoy the same comfort levels and quality found in this traditionally male-dominated field.
Crossbows for Women
The best crossbows for women are subject to a specific set of criteria to ensure that they fit your unique needs. The overall weight of the crossbow is one determining factor in whether or not the crossbow will meet your needs.
Weight
The weight of a crossbow should not be so much that you are unable to control it when holding it on a target, yet not so light as the render the bow ineffective. Also, the size and the length of the crossbow should play an important factor in determining the type of crossbow you choose.
Draw Weight
Draw weight is another aspect you should look at. You will want to ensure that the weight is sufficient to meet your needs, yet not too high as to prevent you from cocking properly. If this is your first crossbow, you can probably get away with purchasing a lower-end model, as you will just be getting your feet wet at this point. If you are an advanced shooter, you can splurge on a mid-range to high-end crossbow.
Projectile Speed
For women as well as men, the speed of the bolt fired from a crossbow is perhaps the most important aspect. If you are hunting, you will need to look for a 300 feet-per-second speed (FPS) or higher. Hunters should not skimp when it comes to choosing a crossbow for hunting. The kinetic energy of the bolt needs to remain high enough to cause maximum penetration upon impact with the target.
Choosing a Crossbow
Women often have smaller frames than men. As a result, they tend to do better with crossbows that match their build. Before anything else, the crossbow should be comfortable for you as the shooter. A crossbow that does not fit properly will most likely result in poor aim.
You will also need to be able to shoulder the crossbow for a sustained period of time if you intend to be shooting without a rest or shooting sticks. A crossbow that is too heavy will compromise your aim and may cause you to miss.
The strength of the shooter will determine the ideal draw weight of the crossbow. Many crossbow companies have designed cocking mechanisms that make it easier to cock higher weights with relative ease. However, strength is still part of the consideration you need to make.
The Power Stroke
The longer the power stroke, the longer your arms will need to be to properly cock the bow. The power stroke is the length between the crossbow’s string in the cocked position and the resting position. This is very close to the draw length of a vertical bow.
In most cases, the longer the power stroke, the faster the speed of the bolt, as more energy is released upon launching it. However, power stroke in and of itself is not the determining factor in the velocity of a bolt fired from the bow. Cam design, limb design and draw weight are three other factors that contribute to the final velocity achieved by the crossbow.
Shorter power strokes can negatively affect the performance of the crossbow unless it is compensated in the other speed-influencing components such as the cams and limbs. Some states also have minimum lengths for the power strokes and the bolts. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check the regulations of the area you intend to hunt before purchasing a crossbow of traveling there to hunt during the season. Most adult crossbows have a minimum power stroke of 11 to 12 inches. However, there are power strokes of 10 inches and under.
Selecting your crossbow
When choosing a crossbow, the intended use of the weapon will play a huge role in your final decision. If you intend to use your bow for target practice, you can feel free to choose any size you want. If you are planning to use it for hunting, however, the size matters more.
For hunting crossbows, smaller bows are better, as they allow for the greatest mobility when moving around. This is especially important when hunting from a tree stand or ground blind with minimal room for maneuvering. When a crossbow is cocked, the limb tip distance is shorter than when the bolt has been deployed. Compact crossbows are less likely to strike the side of the blind or stand when deployed than crossbows with wider limbs spans.
Proper Tuning for a Crossbow
In order to properly shoot, a crossbow for either men or women needs to be properly tuned with both a balanced brace height and a balanced tiller. Brace height is measured as the distance between the bow string and the side of the riser facing you when measured from the center of the bowstring at rest.
If you place a small mark on the side of the flight track, you will notice that the string tends to creep forward a bit when stretched. This is normal for a new bowstring and will stretch and settle as time goes by. When you notice that the impact point of your bolts is no longer accurate, you might need to replace the string and the cables.
The tiller is the balance between the limbs and should be identical in both pull length and weight. If the tiller is off-balance, the bolt will impact either to the right or two the left of the target.
In more extreme cases, heavy rail marks will be visible on the shaft of the bolt along the nock end. In order to correct this problem, the measurement between the prod of each limb and the string should be the same. If they are off, you can adjust it with a set screw or bolt on each limb that will allow you to bring them either in or out until the tiller measurement is the same.
Can Women Shoot Any Crossbow?
Women can use any crossbow that they feel comfortable using. As a woman, you will likely have different shooting preferences than a man, such as bow weight, draw weight and power stroke length.
For strong to average women, the weight of the bow and the draw weight required to cock it is less likely to be a problem. However, for those with smaller frames, a lighter crossbow will make it a lot easier to maneuver and operate. Bows that are “made for women” are too often than not men’s models with a different paint coat. If you are a smaller person, look for a crossbow that is made for women through its design and not in its paint coat alone. Otherwise, the choice is completely up to you.
Pink Camo?
Many women wonder if the pink camouflage common to women’s bows is visible to animals, making it counterproductive to use out in the field. This is a non-issue in most cases. Many animals only see in shades of grey, making the patterning of the paint more important than coloration.
Lighter Crossbows
Lighter crossbows are best for women with small, light frames If you cannot carry the crossbow or are unable to hold it upright when aiming, your shots will be drastically off target.
A few of the best crossbows for women that meet this criterion while remaining effective include:
- The Barnett Lady Whitetail Hunter II
- The TenPoint Lady Shadow
- The Barnett Recruit Terrain
- The Barnett Ghost
- The TenPoint Wicked Ridge Lady Ranger
Low Draw Weight Crossbows
Draw weight is critical when choosing a crossbow for yourself or a female friend, relative, or partner. Some women will have a difficult time using a crossbow if the draw weight is too high.
