Best Crossbow Bolts: 5 Top Reviews & Guide

For optimal performance of your crossbow, suitable crossbow bolts are highly essential. Bolts are an integral part of the crossbow and are supposed to create a perfect combination of superior strength, accuracy, and speed. The bolts make a significant impact on the hunt. Perfect ones can zero in on the target with accuracy and precision every time you release the bow.

Having the right crossbow alongside the best crossbow arrows ensures that you never miss a target. There are numerous options for crossbow bolts available in the market. We have the best crossbow bolts for hunting reviewed and revealed below.

Read Next: Best Crossbow for Deer Hunting: Review & Guides

1. Carbon express crossbow pile driver

These amazing bolts are designed with the theme of a better shot in mind. In this Carbon express crossbow pile driver review, we provide you with an in-depth analysis of the pile driver. It is specially designed to ensure strength, durability, and utmost accuracy. The carbon design provides you with consistency and a flat trajectory on every shot you take.

The pile driver is a heavier carbon bolt that provides maximum kinetic energy and effectiveness on the target prey. It is highly effective and can crush bones on impact, even for the largest of prey. The weight is appropriately distributed to facilitate direct flight and hard hits on impact, knocking your prey down.

For every six-pack crossbow bolts, there is a supplement of six extra universal flat nocks. Having the pile driver in your assortment of hunting weapons guarantees you success, fun, and confidence.

What we liked

• It can guarantee effectiveness and accuracy
• It provides a spectacular view of the field
• Has impressive features and qualities which ensure penetration and knocking the prey down
• Extra supply of flat nocks included in the package

What we did not like

• They have a relatively low velocity due to their weight. 

2. Barnett crossbow field trip carbon bolts

The Barnett crossbow bolts are made for high endurance and wall impermeability, making them very durable. They can provide maximum penetration with a 100-grain point and dimensions of 24.5’’ by 1.2’’. The bolts weigh about 1.02 pounds.

The weight is quite significant as it ensures precision and straight flight. The package comes with moon nocks and field points. There are five bolts in every pack. It is important to note that field points are the tips of the arrows, while moon nocks are the tips attached to the fletching.

These bolts come with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty and are highly compatible with wildcat C-5, jackal, penetrator, and ghost 350 crossbows. It is, however, essential to look out for distorted arrows before heading out for a hunt. You should also do away with the bent ones as they can easily damage your crossbow.

What we liked

• Amazing features for high-quality performance
• Safe and has great penetration
• Highly durable
• High impermeability levels for walls

What we did not like

• Some inserts are not glued in for complete use
• Not compatible with all crossbows

3. Bloodspot 20-inch crossbow bolts

These bolts are perfect for modern high-speed crossbows. For functionality and kinetic energy conservation, the weight of the bolt is perfectly balanced. The bolts come with a blood ring technology that is perfect for tracking games. To accommodate better penetration and flight, the design applies a more center-off front build, which also encourages maximum speed. 

The bolts come with 20 and 22-inch length options for a tighter shot. However, they do not have a lack of field points. Instead, they come with brass inserts with flat nocks and half-moon nocks. The Brass inserts assist in weighing forward and thus guarantee the user of a firm, bolt flight.

The bolts have a nice finish with high-quality 4-inch plastic vanes that are quite durable and improve the bolt’s aerodynamics. The vanes form the perfect fletching that is excellent for precise steering. The bolts are generally straight and well crafted to ensure a perfect and accurate shot every time you release the arrow.

What we liked

• A lot of speed and penetration power
• Spectacular features which improve effectiveness like brass inserts and vanes
• Excellent functionality and conservation of kinetic energy
• Highly affordable and gives you value for money

What we did not like

• It is relatively heavy and large.

4. Carbon Express Maxima Hunter Crossbow Bolt

The Carbon express maxima hunter crossbow bolts is a handy and reliable option for game hunters. For a hunter who likes shooting over long distances, this is the best model to consider purchasing. The arrow is designed with two spines that assist in managing the energy and enabling the crossbow bolts to rotate quicker with higher velocity and unmatched precision.

The bolt also has a real straightness aspect, which is a very aesthetic and interesting feature. The body is made of a mossy oak treestand, which is very efficient. The feature gives the bolts and the crossbow the advantage of an effective camouflage, which is very rare.

The bolt weighs 0.8 ounces, and the fletching is composed of 3-inch fusion vanes. The pack comes six bolts in the package and can easily be paired alongside the gold tip EZ-Pull, giving you a more reliable snag size on how they hold up on the field. Be sure to benefit from precise shots on locked targets with these bolts.

What we like

• Properly weighted to increase efficiency
• The touch of carbon provides a lot of strength
• Highly efficient for hitting targets that are far out
• Have sharp field points which encourage high accuracy levels

What we did not like

• Not suitable for shooting over shorter ranges

5. Barnett 22 inch Headhunter Crossbow Arrows

Barnett’s product features a strong shaft made of lightweight carbon, which is very useful and reliable. The wall is also thickened to guarantee durability and allow optimum precision and complete target penetration. The bolts come in a pack of five, each with 13.78 grains per inch with the point at 100 grains.

