Barnett Whitetail Pro STR Review

The Barnett Whitetail Pro STR is a 2018 era crossbow that still deserves a straight answer in 2026. It promises 400 fps, a genuinely good TriggerTech trigger, and a ready to hunt package for about $600 at list price. The honest story is value with caveats. The tested speed is a little below the advertised speed, the practical accuracy limit in published testing is about 40 yards, only two arrows come in the box, and there is no sling. The harder problem is the price. I could not find a clean in stock new bow price from a named retailer in 2026, and the street price our old roundups carried does not re-verify. This review gives you the verified specs, the tested speed next to the advertised speed, the crank and rope versions kept separate, and a clear buying rule for new and used bows.

The Short Answer

The Barnett Whitetail Pro STR is a fast, honest, mid price Barnett that makes sense if you buy it with your eyes open. It advertises 400 fps with a 380 grain bolt, and one published test measured 391 fps with a 395 grain Barnett bolt, 382 fps with a 420 grain bolt, and 358 fps with a 500 grain bolt. That is real 400 fps class speed, not a paper figure, and it carries 140 ft-lb of advertised kinetic energy. The draw weight is 187 lbs, not adjustable, and the bow weighs 6.9 lbs. The TriggerTech trigger is listed at 3 lb and tested at 3.16 lb, which is a genuinely good trigger at this price.

Two choices change what you pay and how you cock the bow. The BAR78004 package ships without a crank and includes a rope cocking device. The BAR78114 package includes an integrated crank cocking system with 17 lb of effort. Know which SKU you are buying before you compare prices, because the two packages are different bows in the box even though the bow itself is the same.

The caveats are concrete, not vague. The box holds only two 22 inch Headhunter arrows, so budget for more arrows before your first hunt. There is no carrying sling. One published test fired more than 150 arrows, hunted from blinds and still hunting, and tested accuracy out to 80 yards, but accuracy fell off considerably beyond 40 yards. Sight the bow in for the distance you will actually shoot, and treat 40 yards as the practical hunting limit unless your own testing proves otherwise. If you want the wider market before you decide, start with our tested bows guide and our Barnett lineup hub, and if you are new to crossbows, read our starter-bow guide first.

One name point, so you do not get lost in search results. Our old article on this bow called it the Whitetail Hunter Pro STR. The slug, the common name, and the name used in the published tests is Whitetail Pro STR, and that is the name this review uses throughout. The old title and the new title describe the same bow.

Best 400 fps Value Barnett: Whitetail Pro STR

Speed: 400 fps advertised, 391 fps tested with a 395 grain bolt | Price: about $600 MSRP ($599.99) | Trigger: TriggerTech, 3 lb listed, 3.16 lb tested

I have shot enough mid price crossbows to know what separates a good one from a box of promises. A good one gives you a trigger you can trust, a speed figure that survives a chronograph, and a package that is ready to hunt without a second shopping trip. The Whitetail Pro STR gets the first two right and the third one mostly right. The TriggerTech trigger is the best single feature on this bow, and the speed is honest once you read it with the arrow weight attached. The package is ready to hunt in the sense that the scope is pre-mounted and the quiver and rope cocker are in the box, but two arrows and no sling mean you will still spend money before opening day.

STR stands for Step-Through Riser. The riser replaces the foot stirrup, and the riser itself doubles as the cocking step. It is a clever piece of design that saves a part and simplifies cocking, and it is the feature that gives this bow its name. The riser is composite fiberglass, with rubber bumpers where it meets the ground. The limbs are split Gordon Composite laminated limbs, 11 inches long each, driving dual black anodized cams on steel axles with sealed bearings. The string and cables are BCY D97, with a 39.75 inch string and 20.5 inch cables each. That is a solid, proven build for a bow at this price, and it is the reason this bow still comes up in conversation years after it launched.

Before you read further, fix the price in your mind. This bow is about $600 at list price, not a sub $500 bow on list price. Our old roundups carried a lower street figure, and that figure does not re-verify. The only source for it was one aggregator page showing a price in its page data, with no retailer named, no date, and no buy link to a named store. A second aggregator showed a different figure again, which proves the street price is unsettled, not that either figure is right. The most likely origin of the lower figure is model confusion with the cheaper Whitetail Hunter STR, a different bow at 375 fps and 6.6 lbs, listed at $449. Do not shop for the Pro STR expecting the Hunter STR price. If you want a value comparison, read our value-picks guide, and treat our sub-$500 guide with the price caveat in mind, because at $599.99 MSRP the Pro STR is not an under $500 bow on list price.

