Barnett Raptor Pro STR Crossbow

The Raptor Pro STR was Barnett's 2018 step-up from the standard Raptor line, pairing a 400 FPS shot with a frictionless TriggerTech release and a fiberglass composite step-through riser - the STR in the name stands for Step-Through Riser, the same frame style used on the Whitetail Hunter STR. It runs a 16.25-inch power stroke and lists a draw weight between 165 and 187 pounds depending on the retailer, which is normal for a package sold through several stores rather than one standardized listing.

Measured energy lands around 140 ft-lbs, and the complete bow weighs 6.9 pounds without accessories. Out of the box it came with a 4x32 multi-reticle scope, a side-mount quiver, a rope cocking device and lube wax, and most packages shipped with a pair of 22-inch Headhunter arrows.

Despite the Raptor name, the Pro STR takes standard-diameter Headhunter bolts, usually in the 22-inch length. The only Raptor that takes the narrow Hyperflite shaft is the Hyper Raptor - the word Hyper is what decides the bolt family, not Raptor. A Raptor, a Raptor FX and a Raptor Pro STR all feed the same standard Headhunter bolt; only the Hyper Raptor is different.

Getting this wrong is not cosmetic: a narrow Hyperflite shaft will not seat correctly on a standard rail, and a standard shaft forced onto a Hyper rail risks a dry-fire. If you are matching bolts to a Barnett by name, the fit by model page lists every model and its shaft.

The base Raptor Pro STR shipped with a rope cocking device, and Barnett also sold a Raptor Pro STR w/Crank package with a crank cocking device fitted from the factory. At 165 to 187 pounds of draw, a rope cocker is workable for most shooters, but the crank roughly halves the felt effort and makes the bow accessible to anyone with a shoulder or back concern.

If you buy a used Raptor Pro STR without its cocker, a standard Barnett rope cocker or crank fits the stock - the same accessories sold for the rest of the range. Either way, re-zero the scope at 20 yards before hunting; the sighting-in guide covers the order that avoids wasted bolts.

The Raptor Pro STR is an older package and does not have a reliable live Amazon listing for the complete bow at the time of writing; it turns up used and through a few archery retailers. What is dependable is the consumables and parts side - 22-inch Headhunter bolts, rope cockers and cranks, and lube wax are all current.

Buying secondhand, check the limbs, cams, trigger group and rail before anything else, since those structural parts are not made aftermarket once Barnett stock runs out. Strings and cables for the Raptor line are available from aftermarket makers, covered on the strings page.