Barnett Recruit Terrain Crossbow
- Best crossbow for the money.
- Lightweight and durable.
- Accurate for even long distances (50 yards).
- Ready to shoot package.
- Pass-through fore-grip and crank compatible.
This model has been discontinued. For the latest Barnett Crossbows, click here and find the best for you.
Excellent quiet shooting, a smooth trigger pull and supplied with everything you need to shoot out of the box.
If you’ve just stepped out into the adventurous world of bow hunting and are still to win the expert tag, worry not as the Recruit Crossbow is what you need to pull a decent game without ever hurting yourself.
Recruit Terrain is one of the most recommended beginner bows. This crossbow is designed for small farmed hunters or newbies. It fires arrows at 300 fps, that isn’t fastest but enough to take down just about any game.
It is a lightweight, maneuverable crossbow at a price range of under $300. The Recruit Terrain is the compound variant of the recruit series. Barnett makes a Recruit Recurve series and you can also get Recruit youth crossbows in varying colors and draw weights. In this same series, they also make a Recruit Tactical crossbow that is same as this compound bow but with a black colored stock.
In this Barnett Recruit Terrain write-up, we covered up features, pros, and cons, power, built quality, accuracy, and included accessories.
Barnett Recruit Terrain Crossbow Review: First Impressions
| Barnett Recruit Terrain Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Speed | 330 FPS |
| Draw Weight | 140 lbs |
| Axle to Axle | 16.25″ |
| Kinetic Energy | 91.9 ft. lbs. |
| Length | 20″ |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs |
| Power Stroke | 12.5″ |
| Finish | Desert-tan |
Reasons To Buy
- Compatible with crank cocking device.
- Barnett 4 × 32 scope, that allows accurate shots up to 50 yards.
- Designed for youth and small frame shooters.
- Lightweight with only 6.4 pounds.
- Durable and compact.
- Quick and easy to assemble.
Reasons To Avoid
- Not enough for some adults and large framed folks.
- Shooting with only two bolts is included.
Barnett Recruit Terrain Crossbow: Detailed Specifications
Build Quality
The Recruit Terrain is an exceptional crossbow for its price. The quality of the weapon is every bit as solid as one would come to expect a Barnett crossbow to be. It weighs only 6.4 pounds that makes it light and easy to carry. Its highly durable strings feel reliable and will not break in the middle of hunting season.
The all aluminum built quality makes it one of the best value for money crossbow.
Design
The Barnett’s line of full-size models featuring a solid desert tan stock. Its vented stock and forearm design were created to toss away some pounds to keep Recruit compound crossbow as light as possible.
It has a rubberized foot stirrup that absorbs some of the vibrations and also offers a good grip while manipulating the crossbow.
Speed
It shoots bolts up to speed 330 fps behind 91.9 feet pounds of kinetic energy. This crossbow is developed for youth, and as such, the speed of the Recruit Terrain is super fast for that purpose.
You can easily take out a deer from inside 30 yards and any small to medium game inside 60 yards.
Accuracy
This crossbow is an entry level crossbow yet has nothing to envy from other high or mid-range price crossbows towards accuracy.
Performance
Barnett is popular for the production of crossbows that deliver superior performance and accuracy. Its total draw weight indicates power in a crossbow. In other words, the higher the crossbow’s draw weight, the greater the speed produced by the arrow generates once it leaves your bow.
The Recruit Terrain offers a draw weight 140 lbs that is equivalent to 90 ft.lbs of kinetic energy. It shoots arrows at IBO rating speed of 330 feet per second. Also, this compound crossbow features an anti-vibration system for enhanced accuracy and noise-free performance.
Trigger Tech
It comes with Frictionless-Release Technology that makes it extremely accurate as it almost eliminates recoil from pulling the trigger. Its 3.5 pounds zero creep trigger gives you the poise to make the shot while still preventing accidental firing. The MIM ( Metal Injection Molded) trigger also helps its smooth feel as metal moves better than plastic. It also improves the overall precision and ease of use.
Anti Dry Fire
In this crossbow, a spring-loaded safety bar keeps the bolts from firing prematurely while it is being loaded. It prevents potentially fatal accidental shots.
Anti-Vibration Stirrup
Usually, once the bolt is released, it tends to vibrate because of the extreme pressures of the tension strings put on them. This crossbow has anti-vibration stirrup that helps keep a steady aim even after multiple shots you can stay out and hunt your prey for longer periods.