Whitetail Pro STR Specifications

Three figures in that table need a note, because sources disagree and I will not smooth the disagreement away. First, kinetic energy. The advertised figure I use is 140 ft-lb, because that is the figure in the main published test. A second figure of 135 ft-lb appears on one crank package listing and in one comparison table. I prefer 140 ft-lb and record 135 ft-lb here so you know it exists. Second, power stroke. The spec sheet consensus is 16.25 inches, and that is the headline figure. One test body copy gives 16.375 inches, and I do not use that as the headline figure. Third, the trigger. The listed pull is 3 lb, the tested pull is 3.16 lb, and the instruction manual text gives 3.5 lb. I give the listed and tested figures in the spec line, because those are the two that matter at the bench, and I record the manual figure here for completeness.

Our old article on this bow had no spec table at all, and no price anywhere, even though its pros list called the bow a best crossbow under $600. That is fixed in this rewrite. Power stroke, cocked width, length, kinetic energy, trigger weight, and cocking effort are all in the table above, and the price is stated plainly in the disclosure at the top of this review. The old article also carried claims I could not verify, including a quiet operation claim and an adjustable cheek piece, and those claims are deleted in this rewrite, not repeated. There is no published noise measurement for this bow, so I make no noise claim either way, and I do not repeat the cheek piece claim. The warranty wording in the old FAQ is also unverified against the maker’s current warranty page, so I do not state a warranty term as fact. Check the warranty with the seller or the maker before you buy, and get it in writing if it matters to your decision.

Speed: 400 fps Advertised, 391 fps Tested

Speed is where this bow earns its keep, and it is also where you need to read the numbers with the arrow weight attached. The advertised figure is 400 fps with a 380 grain bolt. The only published chronograph table is from 2018, and there is no 2025 or 2026 retest, so I label every figure honestly. With a 395 grain Barnett bolt, the test measured 391 fps. With a 420 grain bolt, it measured 382 fps. With a 500 grain bolt, it measured 358 fps. That is a clean, believable speed curve, and it tells you what to expect with the arrows you will actually hunt with.

Plan your hunt around 391 fps with a hunting weight bolt, not 400 fps. The gap is 9 fps with a 395 grain bolt, which is small, and the bow is still fast by any fair standard. The energy story is strong too. At 140 ft-lb advertised, this bow carries far more energy than a whitetail needs at normal hunting ranges, and that margin is what lets you shoot a heavier bolt for a quieter shot and better penetration without worrying about the energy dropping below what the animal requires. If you want to understand how arrow weight trades speed for energy, read our arrow-selection and our bolt-selection guide before you choose your hunting arrows.

What the speed figures do not tell you is how the bow behaves past 40 yards, and that matters more than 9 fps. One published test shot the bow out to 80 yards on the range, and accuracy fell off considerably beyond 40 yards. The first three reticles in the scope are the hunting ones, and that matches the practical limit. Sight in at 20 yards, confirm at 30 and 40 yards with the exact arrows and broadheads you will hunt with, and do not stretch the shot past the distance you have proven on a target. Read our broadhead guide before you hunt, and confirm your point of impact with broadheads, not just field points.

Crank or Rope: The Two SKUs, Kept Separate

Most reviews mix the two versions of this bow together, and that is how buyers get confused about the price and the cocking effort. Keep them separate. The BAR78004 package ships without a crank. It includes a rope cocking device, and the bow has crank cocking capability if you add the crank later. The BAR78114 package includes the integrated crank cocking system, with a stock mounted sled and crank handle, and a cocking effort of 17 lb. The two packages have different UPC codes, different contents, and different prices, so always ask the seller which SKU is on the box.

Which version should you want? The crank is the easier cocking experience, and 17 lb of effort is a real advantage if you hunt from a treestand, hunt in cold weather with stiff hands, or simply want to cock the bow without wrestling a 187 lb draw. The rope cocker is lighter, simpler, and cheaper, and one published tester removed the crank and preferred the rope cocker. That tester found the crank slower to learn than the rope, which is a fair warning. If you buy the crank version, practice cocking at home before you hunt with it, and learn the crank before you are sitting in a stand at first light.

