Usually the saying, “You get what you pay for” is true. Sometimes, however, you get much more than what you pay for. In this CenterPoint Sniper 370 review, you’ll see that you would normally have to pay much more for the quality and features of an excellent crossbow.
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This is a great crossbow for the person who is just getting into the world of crossbows and doesn’t have a huge budget. You don’t have to sacrifice quality and performance when you have a newbie budget with the CenterPoint Sniper 370. It’s not just a great entry crossbow, it’s also an option for somebody who wants a back-up crossbow. Let’s get into all the reasons why we love this economical crossbow.
CenterPoint Sniper 370 Specs And Features
- Width: 21.5 inches when uncocked, 18 inches when cocked
- Length: 36.5 inches
- Weight: 7.9 pounds
- Arrow Speed: Up to 370 fps
- Trigger Pull: 5 pounds
- Draw Weight: 185 pounds
- FPKE: 130 pounds kinetic energy
- Auto-dry fire protection
- Ambidextrous Auto safety trigger
- Built in string suppressors for quiet shots
Pros
- Great price
- High value provided for the price
- Good scope included
- Nice FPS for entry level
- Adjustable stock and foregrip
- Pistol Grip
Cons
- Trigger creep issues
- To keep costs down, some of the hardware for the accessories feel cheap
- 185 lb draw weight is fairly high and will take some effort to reload
What Comes With the CenterPoint Sniper 370?
Out of the box, you’ve got just about everything you need to get started with your crossbow. Besides the actual crossbow you get:
- Illuminated 4x32 scope
- 4 arrow quiver
- 3 carbon bolts, 20 inch length
- Cocking rope
- Shoulder sling
- Operating manual
If you’ve bought the CenterPoint Sniper 370 unassembled and you have never assembled a crossbow before, then the manual might not help as it is a bit confusing. You may want to ask somebody at your local archery center to give you a hand so you know that it is safely assembled. If you have experience assembling a crossbow then you shouldn’t have any trouble putting this together. If you're feeling handy, you can watch this video below to use as a great resource!
How Safe Is the CenterPoint Sniper 370?
Using a crossbow is inherently dangerous, so if you aren’t careful, you could easily cause yourself or others injury. There’s no substitute for diligently following all safety rules. However, even the most experienced pro can still neglect a small detail that results in an injury which is why CenterPoint makes their Sniper series crossbow with safety in mind. There are a few features that make it easier to stay safe.
Anit-Dry Fire Mechanism
The anti-dry fire mechanism will keep you from accidentally releasing the bow strings before you’ve fully cocked the bow. And once cocked, the safety is automatically set.
Ambidextrous Safety
An unusual, but very useful, feature is the ambidextrous safety release. Doesn’t matter what hand you favor, you can release the safety with either hand for a seamless shot.
Comfort Features
Comfort is also a safety factor with any crossbow. If it isn’t comfortable to use, there is a bigger chance of improper use which could result in an injury. The adjustable buttstock and foregrip make it easy for you to find your perfect set-up. The location of the foregrip also makes it harder to have your fingers out of place. It sits low under the rail so you’re less likely to have a stray finger get hit as the bolt gets fired.
The included cocking rope ensures that you have cocked the bow evenly on both sides reducing the chance of an off shot. Accurate shots reduce injuries as we all know.
How Good Is the Included Scope?
Making it easy to use, the scope is illuminated and has 5 brightness settings. You can make the illuminations red or green depending on your preference. The dimmest setting is still fairly bright, so some that like no illumination might feel it is distracting.
You may already have a favorite scope that would be hard to replace, but there’s no reason to swap out this one. Once properly sighted, you will see 1 inch patterns at 30 yards. Not bad for a factory scope on a crossbow this inexpensive!
Is the CenterPoint Sniper 370 Easy to Shoot?
From the adjustable stock and foregrip, to the CNC machined rails, the CenterPoint Sniper 370 is made to be easy to use. This is great news for someone new to the sport but also for the seasoned pros who want a grab-and-go crossbow that they don’t have to fuss with.
Getting comfortable with the crossbow is easy due to the adjustability as I mentioned. Long arms or short, you will find your own sweet spot making it easy to handle.
A nice feature that also makes it easy to shoot is the pistol grip. It might not seem like it, but having the grip easily accessible means that you can squeeze off a shot very quickly.
It is lightweight and won’t weigh you down on your way to the blind. The included shoulder strap makes it a breeze to carry.
At 185 pounds, the draw weight might be a bit tricky for some. Of course, with a cocking rope, it is not a problem.
CenterPoint made every effort to keep vibration to a minimum to ensure accurate shots every time. That includes string suppressors and even a rubber coated foot stirrup. That attention to detail is very much appreciated when you’re in the field.
One feature that can be good or bad depending on your perspective is the trigger. It has a lot of creep. It is designed that way as a safety mechanism to avoid being released prematurely. If you’re used to a quick trigger, then this may come as a disappointment. Most people will get used to it, however.
Using 20 inch 100 grain field tip bolts will get you an impressive 370 fps and accuracy up to 40 yards. Some people report bullseyes even at 50 yards. Some of that is thanks to the accuracy of the scope, but much can be attributed to the machined rails.
What Kind of Bolts Should I Use with the CenterPoint Sniper 370?
It’s always a good idea to use the bolts recommended by the manufacturer for your particular bow. The included carbon bolts aren't too great of quality, but if you wanted to upgrade then a combined weight should be over 370 grains. Over 400 would be better and Crosman recommends 425 with their CenterPoint Sniper 370. These bolts will work just fine for target practice when testing out your new crossbow.
You may have some favorite bolts that are your go to. If that’s the case make sure you test them out and see if they work out alright. Try it out with some different bolt weights with different field tips or broadheads and see what is the best combo for you.
What's A Good Case For The Sniper 370 Crossbow?
CenterPoint has made a nice case that is affordable and decent quality for a soft crossbow case. It is designed to work with the Sniper 370 crossbow. If you're looking for a hard case or one with more options, read our best crossbow case article.
What Camo Options Are Available?
The Sniper 370 comes in a black finish (as seen above) or in a camo pattern. Click on the image below for a higher resolution.
CenterPoint Sniper 370 Review - Final Thoughts
If the Sniper 370 didn’t come with any accessories like the scope and quiver, etc., then you would have an excellent crossbow. The design and engineering of the crossbow means that the CroissPoint Sniper 370 is very good for hunting. So, on it’s own it’s a great value.
The cons associated with it, however are the accessories. It’s nice that it has a shoulder sling, but the screws tend to unthread and you risk dropping your crossbow if you don’t check them before you head out. The quiver also has a tendency for the screws to come loose. It’s the hardware on the accessories where you are saving your money and they can sell a high end crossbow for such little money. The other downside is the trigger creep which I mentioned already.
All that being said, I think you could do a lot worse. In my mind, the CenterPoint Sniper 370 isn’t just one of the best crossbow for the money, I think it’s the best crossbow for beginners than just about any other out there.
I hope this review of the CenterPoint Sniper 370 has inspired you to at least look further to decide if it is the right crossbow for you. Whether you are looking to hunt some big game like deer, some turkey or even just to do some target practice in your yard, you will find it ticks most of the boxes on your list of needs. For the price, this is a great crossbow. Check for discounts on Amazon.com.