The ideal draw weight will be different for everyone. If the weight is too great, you will not be able to pull the string back at all. However, even if you can cock the crossbow, the weight could affect your accuracy if it is greater than is ideal for your build and strength.
In order to properly shoot in a straight line the crossbow must be cocked evenly. When the bow is fully cocked and locked, the serving should be centered with equal lengths on each side of the rail. If it is off-center by as little as 1/16th of an inch, the impact point can be off target by several inches, depending on your range. The longer the range, the greater the deviation. For most people, the dominant arm is stronger than the supporting side and is able to pull the string easier.
To help gauge your accuracy at centering the string, mark the serving area with a felt pen or a marker on each side of the rail when the bow is at rest. When you cock the bow, concentrate on your motions and ensure that you use the marks as a visual guide to get the string evenly lined up.
The use of rope cocking devices including rail slides and integrated cocking aides are a huge bonus when using a crossbow.
Crossbows with Style
At times, the difference between a crossbow for men and women is just the coat if paint. The Whitetail Hunter II by Barnett is a classic example of this. Keep in mind that everyone is different. Just because you are a woman does not necessarily mean that you must purchase a crossbow that is smaller and/or lighter than those designed for males.
The key here is choosing a bow that fits your build and strength. If you can use it comfortable and safely, go for it.
Best Crossbows for Women
Now that we’ve discussed how to choose a crossbow and what you should be looking for, let’s take a look at some of the models that women can take advantage of.
Barnet Lady Whitetail Hunter II
The Lady Whitetail Hunter II is on the low end as far as cost goes at under $400 from most retailers. The shooting power is not bad at 350 FPS. The cocking weight is a reasonable 150 pounds, making it suitable for just about any adult of average strength. The weight of this crossbow is minimal at 6.5 pounds, an extremely light weight for a bow of this type. If you are looking for a product that is in the low- to mid-range that will still get your mission accomplished, this is a great choice. You can use this bow for both hunting and target practice.
The Lady Whitetail Hunter II comes with an illuminated scope with either a red or a green light and different illumination choices. The crossbow also ships with two 30-inch Headhunter bolts, a lightweight yet sturdy quiver, lube wax and a rope cocking device.
Assembly is easy and the TriggerTech technology used in the design of all of Barnett’s crossbow triggers eliminates the dreaded trigger creep present with many older models. Frictionless Release Technology creates a free-floating roller between the sear and the trigger to allow for a clean break at a mere three pounds of pressure. The arrow retention spring has also been updated to include a bristle arrow retention, which reduces noise and eliminates metal-on-metal vibration.
Pros
- Lightweight crossbow at 6.4 pounds
- Compact and easy to maneuver
- Well-balanced and easy to hold
- Light draw weight at 150 pounds
- Outstanding technology at an extremely affordable price
Cons
- Could use more bolts
- Not suitable for shots at extended distances
TenPoint Lady Shadow Crossbow
If you are able to splurge on a crossbow, take a look at the TenPoint Lady Shadow. This classy crossbow is specifically designed for women and is the benchmark against which all other crossbows can be measured. The kinetic energy released by this crossbow is close to 105 foot-pounds, making it suitable for big game of any size in North America.
The crossbow ships with XX75 Magnum 435-grain bolts and can shoot up to 350 FPS when using 370-grain bolts. The TenPoint Lady Shadow comes complete with a 3x Pro-View 2 scope mounted on a machined aluminum 7/8-inch fixed dovetail mount. A QD quiver allows you to easily remove and mount it when the situation warrants flexibility. Three quality TenPoint bolts are included, along with an instructional DVD and an owner’s manual.
You are able to choose between either the patented ACUdraw or ACUdraw 50 cocking mechanism. Each of these mechanisms are easy to use and help increase your precision by allowing you to cock the bow the same way every time. The combination of all these additional items with the crossbow makes it an excellent deal for the serious shooter. If budget is not an issue for you, we highly recommend going with the Lady Shadow by TenPoint.
Pros
- Designed with women’s preferences in mind
- Extremely quiet operation
- Excellent accuracy
- High quality scope included
- Good bolts included
- Well balanced for ease of use
Cons
- Sling not included
- High price tag
Ravin R110 Crossbow for Women
If you need a high-quality crossbow that is under $1,500, you might like the Ravin R110. Powered by Helicoil technology, this crossbow delivers dead-center nock point travel. The technology allows bolts to reach the same levels of accuracy as bullets downrange.
The Frictionless Flight system allows for absolutely zero rail friction that can rob an arrow of speed and accuracy. As a result, the Ravin R110 can send a crossbow bolt down ranges at speeds of up to 390 FPS.
Every Ravin crossbow comes complete with a Ravin scope that can allow you to achieve three-inch groups from a distance the length of a football field. The Ravin is also small, with a six-inch axle-to-axle length when fully cocked. The Ravin is lightweight at close to eight pounds total weight. The power stroke is a good 13 inches, an ideal weight for most women of aversive size and strength.
Pros
- Lightweight at 8 pounds
- Accurate with the Ravin scope
- Small profile
- Advanced technology to reduce friction and improve bolt speed and accuracy
- Easy to load bolts
Cons
- High price tag for a beginner
- Minimal noise cancellation
Shooting with a crossbow is a rewarding experience that can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life. Choosing a crossbow that you can develop a lasting relationship with is a good investment in your future as a hunter or a sharpshooter.