Crank mechanisms might make your life much easier, as cocking has been a breeze, especially for people with back, shoulders, and hernia trouble or injuries.
After hours of meticulous research and real tests, I have found a list of the best crossbow with built-in crank cocking device. Here is the list:
Best Crossbow With Built-In Crank Cocking Device Reviews:
1. Best overall: Wicked Ridge M-370
Wicked Ridge made the M-370 one of the lightest crossbow packages with a crank cocking device. It is a pleasure to hunt with, so let’s check out what it’s all about!
Specs:
- Draw weight: 180 lbs
- Cocking effort: 5 lbs
- Speed: 370 fps
- Trigger: 3.5 lbs
- Cocked width: 9.5"
- Mass weight: 5.8 lbs
- Length: 35"
A breeze to cock
One of the best things about this crossbow is that it’s a breeze to cock on a climber, thanks to the ACUdraw crank cocking system.
The cocking effort is decreased to the force of 5 pounds to pull the string, so it can help you immensely if you have shoulder issues.
The crossbow can also be safely cocked and decocked without fearing that the handle can spin or lose control.
You can worry-free of firing to the target to release the arrow after a long day, which is a nice touch.
The handle is attachable so that you can attach it to the buttstock.
However, it can make some noise and be easy to bump, so you better put it in the pocket.
Lightest weight
The bow weighs only 5.8 pounds without accessories, so it’s easy to carry or haul around the woods.
Slim profile
With a width of 9.5 inches and length of 35 inches, this is a fantastic crossbow for ground blind and treestand hunters.
Super crisp
I liked that the trigger is super smooth, and it only requires 3.5 pounds of effort to pull.
Above-average scope
The scope has above-average quality since it’s the Tenpoint’s 3x Multi-Line scope.
It’s simple to zero in in only six shots, with tight grouping in 50 yards.
It features multiple reticles ranging from 20 to 40 yards and 3x magnification, which is relatively weak for deer hunting.
The crosshair is not illuminated, which is a disadvantage if you hunt whitetails at dawn or dusk.
More consistency
Besides that, you get 3x Pro Elite 400 carbon arrows in the package, which prolong the arrow nock, giving you more consistency in downrange.
They have 0.003” stiffness to ensure your bolts can pass through the buck’s shoulder.
Super powerful
The 370 FPS velocity and the 180-pound draw weight are enough to harvest big and small games.
Extremely safe
We have the standard dry-fire-inhibitor for safety, which prevents you from accidentally firing bolts and hurting yourself.
A neat accessory is the swing protector to keep your hands safe and below the flight rail.
Easy to assemble
I liked that the crossbow is easy to assemble, so you can be finished in a few minutes and ready to hunt.
Made in USA
The entire crossbow is made in the USA, so you can be proud of where it’s made.
The limited lifetime warranty is there to ease your mind - Wicked Ridge will cover your damage without charges or questions.
The downside
I didn’t like is that the crossbow is limited to the proprietary alpha nock for bolts, so you will need to buy an extra one with the same style or risk voiding the warranty.
Another con is that the stock is not adjustable or versatile.
The instruction manual is not too clear.
And the crossbow can make noise, but you can add a string stopper and limb dampener to make the bow quieter.
Just bought my first cross-bow - the Wicked Ridge M370 (with Accudraw), after several years of research/reviews/dragging my feet. Picking it up the first time sold me on it - Nice weight, balance and price point, plus the Ten Point reputation for customer service.
Pros:
Cons:
2. Safest Crossbow: Tenpoint Viper S400
Tenpoint has been a household name in the crossbow world for having the safest standards, and the crossbow called Viper S400 is one of the best out there.
Specs:
- Draw weight: 250 lbs
- Cocking effort: 5 lbs
- Speed: 400 fps
- Trigger: 3.5 lbs
- Cocked width: 7.2"
- Mass weight: 7.5 lbs
- Length: 32"
Safest Crossbow
With the ACUslide safe cocking and decocking mechanism, you don’t have to worry about potential injuries and damage to the crossbow if you need to decock.
The dry-fire-inhibitor is a must-have at this point, and it prevents dry fire from damaging you and your bow.
The Viper S400 also features safety wings, which prevent your fingers from getting caught up in the arrow flight.
Light Cocking Effort
The Viper features the new ACUslide system, saving 95% of the draw weight and reducing the effort to only 5 pounds.
