Hunting with a crossbow allows those with limited strength or experience to spend more time in the field. (Photo courtesy of Barnett)
December 12, 2024
By Todd Burgreen
For many hunters, the end of firearms season marks the end of their days in the field. Hunters can look to bows to lengthen their deer seasons, as most states’ archery seasons span from early fall to mid-winter.
While a big, burly Midwestern farm boy will have no trouble pulling back the bowstring on a compound or recurve bow, many hunters can lean on the technological advantages provided by crossbows. As more and more states allow for the use of crossbows, those with limited strength or who are inexperienced in bowhunting have a way to stretch their season to fill their freezer and perhaps put a trophy on the wall.
MY FIRST CROSSBOW Crossbows have enjoyed a rejuvenation thanks to multiple states amending game laws to legalize crossbows for archery seasons. Currently, 32 states allow crossbows for hunting. This expansion of crossbow popularity has inspired the industry to bring forth technology and performance enhancements at a rapid clip.
My first crossbow was the Barnett Commando, which was featured in the 1981 James Bond flick “For Your Eyes Only.” Despite what was shown on screen, the performance of my Barnett was underwhelming. Needless to say, crossbows have come a long way since my first experience 40-plus years ago. Bolt speed, which equates to terminal effect and engagement range, has expanded beyond what was considered possible all those years ago by borrowing archery advancements in cams/cables and turning them sideways. The Barnett XP405 is the perfect vehicle to explore the current crossbow craze. Barnett has been a leader in crossbows for more than 60 years—predating many of the other crossbow manufacturers who have emerged in the last 10 to 15 years.
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MEET THE BARNETT XP405 The Barnett XP405 sports a five-position adjustable buttstock along with a CNC-machined aluminum flight track. A 4×32mm adjustable illumination red/green reticle scope with calibrated holdover points etched in the glass for different distances comes factory-mounted. The XP405’s TriggerTech 3-pound trigger quality is something to be admired and is not even found on many high-end hunting rifles.
The Barnett XP405’s adjustable buttstock and grip surfaces are ergonomic pluses, while Barnett's Explorer Crank Cocking device makes cocking the crossbow easy. (Todd Burgreen) The XP405 makes the most out of pulley leverage when hand cocking with its rope hold groove at the rear of the receiver. Fortunately, the XP405 can be and was fitted with Barnett’s Explorer Crank Cocking device—a no-brainer in my opinion. It takes a good amount of force to draw back the composite limbs and powerful cams harnessing 200-pound draw weight capable of driving bolts over 400 fps via its 13.8-inch power stroke while creating 138 pounds of kinetic energy—way more oomph needed to take down a big-bodied whitetail.
The XP405 measures 13 inches wide with the string cocked. This sleekness translates into an ease of transport when afield, especially in thick cover. The slim profile also aids in getting into a favorable firing position in a stand or blind.
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The innovative Soft-Lok Floating Bristle Arrow Retainer securely cradles the arrow once loaded on the flight track. Three Picatinny rails are provided to customize any needed accessories. The side-mount quiver keeps bolts and broadheads protected and ready until pressed into duty. It’s important to note the Barnett Anti-Dry Fire trigger system on the XP405. This is important for hunter safety and avoiding what could be a catastrophic dry-fire incident.
The crossbow arrives as a complete package with an optic, quiver, bolts and cocking device to get hunters into the field quickly. Assembly consisted of mounting the riser to the frame/barrel via a single bolt. String dampeners are standard to aid in minimizing sound caused by vibration. The XP405 is equipped with dual-purpose rubber safety wings to reduce noise and vibration, as well as helping to keep the shooter’s foregrip hand safely below the flight deck.
Along these same lines, an integrated string stop system is also included to reduce noise and vibration. This has the practical advantage of preventing game animals from “jumping the string” when the crossbow is fired. I suggest a quick look at a slow-motion video of any bow hunt at the time an arrow/bolt is sent downrange at a deer to fully comprehend what I am describing. The high velocity of the bolts is another factor in minimizing this from happening.
GETTING READY I treated the initial workup with the XP405 as I would with a firearm, so sighting in was first on the list. Barnett test fires its bows and provides a basic zero before leaving the factory. Final zero confirmation was accomplished within five fired bolts. Twenty yards served as zero range so that the scope’s holdover reticle hash marks would calibrate. A Chunk target from Delta McKenzie served as the aiming point.
