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Best Crossbow Target for 2020 [Our Reviews and Comparisons]

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October 30, 2020

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So, you’ve decided to get into archery – as a pastime, as a competitive pursuit, even as a means of hunting that offers a more natural challenge than using a firearm. It’s a great decision, and there are going to be all kinds of ways that you can enjoy yourself, but don’t go letting off shafts at just anything you see. Modern archery is a lot more complicated than that.

The very first thing you’ll need to ask yourself is what kind of bow you will be using for your newfound hobby. As one of the oldest weapons known to civilization, the bow has had a considerable amount of time to evolve and improve, and the modern archer has far more to choose from than just a piece of wood with a string tied to it. Bows today are just short of machines and require a commensurate amount of training and practice to properly operate without hurting yourself, those around you, or damaging the bow you are firing.

Most professional shooters these days will opt for a recurve or longbow, these being seen as the two options that most effectively reduce the shooting to a matter of the archer’s skill. Longbows are simpler, with a single piece arch giving them a far lower amount of maintenance and adjustment before shooting. Recurves are composed of more complicated components and take more time to set up, but add a considerable amount of shooting power with two extra bends to increase the tension on the string.

The compound bow takes the best parts of both of these and improves on them, using a system of pulleys to tense the string as opposed to relying purely on the elasticity of the bow. By combining different numbers of wheels and lengths of string, the compound bow is capable of greater range and accuracy than either of its predecessors.

It may sound like a no-brainer, but make sure to take the time to get quality arrows as well. Many bows will come with a limited number of arrows, but you’ll almost certainly want to kit yourself out with more than that. Additionally, the shafts included with most bows are of fairly low quality, and you’ll need something better for any serious shooting.

Arrows should be made of high-quality aluminum or carbon fiber-based material and be fletched with a sturdy material that will not warp even if stored in relatively cramped conditions on the way to your shooting location. Check the suggested shaft length for your bow and make sure that you are not buying arrows that are either too big or small.

Once you have your bow and arrows picked out, you’re going to want the right accessories to go along with it. Like any sport, you’ll need more than one piece of apparel to be considered properly and safely dressed for the field. The first thing that many people look for is an arm guard, which resembles a thick piece of material strapped across the forearm supporting your bow.

As a bowstring releases at up to 70 kilometers an hour, it can easily slice through things as it snaps back into position, including the protruding arm of the archer. Using an armguard puts a thick protective covering over the exposed arm that will deflect the string instead of letting it injure the user.

Best Crossbow Target Comparison Table

Product	Features	Latest Price
1. Field Logic Black Hole	Weighs 9 pounds 18 x 16 x 11 inches Top-mounted carrying handle Polyurethane wrapping	Check Price
2. Delta Targets Box Bag	Sewn-in top handle Woven nylon wrapping Weighs 9 pounds 18 x 13 x 13 inches	Check Price
3. McKenzie Wedgie Bag	Polypropylene wrapping Hydro-press foam filling Bag measures 12 x 24 x 24 inches The unit weighs 37 pounds	Check Price
4. Yellow Jacket YJ-425	Target is 21 x 21 x 15 inches Unit weight 32 pounds Handle and grommets	Check Price
5. Morrell Super Duper Field Point Bag	Wrapped internal padding Dense canvas outer shell Target measures 27 x 25 x 15 inches The unit weighs 33 pounds	Check Price
6. Black Hornet Beast Marauder	Laminated plastic wrapping Styrofoam stuffing The unit weighs 20.34 pounds Target measures 19 x 10 x 19 inches	Check Price
7. Riverbottom Series Chlngr	Three-dimensional buck model Rigid plastic target with removable vitals The unit measures 10 x 40 x 41 inches Target weight 16 pounds	Check Price
8. LIOOBO 2pcs EVA	EVA impact cushion Flat disc target Target measures 25 x 25 x 3 centimeters Memory foam core	Check Price
9. HURRICANE Storm II Expanding Bag	Target measures 22 x 22 x 4.5 inches Unit weight 10 pounds Proprietary triple-core Woven outer shell features multiple aiming points and printed deer silhouette	Check Price
10. EBBQ Bigshot Ballistic 350 Bag	Internal support frame Weatherproof nylon shell Target measures 26 x 25 x 17 inches Unit weight 27.95 pounds	Check Price

For the same reason, eye protection is highly recommended. Along with the string itself, it is not uncommon for fragments of the arrow to be launched from the string as it releases, and the archer’s eye is more often than not quite close by. A good pair of safety glasses can prevent a lot of pain and suffering, and should not interfere too much with the archer’s aim.

