July 30, 2014
By Tracy Breen
Based on what gear has been introduced in recent months, 2014 will be another great year for archery gear junkies. Many manufacturers continue to raise the bar, and all of us stand to benefit from it.
Check out all of the new crossbows for 2014:
Barnett | Razr The carbon-riser
Razr is fast and weighs just 6.5 pounds, so it won't weigh you down in the deer woods. Its custom composite laminated limbs have a draw weight of 185 pounds, and they
generate a speed rating of 400 fps. This model
also has a retractable underarm support and an adjustable butt pad. There are even unique built-in string suppressors.
Price: $ 1,600
Carbon Express | Intercept Axon The
Intercept Axon is a cool-looking 'tactical ' crossbow for the hunter who wants the option of customizing everything. There's close to 30 inches of Picatinny rail, so many accessories can be added. The AR-style stock has six different positions, allowing it to fit almost anyone. With its draw weight of 175 pounds, a speed rating of 360 fps and a physical weight of 8.3 pounds, this compact crossbow is great for the tree stand hunter.
Price: $ 799
Excalibur | Matrix 405 This new recurve crossbow is built for speed and power, and it has people talking. The
Matrix 405 was built to bring down even the largest big-game animals — but it comes with a Recoil Energy
Dissipation System and other accessories to
tame the shock normally associated with speed crossbows. There's even a self-contained Guardian Anti-Dry-Fire System. While draw weight is 290 pounds, the bow weighs a feathery 6.2 pounds.
Price: $ 1,349.99
Darton | Fireforce Darton continues to bring crossbow innovation to the hunting market. For 2014, one of the models everyone should take a look at is the 400-fps
Fireforce . This crossbow's draw weight is 185 pounds, and physical weight is 8.4 pounds. The Fireforce has the DualSync cam system, a trackless barrel and a positive limb-alignment system for greater downrange accuracy.
Price: $ 1,157.89
Inferno | Wildfire II Arrow Precision , maker of the Inferno line of crossbows, has a recurve model called the
Inferno Wildfire II . This one features a machined aluminum riser and a precision trigger assembly. It's also equipped with an anti-dry-fire system and a noise-reduction dampening system. The 225-pound draw weight generates a speed rating of 345 fps; physical weight is 7.3 pounds.
Price: $ 579.99
Mission Archery | MXB320 Mission brought crossbows into its lineup several years ago and continues to wow consumers with hunter-friendly models. For 2014, there's the
MXB320 , which is perfect for the entire family. The draw weight can be adjusted from 100-180 pounds; speed is rated at 320 fps. This model comes with a riser that doubles as a foot stirrup, reducing overall weight to 6.5 pounds.
Price: $ 599 (Camo);
$ 699 (Tactical)
PSE | Smoke The
Smoke comes with all kinds of features, but the price tag is less than half that of many other crossbows. It has a Picatinny rail, an adjustable AR-style stock, a 5-position folding front tactical grip and is extremely compact at 36.5-40 ' long. Draw weight is 180 pounds, and the speed rating is 330 fps.
Price: $ 699.99
Scorpyd | Orion Scorpyd invented the reverse-draw limb system found on some of today's crossbows, and for 2014 it has a model called the
Orion . It's extremely fast (425 fps) and compact. It also features a Limbsaver Butt Pad and Hogue 1911 grips. This grip system allows the owner to add any aftermarket 1911 grip desired. Unlike earlier models from Scorpyd, the 7.3-pound Orion doesn't have a folding stock.
Price: Starting at
$ 1,419
Tenpoint | Venom When crossbows are mentioned, the first name to roll off the tongue is often
TenPoint . The
Venom is a compact new powerhouse built with a carbon fiber barrel and an FSB (Functionally Superior Bullpup) stock that's perfectly balanced and easy to maneuver in tight spots. Draw weight is 185 pounds, and speed is rated at 372 fps. The Venom weighs just 6.5 pounds and comes with TenPoint's unique ACU-Draw System, which makes cocking extremely easy.
Price: $ 1,719
Wicked Ridge | Invader HP Wicked Ridge is a sister company of
TenPoint , and much of its technology originates on that side. The
Invader HP offers great value with many features, among them a CNC-machined riser and pockets, an extra-smooth power touch trigger and a dry-fire
inhibitor. Draw weight is 180 pounds, and speed is rated at 315 fps. The cored stock makes carrying this 7-pounder a breeze.
Price: $ 569
