Your next hunting trip isn’t going to be the same if you don’t have the best crossbow bolts for the money to help you along. With any of these, you’re going to have a better experience every step of the way, especially with these great options available.
All you have to do is take a look at each of our favorite options and decide which one will work best for your crossbow.
Reviews of The Best Crossbow Bolts
1. Carbon Express PileDriver Fletched Carbon Crossbolt
Best Overall
Includes 2 sets of nocks
Highly consist shots
+/- 0.004” accuracy for straightness
Tips not included
Wrapped in carbon not full
Available in both 20” and 22” versions, these Carbon Express Crossbolts are precision sorted to ensure you get the most accurate straightness. They are rated to +/- 0.004” to ensure they are as consistent as possible and follow the manufacturer specifications.
These specifications also include 442-grain weight and universal flat nocks along with the moon nocks. You’ll also get 4” vanes on each of the six arrows included in a pack.
Specially designed to penetrate deep to take out your target in a single shot, these crossbow arrows are also designed to work again and again. Because the nocks are interchangeable, you can swap them out whenever you want or even supply your favorite nocks to get the ideal fit for your crossbow.
The tight grouping you’ll get is a testament to the accuracy of these bolts. The durability and power of these bolts also mean that they fly straight through just about anything they come into contact with. They’re highly accurate to 50 yards and beyond, while still maintaining the same tight grouping…
2. Barnett 16075 Outdoors Carbon 20-inch Bolts
Best for Accuracy
1” groups at 50 yards
5-year manufacturer warranty
Includes field tip points
Not as durable as others
Not designed for short stirrup
These Barnett bolts are 20” in length to provide the ideal balance between speed and a good fit with most crossbows. They feature half-moon nocks that are 13.78 grains per inch and come in sets of 5 bolts. You’ll get field tips included that feature 24F points.
Not only that, but the arrows are only 8.1 ounces and made with carbon fiber for added durability and decreased weight.
There is a five-year manufacturer warranty that says these crossbow arrows are made to last, and they feature top-quality accuracy and penetration. The thick wall design means that they are even more durable than their predecessors and comparable options. They also feature a high level of consistency and can be used with broadheads as needed.
Made by a company well-known in the world of crossbows, these bolts are strong enough to pierce standard practice targets. They also have easy-attach field tips, or you can replace them with broadheads.
3. Carbon Express Maxima Hunter Fletched BuffTuff Bolts
Best Construction
Strong and durable for hunting
Lightweight for better speed
Tight grouping
Wrapped in carbon, not full
Nocks not easily replaced
Ideal for deer hunting and other small game, these Carbon Express Hunter bolts come in two different sizes from 20” to 22”. You’ll be able to choose which fits your bow best and provides you with a balance of speed. They also feature two spines, which provide better energy control, speed, and accuracy than comparable bolts.
Each bolt is laser checked for accuracy down to 1/10,000 of an inch and the straightness is accurate to +/- 0.0025”. This ensures that the bolts are precisely what you expect and will always shoot precisely right. They are coated in the Mossy Oak treestand camo to provide a better fit with the rest of your gear and make sure that nothing is visible while you’re hunting.
You’ll get 3” Fusion vanes and a weight of 390 grains. Not only that, but there are six bolts included in each pack, and they can be used with either field tips or broadheads so you can hunt or practice with them. They are lightweight but still durable, made with carbon fiber.
4. TenPoint Pro-V 22” Omni-Brite 2.0
Best Accessories
Hand sorted for consistency
Six grooves for better fit
Unmatched accuracy
Lower speed than others
Highly sensitive nock light
At 22” long and 436-grain, these crossbow bolts offer a low 8.9% loss of speed over 50 yards. They feature only 18.7% loss of KE over the same 50-yard span and come in packs of 3 so you’ll have enough to practice or get off a couple of shots.
You’ll also get an Omni-nock that features six grooves for bow channels and a 24-grain aluminum insert for durability. The bolts are even balanced at 10.5% and are sorted by hand to ensure all crossbow arrows balance precisely with the rest.