Its shock absorption feature greatly reduces shoulder stress so that you can keep your aim aligned for more extended periods.
Premium Strings
It comes with crosswire strings that is sturdy and can withstand a lot of firings. These premium strings can also endure the harshest elements. So tension will remain the same in harsh weather such as heat and snow.
Stocks
Its stock is made from light weight composite materials. This crossbow is compact and light that makes it great crossbow for working in small spaces. Its length is adjustable. You can adjust the length according to frame.
It has a pass-through fore-grip that means you can wrap your fingers around it and fore grip it solidly. It helps to keep your fingers out of the way of the strings and cable.
Safety and Comfort
Barnett always recognized safety as an important aspect of their crossbows. As it is a beginner crossbow, it is essential to have anti dry fire safety and good automatic safety.
The automatic safety is then engaged after being cocked, and the anti-dry fire mechanism can only be disengaged when a bolt is correctly seated into the latch. It is lightweight at about 6.5 pounds. Its compact design with 18 inches uncocked makes it easier to carry in the forest or to aim for several minutes.
Also, its adjustability can suit any adult height that will make your life even easier.
Assembly
The Recruit has loaded it up with a single bolt assembly. This bow comes out of the box in 2 main pieces. It hardly takes 10 to 15 minutes even for newbies. All the tools you need for assembling are supplied out of the box. Make sure you have all pieces listed in the owner’s manual
- Insert the riser into the stock and push in to lock it. After that screw the appropriate bolt in it.
- The next step is to mount the Red-Dot Sight, followed by removable quiver plus foot stirrup and you’re ready to hit the bullseye.
Accessories
Each package delivered by barnett includes:
- Barnett Stock and Riser
- Premium Red Dot Sight
- 2 20″ HeadHunters bolts
- Arrow Quiver
- Rope cocking device
- Assembly hardware and tools
- Warranty Card, owner’s manual
Scope
It comes with a red dot sight that allows you to keep both eyes open when aiming. It makes for much faster target acquisition. This Barnett scope is powered by a CR2032 battery and features 11 dots intensity settings.
The cost of this sight alone is more than a 1/3 of the price of the crossbow, so that is a nice addition that raises the value you get with this package.
This scope is also compatible with any other Barnett crossbow you might own or anything that has a 7/8″ or 3/8″ mount.
Quiver and Bolts
The package includes 3 Headhunter bolts. These bolts are well balanced with its 400 grains. It offers a 20-inch carbon shaft from Easton with moon nocks and 100 grains field point from Barnett.
Keep in mind no matter which bolts you are you buying to keep total grain equal or over 400 grain for maximum performances. It is always better to have slightly heavier bolts then lighter.
Rope Cocking device
The crossbow comes with a rope cocking device to facilitate the cocking. Rope cocker makes life 50% easier than muscling back the string. The draw is light and smooth, and the string latches securely in the cocking tool reliably.
This crossbow from Barnett is also compatible with lever cocking or hand crank device made by Barnett that you can buy separately. This mechanism makes it easy to cock, and you can cock it easily mounted on a stand. It is easily compatible with smaller youth, ladies, and even those with injuries or disabilities.
Final Verdict
The Recruit Terrain is an accurate compound crossbow with a lot of power. It is excellent crossbow for beginners and youths.
Moreover, its lightweight design would help novices build up more muscle strength. It stands out for user’s satisfaction and overall is more than decent crossbow package for the beginner archer looking for a robust yet affordable weapon, from a highly reputable brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Recruit Terrain differ from Centrepoint Sniper 370?
The Centrepoint Sniper 370 is a larger overall bow, about 3″ and 2″ longer. It’s also more powerful yet heavier to hold by just over 1lb. The Sniper doesn’t come with a pass-through foregrip like Recruit.
Whereas the Recruit comes with a red-dot sight and the Sniper provides you with a more useful 4x32mm optical illuminated scope. Read the full review Centrepoint Sniper 370.
2. What size arrows does Recruit Terrain use?
The package includes two 20 inch headhunter arrows and it is compatible with 20-inch arrows.
3. What is the bolt shooting speed of the Recruit Terrain?
It shoots bolts up to 330 fps following 91.9 ft.lbs kinetic energy.