It allows you to cock and decock on a treestand without breaking a sweat or making a peep. Have a check here:
It generally makes your life easier, especially as you age.
The best part?
You can safely decock. You can even suddenly release the handle while decocking without the worry of damage or injuries.
However, don’t forget to attach the handle, or you’ll lose your game.
Highly accurate
Being accurate is a breeze with the top-notch RangeMaster Pro scope, which covers multi-speed ranging from 275 to 425 fps.
The scope features the illuminated crosshair with red and green reticles for low-light hunting.
The range of magnification is broad, as it enables you to magnify the picture up to 5 times.
It’s pretty easy to sight into, as you only need to shoot through a couple of times, and that’s it.
Super smooth trigger
The S1 trigger is super crisp and smooth, and it only requires 3.5 pounds of effort. It features two stages to improve your down-range accuracy.
Moreover, you get three EVO-X Centerpunch arrows with 0.001” straightness. It is the stiffest arrow in this list, so it improves your accuracy as the bolts will fly straighter, maximizing the impact.
Ultra-narrow profile
This crossbow is exceptionally narrow, as the width is only 7.2” when fully cocked.
It is not as narrow as the R26 by Ravin, but it’s still pretty slim and suitable for narrow blinds & brushy environments.
The crossbow weighs 7.5 pounds without accessories, which is pretty lightweight.
Tenpoint cut out the stock to reduce the weight by 1.5 pounds - it’s still not the lightest bow, but it works perfectly for saddle hunters.
Secure your investment
The soft protect case is there to keep your investment secure, so you can easily transport the bow on a truck or plane and even carry it on your back.
With the lifetime warranty, you are entirely secure about potential damage. What’s more, the crossbow is made in the USA, meaning that the quality is guaranteed.
The downside
I didn’t like was that the bolts for the Viper S400 were expensive. They require the alpha nock style bolts, which are relatively costly, and the crossbow itself isn’t cheap either.
Pros:
Cons:
3. Most portable Crossbow: Excalibur Assassin 400 TD
Excalibur’s Assassin 400 TD is a fantastic crossbow with a built-in crank and simplicity. It does its job flawlessly, without any complications.
Its ‘taken down’ system has been updated to perfection, and the Assassin 400 TD is an example.
Specs:
- Draw weight: 325 lbs
- Cocking effort: 13 lbs
- Speed: 400 fps
- Trigger: 3 lbs
- Cocked width: 20.5"
- Mass weight: 8.2 lbs
- Length: 30-33"
Simple Design
The takedown system with Quick-Lock technology makes the crossbow easy to take down for traveling in a matter of reconds.
Since this is a recurve crossbow allows you to fix most problems yourself, such as changing the strings on the field without a bow press on hand.
It allows for easy maintenance and excellent balance.
Highly powerful
The Assassin is also very powerful, with a 400 FPS shot speed and 325 pounds of draw weight, so it’s powerful enough to take down any game in North America.
Adjustable stock
The stock is an adjustable Tru-Fit stock with an accompanying cheek piece to fit you perfectly when you shoot.
This crossbow is pretty compact compared to other Excalibur bows, but with 30 inches of length and 20.5 inches of width, it’s still more significant than other models I’ve listed here.
Because of that, this crossbow is not the perfect option for tight spaces.
Built-In Charger Crank
The bow crank is fantastic, and it reduces the drawing force to meager 13 pounds. Your shoulders will appreciate that.
It also enables you to decock safely without the need to release the bolts.
And it allows you to do it quietly, which is a great advantage when you don’t want to spook the deer.
You can stop anytime when cocking, but you will need to hold it while decocking to prevent injuries or damage to the crossbow.
Smooth to pull trigger
You will get only consistent shots with the super light and smooth Pro-Shot trigger that requires 3 pounds of effort to pull.
The trigger has two stages, providing you with more time for more precise aiming.
Accurate scope
The Tact-100 scope is easy to sight in, and it features a multi-reticle with illuminated red and green lights.
It’s great for low-light hunting, and it offers excellent grouping at distances up to 100 yards, which is ideal for both target shooting and hunting.
Quiet
Thanks to the sound-deadening system and R.E.D.S. suppressors, the hunting goes on quietly. The noise and suppression are reduced to 87.7 dBA.
The crossbow has a lifetime warranty and various neat accessories such as the four Black Eagle Pro Flight arrows.
Stiffest arrows
The arrows have 0.001” stiffness which ensures you have the toughest impact and the straightest flight for hunting big game.