Two safety rules come with the cocking system, and both are worth stating plainly. Do not cock the bow while you are in an elevated treestand. Do not leave the bow cocked for more than 4 hours. Both rules come from the maker’s own guidance as reported in the published test. Read our rope-and-crank cocking guide and our safe-handling before your first hunt with this bow, and read our cocking-device guide if you want the wider market on cocking systems. Cocking effort is also the place to check the draw weight for yourself. Read our draw weight guide if you are comparing this bow with a lighter draw bow, and remember that 187 lbs on this bow is not adjustable.

Trigger, Scope, and Build

The TriggerTech trigger is the best reason to choose this bow over a cheaper 400 fps bow. It uses Frictionless Release Technology, it is listed at 3 lb with zero creep, and one published test measured it at 3.16 lb. That is a light, clean, predictable trigger, and it is the feature that most affects accuracy in the field. A heavy or gritty trigger makes you pull the shot. A clean 3 lb trigger lets you break the shot without moving the bow. If you test a used Pro STR, judge the trigger on a live shot at a target, and check that the break feels the same every time. A trigger that feels different from shot to shot is a sign the bow needs a shop visit.

The scope is adequate for the price, and I say adequate deliberately. It is a 4x32mm multi-reticle illuminated scope with 7 reticles, pre-mounted from the factory, and that is a genuine convenience. It is not a premium optic, and the old article’s claim of high quality optics was not honest. The practical limit is the one the published test found. The bow is accurate out to 80 yards on the range, but accuracy fell off considerably beyond 40 yards in testing, and the first three reticles are the hunting ones. Sight in for the distance you will actually shoot, and re-zero when you change arrow weight, because a heavier bolt changes your point of impact. Read our scope guide if you decide to upgrade, and test any new scope at 20, 30, and 40 yards before you hunt with it.

The build is solid without being fancy. The composite fiberglass Step-Through Riser does the work of a foot stirrup, with rubber bumpers where it meets the ground, and the TRUBark HD camo finish is a proven hunting pattern. The safety set is complete: Nock Sensor, Anti-Dry Fire, an auto engaging safety, a pass-through foregrip with finger reminders, and a Soft-Lok floating bristle arrow retainer. Two Picatinny rails give you a scope rail plus a forward accessory rail for a light or other accessory. Rubber string dampers and string stops are fitted. Assembly is simple. One bolt attaches the limbs to the stock, Allen wrenches are included, and the scope is pre-mounted.

What Comes in the Box

The Pro STR ships as a ready to hunt package, and knowing the package list is how you check a new or used bow for missing parts. In the box: the crossbow, the 4x32mm scope pre-mounted, a rope cocking device, a lightweight side mount quiver with 3 bolt capacity, two 22 inch Headhunter arrows, and lube wax. The crank version adds the integrated crank cocking system with its stock mounted sled and crank handle.

What is not in the box matters as much as what is. There is no carrying sling, and the published tester explicitly flags that omission. There are only two arrows, not five, so you will need more arrows before you hunt. Budget for at least a half dozen arrows of the same spec, a sling, and a case if you do not already own them. If you hunt with lighted nocks, read our lighted-nock guide before you buy them, and check that any nock you choose matches the bow’s nock requirements. If you carry your gear a long way to a stand, read our hunting pack guide too, because a bow this size and a quiver full of arrows still need a sensible carry plan.

The Whitetail Family: Pro STR, Hunter STR, Hunter II, and 400XTR

Barnett’s Whitetail names differ by one word, and that one word is how the price confusion happened. Keep the family separate, and the buying decision gets simple.

Against the Whitetail Hunter STR, the Pro STR is 25 fps faster advertised, 0.3 lbs heavier, and about $150 more than the Hunter STR street price of $449 (about $100 more on list price, $599.99 vs about $500). The Hunter STR is the cheaper sibling, and it is the bow whose $449 price most likely leaked into the Pro STR roundups through model confusion. Read our Barnett Whitetail Hunter review if you are choosing between the two, and do not mix their specs. Against the Whitetail Hunter II, the Pro STR is 50 fps faster advertised and about $230 more at list. The Hunter II is the lighter draw option at 150 lbs, and it suits a hunter who wants an easier cocking experience at a lower price. If you are choosing between the family members, read our treestand picks guide to check the energy and range you need before you choose.

