The fact that you’ve clicked on this web article means that, like me, you’re not a purist when it comes to archery. As I write this text from my home office, it’s just a 20-second walk to my basement archery range, which has several bows hanging from the ceiling. At the ready includes a recurve (no sights), a long-axle compound for finger-shooting, several short-axle compounds for use with a release and a couple of scoped crossbows. I enjoy shooting — and hunting — with each bow.

Below, in alphabetical order, is a list of the top 10 crossbows that caught my eye at the 2019 ATA Show. I’ll provide manufacturer links so you can check out each bow’s specs on your own. More interesting to you, I hope, is some insight into what I liked most about each model. You see, one of the great things about the ATA event is the Show floor is su with numerous shooting lanes, and a helpful staff member from each company is ready and willing to show off their latest and greatest bow.

Barnett: HyperGhost 425

Sending bolts downrange at a blistering 425 fps, the new HyperGhost 425 comes in a package (scope, quiver, etc.) with new Hyperflite small-diameter arrows, which should penetrate deep and maintain accuracy no matter how hard the wind blows. On the ATA shooting range, I liked this bow’s TriggerTech trigger very much.

Barnett: HyperFlite 430

Also new for 2019 from Barnett is the HyperFlite 430, which was on display in the Plano/Synergy booth, but because it’s still in testing stage, it wasn’t available to shoot. The HyperFlite 430 (as well as the HyperFlite 400) is such a departure from any crossbow I’ve seen before that I actually was perplexed as to how the limbs, cams, cables and string would function. Click here to watch a Facebook video hosted by Barnett’s Brady Arview as he shows off the unique design of this ultra-modern crossbow. The HyperFlite 430 will be at the top of my test-drive list for ATA 2020.

Carbon Express: X-Force Piledriver 390

While new product dominates much of the discussion at industry shows like ATA and SHOT Show, some companies understand that when they have a good thing, they don’t have to mess with it. Such is the case with the X-Force Piledriver 390. This bow was introduced at ATA 2018, and I had the chance to hunt with one during a June 2018 bowhunt in Texas for axis deer. Look for my feature in an upcoming issue of Bowhunting World magazine. While the focus of this online article isn’t price, I can’t help but mention that this crossbow — in a kit with scope, quiver, arrows, etc. — has an MSRP of only $399.99. In terms of value, I can’t imagine a better deal. This is a tack-driving bow, and it’s trigger is better than ones on crossbows costing twice as much.

CenterPoint Archery: CP400

Like the Barnett HyperFlite 430 discussed above, the CenterPoint Archery CP400 was on display in the booth, but not available in the shooting lanes. If this bow looks like the offspring of a Ravin Crossbow with a standard CenterPoint crossbow, you’d be correct. The reason is Ravin was acquired by Velocity Outdoor, which owns CenterPoint Archery, as well as Crosman and Benjamin Airguns. To date, CenterPoint Archery has been known for producing bows for the value-minded consumer (bow packages priced from $300 to $600), but the new CP400 will no doubt retail for more. However, if the CenterPoint CP400 shoots anything like a Ravin Crossbow, then it will be a serious bow for any diehard deer hunter. At the time of this writing, the CenterPoint website hadn’t been updated with info or pics of the CP400. According to the one-page sell sheet I grabbed at ATA, this new bow has the following specs: 400 fps; 200-pound draw weight; 13-inch power stroke; 6 inches axle to axle when cocked; 31.75 inches long; 7.8 pounds.

Excalibur Crossbow: Assassin 420 TD

If you like the simplicity of recurve limbs in a modern crossbow, then Excalibur is your brand. The Assassin 420 TD can fire a bolt up to 420 fps, but the feature that sets it apart from other models is it can be disassembled and reassembled in seconds by the simple push of a button. Called “Quick Loc Technology,” this takedown bow balances well and has a topnotch two-stage trigger. I’d never shot a crossbow with recurve limbs before, and must admit I was thoroughly impressed.

Gearhead Archery: X16 Tactical

It’s no exaggeration to say that the bows from Gearhead — compounds and crossbows alike — look like someone must have traveled in a time machine from the future to drop off the bows in the present. I shot the X16 Tactical and was simply amazed; the bow’s trigger is superb. This crossbow is packable thanks to its takedown design; a dovetail joint with a precision clamping system allows you to take it apart and then reassemble the two halves without sacrificing accuracy.

Mission Crossbows: Sub-1 XR

Mission caused quite a stir in the crossbow market when it introduced the innovative Sub-1 (350 fps), and it kept the buzz going at ATA 2019 with the unveiling of the Sub-1 Lite (335 fps) and Sub-1 XR (410 fps). I shot the Sub-1 XR and loved it. With 80 percent let-off, the bow is easy to cock and de-cock, and the match-grade trigger is outstanding. Of course, with a name like Sub-1, this bow promises extreme accuracy, and while I didn’t get a chance to test it at longer range, I was certainly stacking arrows on the ATA Show shooting lanes.

Ravin Crossbows: R26

This manufacturer stole the show at ATA 2017 when it unleashed a high-performance crossbow design unlike anything ever seen before. For 2019, the company made another big splash by announcing its R29 and R26 crossbows. While these two bows look similar to previous Ravin models, what sets them apart is the size. This is not a misprint: The R26 somehow generates speeds of 400 fps with only a 9.5-inch power stroke; the entire bow measures only 26 inches in length. Axle-to-axle width for the cocked R26 is only 5.75 inches. The word “compact” perfectly defines this crossbow. So how does it shoot? Like the original Ravins, the R26 is supremely accurate, and its trigger feels more like one found on a fine bolt-action rifle than a crossbow.

Scorpyd Crossbows: Nemesis 480

Several companies make reverse-draw crossbows, and Scorpyd, while perhaps not a household name (yet), builds one of the best. Click here to see other Scorpyd crossbows, but at the time of this article, the company’s website hadn’t been updated with info or pics of the new Nemesis 480. The person I talked with at ATA 2019 was certainly excited about the new Nemesis 480, and after I shot the bow a couple times, I could understand why. This is smooth-shooting bow — the trigger is fantastic — and it’s crazy fast: 480 fps with a 370-grain arrow. Keep in mind, however, that most hunting arrow/broadhead combos weigh more than that, so the true speed from a treestand is likely to be closer to 465 fps. Measuring only 8.75 inches axle to axle when cocked, and weighing only 7 pounds, this powerhouse of a crossbow is still compact.

TenPoint Crossbows: Nitro XRT

When it comes to flagship offerings, TenPoint doesn’t sit on the sidelines for anyone, and the new-for-2019 Nitro XRT joins a long list of high-performance crossbows from a brand whose name is synonymous with high quality. The Nitro XRT is fast, with advertised speeds of 470 fps with a 370-grain arrow, and 440 fps with a 445-grain arrow. Cocked, it measures only 7 inches axle to axle. On the shooting lane, I noticed immediately that the reverse-draw design and center-mounted riser eliminated the nose-heavy feel present in many crossbows. This one just feels good in the hand. Another thing that impressed me was the overall fit and finish of this bow; the Kuiu Verde 2.0 camo on the limbs and riser is gorgeous. Finally, TenPoint claims that the new T5 trigger on this bow is its finest yet, and after shooting it a bunch at ATA, I have to agree.