As a busy archery instructor with dozens of students, I’m always on the lookout for the best crossbow targets.
Over the years, I’ve bought dozens of targets and seen exactly how they perform on the range and in the field.
After testing everything from cheap targets that get chewed up after a few hundred bolts to premium targets that can withstand thousands of impacts, I know which targets are worth the money and which are best avoided.
To share everything I’ve learned, I decided to put together this list of what I think are the five best crossbow targets you can buy right now:
- Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Target – Best overall ($83.99)
- Rinehart 18-1 Broadhead Target – Best for broadheads ($171.85)
- Morrell Yellow Jacket Field Point Target – Best portable ($71.99)
- Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20” Target – Best value ($44.97)
- GlenDel Buck 3D Archery Target – Best 3D target for hunters. ($175.99)
Curious about why I rate these targets so highly?
Keep reading to the end to find out!
1: Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Target (Best Overall)
In first place is the Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Target.
The Double Duty is my go-to target whenever I’m coaching students or practicing my hunting skills and, in my opinion, is the overall best crossbow target on the market today.
Here’s a quick look at some of the key features that make the Double Duty my No 1 pick.
Extreme durability
According to Morrell, the Double Duty’s ‘floating center’, which is filled with burlap and stuffing, can withstand bolts traveling at up to 450 fps (feet per second) and is durable enough to withstand thousands of bolts.
For peace of mind, the Double Duty comes with a replacement cover, increasing its lifespan even longer.
Two-finger bolt removal
Morrell is famous for claiming that bolts shot into its targets can be removed with just two fingers. Even though the Double Duty is rated for the fastest bolts, it is claimed to offer the same two-finger bolt removal as other Morrell targets.
Multi-use cube design
The Double Duty is a free-standing cube that can be flipped onto different sides depending on whether you want to practice shooting traditional bullseyes, a dartboard, the billiards game nine-ball, or even deer vitals to brush up on your hunting skills.
Based on what I’ve read online, crossbow enthusiasts seem to absolutely love the Double Duty.
It is currently rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon based on 2,687 global ratings.
Take Choche, for instance, who says the Double Duty offers easy bolt removal and can withstand thousands of bolt impacts without any issues.
My Experience With The Double Duty
I’ve owned a Double Duty for a couple of years now, and it’s by far my favorite crossbow target and is a great addition to any of the crossbows on this list of the best crossbows.
- The Double Duty is incredibly tough and would definitely be my top recommendation for anyone with a super fast crossbow. One of my buddies shot my Double Duty with his TenPoint Nitro 505 Xero Crossbow, and it had no problem stopping the 505 fps bolt before the vanes.
- True to Morrell’s claims, you really can remove bolts from the Double Duty with just two fingers. In fact, this target has the easiest bolt removal of any crossbow target I’ve ever tested or owned.
- Having multiple sides to shoot at is a real plus, as I can go from shooting at traditional bullseyes to shooting at deer vitals simply by flipping the target. While shooting at the deer vitals side isn’t as immersive as shooting at a real 3D archery target, the Double Duty is far more durable and much better value.
- My only complaint is that while the exterior is waterproof, the sun can fade the material, so it can’t really be left outside all the time. Luckily it has sturdy carrying handles and stowing it away isn’t too much of a hassle.
Priced at just $84.99 on Amazon, the Double Duty is my pick for the best overall crossbow target and is a must-have if you plan on shooting high-speed crossbows.
Click here to read more about the Morrell Double Duty 450 FPS Target and get the best price on Amazon.
2: Rinehart 18-1 Broadhead Target (Best For Broadheads)
In second place on my list of the best crossbow targets is the Rinehart 18-1 Broadhead Target.
The 18-1 is an extremely tough and durable target designed to withstand broadheads. With a 12-month warranty, it’s my pick for the best crossbow target for broadheads.
Key features
- Extreme durability: According to Rinehart, the 18-1 is made from self-healing foam that can handle bolts traveling at more than 500 fps.
- Lightweight and portable: With an easy-carry handle, the Rinehart is designed with portability in mind and can easily be transported between the club, the woods, or even your backyard.
- High visibility: The 18-1’s target zones are highly visible, making shot identification very easy, even in low-light conditions.
There aren’t many broadhead-compatible crossbow targets to choose from, and the 18-1 seems extremely popular with customers.
Currently rated 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon based on 645 reviews, 80% of customers who purchased the 18-1 have rated it 5 stars.
Take Ben W, for instance, who claims to have shot over 3,000 bolts into his 18-1, making it the longest-lasting target he’s ever owned.
After putting in a warranty claim, he was really impressed that Rinehart sent him a replacement target.
My Experience With The 18-1
As an avid hunter, the 18-1 is my favorite target for testing new broadheads and getting my crossbow zeroed in before heading into the woods.
Here’s my honest review of how my 18-1 has performed:
- The 18-1 is extremely durable and has excellent self-healing, especially with mechanical broadheads. Twin-blade mechanicals cause the least damage, while fixed broadheads can tear the target up more.
- The target markings are highly visible at all times of the day. This makes it far quicker and easier to zero a crossbow, which comes in handy whenever I’m testing new broadheads.
- Although the 18-1 has a high price tag, Rinehart does honor the 12-month warranty and will send a replacement if the target lasts less than a year.
Priced at $129.99 on Amazon, the Rinehart is my pick for the best crossbow target for broadheads.
Click here to read more about the Rinehart 18-1 Broadhead Target and get the best price on Amazon.
3: Morrell Yellow Jacket Field Point Target (Best Portable)
In third place on my list of the best crossbow targets is the Morrell Yellow Jacket Field Point Target.
