Even though Parker has only been manufacturing crossbows since 2002, this company has surely made their mark in the industry. They have created such revolutionary crossbows like the Concord, the first with automatic cocking. Now they are redefining tactical crossbows with innovative features and extreme performance with the Hurricane.
The Hurricane is Parker's latest flagship crossbow that has been designed to compete with the best. In this Parker Hurricane Review, I will look at it’s features and performance to see just how it fairs up and if it is worth getting.
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Parker Hurricane Features
The Parker Hurricane is decked out in Next G1 Vista camo with a black aluminium barrel. Parker is well known for their high quality, military-style frames and the Hurricane is no different. When you hold it, you can feel the quality. Of course, with this quality you can expect it to cost you a bit. But even so, this is a great value when you take into account that other high end crossbows can leave you with a $2000 hole in your pocket.
This crossbow is manufactured with Parker’s Reverse Cam Technology and their UltraLast Advanced Split Limb Design. What these fancy terms really mean is that Parker has managed to make the crossbow very compact without compromising on it’s power.
The Hurricane comes installed with string suppressors, split limb dampeners and Parker’s exclusive Anti-Vibration and Shock (AVS) System. With these three features you can be sure that you’ll have one of the quietest most still crossbows in the market.
This crossbow is designed to fit well with people of any stature as it has an adjustable AR-styled stock and an adjustable vented forearm. What this means is that the stock can be made short or long and the forearm handle can be moved farther or closer to you. These types of accommodations make the Hurricane very comfortable to use.
Like all other Parker crossbows, the Hurricane is balanced in the middle. This is better than a lot of other crossbows that have most of the weight near the riser, making it harder to maneuver as you take aim.
Parker Hurricane Specs
- Arrow Speed: 380 FPS
- Draw Weight: 165 lbs
- Power Stroke: 15.375 inches
- Overall Length: 34" - 37.5" (adjustable)
- Axle-to-Axle: 21.25"
- Mass Weight: 8.3 lbs
This particular crossbow is advertised to be just 8.3 pounds. This is not including the quiver and arrow which will only add about 2 pounds. If you ask me, this weight is incredible given all the accessories and features that it has. The aluminium barrel and riser is responsible for reducing the weight by so much. Even if it was a few pounds heavier you would have no problem carrying it because of the sling. This sling allows you to carry it easily by putting the weight on your shoulders rather than your arm and hands.
The Parker Hurricane has an adjustable stock, which means the length of the crossbow can be between 34 and 37.5 inches from the tip of the stirrup to the end of the butt stock. It is 21.25 inches from axle to axle and even narrower when cocked. The draw weight is 165 pounds and the power stroke is a hefty 15.4 inches. In modern bows, such a power stroke is a little longer than average but it’s responsible for the smoldering shooting speed of 380 feet per second.
What Comes With This Crossbow?
It comes with a padded, non-slip crossbow sling that will allow you to easily carry it while on a hunting expedition. It also comes with split limb dampeners, a Quick Detach Quiver and four of Parker’s RED HOT arrows with field points. It also has a Picatinny rail which will allow you to customize it with your preferred accessories.
Cocking the Parker Hurricane
The stirrup is wide enough to fit your whole boot in. It is also squared and unusually thick which makes it very sturdy and stable when you’re cocking it. The 165 pound draw weight is slightly above average for modern compound crossbows but as long as you use a good rope cocker you should be able to pull the synthetic string with no problems. It’s useful to remember that when it comes to compound crossbows, you only feel the full draw weight at the beginning of the pull and, after that, it get’s a lot easier.
Once the crossbow is cocked, it will automatically be in safety mode as it has an auto-engage safety and anti dry-fire mechanism. This is very important since dry-firing your crossbow is very likely to damage it. The safety trigger is ambidextrous and easy to use even when you’re using gloves. It is also very quiet so that it won’t scare away any game as you’re getting ready to fire.
Will Hunters Enjoy The Hurricane?
This crossbow is surprisingly silent for the amount of power it generates so you won't spook any game away. There may be quieter crossbows out there but I bet none of them would be close to shooting bolts at 380 fps. With this amount of speed you can hunt any kind of game. With a little practice and concentration you should be capable of getting kills at 60 yards. Now that would be a great story to tell your friends about.
Parker Hurricane Optics
The Hurricane is available in three optics packages:
3x32 Multi-Reticle Scope
3x32 Illuminated Multi-Reticle Scope
Pin Point Scope (3x)
I personally always pick the illuminated MR scope whenever I get the chance as it allows me to aim well at various distances and in low light. Whichever type of scope you prefer, you’ll be sure to have a deadly accurate crossbow right out of the box, especially since the scope comes already factory installed and laser bore sighted.
What Bolts Should You Use?
Parker recommends that we use their RED HOT Arrows for their crossbows. They have put significant work in making sure that their arrows are the best to minimize dry-fires. The way they have done this is by creating a capture nock that ensures a solid connection with the string. For more information on Parker’s RED HOT Arrows here is a short video from Parker.
Of course, if you are planning to hunt with this crossbow, it is important to have broadheads. Parker also provides their own RED HOT Broadheads which you can easily find on Amazon.
What Is The Warranty?
Parker is well known for their Lifetime Warranty. What this warranty does is it ensures your crossbow for the original owner's lifetime. The warranty covers manufacturer defects in materials and workmanship. To have this warranty you will have to register it within 15 days of your purchase.
The warranty details will be in the box but you can also see them online here.
Because the warranty does not cover wear and mishandling, it is important that you know about crossbow maintenance. For more information on how to keep your crossbow well maintained you can read our article on crossbow maintenance tips.
How Easy Is It To Assemble?
Parker has done a lot of work to make sure that assembling your crossbow is as easy as possible. For example, the scope comes already factory installed and laser bore sighted.
What Case Should You Use?
Having a case is very important if you want to keep your crossbow protected and maintain the Parker lifetime warranty. Parker does provide their own RED HOT Crossbow Case that fit's all of their crossbows.
The problem with it is that it is a soft case. When it comes to very expensive bows like the Hurricane I usually prefer to keep it on a hard case because it's safer. My favorite is the Plano Spire Crossbow Case, which you can find on Amazon here. If you want more information about crossbow cases, check out our crossbow case reviews here.
The Bottom Line
There is almost too much to like about the Parker Hurricane. If you read this Parker Hurricane review then you know that this crossbow has so much to offer. With so many features and so much quality you know it won't be cheap. This is not a crossbow for those with a small budget. But for those that can afford it, they will surely get a lot of value and performance. Everyone is looking for a crossbow that is fast, quiet and accurate. Well the Hurricane definitely has all those factors covered and then some.
