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It’s a proven pattern that will work most anywhere, and it’s on the darker side, which could come in handy if you’re trying to blend into the shadows of a ground blind. The Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR is clad in Mossy Oak Bottomland camouflage. That maneuverability would certainly prove useful when moving the crossbow around for a shot in a treestand. I was able to fully control the crossbow without it feeling whippy in my hands. The Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR seemed a bit long to me at just under 35 inches, but when paired with such a light weight, the length actually proved to be an asset. If nothing else, the system adds uniformity to each shot and reduces some vibration by simply stopping the string at the same point on the rail time after time. The Whitetail Hunter STR comes equipped with a string-dampening system, which I appreciated, but I can’t say how effective it was since I didn’t shoot the crossbow without it installed for comparison. I didn’t notice much in the way of noise and vibration when shooting this crossbow - it isn’t silent or vibration-free, of course, but there wasn’t anything noteworthy. Cocking the crossbow was easy enough, with no problems encountered. The Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR I tested came with a standard rope cocking device. I’m sure others could put the crossbow to even better use, but remember, this is an image of a deer that fits on the side of a Block, not a life-size deer target. Once I got used to the 4x32mm multi-reticle Halo Optics scope that the Whitetail Hunter STR comes equipped with (more on that later), I was able to hit the “vitals” on the Block target’s deer silhouette at every range I tried - heart at 20, 30, and 40 yards, lungs at 50. However, being down to just one arrow forced me to focus on each shot and truly make it count, just like I would have had to do if I were using the Whitetail Hunter STR during hunting season. That, I suppose, says something for the crossbow’s accuracy in and of itself.
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I would have shot both of the arrows Barnett includes with the Whitetail Hunter STR several times at each yardage, but I managed to bust the nock and crack the shaft of one with the other while finishing sighting the crossbow in at 20 yards. The Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR produced an average speed of 370 fps with its supplied 22-inch Headhunter arrows. The Headhunters I used were a bit heavier, thus giving me slightly slower speeds.
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Barnett says that the Whitetail Hunter STR can achieve speeds of up to 375 fps, but that reportedly comes when using a 380-grain arrow. While it may not be the fastest crossbow on the market today, my testing of the Whitetail Hunter STR resulted in an average - and very consistent - arrow speed of 370 fps.
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How the Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR Performed Speed I used a Primos Trigger Stick Gen 3 tall tripod to steady the Whitetail Hunter STR. Given the Barnett crossbow’s name, it seemed fitting to take aim at the deer silhouette side of the target. My trigger pull scale gave a reading of 4.5 pounds.Īfter obtaining those initial measurements, I placed a Block foam target in an open field and then took several shots at 20, 30, 40, and 50 yards. My digital arrow weight scale put the total arrow weight at 400 grains. I shot my test model through a chronograph using the 22-inch Headhunter carbon arrows and 100-grain field points that shipped with the crossbow.
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I think it would also make for a great beginner’s crossbow, as it is priced under $500 and is lightweight. The Whitetail Hunter STR simply begs to be taken afield in pursuit of deer. It also sports anti-dry-fire technology, finger safety wings, a patented Soft-Lok floating bristle arrow retainer and a TriggerTech trigger. The Whitetail Hunter STR measures just under 35 inches, weighs 6.6 pounds, and comes with a built-in/step-through riser. This could be one of the best crossbows for deer hunting on the market today, as it offers a blend of accuracy, speed, and maneuverability that you might not expect given its asking price. The Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR is perfectly suited for chasing its namesake game animal. Cabelas What Kind of Crossbow Is the Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR? Barnett’s Whitetail Hunter STR may prove to be one of the best crossbows for hunting that the company has ever produced.
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