The design promotes the accuracy and penetration capabilities of the arrows. They come with both the field points and moon nock tips ready to engage in hunting right away. The bolts are also aesthetically admirable and come in black and pale black and green. The pack comes with a five-year warranty from the manufacturer. 

What we liked

• High-quality, reliable bolts
• Provides high levels of accuracy and precision 
• Has an additional length to accommodate hunting of a larger prey
• Made of state of the art materials for durability

What we did not like

• The bolts are not very consistent
• The point is not very sharp

Buying guide for best crossbow bolts for hunting

When selecting the best bolts for your crossbow, there are several factors or features to consider. These features include:

Material

This generally entails the composition of the object itself. Some parts of the bolts require it to be made of specific materials for specific reasons. For example, the shaft has to be made of aluminum, carbon fiber, or fiberglass. Of these materials, aluminum makes the weakest and non-durable shafts on the list.

They are followed by fiberglass. Carbon fiber makes the best shafts in terms of strength and durability. These different material shafts have varying price ranges. The most durable ones are costlier, while more transient ones are more affordable.

Weight

Weight is yet another factor to consider when selecting the perfect crossbow bolt for hunting. Some crossbows or their bolts are extremely light, while others are considerably heavy and have few intermediaries. If your crossbow is too light, it is impossible to hit the target.

If the crossbow is too heavy, handling it will be difficult. Thus, you are unlikely to hit the prey. Therefore, your choice should strike a balance depending on your physiological build. To get the right weight, read the manufacturer’s manual, which stipulates the bolts’ weight.

Fletching/ tail

The tail generally refers to the feathers fitted at the back end of the bolt. The purpose of the fletching is to propel, balance, and steer the course of the bolt, once it has been fired. For better efficiency and reliability, go for fletching made of plastic material. Fletching made of plastic vanes is mainly functional.

Nocks

The nock is the small part that attaches and locks the crossbow bolt and the string to balance them and enable one to take a shot. The nock can either be half-moon or a flat one. A half-moon nock requires one to fasten it with a string before taking a shot, unlike the flat nock.

Nocks should be made of strong, durable material, i.e., either durable plastic or aluminum. Different manufacturers recommend different nocks for their crossbow. However, generally, half-moon nocks are better and more preferable.

Broadheads

There are three distinct options when it comes to broadheads. They can be fixed broadhead, expandable broadhead, or removable broadhead bolts. The expandable broadhead bolt is the best for achieving a clean kill within a short time after impact. Broadhead has the notoriety for the highest degree of damage to the prey on impact. It is, therefore, the most preferred option by hunters.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far can a crossbow bolt travel?

Many factors influence how far a crossbow bolt travels. The type of crossbow, the experience of the shooter, and the make of the bolt are some of the factors that influence the range traveled by the bolt. Most of the crossbows in the market can easily fire a crossbow bolt up to 500 yards. Nevertheless, the difference comes when you are aiming at a target. Accuracy is quite challenging to achieve at this distance because it is far beyond the effective hunting range. 

The effective hunting range is highly dependent on your skills and your equipment. As the bolt travels far out, it loses velocity, and its strength to hit and penetrate the prey becomes impossible. Even with the most advanced crossbows, the maximum effective hunting range falls far below the 500-yard mark, to 70 yards or less. For a hunter who is new to the crossbow, the effective hunting range is even lesser and increases with experience. 

Is it okay to leave a crossbow cocked overnight?

A crossbow is a matter of life and death. A lot of care and attention is, therefore, required when dealing with the weapon. Leaving the weapon cocked overnight is one of those mistakes to avoid. If the strings wear out or break, then the weapon goes off and releases an arrow. Without an intended target, the arrow may thrust itself into unwanted areas, leading to property damage, injuries, or even loss of lives.

At the end of the day, once you are done hunting, or at any other time that the crossbow is not in use, ensure that you de-cock the crossbow. Leaving your bow cocked overnight also subjects the strings to a lot of tension and may eventually lead to premature wears and tears.

Which is better aluminum or carbon crossbow bolts?

Each of the material has its special and advantageous features. Both aluminum and carbon crossbows are effective materials for bolt construction. Aluminum bolts are relatively cheaper and are more accurate and easy to use. The difference in accuracy is, however, not much. Carbon has the edge over aluminum when it comes to durability and strength. After hitting a deer to the ground with a carbon crossbow bolt you definitely can reuse the bolt.

This is very much, unlike aluminum which is prone to bending, and hence not reusable. Carbon arrows have improved penetration capabilities due to their smaller diameter shafts. Therefore, it is preferable to go for bolts made of carbon fiber, though they are costlier than their aluminum counterparts.

Conclusion

Different hunters have various preferences when it comes to their crossbow arrows. All the bolts highlighted above have distinctive amazing features. Therefore, it is essential to read through and carefully consider the guidelines before selecting one. Always pick the option that most appeals to you and head out for target practice before engaging in the real thrill of game hunting.