Yellow Jacket targets are almost as tough and durable as my first place pick, the Double Duty, but they are much more portable.
Here are some of the features that make these crossbow-approved bag targets some of the best crossbow targets you can buy right now.
- Long lifecycle: According to Morrell, the double-sided Yellow Jacket targets are highly weather resistant and stand up well to the elements. The material inside doesn’t degrade, and the targets are claimed to have a very long lifecycle. They also come with a replacement cover to extend the lifespan of the target when the original cover becomes too damaged.
- High durability: Capable of stopping bolts traveling at up to 425 fps, the Yellow Jacket is ideal for all but the most powerful crossbows and is extremely tough. Morrell claims that the Yellow Jacket can withstand thousands of bolt impacts without tearing up.
- Ease of use: Weighing just 32 pounds, the Yellow Jacket is highly portable and has grommets so it can be hung from target stands or trees. Morrell says that bolts can be removed with just two fingers, giving it great ease of use.
I’ve been happily using Yellow Jacket crossbow targets for years, but I wanted to see what others were saying about them online.
With a current rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon, it’s safe to say that most customers seem to love Yellow Jacket targets.
Take Joshua, for example, who says his Yellow Jacket stops 125 gr. field points dead in its tracks and is extremely happy with its performance.
My Experience With The Yellow Jacket
I’ve purchased six Yellow Jackets over the years, and here are my thoughts:
- Yellow Jackets are one of the most weather-resistant target bags I’ve ever bought. My oldest target is more than five years old and still going strong. The replacement cover really helps get years of extra life from these targets.
- One of the best things about Yellow Jackets is how portable they are. You can hang them up, stand them against a tree, or position them at just about any angle. If I’m coaching a student at their home, I’ll throw a couple of Yellow Jackets in my truck’s bed, and off I go.
- The only downside about Yellow Jacket targets is that pulling bolts out can be a little tougher than other targets like the Double Duty.
Priced at just $78.75, Yellow Jacket field point targets are my top pick for the most portable crossbow targets. They are durable, easy to use, and give years of reliable use.
Click here to read more about the Morrell Yellow Jacket Field Point Target and get the best price on Amazon.
4: Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20” Target (Best Value)
In fourth place on my list of the best crossbow targets is the Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20” Target.
While I’m a huge fan of Morrell’s products, I realize that not everyone wants to spend $80 on a crossbow target. That’s why the Speedbag 20 is my fourth-place pick.
In my opinion, the Speedbag 20 is a great budget-priced crossbow target that holds up well to thousands of bolt impacts.
Here are a few of its features that make it my No 4 pick for the best crossbow target.
Key features
- Max FPS rated: Delta McKenzie says the Speedbag 20 is rated to handle the fastest-shooting crossbows.
- Multiple targets: The dual-sided Speedbag 20 has multiple aiming points, making it suitable for novice and experienced shooters alike.
- Weather resistant: The Speedbag 20 is highly weather resistant and offers great outdoor durability.
I own a couple of Speedbag 20s and know firsthand how great they are. From what I’ve read online, customers seem to love them too.
Currently rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon based on 34 global ratings, the Speedbag 20 seems to be extremely popular with other crossbow owners.
Bretty says the Speedbag 20 is a solid crossbow target that has stopped every bolt he’s tried. He recommends the target for anyone looking for a budget-friendly target with great stopping power.
My Experience with the Speedbag 20
After shooting thousands of bolts at my Speedbag 20s over the years, here’s my honest assessment of how they perform:
- Delta McKenzie’s claim about the Speedbag 20s being ‘Max FPS’ rated is definitely justified. It has absolutely no trouble stopping 400+ fps bolts from any crossbow and comfortably stops 450 fps bolts from my Ravin R29X Predator.
- I love how portable the Speedbag 20s are and often use them when I’m coaching a client at their home.
- My only complaint about the Speedbags is they aren’t as weather resistant as the Yellow Jackets, so I don’t recommend leaving them outside.
Overall, the Speedbag 20 is an excellent budget-priced crossbow target that holds up well and should provide years of happy use.
Click here to learn more about the Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20” Target and get the best price on Amazon.
5: GlenDel Buck 3D Archery Target (Best 3D Target For Hunters)
In fifth place on my list of the best crossbow targets is the GlenDel Buck 3D Archery Target with Replaceable Insert Core.
I love 3D archery and have tested a number of 3D targets over the years. In my opinion, GlenDel makes the best one, and it’s my top pick for the best 3D archery target for crossbow hunters.
Here’s why I rate the GlenDel so highly.
Key Features
- Realistic hunting practice:GlenDel’s 3D deer target is approximately the same size as a 200lb buck, making it extremely realistic for target practice. Standing 34” at shoulder height, it’s great for honing your skills as you prepare to drop a monster buck.
- Long target life: Made in the U.S.A. using PolyFusion Technology, GlenDel claims that its target can withstand thousands of bolt impacts. The replaceable four-sided insert core can easily be replaced when they reach the end of its lifespan.
- High maneuverability: The head and antlers are fully removable, making the target much easier to transport and position in the field.
I’ve had a GlenDel 3D deer target as part of my range for more than two years and am extremely happy. Looking online, it seems most other owners are similarly impressed.
The target is rated 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon based on 1,609 global ratings, and 71% of reviewers gave it the top score.
Marcus says his 3D target is impressively sturdy and has held up well after 100 arrows. He says the arrows are easy to pull out and recommends this target to anyone looking for a realistic hunting target.