What does 0.001" stiffness mean?
The shaft straightness measurement tells you how close to perfectly straight the group of crossbow bolts you are purchasing really is.
For instance, most crossbow bolt shafts on the market have straightness measurements that range from 0.006” to 0.001”. This means that if your bolts are said to have a shaft straightness of 0.006”, then the arrow shafts will be up to 0.006” from being straight. Granted, 0.006” is very close to being straight, however arrows that have a shaft straightness of 0.001” come much closer to being perfectly straight.
Arrows that have a smaller shaft straightness measurement have a likelihood of shooting more accurately and with greater precision than ones that have a larger tolerance, and hence, are more expensive.
Other Accessories
It also comes with a takedown explorer case to protect your investment, making it easy to carry around.
It also has a 4-arrow quiver with a quick-lock, making it easy to remove in moments.
Downside
I didn’t like how heavy this crossbow was - it weighed 8.2 pounds without accessories and almost 10 pounds with complete accessories.
The Assassin crossbow is excellent, but the weight is a downside.
If Excalibur could put that bow on a diet, I’d be all over one again. You still drag the crank weight around with you with the Charger, but it’s felt less in the backpack.
Another downside is that the crossbow is highly expensive.
Pros:
Cons:
4. Most Compact option: Ravin R26x Crossbow
Ravin has introduced something new to the market - the R26x. This is a new 2022 model designed to replace the previous R26.
The changes regarding the design are that they went with the all-black color and three bolts instead of six.
Specs:
- Draw weight: 340 lbs
- Cocking effort: 12 lbs
- Speed: 400 fps
- Trigger: 2.5 lbs
- Cocked width: 5.75″
- Mass weight: 6.5 lbs
- Length: 26"
Super Lightweight & Narrow
Weighing only 6.5 pounds, this crossbow is lightweight and easy to pack in and out of the woods.
Narrowest crossbow
Moreover, this is the narrowest crossbow on this list.
With the 5.75” cocked width and 26” length, this crossbow is ideal for thigh spaces for turkey hunting in a ground blind.
Silent Crank
The crank is easy to load, reducing the drawing effort to 12 pounds. You can cock and decock in a wheelchair.
It is completely silent when running without making any click sounds.
Do note that when cocking, you shouldn’t leave it unattended to prevent injury.
Extremely Powerful
Ravin is well-known for its power, so it is no surprise that this crossbow packs up to 400 FPS of shot.
That wouldn’t have been possible without the 340-pound draw weight, allowing you to take down any game on the planet.
You get 3 high-quality arrows in the package to ensure you have deep penetration through the deer’s shoulder.
The arrows feature the 0.003” straightness, which provides your bolts to fly straight enough for success every time.
Quiet
This crossbow shoots super silently and measured up to only 87.6 dBA.
This enables you to hunt fast-moving prey without any issues, as the sudden noise won’t spook them away from your sight.
Crispest trigger
With the super-smooth pull at the trigger, you will only need 2.5 pounds of effort to shoot. The 100-yard illuminated scope is a high-speed scope.
It ranges from 300 to 425 FPS and illuminated red and green reticles for low-light conditions such as dusk and dawn.
The magnification enables you to magnify up to 5 times and shoot at targets 100 yards away.
The scope and everything else is waterproof, fog-proof, anti-shock, and anti-recoil to keep everything safe from the elements.
Preassembled
The crossbow comes pre-assembled, so you don't have to fine-tune everything for hours first, as it comes almost entirely ready for your first hunt.
Downside
The only flaw of this otherwise fantastic crossbow is the price tag.
The R26x is extremely expensive, so keep that in mind if you look for something more high-end.
Pros:
Cons:
5. Most Budget-friendly crossbow: Barnett Whitetail Pro STR
The Barnett Whitetail line offers rockstar crossbows to the market. The Pro STR crossbow is no different, but let’s unpack everything it offers!
Specs:
- Draw weight: 187 lbs
- Cocking effort: 5.6 lbs
- Speed: 400 fps
- Trigger: 3 lbs
- Cocked width: 17.625"
- Mass weight: 6.9 lbs
- Length: 36.5"
Low poundage trigger
The Pro STR has the lowest poundage trigger, thanks to the TriggerTech Frictionless Release Technology.
You will only need 3 pounds of effort to pull the trigger, which provides an amazing, smooth, and steady feeling in your hands.
