Read our in-depth review of the Barnett Raptor Pro STR. It’s a lightweight, 400 feet per second crossbow that’s also crank-cocking device compatible. Barnett manufactures high-quality crossbows with some unique features like their TriggerTech technology and zero-creep metal injection molded triggers. This crossbow also includes a unique step-through riser design.
The Barnett Raptor Pro STR comes as a complete package and ships mostly assembled. Included in this crossbow package are a 4x32mm illuminated scope, rope cocking device, side-mount quiver, 2x 22-inch Headhunter arrows, and lubrication wax.
Table of Contents
Barnett Raptor Pro STR Crossbow Specs
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The Barnett Raptor Pro STR includes some extra features like Trigger Tech, Metal Injection Molded Trigger, Soft-Lok floating bristle arrow retainer, fiberglass composite step-through riser, ADF trigger system, pass-through foregrip, string dampeners and it’s also crank-cocking device compatible.
Assembly and Sighting-In
Barnett ships the Raptor Pro STR mostly assembled, and assembly is very easy and quick to do. Complete assembly of this crossbow is done with a single bolt.
Note: The instruction manual will tell you to mount the quiver to the stock after installing the bow. This will not leave you with enough room to maneuver the quiver into place. Mount the quiver to the stock first!
You’ll only have to install the bow to the stock and make sure to tighten the bolt securely. The scope is already mounted on the stock but you’ll have to sight it in before you take it out for a hunt!
Zeroing in was a fairly easy job. Barnett’s stock scopes are really easy to configure and are fairly accurate out of the box.
First Impressions
After the easy assembly, I noticed that the Barnett Raptor Pro STR is pretty lightweight for such a high-powered crossbow. Comparing it to one of our latest reviews of a Barnett crossbow, the TS380, the Raptor Pro STR is much faster, has a sleeker design but weighs exactly the same.
The integrated foot-stirrup is one of the unique design features. This unique design saves a whole lot of weight and space and elongates the power stroke, which results in a faster crossbow.
Another thing that instantly popped out was the pre-installed string dampeners. This should lower the amount of noise this crossbow produces while shooting.
Design and Durability
The most unique design feature of the Barnett Raptor Pro STR crossbows is the fiberglass composite step-through riser. This drastically reduces the weight and also elongates the power-stroke of the crossbow. Fully assembled, the Barnett Raptor Pro STR only weighs 6.9 pounds and measures 36.5 inches in length. Its width is 20 inches uncocked and 17.75 inches when cocked.
Every Barnett crossbow comes with TriggerTech Frictionless Release Technology™ and a Metal Injection Molded (MIM) Trigger. Barnett prices this feature at $200 alone! We rate Barnett’s TriggerTech triggers really high, they’re very smooth and have a 3-pound zero creep pull.
The Barnett Raptor Pro STR is also a crank cocking device compatible crossbow. For review and testing purposes, I’ve also included the crank cocking device in this review.
Optics
Barnett includes a pre-installed 4x32mm Illuminated Scope with the Barnett Raptor Pro STR. This push-button scope has red and green illumination settings with 4 reticles.
At first sight, the picture is very clear and the green illumination looks better versus the red illumination setting. In the Performance and Range test section, I’ll test the accuracy of the scope and we’ll see how this scope performs in the field.
Out of the box the scope is set for 20-50-yard distances, make sure to check the accuracy before you take it out for a hunt though! This scope does not offer the ability to change magnification settings. You can sight the scope in at up to 70 yards, with 10-yard increments.
Cocking
As mentioned before, the Barnett Raptor Pro STR is a crank cocking device compatible crossbow. Barnett’s basic Raptor Pro STR comes with a Rope Cocking Device but you can also get a complete package the includes Barnett’s Crank Cocking Device.
The Barnett Raptor Pro STR has a draw weight of 187 pounds, by using a rope-cocking device you’ll reduce the draw-weight by 50%!
By using Barnett’s crank-cocking device, you’ll reduce the draw-weight by up to 93%. It’s very easy to use this crank-cocking device and it’s also ambidextrous.
Safety Features
Barnett also includes a number of safety features with every crossbow. Their crossbows are usually very safe to use for youth and beginners.
One of the big safety features are the pass-through foregrip and the finger guards. The pass-through foregrip should already prevent you from getting your fingers in between the strings but the finger guards eliminate that possibility entirely.
After loading an arrow, the Soft-Lok floating bristle arrow retainer applies a downward force to keep the arrow in place and ensures an accurate flight path. The anti-dry fire will also engage and until you switch it to fire, you’re not able to shoot the Barnett Raptor Pro STR.
