Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 Review

Barnett Whitetail Hunter II

Via barnettcrossbows.com

The Barnett’s Whitetail Hunter 2 is one of the best crossbows out there - it just offers so much for the price.

If you’re not looking to spend too much on your crossbow, this could be one of the best most reliable and effective bow for you.

Barnett Outdoors, LLC was founded back in 1962. They produced slingshot, crossbow, and archery products - but now they offer a wider array of hunting products.

The high-quality build with the fantastic speed of the shot is effective - something you can rely on during every hunting weekend.

What’s more, the crossbow is ultra-lightweight and rather compact - so it’s not suitable for someone with a larger build only!

The update of the popular Barnett’s Whitetail Hunter goes the extra mile with the performance. Plenty of kinetic energy offers better maneuverability, as well as more success!

Pros:

  • Powerful
  • Super accurate
  • Good penetration
  • Innovative spring clip quiver
  • Light to carry
  • Affordable price
  • Easy to cock

Cons:

  • Customer service is not very good
  • Quite expensive
  • Low-end scope
  • Quite loud

Things To Consider Before Buying Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2:

When you’re buying a crossbow, there are various things to consider before you finally do add to the cart. Let’s see what those things are!.

The first thing we should discuss is the purpose of the crossbow.

Since the speed of the shot is amazing, along with the over-average draw weight, you can hunt any game you like with the Barnett Whitetail hunter 2 - big or small, fast-moving, you name it.

  • The noise the crossbow makes when the shot is fired should be taken into account. Some fast-moving prey might be startled by it.
  • The scope is a little low-end, so it might take some time to get the game into sight.
  • The weight: it’s very lightweight at 6.3 lbs - so it’s perfectly suitable for someone with a smaller frame.
  • Size: With 34 inches in length and 18” in width, the Whitetail Hunter 2 falls into the category of medium crossbows. Mind the size when you’re considering buying this crossbow if you are under 5’5”.
  • The speed: with 350 FPS, there is nothing to worry about, as it’s more than plenty for any game you set your scope on.
  • The safety method for anti-dry-fire makes sure that you and your crossbow won’t be hurt while on a hunting trip.

Features & Benefits:

Buying a new crossbow is not easy - and it only gets harder when you’re a beginner. So many various features may even seem confusing to a rookie in the hunting world.

Before you decide on a certain crossbow model, you should see all the benefits that the model can offer you.

Here, we laid out all the features & benefits of Barnett’s Whitetail hunter 2.

This section can offer you the scoop on all the things that make this crossbow such a great buy!

Barnett Whitetail Hunter II Crossbow- Features

Via Amazon.com

Tech Specs:

  • Weight: 6.3 pounds
  • Length: 34 inches
  • Width: 18 inches (16 inches when cocked)
  • Shot Speed: 350 FPS
  • Power Stroke: 12.5 inches
  • Kinetic Energy: 113 FPE

Assembly

For someone new in the crossbow world, the word ‘Assembly’ may not mean much. For those that may not know, the crossbow will usually come unassembled.

When we’re talking about assembly, we’re talking about how difficult it may be to assemble a crossbow.

Someone with experience will probably assemble the crossbow without a problem, with just a glance at the user’s manual.

However, someone new will require a good user’s manual and perhaps some time to figure out the knicks and knacks of the crossbow.

The Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 comes with very vague instructions, which I found to be a problem for rookies - but the crossbow comes assembled, more or less.

If you do experience problems with assembly, contact someone more experienced for help. Even without a good manual, they will be able to help you out.

Build Quality And Design

The quality of this crossbow is undeniable the second you lay your hands on it. This crossbow is surely more suitable for newbies, but Barnett spared no expenses when building this crossbow.

The Whitetail Hunter 2 has an aluminum crafted rail, so it offers great balance without adding extra pounds to the build. The power of this crossbow is not to be questioned, as it’s ideal for hunting all kinds of game.

The Whitetail Hunter 2 comes with a TriggerTech upgrade for trigger - one of the best available on the market today. It has a very smooth pull and zero creeps.

The design is compact, more or less - so it can be great to use the crossbow in a cramped space. It’s lightweight and solidly built, and it has an attractive design printed all over!

Safety

When you’re trying out hunting and all that, you could harm yourself in such a manner that you could be put off hunting-wise forever.

So, there are various mechanisms to keep you safe when you’re using the crossbow.

Anti-fry-fire

One of the more notable safety mechanisms is anti-fry-fire.

It prevents the crossbow from firing without a bolt in - which could harm you, and it could result in your crossbow becoming very damaged.

When you’re a newbie, remember that you should always turn the safety off before pulling the string back.

Nock sensors

Barnett’s Whitetail Hunter 2 comes even with nock sensors. The nock sensors make sure that the bolt is properly placed - if you didn’t, the trigger will not engage.

Speed - Barnett Whitetail Hunter II Crossbow

Via Amazon.com

Speed

Shot speed is something that should always be discussed - as it’s the most prominent feature of every crossbow out there.

If the shot speed isn’t at least decent, the crossbow isn’t worth buying.

To hunt a fast-moving game, you will need a speed of at least 300 FPS. Luckily, the Whitetail Hunter 2 doesn’t disappoint with speed either, as it reaches 350 FPS without a problem.

