I posted a while back about the slightly-used Barnett Wildcat C5 crossbow I recently bought. I also posted a couple links to pages with stats on this bow.
The factory, and thus resellers such as Cabela's, claim that this crossbow will produce 320 FPS, but that just ain't true. In fact, when I mentioned that claim in an archery shop, the experienced folks there just laughed. See, they already knew what I had recently discovered - that there ain't no way this xbow will put out that kind of speed.
I was shooting the xbow the other day, checking it with a chronograph. I was getting a max of 280 FPS with a 445-grain total weight arrow/bolt. (My Barnett Wildcat C5 owner's manual recommends 450 grains, but 5 grains ain't much to worry about.) I was shooting from a bench and I stupidly forgot the step of loading the arrow (arrow, bolt - whatever) into it, and I dry-fired the bow - a huge no-no. So I made a 150-mile drive to Barnett's facilities yesterday to get it examined and fixed. They replaced the limbs, limb bolts, wheels, axles, cables, string, and trigger, for $39.95 plus tax. I dropped it off and picked it up about an hour and a half later. Not bad.
When I asked them about the speed discrepancy, I was told that the Wildcat C5 originally had cams instead of wheels, and the wheels don't put out 320 FPS (but presumably the cams did). The cams caused some problems (no specifics were given) and were replaced with wheels.
Hmmm. It seems more likely that they just made up a nice fast number to sell the bow. But of course, that's just conjecture on my part.
They also said I could lighten up my arrow/bolt to get more speed out of it - which flies in the face of the recommendation of 450 grains. Any lighter, says the manual, and the bow will be damaged. Hmph.
Another anamoly: The carbon fiber arrows that Barnett provided with the crossbow are too light (290 grains) to allow one to attain the recommended arrow weight. I'm using some aluminum ones that came with the crossbow when I bought it used - Easton 2216 XX75s, which weigh in at 320 grains. Add the recommended 125-grain broadhead, and the total ends up at 445 grains with the aluminum bolts, which is what I reckon I'm going to use.
After getting the overhauled crossbow back home, it clocked in at around 290 FPS.
Now - what about energy? Barnett claims 114 ft-lbs of energy for this crossbow. I have no idea where they got that number, because a 450-grain projectile driven at the (mythical) advertised speed of 320 FPS only produces 102 ft-lbs. My real-life 445-grain bolt/broadhead combination driven at 290 fps puts out 83 ft-lbs.
I'll sum up by saying that, in this case, Barnett's advertised speed and energy are both very inflated - speed by about 10%, and energy by a whopping 37%.
I have no way to measuring pull weight, but curiosity might get the best of me yet.
Comments
Great report. I have shot a Horton Legend 175 since 2003 when Georgia legalized them with a advertised fps of 305. Great service and price though by Barrett. You will still kill every white tail you hit with 290.
I have a cross bow story as well this week. Tried using Lumonok lighted nocks at evening hunts last year with no consistent reliability so i ordered a new Easton TRACER lighted nock for my Easton 2216 bolt from http://www.archerytogo.com They sent a flat nock instead of a half moon! Keep us informed of your crossbow deer hunt experiences in S. Ga.
look man i have a wildcat myself. and buddy your wrong, they shoot 320 fps. no problem. i think you just want something to gripe about
Whatever… I just know what my crossbow and chrony produce, and I stand by my report. If you get 320 measured FPS out of yours, then I’d love to know what arrows and heads you’re using, and how you measured the velocity.
- Russ
I just sold my Barnett to a friend after 4 years of success. I had a new cable and strings “built” for it. Turst me, you can get 335fps if you know someone that knows how to build strings and put the right twist in it.I shot Eaton C2 20 inch arrows with 100 grain hades head.
Just curious… did you measure that speed with a chronograph?
That is interesting, but also moot in a way, because Barnett shouldn’t advertise things that are only attainable through back-door methods like after-market strings & cables.
I was getting 297 fps with my C5, so I called Barnett and sent it back to them. They upgraded the limbs and other hardware and now it shoots 312 fps. I am very happy with it. It shoots through a hay bale and a 1/2″ piece of particle board now. Barnett customer service is second to none from my experience – they were very nice.