When deciding on a new crossbow the most important thing is what purpose it will be used for. Some try to be as accurate as possible in order to be the best target archery bow. Others might go for extreme shooting speeds that will make them great for hunting.
Then we have the bows like the Barnett Jackal. This crossbow was designed with one goal in mind – to get new archers interested in crossbow shooting.
This doesn’t mean that experienced archers should skip this bow completely. It has plenty to offer to them as well. Still, the ones that will get the most mileage out of this crossbow are the newbies.
Very durable
Great for hunting
Superb quality for an affordable price
No rope cocking mechanism included
Things to Consider Before Buying a Crossbow
Buying a crossbow for the first time can be a bit tricky if you don’t know what you are doing. Most importantly, you should be able to tell the difference between the three different crossbow groups. Those are compound, recurve, and reverse limb crossbows.
Compound crossbows are the most sought-after of the three. The Barnett Jackal is a compound crossbow as well. These models use cams to draw the string of your bow and can store large amounts of energy. They have excellent shooting speed.
One negative aspect about them is that they can get noisier than the old-school recurve models. Also, if your compound crossbow malfunctions, fixing it can be complicated and expensive. These bows are made with intricate components and you should not touch them unless you know what you’re doing.
Other important things to watch out for are the draw weight and speed of a crossbow.
Barnett Jackal Crossbow Features & Benefits
Accessories
When it comes to accessories, this crossbow comes with several quite useful ones. First off we have the scope. It is your run-of-the-mill red dot scope that does the job quite well. It will allow you to shoot at distances of around 20 yards on the standard settings.
Once you get used to it you will be able to set it up differently to fit your shooting style. Red dots are great because they allow you to track down moving prey easier because you’re using both eyes.
The quiver and bolts included with this model are pretty much the standard fares, but still a bit above average quality. You will get a 3-bolt quiver that needs to be attached when you get your bow. The bolts included in the package are 20” Easton carbon bolts, and you get three of them.
This bow does come equipped with everything you need to get started with shooting. It is great for those interested in hunting because it comes with a screw-in field point feature. Other beginner bows usually require you to buy new arrows because they come with glued points.
One accessory we really feel should have been included with this crossbow is the cocking device. Sure, they are cheap and you should be able to get one easily. They make life much easier and it should be your priority. Still, it would have been nice if we got one directly from the manufacturer.
However, for such a low price, we are more than happy with everything included in the package.
Assembly
The Barnett Jackal won’t give you any issues when it comes to assembly. Most will be able to assemble this crossbow in around 10 minutes. It is quite simple, you will only need to attach the quiver, strings, cables, and cable slides.
The manual has pictures that will help guide you through the process. Once you’re done with that part, place the riser into the stock, which will be the obvious thing to do, and add several screws to keep everything in place.
That is basically it, it is incredibly simple and even the most inexperienced shooters shouldn’t have issues with the assembly.
Trigger, Anti-Dry Fire and Auto Safety
This crossbow has a trigger that is set at 3.5 pounds average and it works like a charm. It breaks cleanly which helps your accuracy when shooting and provides you with consistency. Overall we couldn’t be happier with it.
When it comes to the safety department, the manufacturer of this crossbow thought of everything. It is equipped with an anti-dry fire system. This system requires a bolt to be in place before you can fire the bow.
The Barnett Jackal also comes equipped with an automatic safety system. This system comes on as soon as the string on the bow hits full draw. All of this makes this crossbow model excellent for everyone, as it makes your shooting safer.
Stock and Limbs
If we look at the materials this crossbow is made of it has an aluminum rail that will surely last you for a long time. The material is extremely durable. It is also lightweight, which makes the crossbow easy to use and provides it with balance.
The limbs are made of composite material and are built to survive the constant high pressure they are put under while shooting. They are durable and of great quality.
The fact that this bow was designed primarily to be an entry-level crossbow doesn’t mean it wasn’t built with high-quality components. On the contrary, it was made to last for quite some time.
The stock also has a great foregrip design. It was designed in a way that makes this bow extremely safe to use. It is clear Barnett wanted beginners to be able to freely use this crossbow.
The foregrip and the flared finger guard on the stock prevent your fingers from getting in the way of the string when you’re shooting. This is a welcome safety measure and a great addition to the bow.
When it comes to the design, there is only one color available for this model It is the camo and black combination, but it looks really nice and is great for hunting, so we can’t complain.
You won’t see a lot of branding or ornaments on this bow, it is more of a sleek, minimalist design, which we appreciate.
Shooting
As far as shooting goes, this bow performs amazingly well for the price. Sure, some high-end bows might do better in long-distance shots, but the Jackal can hold its own in short to mid-range shooting.
It will do great for target practice or hunting, and there really is no need for a better model unless you’re a true professional, in which case you won’t be reading this anyway.
The only downside we could find when it comes to the shooting is the noise this crossbow makes. This might be a problem during hunting trips. The speed of shots it can reach is 315fps. Combine that with the noise it makes, and the best thing to do when hunting is to shoot from shorter distances.
Social Proof
While searching for useful info about this crossbow it was impossible not to stumble upon many positive reviews from other archers. Most of them agree with how we feel about the Jackal, and we went ahead and picked a few from various message boards and forums to present here.
Alternatives
So you’ve read our review of the Barnett Jackal and don’t believe it to be the right product for you? Don’t worry, we prepared three alternatives that should satisfy different types of shooters. If you’re on a search for a crossbow, look no further than these models.
CenterPoint Sniper 370
The CenterPoint Sniper excels at its speed. It can shoot at 370fps, which makes it a great crossbow for more experienced shooters. While a bit more expensive than the Jackal, this product might offer more for those that know what they are doing.
This crossbow will come equipped with a ton of accessories but their quality leaves a bit to be desired. You will get three carbon bolts, a quiver, a rope cocker, and a shoulder sling.
This bow also has two safety mechanisms, one for anti-dry fire and an auto-safety trigger. The way this crossbow is constructed makes it extremely precise. It is a great pick especially for those that like hunting big game.
Ravin R29X
The Ravin R29X is an excellent choice for experienced hunters. It is a premium product that comes at a high price but has rifle-like accuracy.
It is built using cutting-edge technology. It has a Heli-coil system that will allow you to rotate the cams up to 340 degrees, giving the bow a ton of power.
Interestingly, the bolt never has contact with the barrel, which gives the R29X amazing accuracy. The bolt is supported by a nock and a rest that is placed on the front of the crossbow. Another great thing about this crossbow is that doesn’t make noise.
The maximum speed this model can achieve is extremely fast, reaching up to 456fps. It is definitely worth the price if you can afford it since all of the components are of the highest quality.
TenPoint Stealth NXT
Another expensive crossbow is the TenPoint Stealth NXT. This model has a striking, sleek design and is definitely aimed at more experienced archers.
It is made of the highest quality with excellent cams and specially designed limb pockets. This makes it a joy to shoot. It has a unique cable system made with four cables, not two as most other crossbows.
All of this makes it a truly balanced product that will make any archer happy. It can achieve a speed of 410fps and is equipped with the AcuDraw technology that halves the draw weight through a complex rope cocking mechanism.
Conclusion
At the end of our Barnett Jackal review, all we can say is that this crossbow comes highly recommended. Although it is primarily aimed at inexperienced archers, it should satisfy basically anyone.
Even seasoned veterans will find plenty to like about this product. It is equipped with excellent accessories and has great safety features that will keep you safe when out in the field hunting. We definitely recommend that everyone tries this crossbow out, no matter the experience level. It deserves a shot.