Expand to learn more Crossbow Basics 
Collapse Crossbow Types Expand to learn more Crossbow Types Collapse Bolts and Broadheads Expand to learn more Bolts and Broadheads Collapse Hunting bolts and broadheads will need to be purchased separately when you get your crossbow.
Bolts. Crossbow bolts are anywhere from 16"-22" long and can be made of carbon or aluminum. The type you use will come down to personal preference, but never use bolts that are shorter or lighter than what the manufacturer of your crossbow recommends.
Rear nocks. There are two main types of rear nocks. flat and half-moon. Many prefer flat nocks over half-moon because the latter require the bolt be perfectly oriented on the rail to fire. Some nocks are lighted for better tracking in low-light conditions.
Broadheads. There are three basic broadhead types. fixed, replaceable and mechanical.
Fixed broadheads are preferred by many hunters because they're crafted from one piece of steel and provide excellent penetration.
Replaceable fixed broadheads enable you to change the blades when necessary instead of replacing the entire mechanism. Cutting begins immediately on impact with fixed blades, whereas the point on replaceable broadheads is the first part to impact the target.
Mechanical broadheads have the advantage of cutting large holes while maintaining a small profile in flight.
Keep in mind that your broadheads and field points must be the same weight for your hunting and target arrows to fly interchangeably.
Cabela's carries a wide selection of cases, crossbow scopes, targets and discharge bags as well.
Crossbow Brands Expand to learn more Crossbow Brands Collapse Cabela's. Cabela's has crossbows at different price points for different needs. The Equalizer is powered by Excalibur and shoots 370 fps. It comes with a rope cocking aid and has a draw wt. of 250 lbs. The Cabela's Instinct&trade, Lancer is a top model and sends bolts flying at 395 fps. It has a Stryke-Lite&trade, trigger that breaks at 3 lbs. and travels only .015".
PSE. PSE is one of the companies that helped compound crossbows become more mainstream. The PSE TAC Elite&trade, is one of the fastest crossbows on the market, with a maximum speed exceeding 400 fps. This top-of-the-line design fits to any standard AR-15 stock and has an anti-dry-fire mechanism.
Barnett. Barnett is also one of the pioneering companies that made compound bows more mainstream. The Barnett Razr, released in the spring of 2014, is the latest offering from Barnett's CarbonLite line. It reaches speeds of 400 fps and uses patented Carbon Riser Technology for a 43% lighter riser.
The Barnett Vengeance combines unique reverse-draw technology with the lightweight CarbonLite Riser. It comes with a quick-detach quiver and 3x32 multireticle scope.
Excalibur. Excalibur does performance tests on its compound crossbows versus all of its competitors. One showed that the Excalibur Matrix 380 LSP Compound Crossbow continued shooting without failure for more than 2,900 shots, whereas the closest competitor failed at 500 shots.
The Matrix 380 Lynx features a Recoil Energy Dissipation System (R.E.D.S.) to minimize vibration and noise. It also has one of the higher draw weights on the market, 260 lbs. The Excalibur Vixen II, Ibex SMF and Axiom SMF are a few more of the company's best crossbow offerings.
TenPoint. TenPoint celebrated its 20th year in business in January 2014 and continues to be a major player in the compound-crossbow market. The company purchased several Horton Archery, LLC assets and acquired several trademarks and patents as a result.
The TenPoint Carbon Xtra CLS is the company's signature crossbow and a must-have for veteran hunters and collectors. The GT Flex and Titan Xtreme are two more affordable yet high-quality options for beginners.
Parker. The Parker Thunderhawk is the company's top crossbow due to a combination of its weight, speed and overall performance. The Advance Split Limb Technology makes this crossbow a great option for those hunting from treestands or blinds. It weighs only 6.5 lbs. making it one of the lightest compound crossbows on the market.
The Parker Bushwacker is the best-value option, and it is not short on features. The G2 trigger features an anti-dry-fire mechanism and customers have their choice of three optics packages.
Wicked Ridge. Wicked Ridge prides itself on manufacturing top-quality compound crossbows that are the best value for your money. The Raider CLS is both fast and compact for shooting in tight spaces. The Warrior HL reaches speeds up to 300 fps and comes with a TenPoint 3X multiline scope with the premium package. Wicked Ridge crossbows can be purchased for less than $500.
Stryker. Stryker operates under the BOWTECH umbrella along with Excalibur bows. The Stryker Solution Crossbow was selected as a "Great Buy" by Outdoor Life for its value and quality. It is light enough (8.2 lbs) for spot-and-stalk hunting and powerful enough to take any game animal in North America.
Terms you Should Know Expand to learn more Terms you Should Know Collapse Crossbow package. When you purchase a new crossbow, the package will typically come with the bow section and stock separated. Optics, including scopes and red-dot, fiber-optic and laser sights typically must be manually installed. The quiver, along with other crossbow accessories like monopods, slings and cocking devices, must also be manually installed. Detailed instructions are included with most models, but one of our experts at Cabela's can help you be ready to shoot before you leave the store.
Rear nocks. There are two main types of rear nocks. flat and half-moon. Many prefer flat nocks over half-moon because the latter require the bolt be perfectly oriented on the rail to fire. Some nocks are lighted for better tracking in low-light conditions.
Draw weight. The draw weight of a crossbow typically ranges anywhere from 150 to 250 lbs. Manually cocking a crossbow is essentially the same as deadlifting that same amount of weight off the ground. Manufacturers offer rope cockers and crank devices to assist in drawing these more powerful crossbows.
Power stroke. The power stroke of a crossbow dictates how far the bowstring is pulled back. Most crossbows have a 10" to 14" power stroke, which is shorter than compound bows. However, since the hunter doesn't need to physically hold the string at full draw, the draw weight of crossbows is substantially higher than compound and recurve bows, which makes up for the shorter power stroke.
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