Rabbits and easily-startled prey move very fast, and they could be out of your reach within a few seconds. The speed of the Whitetail Hunter 2 is great and the prey has no chance against it.

Accuracy

Accuracy is one of the points that could make the Whitetail Hunter 2 gleam with pride.

There is absolutely every reason why it should - as the accuracy is over the top, and way over average.

You could reach success with this crossbow even at 70 yards of distance. The industry average for accuracy is between 30 and 40 yards, so this crossbow offers so much more!

Accessories

Accessories are an important part of the package when you’re buying a crossbow, It’s important to know what you’re getting, so you can order the rest of the things you may need along with it.

The number one thing is the bolts - as you will need even just a few to start. The most notable thing we wanted to discuss is the quiver.

Quiver

I liked that the quiver on the Whitetail Hunter 2 can hold up to three arrows at a time, so you can make extra shots when you need to - right away.

Also, the quiver can easily be detached and reattached at any given moment, which is nice.

Carbon bolts

There are two bolts included in the package, and they are made from carbon. The weight of the bolt is around 400 grains, which will add some more lbs to the kinetic energy of the crossbow.

They are 20 inches long and durable, so they will last you at least a good while. The only thing that could be better is having more of the bolts included in the package.

Save energy with Rope cocking device

Someone with a smaller build could experience problems cocking the crossbow due to draw weight. That’s why the Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 has a rope cocking device in its accessories.

The rope cocking device makes cocking much easier, and it also makes the accuracy much better.

Medium Scope

The scope, a 4x32mm Multi-reticle scope, is built-in to the crossbow. However, when zoomed in, the scope is a bit blurry if you are targeting something far away.

Since the scope is designed to be placed on the Picatinny tail, it’s easy to swap the scope for something else.

Since the scope is decent, you don’t have to replace it right away - but you should if you want some over-the-top performance.


Social Proof:


Alternatives For The Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2

The Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 may be suitable for a lot of people, but it will not be perfect for everyone. That’s why you should check out the alternatives below - which may work better for you!

CenterPoint Sniper 370 Crossbow Package

Via Amazon.com

The Centerpoint Sniper 370 has a lot to offer for a little bit less money.

The shot speed is better than our top choice, as well as the draw weight. There are 3 bolts included, but the Sniper 370 weighs almost 2 pounds more than our favorite pick.

Wicked Ridge by TenPoint Crossbows Warrior G3 Crossbow Package

Via Amazon.com

Wicked Ridge’s Warrior G3 falls into the same price category as our Whitetail Hunter 2.

It has a slightly slower top speed, as well as the draw weight. There are 3 bolts included, but the Warrior G3 weighs almost like two Whitetail Hunters!

PSE ARCHERY Fang HD Crossbow Package

Via Amazon.com

As for the PSE Archery’s Fang, the specs are more than just amazing. The top speed blows out the Whitetail Hunter 2, and the draw weight too - for the same price.

In the package, you get 5 Quiver bolts, and it only weighs a pound more than the top pick!

Header

Shot speed

Weight

Draw weight

Bolts included
  Safety mechanisms

Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2

350 FPS

6.3 lbs

160 lbs

Yes, 2 Headhunter arrows

Yes

Centerpoint Sniper 370

370 FPS

7,9 lbs

185 lbs

Yes, 3 carbon bolts

Yes

Wicked Ridge Warrior G3

320 FPS

12 lbs

155 lbs

Yes, 3 Instant-Detach Quiver bolts

Yes

PSE Archery Fang

405 FPS

7.3 lbs

205 lbs

Yes, 5 Quiver bolts

Yes


Frequently Asked Questions:

What Is The Bolt Size For The Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2?

The Whitetail Hunter 2 comes with 2 20” Headhunter arrows. The bolts you should use are the 20”, the average bolt size for most crossbows out there.

Is The Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 Worth The Money?

For a newbie in the hunting world, Hunter 2 is a solid choice to start with. It’s powerful enough, not too large, it has a good shot speed, and it’s suitable for all kinds of games.

It’s also lightweight - lighter than similar crossbows. It’s easy to carry and comfortable to use - everything a rookie would want in a crossbow.

Is The Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 Good For Hunting Or Just Shooting?

The thing about the Whitetail Hunter 2 is that it goes way over the price range. It’s not just suitable for newbies or shooting at the range - it’s good for hunting as well.

You can catch even the fast-moving prey when using the Whitetail Hunter 2. This crossbow is very accurate - even at the 70 yards mark.


Conclusion

To conclude, the Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 is a perfect crossbow for those just getting the hang of hunting, as well as some mid-range shooters.

Barnett Whitetail Hunter II Crossbow

Via Amazon.com

The crossbow is suitable for even smaller-frame people, as it’s ultra-lightweight.

It is easy to use, very accurate and swift. Without a doubt, investing in the Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 is never a mistake.

For the price, you get good accessories and a sturdy frame. Let us know what you thought about the Barnett Whitetail Hunter 2 below!

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About the Author

Hi, I'm Robert Gate, a hunter from Texas and Founder of ArcheryTopic.

I first learned archery from my dad when I was 12 years old. He gave me a Mathew bow as a gift and instantly fell in love with the pursuit.

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