If you're looking to get into hunting but don't want to break the bank, Barnett's Rogue is a perfect crossbow for you. At this point everyone that loves crossbows has heard of Barnett. They are one of the most reputable companies in the field and have great customer service. This year it seems like they went all out in improving the hunting experience. Designing the Rogue is certainly part of that plan.
In this Barnett Rogue Crossbow review, not only will we explore all the good things this bow has to offer and let you know if it's right for you. Check out current prices for the Rogue Crossbow here on Amazon.
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Pros
- Affordable
- Nice 4x32 multi-reticle scope
- Lightweight & easy to maneuver
- Anti-dry fire mechanism
- Pass-through foregrip
- Crank cocker compatible
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- No sling or case included
- Stock may be too short for larger people
- Relatively loud
- Scope can get foggy in cold temperatures
Barnett Rogue Specs
Weight: 7.5 lbs |
Speed: 330 fps (with a 380 grain bolt) |
Kinetic Energy: 91.9 ft lbs |
Draw Weight: 165 lbs |
Power Stroke: 11.375 in |
Dimensions: 36"L x 21"W |
Color: Mossy Oak Break-Up |
Who Is The Barnett Rogue For?
The Barnett Rogue comes at a generous price for a ready-to-hunt crossbow. Because of this, it will appeal to the more casual hunter who wants to go out and hunt but is not ready to commit thousands of dollars into the sport.
This is also a great crossbow for young kids because it is compact, light weight and easy to cock (provided that they use the rope cocker that comes with the package).
What Can You Hunt With The Barnett Rogue?
For such a low price, this crossbow is more than capable of hunting large deers. When it comes to hunting, what you want to look for is a high kinetic energy. As you can see by the specs, the Rogue has a kinetic energy of 92. This is more than enough to down deer. Usually the minimum recommended KE is about 40 ft lbs.
To hunt, you will need to get broadheads which are not included in this package. If you don't know which ones to get, we usually recommend the Grim Reaper Broadheads. These broadheads are designed for whitetails and other animals of that size.
In-Depth Review
The Barnett Rogue crossbow is one of the many new models that Barnett has put out this year. We recently had a chance to look at it and it is a fine product. It seems to be a combination of Barnett's Jackal and Recruit crossbow. It basically has the same performance as the Recruit but with higher poundage, and it has a similar stock to the Jackal's. One of the main things that sets the Rogue apart from those crossbows, though, is the high quality scope.
What's In The Package
Limbs and Stock |
4x32mm Multi-Reticle Scope |
Rope Cocking Device |
Lightweight Quiver |
Two 20" Headhunter Arrows |
Lubrication Wax |
Warranty Registration Card |
Manual |
One of the fist things that I recommend you do as soon as you get your crossbow is to fill out and send the Warranty Registration Card. Barnett has a 5 year warranty on the crossbow and in order to secure it you must send it 10 days before the purchase. For more information on this warranty you can check the details on Barnett's website. Of course, instead of mailing it, you can also register your crossbow online.
Assembly
As you will find out, the Rogue comes in two pieces, the limbs and stock, which means you will have to do some assembly work. Luckily it's not very complicated to do that.
Like most Barnett crossbows, the Rogue is designed for what they call a "Single Bolt Assembly." What they mean by this is that you will only have to bolt the two main pieces once to completely assemble the crossbow. The limbs, riser and strings are already put together, so all we had to do is attach it into the body. Make sure you don't over-tighten the bolts because it could cause a breakage.
After that, you sill have to attach the foot stirrup and the scope. All the nuts and bolts required to do these things come in the package, including an allen key.
Every time you put a crossbow together, it's important that you check that the screws are stable after 20 or so shots. You want to do this because new crossbows can become loose in the beginning.
Overall, we are happy with the assembly process. We were able to go out and shoot it within 20 minutes.
Cocking The Barnett Rogue
Thanks to modern innovation, crossbows are getting easier and easier to cock. The Barnett Rogue is a perfect example of a crossbow that maintains a low draw weight without compromising on speed. It has a draw weight of 165, but with a rope cocker it is reduced to about 80 pounds.
Keep in mind that this crossbow comes with it's own rope, so you wont have to bother getting it separately.
The short 11 inch power stroke also makes it easy to cock. The anti-vibration stirrup is both sturdy and wide enough to fit your biggest boot. It gives you great stability when cocking the crossbow.
When it comes to cocking, this crossbow is as easy as any. I'm betting that kids even as young as 12 can do it.
Sometimes you can't bare the burden of consistently lifting the 80 pound pull. This may be the case with people with shoulder problems or injuries. If that's the case, luckily the Rogue is compatible with crank cockers. Barnett have crank cockers that are specially made for their bows, so that's the one that you should get.
Shooting The Barnett Rogue
The Rogue is below average when it comes to noise. That's because there are no limb dampeners or string stoppers. Thankfully, with the speed of 330 fps, it won't make that much of a difference at 30 to 40 feet. However, beyond 40 feet the string noise may affect the drop.
Barnett has incorporated a trigger from TriggerTech. It is a frictionless release technology that uses a rolling instead of a sliding method, which would inevitably cause friction. It is a very precise trigger. When you get your hands on it, you will feel in control.
At 330 FPS and a kinetic energy of 91 ft lbs, this crossbow is more than capable of hunting medium sized game.
The 4x32 multi-reticle scope is of high quality, especially when you look at the price. It has 5 reticle-aiming points and gives excellent clarity at long range. It also has a pretty wide field of view. These 5 points provide quick and easy shooting at 25, 35, 40, 45, and 50 yards. It is also multi-coated which provides excellent contrast and detail.
The Rogue does not come with a sling, but luckily it is very light so carrying it won't be a problem. Add to this the fact that it is very compact and what you have is a crossbow that's easy to maneuver. At only 21 inches wide, you can take this bow wherever you want it to go, including in a tree-stand or ground blind.
In terms of safety, this bow has you covered. It comes with Barnett's anti dry fire mechanism, which prevents the crossbow from being fired until you place a bolt on the flight track. When inserting your arrow, you really have to make sure that it is seated all the way against the string, otherwise you can have an dry fire situation.
Summary Of This Barnett Rogue Review
Thanks for reading my review of the Barnett Rogue Crossbow. This is a well-designed weapon that is capable of taking down medium sized game. It is lightweight, easy to maneuver, it comes with a great scope and it starts at a great price. This is a great crossbow for beginners or the casual hunters that don't want to break the bank. Buy yours today on Amazon.com.
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