The XP405 arrives as a package including optic, bolts, and quiver. A 4×32mm adjustable illumination red/green reticle scope with calibrated holdover points etched in the glass for different distances arrives mounted. (Todd Burgreen) Speed without accuracy is pointless, and Barnett realizes this. Their cable system balances torsion and tension to minimize cam lean, thus enhancing accuracy. Accuracy was so good that after firing two bolts, it was decided to pull bolts from targets to prevent shots from landing on each other.
The scope’s holdover hash marks were verified out to 70 yards. When prey is involved, 50 yards and closer is my suggestion to maintain accuracy and kinetic energy. The importance of correct range estimation was quickly apparent. Once past 30 yards, an incorrect range estimate will result in a miss or, even worse, a bad hit on an animal. Wind is another factor that comes more into play as distance and time of flight increases. A laser rangefinder is an important accessory. Letting a game animal get closer is strongly urged to maximize success. I clocked 370-373 fps with a chronograph using Headhunter carbon bolts with 100-grain field tips for a total weight of 400 grains. It is important to verify that hunting broadheads fly with the same zero as field points. Deployable broadhead types similar in shape to field points have the advantage here. The aerodynamics of the swirling blades of the fixed-style broadheads usually need their zero tweaked, especially as yardage increases.
Broadhead types can be divided into fixed and mechanical/expanding, each with its strong points. (Todd Burgreen) One nuance that must be pointed out when hunting with a crossbow is the need to fire it to unload. Thus, it is important to remember to bring along a target and an older used bolt so that when done for the day, the bow can be released. Barnett also offers Evac decocking bolts that can be fired into the ground, releasing the crossbow string safely. It is not advised to keep your crossbow cocked for extended periods.
POWER A quick review of kinetic energy (KE) requirements illustrates that the Barnett XP405’s 138 KE rating can take on the largest game with the caveat of proper shot placement. Acceptable KE levels for deer are 40 KE, elk/black bear 60 KE and buffalo/grizzly 75 KE. Remember, KE is dependent on velocity, so as the bolt travels downrange, it loses velocity, burning off its KE. Velocity figures and KE are normally shown at the “muzzle.” A rule of thumb is a bolt’s kinetic energy is reduced by 3-4 percent for every 10 yards it travels. So, if we have 138 KE initial energy, then at 10 yards, you can expect 133 KE.
The XP405's CNC-machined aluminum flight track allows the bolt to lie in perfect alignment with the string for consistent accuracy. (Todd Burgreen) Similar to the original historical impetuous, modern crossbows allow for less powerful users without enough strength to pull traditional profile bowstring rearward an opportunity to participate in archery. Crossbows with their three points of contact (shoulder and two hands) combined with ease of mounting optics simplify placing arrows accurately. This equates to a more effective tool for taking game. My 14-year-old son is an excellent example of someone seizing the opportunity provided by hunting with crossbows to extend his time hunting.
We have spent extensive time in the Virginia and West Virginia woods exploring what the Barnett crossbow offers. The Barnett XP405’s adjustable buttstock and grip surfaces are ergonomic pluses, especially with smaller-framed shooters. It also allows shooters to grow in size, or if Dad opts to use it.
Similar to ammunition type, choosing the right crossbow broadhead is important. Broadhead types can be divided into fixed and mechanical/expanding, each with strong points. I was attracted to the New Archery Products (NAP) Killzone due to research indicating flight characteristics that match field points, offering devastating performance on game. The Killzone is a two-blade rear-deploying mechanical broadhead that packs 2-inch cutting-diameter razor blades. The Killzone uses NAP’s unique spring-clip design, which ensures your blades won’t open in flight or in the quiver with no O-rings or rubber bands to worry about.
The author downed this doe with the Barnett XP405 at 45 yards. Hands-on experience with the NAP Killzone broadhead involved harvesting two deer. The first was hit at 45 yards and the second at 30 yards. Each bolt impact produced a sound similar to a baseball bat striking a tree. Entry wounds were nearly 3 inches wide as the rotating bolt deployed the 2-inch-wide cutting razors. Lungs were shredded as the swirling bolt passed through. Most importantly, the deer only traveled 40 to 50 yards before expiring.
Too often, we fall into the trap of thinking firearms are the only viable projectile weapons for hunting, but people have been using crossbows for millennia. The advantages provided by hunting with a crossbow give more people the opportunity to get afield and have a great chance at a successful hunt.