The current model alternative is the Whitetail Hunter 400XTR. It matches the Pro STR at 400 fps advertised and $599.99 MSRP, with a heavier 205 lb draw and a lighter 6.5 lb bare weight. It was introduced in early 2022 as the successor in this class, and it is the bow to compare if you want a current model at the same list price instead of a legacy model with an unverified lineup status. The 400XTR is not this bow, and its specs are not the Pro STR specs. If a seller offers you a 400XTR at the Pro STR price, check the model name on the box, because the two bows are easy to confuse and priced the same at list.

Buying Used: Price Logic and Checklist

There is no verified used price range for the Whitetail Pro STR, and I will not invent one. What I can give you is buying logic built on verified figures, and a checklist that protects you from the common mistakes. The logic starts with the list price. At $599.99 MSRP, a used Pro STR only makes sense well below that figure, and the exact number depends on condition, on which SKU it is, and on whether the string is fresh. A used bow has no new bow warranty you can rely on, a string of unknown age, and a crank or rope system you have not tested. Those are real costs, and the price has to reflect them. If a used Pro STR is priced anywhere near $600, consider the current model alternative, the Whitetail Hunter 400XTR, at the same list price instead.

Use this checklist on every used Pro STR you consider, in person, before you pay:

• String and cable age: Ask when the string and cables were last changed, and look for fraying, serving separation, and wear at the rail. String and serving wear is the recurring owner complaint theme for this bow and for the brand generally, but it rests on a single detailed owner thread plus general brand feedback, so treat it as a theme to check, not as a measured failure rate. A string of unknown age is a string you should budget to replace. Read our upkeep so you know what worn serving looks like.
• Limb condition: Inspect the split limbs for cracks, delamination, or chips, and check the cams for wear or bent axles. Cock the bow slowly and listen for grinding or clicking that should not be there. Any limb damage is a walk away, not a negotiation.
• Crank vs rope version: Confirm which SKU is on the box, BAR78004 without a crank or BAR78114 with the integrated crank, and test the cocking system that is fitted. The crank should turn smoothly, the sled should engage cleanly, and the handle should store in the stock. The rope cocker should be present and in good condition. If the seller cannot tell you which version it is, walk away or discount hard.
• Scope: Check that the 4x32mm scope is the original pre-mounted scope, that the illumination works, and that the reticles are clear. Shoot the bow at 20, 30, and 40 yards and record where the bolts land against each aim point. If the aim points are far off, budget for a replacement scope.
• Arrows: Check that the arrows are 22 inch Headhunter arrows of the correct spec, and that none are cracked, bent, or missing nocks. Replace any suspect arrow rather than shooting it. Two arrows in the box is not enough to hunt with, so budget for more.
• Safety and Anti-Dry Fire: Cock the bow, check that the safety engages automatically, and confirm the Anti-Dry Fire system works. Never dry fire the bow to test it. Test with an arrow loaded and a safe target downrange.
• Quiver and accessories: Check that the side mount quiver and its bracket are present and hold firmly, and that the rope cocker, lube wax, and Allen wrenches are in the box. Missing accessories are a negotiation point, not a deal breaker, but they add cost.
• Warranty: Ask what warranty, if any, transfers to a second owner. The warranty wording could not be verified against the maker’s current warranty page, so do not pay a premium for a warranty claim the seller cannot prove.
• Price discipline: Set your maximum before you go, well below $600, and stick to it. A used Pro STR near list price is not a deal. Walk away and buy the current model alternative instead.

Where should you look? Dealer and certified pre-owned listings are the safest starting point, because a dealer has inspected the bow and can answer questions about the string and the cocking system. Private sales can be cheaper, but they need the full checklist above, and they need you to test the bow in person. Never buy a used crossbow sight unseen from a seller who will not let you cock it, shoot it, and inspect the string.

Who the Whitetail Pro STR Is Best For

The Whitetail Pro STR is best for a whitetail hunter who wants genuine 400 fps class speed, a clean TriggerTech trigger, and a ready to hunt package at about $600 list price, and who is happy to buy extra arrows and a sling before opening day. It suits a blind or treestand hunter who shoots inside 40 yards, and it suits a hunter who wants the crank version for easy 17 lb cocking effort. It is also a fair choice for a hunter buying used, provided the price is well below list, the string is fresh, and the crank or rope version is confirmed. If you hunt for the simple joy of the time outdoors as well as the deer, read our archery benefits guide, because this bow is built for that kind of hunting, not for long range target shooting.