Shafts are also hand-inspected for straightness and weight tolerance. This ensures you’re getting the bolts you would expect that will do the job you intend. And some of the best crossbow bolts for the money.
The nocks are lighted, so you can see them more clearly, no matter what the conditions are, and they are fletched with Easton BTV vanes in a variety of different colors. This ensures you have the quality from the tip to the fletching and the nock.
5. GPP Hunting Archery Carbon Arrow
Best for Beginners
12 arrows in pack
Best for beginning users
Compatible with most bows
Included tips are heavy
Coloring is difficult to spot
You’ll get 12 arrows included in this set of GPP crossbow bolts. They feature three vanes with one odd-feather to make loading easier. They also include nocks that are half-moon-shaped but can be changed out for other nocks whenever you choose.
Made with carbon fiber and 4” TPU vanes, these bolts are durable but still lightweight, which allows them to fly straight and accurate to where you aim. These 20” bolts also have an aluminum insert so you can attach either field tips or broadheads for whatever you may need.
When used with a field tip, these bolts come in at approximately 432 grains to ensure a good fit for most crossbows. They’re also reasonably consistent from one bolt to the next within the pack. Inexpensive and easy to use; these bolts are ideal for those who are getting started with a crossbow and need to practice.
6. REEGOX Crossbow Bolts
Best for Budget
12 arrows with accessories
Best budget pick
100% carbon construction
Not all weight-matched
Nocks not true out of box
Available in 2 different colors and three different sizes, these crossbow bolts are durable and designed for hunting or target practice. They feature a standard point and moon nocks but can be swapped out for any other nocks or tips as needed.
This means you can use field tips or broadheads in them easily. They also include 4” TPU vanes to get a good flight each time. You’ll get a total weight of 368 grains at 16” up to 425 grains at 20”, so they easily match the specifications needed for your crossbow.
They are made with 100% carbon and are weighed to ensure each bolt in the pack is evenly matched with the others.
Produced by a brand that’s well known within the field of crossbows and archery, these feature a low drop, which makes them even more accurate for any purpose. They penetrate deep into your target, ensuring a clean shot, and kill each time. They also come in at a moderate price compared to similar options.
How to Choose the Best Crossbow Bolts
When it comes to choosing your crossbow bolts, you want to take a look at several different factors to make sure you’re on the right track. You’ll want to look at things like the material, the weight, fletchings, nocks, tips, consistency, and length to determine which bolts you need and which features are going to provide you with the best shot and hunting experience. You’ll want to look at everything you need to know about arrows.
Material
Crossbow arrows can be made out of several different types of material, though most are either aluminum or carbon fiber. While aluminum is generally less expensive and can be slightly safer if broken, carbon fiber has its own benefits.
Carbon fiber is lighter and more durable, making it better for long-distance shots because they have less drop. If they break, however, the fibers can be dangerous. You may also find bolts made with a mix of carbon fiber and aluminum, which help balance out the benefits of both types of bolts.
Weight
The weight of your bolts is going to play a role in just how they fly. Lighter bolts are going to fly faster and further without dropping. However, if they are too light, they won’t penetrate the target or do enough damage to incapacitate or kill your target.
On the other hand, bolts that are too heavy can do a lot of damage on impact, but they need to be closer to the target to be accurate. That means you need to balance the accuracy and speed you want with the overall power and durability to get a good match.
Fletchings
When it comes to the fletching on your bolts, you want to compare feathers with vanes. Feathers are precisely what they sound like. They’re designed to mimic actual feathers and have individual pieces to create a single piece that helps the bolt to fly. Vanes, on the other hand, are made of plastic and are a single sheet of that material.
Either of these will generally be 2” to 4” in length, and there will be three on each bolt. Vanes tend to offer more durability and improved consistency, while feathers can be better for stabilization. These are possibly one of the most important parts of an arrow.