A bow release serves much the same purpose as an armed guard, only for the hand drawing the string back. Heavier bowstrings can actually slice your finger as you let go of it; to prevent that, a small hook attached to a trigger assembly is used to draw the bow instead.

With the bow fully stretched, the trigger is used to detach the hook without putting the archer in harm’s way. This also keeps you safe in the event of early discharge and reduces the amount of strain placed directly on your hand as you line up your shot.

When using a bow release, it is important to remember that one does not clip the hook directly onto the bowstring; this can cause the string to become uneven and start to fray. Instead, a complementary piece of equipment called a D-ring is installed on the string to give a dedicated receptacle for the release. Make sure yours is firmly attached and that your release sits directly in its center.

Another thing that tends to help archers set up a bullseye is a good set of peep sights. Bow sights are far larger than rifle sights and use a large metal loop with a series of five colored pins to help the archer calculate distance and angle. Look for sights with at least three to five pins in bright colors that will stand out against any backdrop.

One piece of equipment that can combine most of this safety gear with the bow itself is the crossbow, which gives the shooter almost all of these benefits and the added accuracy advantage that comes from shooting with a rifle stock.

If you decide to use a crossbow, though, the added power and accuracy will mean you’ll need special targets to shoot at. Below, we’ve assembled some of the best crossbow safe targets available for your consideration.

Our Best Crossbow Target Reviews and Comparisons

1. Field Logic Black Hole

Product Highlights

This product has earned itself the coveted title of Best Seller for being the most sought-after archery target on the market.

Features

• Weighs 9 pounds
• 18 x 16 x 11 inches
• Top-mounted carrying handle
• Polyurethane wrapping

What We Like About Field Logic Black Hole

Using highly contrasting targets on all four sides allows archers to line up easily, and the woven wrapping makes it easy to retrieve arrows once you’ve finished a round of shooting.

What We Don’t Like About Field Logic Black Hole

The filler in this target tends to hold the shapes of the arrow holes, allowing future shots to pass through instead of stopping them cold.

2. Delta Targets Box Bag

Product Highlights

This target is a close second to the Best Seller title thanks to its considerable popularity with the bowhunting community.

Features

• Sewn-in top handle
• Woven nylon wrapping
• Weighs 9 pounds
• 18 x 13 x 13 inches

What We Like About Delta Targets Box Bag

By using a hydro-fitted internal foam padding as filler, this target stops arrows neatly on the way in but allows for easy retrieval.

What We Don’t Like About Delta Targets Box Bag

Woven target wrapping can fray and catch on broader arrowheads, especially after protracted use.

3. McKenzie Wedgie Bag

Product Highlights

This bag has a narrower profile for greater storage efficiency and is shaped to stand tall with no support.

Features

• Polypropylene wrapping
• Hydro-press foam filling
• Bag measures 12 x 24 x 24 inches
• The unit weighs 37 pounds

What We Like About McKenzie Wedgie Bag

By using a narrower wedge shape, this target allows for easier storage and can be positioned in a much wider variety of spaces and positions.

What We Don’t Like About McKenzie Wedgie Bag

This target is exceptionally heavy and is more likely to overbalance than a typical quadrilateral target.

4. Yellow Jacket YJ-425

Product Highlights

This colorful addition to the range makes sure that you never lose your target against a woodland or prairie background.

Features

• Target is 21 x 21 x 15 inches
• Unit weight 32 pounds
• Handle and grommets

What We Like About Yellow Jacket YJ-425

The proprietary stuffing used by this manufacturer makes this target uniquely suited to the high-speed crossbows and compounds on modern archery ranges.

What We Don’t Like About Yellow Jacket YJ-425

There have been multiple shipping and packaging errors reported with this product. Although the eventual target delivered is of excellent quality, it may be labeled and priced differently than advertised.

