barnett 78134 Recruit Tactical Compound Crossbow Package W/2 Bolts, Adult

I bought this crossbow last week and used it this past weekend. Before I used it I followed all the instructions on maintenance and care. I read other reviews on the string breaking after an average of 5 shots. This is one reason why I looked over the instructions carfully and read, and looked at videos about cross bows. I learned a lot just by reading and videos. This weekend I went over a friends to zero the crossbow. I already waxed the string and rails so I was set there. We shot maybe about 25 bolts. I read manual that the rails should be waxed after 5 to 10 shots and the string after 25 shots. So I made sure I followed the instructions. The red eye site worked well even on a bright sunny day I was able to see the dots clearly with both eyes open and it was on point still need to zero more.Over all so far so good I like it and the price is right. My friend also liked it. I will zero again on Thursday and update my review. Bow is waxed and ready to go.5/15/15 updateHAH! I know I am a great online shopper because I end up buying great products. I do a lot of research before I buy. I look a all ratings 1 to 5. I look up YouTube videos for product reviews. I research the company to see how they compare in that specific product in the industry and to see how there support system is setup on the website. I talk to friends who may know about the product. I may take a trip to the store to ask the experts. I read the products manuals for usage instructions, maintenance and specifications. This is all prior to purchase.That all being said, I bought this cross bow because of the above. It had great reviews, experts that use this have gave nothing but positive input, easy to assemble, instructions and maintenance are simple. The product also performs very well. I just did my second zeroing and it did a great job. The crossbow is very accurate and powerful. The friends I was shooting with never shot a crossbow before. When they saw how this one was performing they were impressed and wanted to stick around to see its limits. I put it to the test.I only wanted to zero the crossbow up to 40 yards starting. When I got done with that I wanted to mess around with it, I can always rezero later. I wanted to go for distance and to see how much penetration the arrow gets from further distances. So i increased to 50yrds and bam the penetration was still the same. I moved out 60 yrds and bam the penetration was still the same. I moved out 70 yards and BAM the penetration did not change. I took her out to 80 yrds and WHAMMY the penetration is still the same. We weren't sure if it was 80 yrs the owner of the land says he thinks its more than 80 yrd and will check it out later.My friends response each time I shot the arrow was "Dam he hit it again." it meaning the target not always the bulls eye but good enough. Like i said they never used a crossbow before so they didn't know what to expect.The 3 dot scope worked well it kept me on target and from losing arrows. I am still trying to figure out the MOA on each click but I'm getting there. For me following the instructions is very important especially when I hear about he broken string issue. I waxed string and crossbow rails after like 12 shots. Waxing is the key to keeping a healthy stringThis is one great product. I will highly recommend for the price you can't go wrong.

Got this from the Amazon Warehouse for my son who is turning 13 and I was "less than pleased" when it arrived in pieces. Of pieces! It was described as "used in Very Good condition". It was missing the string, bolts, and other items. I opened the box to find it's contents crammed inside as one might stuff a garbage bin.But thankfully there's more to the story....I did an online chat session with an Amazon Rep and He issued a call tag to pick up the mess of a "crossbow" that the warehouse sent, and had a NEW replacement sent out 1 day shipping! Customer service REALLY stepped it up on this one. As some of you know, Amazon Warehouse Deals can REALLY drop the ball sometimes. But I, and my son, are sure pleased with the outcome on this occasion. Thanks Amazon Customer Service!Ok, so here's the scoop.....Up front, the Barnett Recruit is, without a doubt, one of the best crossbow bargains of all time. And I am being somewhat conservative here. Of course time will tell how she holds up over the long haul, but as one familiar with crossbows/manufacturers and their history, I can tell you that this one performs very well for the money. At this moment, people are buying el cheapo bargain crossbows for only fifty bucks or so less than this well engineered wonder! What you get for 250 bucks is quite probably, the best high tech, miniaturized, light weight bolt thrower on the planet. We LOVE the balance, the light weight, (6.5lbs) the VERY short width (12" drawn/18" undrawn!) and at only 130lb draw weight It shoots over 300fps and out performs my 150lb draw, 8.5lb medieval giant war club of a crossbow, handily. It's even got upper and lower picatinny rails. Great for a foregrip and other fun add ons. We are burying the 20" carbon arrows into a stacked foam target up to the fletching, and sometimes the back end of the bolt disappears into the target.....and this is from forty yards out! With performance like this from such a small, light weight package, who needs the "gravitically challenged" over sized monsters of yesteryear? One could carry this thing all day and forget it's there. No snagging it on every branch that comes along. It sports an aluminum riser and Delrin (or similar plastic) rail, which is a good thing as the plastic's inherent qualities mimic those of Teflon, for less friction on the serving and rail at launch. Nearly every detail is well thought out and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one again. In fact, I am seriously thinking of getting one of my own! I wouldn't hesitate to hunt ANY of North America's big game species with it.Barnett clearly had their collective thinking cap on for this project. And it's obvious that they are hoping to make a life long impression on new shooters. This is the one to win 'em over. Look out Crossbow Community.....Barnett is Legacy Minded and is coming for your children!Truly, a few qualitative changes (longer draw stroke, higher draw weight, better, ie. longer, beefier stock extension etc.) and this could be "the" revolution in crossbows.Rebadge it, market it to veteran hunters and call it.....The Wolverine.

So far so good with this bow. I don't have the equipment to test the speed, but as another had posted the speed on a chronograph I do believe the speed is more like 325 FPS at the bow. I think that because I pared this bow with the HHA optimizer, and a Nikon rifle scope. But anyway when calibrating the optimizer I found that the 60 yard number was closer to the 325 fps range number... You'd have to have experience with the optimizer to know what i am talking about... This bow is very accurate. I have "nocked" several bolts shooting at the same bull. at many different yardages also the sighting set up i went with is awesome for this bow. After calibrating the optimizer I was able to drill a 1inch orange dot i stuck to my block target at 80yards... simply awesome. I think i like the optimizer as much as i like this bow, if not more.If i have any string or limb issues ill update this post. but like i said so far so good. I would estimate i have shot the bow over 100 times now. I am a big guy 5'11" 300lbs i like how compact this bow is. One thing i do wish is the length of pull would adjust a bit longer but it is close, and not a deal breaker for me. The bow is nice and light, and well balanced as other have posted. Should be real maneuverable in the tree and traversing the woods. Cant wait for bow season, only a few more days...! I always us the rope cocking device as instructed in the manual. I always use string wax on the string and cables as directed. I also us a little bit of rail lube on the rail, not to much as it dose hold on to dust and debris.