Nocks
The nocks on your bolts are going to influence how they connect to the crossbow and how safe they actually are. Crossbow bolts use nocks that activate the safety mechanism rather than attach to the string in the way a traditional arrow for a compound bow would.
Half-moon nocks and flat nocks are both available and will both give you a good experience. With a half-moon nock, you’ll have a slightly more involved process as these need to be appropriately aligned to be fired. Flat nocks are easy to simply insert and fire at will.
Tips
When we talk about tips for a crossbow bolt for deer hunting or anything else, we’re looking at either field tips or broadheads. Field tips are generally used for practice or target shooting and can be fired at hay bales, paper targets, or foam targets (as well as other materials).
Broadheads are designed for hunting and should only be used when shooting at animals as they are generally too powerful and too destructive to use with softer targets. You will likely want to have both types of tips or points for your bolts so you can use them in different ways and be prepared for anything.
Consistency
You want bolts for deer hunting that are consistent in accuracy, length, straightness, and more. All of these features are found through the manufacturer, who should be able to tell you just what you’re getting for your money. If you get high-quality crossbow bolts, they’ll provide you with advanced accuracy, and they will be more consistent all the way around.
That means all of the bolts that you get in the pack will be the same length, straightness, and accuracy within a very small margin of error. That’s how you can feel confident that you are going to hit what you aim at.
Length
The length of the bolts that you choose is going to depend on your specific crossbow, as well as what you’re looking to get out of them. Bolts should be at least 16” in length, or they may not fit properly with the crossbow rail.
On the other hand, they shouldn’t be more than 22” as this causes them to lose speed and could result in less accuracy and more drop over distance. 20” is generally considered the optimum length for bolts; however, this will depend on the specific crossbow that you are using.
Precautions With Crossbow Bolts
When it comes to using crossbows and crossbow bolts, it is essential to use every precaution possible. These bolts can be dangerous, especially because of the power with which they are being fired. This means that you should always be well aware of what you are aiming at and what is behind whatever you are aiming at.
Overall Power
Keep in mind that one of the most significant benefits of crossbow bolts is their power, and many can shoot through thick or tough surfaces. You should always know what’s behind that target in order to minimize injuries and damage.
Broken Bolts
You will also want to be careful about broken bolts. Aluminum bolts are generally safe to pick up for disposal, though the edges can be sharp. On the other hand, carbon fiber bolts will leave small slivers in your hands or any skin that they touch. This means you need to be extremely careful when picking up any broken bolts as it could leave these splinters.
While the splinters are generally not painful, they are difficult to remove and could leave you susceptible to infection if you are not careful. That means it’s essential to use caution when dealing with broken bolts.
In General
Finally, follow general tips for hunting or target practice when using your crossbow. Never put your finger near the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Do not load an arrow before correctly cocking the bow. Always make sure to maintain your balance when shooting.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times while loading, aiming, and shooting your crossbow. Use the proper bolts for your specific crossbow to ensure safety. Always properly install tips as well as nocks on your crossbow bolts to ensure that they will not break when you fire. This could result in injury for you or others that are around you.
FAQs
Carbon fiber keeps to a fast speed and a flat trajectory that improves your accuracy and gives you a better chance of hitting your target the way you intended.
You’ll also need to carefully remove the old fletching so as not to leave glue or other buildups behind. You can then set your new fletching in place and secure it using the jig.
Conclusion
The best crossbow bolts are going to depend on just what you’re looking for. Overall, the top pick is definitely the Carbon Express PileDriver Crossbolts, which offers excellent accuracy and speed for the length of the arrows. They’re compatible with most crossbows and feature lighted nocks that make them easier to see no matter where or when you’re using them.
If you’re not entirely sold on those, you can check out the Barnett 16075 bolts, which include field tips and provide a grouping of as little as 1” at 50 yards. These will provide you with strength and durability as well as a five-year manufacturer warranty.
No matter which of these bolts you choose, you’re going to have something that will help you enjoy the sport of archery or hunting. Each will provide you with accuracy and the overall quality that you would expect.