Standard scope
The crossbow features a standard, 4x32 mm illuminated scope, which is a breeze to sight in a few shots.
It also includes six aiming points ranging from 20 to 60 yards. There is an illuminated crosshair as well for low-light aiming.
It offers 4x magnification which is good enough to harvest a doe.
The scope is water-resistant and shock-proof, but it can withstand only a little rain, not more, so you should upgrade it to a higher-end sight.
Integrated Crank Cocking Device
The crank cocker eases your drawing up to 93%, so you need to pull only about 5.6 pounds, and there is no need to install a removable cocking crank.
This is extremely helpful if you have an elbow injury or significant leg surgery.
The downside is that this is a standard crank, and it doesn’t automatically stop if you lose control, so make sure to have your hands on it as you cock or decock.
Lightweight crossbow
With the 6.9 pounds, this crossbow is very light and saves plenty of your packing weight.
Unique shape
The unique shape of this crossbow makes it neither broad nor narrow, with a width of 17 inches from axle to axle.
The integrated butt stock and the grip give more balance and a better feeling.
High Poundage
With the 400 FPS of shot speed and the 187-pound draw weight, this is enough speed and power to harvest a deer this season.
Safe to use
With the anti-dry-fire-inhibitor, you can prevent damage to your crossbow or any potential injury.
The finger guard is a nice touch, too, as it keeps your hands safe and below the arrow flight.
Silent shooting
Thanks to the string stopper, the crossbow is quiet, which reduces noise and vibration.
The setup is easy, but remember to attach the quiver mount to the Picatinny rail on the crossbow's stock before securing the nose bolt to save some time.
Downside
I didn’t like the Pro STR because it comes with a 1-year warranty only, as I expected a longer time.
The crossbow is also quite long - 36.5 inches.
It also doesn’t automatically stop the swivel of the crank, and the scope could be of better quality.
Pros:
Cons:
Rope vs. Crank Cocker:
Picking between different cocking mechanisms can be challenging, mainly for people choosing their first crossbow ever. Experienced hunters usually know the difference, but not all of them.
Here, I want to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each - so let’s begin.
First, it’s important to note that there are two main rope cocking mechanisms:
Header | Rope cocker | Crank cocker |
---|---|---|
Speed | Faster loading | Slower loading |
Consistency | Less | More |
Accuracy | Less | More |
Rope cocking aid:
The standalone rope cocker is a simple design, and it’s not installed directly on the crossbow.
It features:
So the string is latched on the trigger when you pull the handles.
How does rope cocker work?
The cord is leveraged in the back, so the hooks are attached to the bowstring as the crossbow is anchored down to the ground as you pull on the handles.
This mechanism reduces the effort needed to cock the crossbow by half, which is decent.
It is suitable for people with stronger upper bodies or without any injuries to the shoulders or the back.
Crank cocker
The stock-integrated crank cocker works similarly, but it is mounted directly on the crossbow.
So, the stock-integrated rope cocker’s cords pull back into the mechanism when you aren’t using it, so the main advantage is that the rope cannot tangle or get damaged as easily.
Easier to cock
I feel that the crank mechanism excels because it reduces the cocking effort down to 10% of the original draw weight.
For instance, if you have a 200-pound draw weight on your crossbow, you will only need to pull about 20 pounds, at best.
This mechanism uses a sled and a crank, so the string is pulled onto its cocked position when you turn the crank.
The crank mechanism is the perfect solution for people with injuries or simply weaker upper body.
It enables you to cock the string without much effort and pain - so it’s truly the way to go, allowing for better accuracy on top of it.
It allows for much easier cocking of the crossbow, and more consistent shots when you have a built-in crank, with better accuracy.
Worry free of forgetting the rope cocker
There is no worry you might forget certain things, and there are no ropes or hooks to deal with, as well as the dangling hooks on the removable rope-cocking mechanisms.
However, the downside is that the crank is always built-in, so if it breaks, you will have a lot of downtime. Also, it doesn’t load as fast as the rope cocker.
Bottom Line:
Crank mechanisms make using a crossbow much easier, and they are the perfect solution if you’re dealing with injuries.
I have tried out and reviewed many outstanding crossbows, but only one of them is the best crossbow with a built-in crank cocking device.
That would have to be the Wicked Ridge M-370 Crossbow because:
What is your favorite choice for a crossbow with a crank mechanism? Let us know in the comments!