Noise Reducing Feature(s)
As crossbows are getting more powerful and every year, they keep on improving the speed of the crossbow, but the amount of sound and vibrations the crossbow generates is not always reduced. Therefore, it’s great that Barnett pre-installed string dampeners to reduce the sound of the Barnett Raptor Pro STR.
Performance and Range Test
Barnett advertises the Raptor Pro STR as a 135 Kinetic Energy Foot Pounds and 187-pound draw weight crossbow that can shoot the included 22-inch Headhunter arrows at 400 feet per second! We’ve brought the Barnett Raptor Pro STR out to the range and tested it thoroughly.
After sighting in the crossbow and firing a couple of test groups, I managed to get under 1.5-inch groups at 50-yard distances! I don’t recommend firing at the same target at 20-yard distances, as you will definitely “Robin Hood” your arrows.
Barnett includes two 22-inch Headhunter arrows with the Barnett Raptor Pro STR. This is not a regular size and because of how the crossbow is designed, it’s also impossible to load the crossbow with smaller arrows. You’ll have to use 22-inch arrows!
After firing 3 arrows over our chronograph, it averaged at 397 feet per second. Impressive results for such a lightweight crossbow!
I also had to test the crank-cocking device of course. Installing the crank is very easy and reduces the draw weight by up to 93 percent! While it is a much easier way to cock your crossbow, with a rope-cocking device you’re much faster. It depends entirely on your preference and if you’ve got the budget for it.
Recommended Accessories
The Barnett Raptor Pro STR comes as a complete package and includes everything for target shooting. If you want to take this crossbow out for a hunt, you’ll at least need some broadheads. Everybody has their own preference for certain accessories. Below we’ve listed some great accessories to use with the Barnett Raptor Pro STR.
Bolts/Arrows
As mentioned before, the Barnett Raptor Pro STR only takes 22-inch arrows. Included with every package you’ll get 2 Barnett Headhunter arrows. These arrows weigh 380 grains and come with moon nocks.
If you’re taking the Barnett Raptor Pro STR out for a hunting trip, we highly recommend bringing some heavier arrows. We recommend the 22-inch Black Eagle Zombie Slayer arrows. These arrows also come with moon nocks but weigh around 325-grains excluding the field tip or broadhead.
Once you’ve installed a 100-grain field tip or broadhead, the total weight of these arrows will be around 425 grains. This will reduce the speed of the arrows by about 10 feet per second maximum, but increases the KE/penetration by a lot!
Black Eagle Zombie Slayer arrows are a great choice for arrows, we also rank them in our best crossbow bolts/arrows reviews and buyers guide.
Broadheads
You can always look at our Best Broadheads article for a full list of our top picks for best broadheads. We recommend 2 different broadheads for the Barnett Raptor Pro STR.
Our first pick is the RAGE NC X-Treme Cut on Contact broadheads. These broadheads are very reliable, durable, and accurate. They’re also 100-grains and it should give you the exact same flight path as the normal field points. The RAGE NC X-Treme COC broadheads have a cutting diameter of 2 inches.
A cheaper alternative are the NAP Killzone broadheads. They’re also very accurate and are beginner-friendly mechanical broadheads. These broadheads also have a cutting diameter of 2 inches and a weight of 100-grains.
Crank Cocking Device
As mentioned in the Performance and Range Test section, the Barnett crank-cocking device is a nice addition to the crossbow. It provides a safe and easy way to crank-cock the crossbow. You’ll only need a maximum of 13 pounds of force to cock the Barnett Raptor Pro STR with the crank cocking device.
You can’t compare this crank with a TenPoint ACU crank cocking device. Barnett’s crank cocking device is a basic model that does the job perfectly fine at an affordable price.
Crossbow Case
Barnett does not offer a case specifically for the Barnett Raptor Pro STR yet. For now, we store our Raptor Pro STR in a TenPoint universal soft crossbow case. This case includes a removable and adjustable shoulder sling, so you can carry it easily with you during a hunting trip.
Conclusion
Barnett Raptor Pro STR Ratings
Summary
Overall, we’re really amazed at the quality and performance of the Barnett Raptor Pro STR. It’s a really lightweight, accurate, beginner-friendly, and high-powered crossbow. This crossbow is powerful enough to take out most big-game animals with a speed of 400 feet per second, is very accurate, crank-cocking device compatible, and lightweight. It also has pre-installed string dampeners to keep the sound the Barnett Raptor Pro STR produces as low as possible.
What we like
- Powerful enough to take out most big-game animals at 400 fps!
- Accurate
- Really lightweight
- Zero-Creep trigger
- Safe & Beginner-friendly
- Pre-Installed string dampeners
- Crank cocking device compatible
What we don’t like
- No magnification settings on the scope
- The string will stretch out when used which will reduce the speed, it’s better to replace it with a better quality string
- Instructions aren’t in correct order