5. Morrell Super Duper Field Point Bag

Product Highlights

Built to serve the outdoors community, this target can take not only one bow volley after another but is also totally weatherproof.

Features

• Wrapped internal padding
• Dense canvas outer shell
• Target measures 27 x 25 x 15 inches
• The unit weighs 33 pounds

What We Like About Morrell Super Duper Field Point Bag

With multiple layers of padding wrapped into a roll to form the internal stuffing, this target provides predetermined drainage channels for moisture and great stopping power for even the heaviest draws.

What We Don’t Like About Morrell Super Duper Field Point Bag

Canvas may help make this target weatherproof but quickly becomes extremely battered after only a few volleys downrange.

6. Black Hornet Beast Marauder

Product Highlights

This dramatically colored target provides a truly neutral shooting experience, with clear targets displayed on all six sides.

Features

• Laminated plastic wrapping
• Styrofoam stuffing
• The unit weighs 20.34 pounds
• Target measures 19 x 10 x 19 inches

What We Like About Black Hornet Beast Marauder

This target offers plenty of individual shooting points to allow for easy independent scoring of multiple rounds.

What We Don’t Like About Black Hornet Beast Marauder

Styrofoam stuffing makes this a substandard target that crumbles easily under rough usage.

7. Riverbottom Series Chlngr

Product Highlights

This target lets you seriously hone the hunter in you with a realistic target to be set in all manner of genuine woodland scenarios.

Features

• Three-dimensional buck model
• Rigid plastic target with removable vitals
• The unit measures 10 x 40 x 41 inches
• Target weight 16 pounds

What We Like About Riverbottom Series Chlngr

Every serious bowhunter knows that there is only so far that shooting at plain geometric targets will go to keep you sharp for the field. This target lets you refine your skills in the more challenging shape of a real buck.

What We Don’t Like About Riverbottom Series Chlngr

This target is of little use to the competitive circuit and will need to be reset after every hit.

8. LIOOBO 2pcs EVA

Product Highlights

It’s back to the basics with this target, which lets archers practice accuracy with no visual distraction of any kind.

Features

• EVA impact cushion
• Flat disc target
• Target measures 25 x 25 x 3 centimeters
• Memory foam core

What We Like About LIOOBO 2pcs EVA

This target can be compacted for storage and transport, and will rapidly resume its original shape when it’s time to get in some practice.

What We Don’t Like About LIOOBO 2pcs EVA

This target is relatively slim and relies heavily on its cushioned construction to stop arrows. Improperly rigging it could rob it of that crucial flexibility and allow the arrows to tear straight through it.

9. HURRICANE Storm II Expanding Bag

Product Highlights

These targets provide two different printings on each side, making it a useful training aid for a variety of situations.

Features

• Target measures 22 x 22 x 4.5 inches
• Unit weight 10 pounds
• Proprietary triple-core
• Woven outer shell features multiple aiming points and printed deer silhouette

What We Like About HURRICANE Storm II Expanding Bag

This is a target that emphasizes resilience, with everything about it made to keep going one hunting season after another.

What We Don’t Like About HURRICANE Storm II Expanding Bag

This target’s weight is often unevenly distributed within the wrapping which makes hanging it a tricky proposition at best.

10. EBBQ Bigshot Ballistic 350 Bag

Product Highlights

This target is packed with nearly 40 percent more material than similarly sized targets to afford archers best-in-class stopping power.

Features

• Internal support frame
• Weatherproof nylon shell
• Target measures 26 x 25 x 17 inches
• Unit weight 27.95 pounds

What We Like About EBBQ Bigshot Ballistic 350 Bag

This target sports a number of features to make it the sturdiest one around, both in terms of stopping arrows and holding its shape through one volley after another.

What We Don’t Like About EBBQ Bigshot Ballistic 350 Bag

Don’t use any broadhead or practice tips on this target – it says field heads only for a reason.

Final Verdict

Yellow Jacket YJ-425

For all the problems you might have in getting the product, once it’s in your hands, this target delivers full stops to every arrow you throw at it without being either too expensive or unwieldy.