It is not for a buyer who wants a current model with a verified manufacturer page and a clean in stock price today, because neither exists for this bow in 2026. It is not for a buyer who wants to shoot past 40 yards without proving the bow on a target first. It is not for a buyer who wants five arrows and a sling in the box, because this package gives you two arrows and no sling. And it is not for a buyer whose used Pro STR price is anywhere near $600, because at that point the current model Whitetail Hunter 400XTR at the same list price is the better buy.

Whitetail Pro STR Pros and Cons

Bottom line: Should You Buy the Whitetail Pro STR?

Bottom line: the Barnett Whitetail Pro STR is a good bow with an honest speed figure and a genuinely good trigger, sold at a list price that makes sense for what you get, but it is a bow you should buy only after you check the price, the SKU, and the lineup status for yourself. If you find a new BAR78114 with the crank at a clean price from a named retailer, or a clean used BAR78004 or BAR78114 well below list with a fresh string, it is a proven whitetail bow that will kill deer cleanly inside 40 yards. If you cannot find a clean price, or the used price sits anywhere near $600, buy the current model Whitetail Hunter 400XTR at the same list price instead. That is the honest answer, and it is the answer this whole review is built around. If you go the new bow route, start with our tested bows guide, then read the safe-handling before your first hunt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• Grand View Outdoors, Crossbow Review: Barnett Whitetail Pro STR, published 2018-07-06, updated 2026-04-14: 150 plus arrows fired, blinds and still hunting, accuracy to 80 yards tested, spec sheet, MSRP $599.99, crank effort 17 lb, no sling in the box
• Bowhunter (Petersen’s Bowhunting), Crossbow Review: Barnett Whitetail Pro, September 2018: chronograph table, 391 fps with a 395 grain bolt, 382 fps with 420 grain, 358 fps with 500 grain, trigger tested 3.16 lb, crank removed in favour of the rope cocker, Gordon Composite split limbs, BCY D97 string and cables, composite fiberglass STR riser
• Deer and Deer Hunting, 2017 Whitetail Hunter Pro specs: MSRP $599.99, third confirmation of the list price
• BestReviews.guide, aggregator page for ASIN B079ZQDYQZ: price shown in page data only, no retailer named, no date, no buy link, recorded here as weak evidence only, not used as a headline price
• FamilyWeal, Barnett Whitetail Pro STR Review: aggregator price only, no retailer or stock status, recorded here as weak evidence only, not used as a headline price
• BowHungry, Barnett Whitetail Pro Str vs Barnett Whitetail Hunter II, updated 2022-11-17: comparison table, kinetic energy conflict of 135 ft-lb, Hunter II comparison figures
• Field and Stream, Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR Review, published 2024-06-13, updated 2026-01-23: Whitetail Hunter STR, 375 fps, 6.6 lbs, $449, tested 370 fps with 400 grain arrows, used only to keep the sibling model separate
• Barnett crank package listing: BAR78114, UPC 042609002108, kinetic energy 135 ft-lb, length 36 in, used only for the SKU and the kinetic energy conflict note
• Retailer listings for ASIN B079ZQDYQZ: BAR78004, UPC 042609000043, package contents
• Instruction manual text for ASIN B079ZQDYQZ: trigger manual figure 3.5 lb
• Site verified Whitetail Hunter II figures from earlier batches: 350 fps, 150 lb draw, 6.4 lbs, about $370
• Site verified Whitetail Hunter 400XTR figures: 400 fps, 205 lb draw, 6.5 lb bare, $599.99 MSRP, introduced early 2022

Disclaimer: Prices in this article are list or last known figures, checked November 8, 2026, and will change, so check the current price before you buy. No clean in stock new bow price from a named retailer was found in 2026. Hunting regulations vary by state and change every year. Check the current year regulations from your state wildlife agency before you hunt, and follow your bow manufacturer’s manual for cocking, loading, and de-cocking. Never dry fire a crossbow. Do not cock the bow while in an elevated treestand, and do not leave it cocked for more than 4 hours.

Last checked Nov 8, 2026.

Keep reading: the other reviews in this series cover the rest of the Barnett Whitetail family and the buying guides. Read the Barnett Whitetail Hunter review, and if you are still choosing a bow, start with our tested bows guide, then read the safe-handling before your first hunt.