What will $2,500 get you these days? Well, a pretty nice custom rifle for one. Or an over/under Browning shotgun. A used 4-wheeler that runs most of the time. About a month’s rent in Queens, New York. Or a premium crossbow that, if you practice, will effective at killing whitetail deer out to about 75 yards.
For less than half that money, you can get this Barnett Hyper Raptor crossbow instead, which is also effective at killing whitetails out to about 75 yards. With the leftover coin, you could maybe still afford a used 4-wheeler (though it might not run great), or a decent rifle or workhorse shotgun. If you want to live in Queens, I’m afraid I can’t help you.
The truth is, crossbow prices have gotten ridiculous. The most expensive crossbow we tested this year has an MSRP of $2,550, including accessories. Now to be clear, it’s a hell of a nice piece of equipment, and it is objectively better than this Barnett in about every way. But is it $1,300 better? Well, I can’t say that it is with a straight face.
If you need a new crossbow and want a good one but don’t have $2,500 to spend, the Barnett Hyper Raptor BCX BukOps is worth your attention, as it earned a Best Value award in our Best Crossbows of 2025 test. Here’s a closer look at the bow, and what makes it such a good deal.
Barnett Hyper Raptor BCX BUK OPS Specs
Speed: 400.5 fps
KE: 146 foot-pounds
Arrow weight: 400 grains
Average 50-Yard Group Size: 2 inches
Trigger: 2 lbs, 7 oz
Axle-to-Axle length (cocked): 7.25 inches
Overall weight: 8 lbs, 15 oz
Price: $1,199
Related: Best Crossbows of 2025, Tested and Reviewed
How We Tested the Barnett Hyper Raptor BCX BukOps
As with all the crossbows in our big annual evaluation, we tested the Barnett Hyper Raptor BCX BuKOps using the manufacturer-provided accessories, which in this case included a rangefinding BukOps X-Factor scope with lighted reticle and 20-inch HyperFlite crossbow arrows, which weighed 400 grains with a 100-grain field point. I shot the bow and measure arrow velocities and kinetic energy with a Garmin Xero chronograph.
I sighted the crossbow in at 20 yards, and then conducted field-point accuracy testing at 50 yards, taking the average of three, three-arrow groups. All accuracy testing was done from a seated position with a BOG DeathGrip tripod. In addition, broadhead accuracy testing was done at 30 yards with both fixed (100-grain Wasp Drone) and mechanical (100-grain Tenpoint EVO-X Centerpunch) broadheads. I didn’t measure broadhead group size, but instead evaluated consistency of flight, and measured how far “off” from the field point zero the broadheads landed on target. As an avid crossbow hunter myself, if a broadhead consistently hits within an inch or so of my field points and only requires a minor scope adjustment, I’m happy.
I judged trigger quality subjectively and measured trigger weight with a Lyman trigger scale. That same scale was used to weigh each crossbow, with its respective scope mounted. During the testing I also evaluated the quality of the accessories, fit and finish, handling, and cocking effort. The Best Value model isn’t the cheapest crossbow tested, but the one that provides the most bang for the buck.
Test Results: The Best Value in Crossbows for 2025
Hits: Micro-diameter HyperFlite arrows provide incredible penetration and excellent broadhead accuracy. The bow is lightweight, adjustable for fit, and easy to use.
Misses: Scope adjustment system seemed a little fragile
Barnett’s mid-tier crossbows, several in the Raptor series, have been frequent recipients of our Best Value award, and for good reason. They’re simple crossbows that always perform well, with accuracy that frequently rivals much more expensive models on the range. This year’s Hyper Raptor BCX with BukOps X-Factor scope easily earned the Best Value award again.
The Hyper Raptor series utilizes Barnett’s 20-inch HyperFlite micro-diameter arrows, which provide the same advantages for crossbow shooters that they do for vertical-bow shooters. These arrows fly true, hit hard, and penetrate deep. Although other bows in the test did produce better 50-yard groups, this crossbow certainly held its own with groups averaging 2 inches. This bow was also the best broadhead shooter of the test, with both fixed and mechanical models hitting pretty much in the same hole as field points.
My test crossbow had a nice, crisp trigger, and although the fit and finish wasn’t as good as on some more expensive models, the stock is adjustable for length of pull, and the fore-end has a swing-out pistol group that could be useful in several hunting situations. The bow is cocked by way of an old-fashioned rope and sled.
The BukOps version of the Hyper Raptor does sport some interesting optics options. This one had the X-Factor rangefinding scope, which has an illuminated reticle with graduated yardage marks (same as most crossbows), and a magnification adjustment dial to correspond the bow’s speeds with the correct holdover distance. The scope also has a battery-operated rangefinder built in. Aim the bow, hit the button on top of the scope, read the yardage, adjust the holdover accordingly, and shoot. It worked well in my testing, and the yardages matched perfectly with my personal rangefinder. My one critique of the system is that the windage and elevation adjustments aren’t built into the scope, but into the mount, with large adjustment dials. To be clear, it worked just fine on the range, but it’s not a system that I’d personally want to trust in the woods, as it seems like it'd be easy to spin one of the dials and change the zero without noticing, or get brush and grit hung up in the works. Still, it’s a neat feature for hunters who like such gadgets, and for those who don’t, standard crossbow scopes are available in other accessory packages that lower the total price of this crossbow even more—so much so you could probably also afford a used 4-wheeler that runs most of the time.
