Barnett Jackal Crossbow

The Jackal was Barnett's budget, entry-level compound crossbow: 315 FPS from a 150-pound draw and a 12-inch power stroke, producing about 95 ft-lbs of kinetic energy. It used a quad-limb layout with high-energy wheels and a cable system to reach that speed from a short, compact frame - roughly 32.5 inches long and 26.5 inches wide, around 26.25 inches axle-to-axle, at about 7.7 pounds bare.

The military-style synthetic stock had a divided foregrip and a Picatinny rail, and the common package shipped with a lightweight quiver, three arrows and a premium red dot sight rather than a magnified scope. It was built to be the cheapest way into a capable Barnett, not a flagship.

The Jackal takes standard-diameter Headhunter bolts in the 20-inch length - the package shipped with a three-arrow quiver loaded with them. There is no Hyper in the name, so the narrow Hyperflite shaft does not apply; that shaft is reserved for the Hyper series alone.

At 315 FPS the Jackal is a mid-speed bow, so a standard 20-inch Headhunter with a 100-grain point is the right match for both target work and whitetail-range hunting. The fit by model page lists the Jackal alongside every other Barnett and its shaft.

The Jackal was a hand-cocked bow at 150 pounds of draw. A basic rope cocking device cuts the felt effort roughly in half and is the sensible first accessory; a crank cocking device is more than this draw weight needs but will fit if shoulder strength is a concern.

Because the Jackal is discontinued, parts are the main consideration for owners. String and cable sets are sold aftermarket as a Jackal-specific set - see the strings page - and Headhunter bolts are still current. Structural parts such as limbs, cams and the trigger group are the hard ones to source once manufacturer stock is gone, so inspect those first on any used Jackal.

As a used budget bow the Jackal is reasonable if the limbs, cams and trigger are sound and the price reflects its age - its 315 FPS and 95 ft-lbs are enough for whitetail inside sensible range. What dates it is the included red dot sight and the lack of a cocking aid; most owners add a rope cocker and, if they want yardage holdovers, a 4x32 multi-reticle scope.

If you want a current entry-level Barnett instead, the Recruit XP and the Wildcat CRX fill the same budget slot today and still take standard Headhunter bolts. Whichever you shoot, re-zero at 20 yards first - the sighting-in guide covers it.