The Barnett Whitetail Hunter 400XTR was introduced early in 2022. I chose it for this 2-year field test because I wanted a no-frills, affordable crossbow, and that was my takeaway when shooting it a few times during the 2022 ATA Trade Show. Note: I had a chance to test-drive many crossbows during that industry-only show, including some of the most expensive models built today, but my thinking was it made the most sense to field test a model that would be on the radar for many first-time crossbow buyers. Sure, some newcomers to crossbow hunting will drop $1,200 or more on their first purchase, but I think the vast majority would desire a model that delivers dependable performance for half that amount. MSRP for the Barnett Whitetail Hunter 400XTR package is only $599.99.

I started shooting the 400XTR during summer 2022; I wanted plenty of time to practice with it prior to Wisconsin’s archery deer season, which begins in mid-September. I’m also carrying it during fall 2023 (at the time of this writing).

Test Crossbow Specs

• Make/Model: Barnett Whitetail Extreme 400XTR
• Available Finishes: Mossy Oak Bottomland Camo
• Length: 37.5 inches with stirrup
• Weight: 6.5 pounds, no scope; 8 pounds with scope, quiver and three arrows
• Width: 16 inches uncocked; 13 inches when ready to fire. Note: The bow measures 10 inches axle to axle when cocked, but the cams stick out beyond the axles, thus the measurement of 13 inches.
• Draw Weight: 205 pounds
• Power Stroke: 13.4 inches
• Published Speed: 400 fps
• Arrow Length: 22 inches (standard diameter)
• Published Trigger Pull: 3 pounds
• Cocking Device: Cocking rope
• Package Includes: 4 x 32mm Halo Optics multi-reticle scope; two 22-inch HeadHunter arrows; side-mount quiver; rope cocking device; lubrication wax.
• MSRP: $599.99
• Contact: www.barnettcrossbows.com 

First Impressions

The 400XTR requires assembly, but this task was simple and straightforward. A single bolt attaches the composite laminated limbs to the frame. The foot stirrup attaches easily, too. If you can screw in a lightbulb, you can assemble this crossbow. The package includes a 4x32mm Halo Optics multi-reticle scope, two 22-inch Headhunter arrows, lightweight side-mounted quiver, rope cocking device and lubrication wax.

I found no trouble drawing back the bow with the rope cocking device. For those persons who want even more assistance, Barnett offers an optional stock-mounted crank device.

One feature I didn’t remember about the 400XTR when handling it during the ATA Show was the three integrated Picatinny rails on the foregrip; the rails are used for easily attaching accessories. For example, I used the bottom rail to attach a Swagger Stalker QD42 bi-pod, which is a game-changer when hunting from a treestand. (Click here to read my field test report on the crazy-good Swagger Stalker QD42.)

The stock’s pistol grip is comfortable while aiming, and I also liked the bow’s rubber overmolding on the cheek rest and grip. The stirrup also has a rubberized coating, which makes it quiet when placing the 400XTR on a bow hanger.

On the Range

Some crossbows feel too compact to me (almost like a youth model), while others are too heavy, but the 400XTR fits nicely into the comfortable middle ground for dimensions and weight. The butt stock isn’t adjustable, but I didn’t need it to be; it was easy for me to find the proper eye relief for viewing targets through the included scope.

I do ALL of my crossbow shooting with the aid of a rest. At a minimum, I’ll use an adjustable monopod. Even better is a bipod, and best of all is a tripod. I was happy to discover that the 400XTR’s foregrip, which is generally flat and fairly wide, fits securely in the Y-yoke of my various shooting rests. I can not emphasize this enough: If your crossbow’s foregrip doesn’t fit well in your shooting rest, then your accuracy will suffer.

As recommended by Barnett, I lubricated the rails before cocking the crossbow and shooting. You don’t need to go overboard with the lube. The rail should look wet and feel slippery; you don’t need to pile it on like frosting.

After taking care to ensure I had the cocking mechanism centered on the string for top repetitive accuracy, then cocking the bow, I loaded a 22-inch Headhunter arrow. The bow’s patented Soft-Lok Floating Bristle Arrow Retainer holds the arrow securely, and peace of mind comes from knowing the 400XTR also has an Anti-Dry Fire Trigger System.

And now for the headline — the trigger is outstanding! The 400XTR sports the company’s TriggerTech 3lb Zero-Creep Frictionless Release Technology. Those are fancy words, so let me break it down for you in bowhunter terms based on what I felt while shooting.

Almost all of the crossbows I’ve owned in the past had clunky triggers, which is to say they had a lot of creep before finally firing. I had to apply significant pressure with my index finger to take up the creep and then finally fire these bows. I never attempted to measure this amount of creep on my old bows, but it felt like at least 1/8 inch, maybe even 1/4 inch. Once this creep was spent, then I knew a bow was very close to firing, and applying more pressure with my index finger finally caused it to fire. I was able to commit this travel distance/feel to memory based on significant range time. That said, those old triggers were far from ideal.

My trigger experience with the Barnett Whitetail Extreme 400XTR was exactly the opposite. In fact, I’m confident in saying this crossbow’s trigger was among the very best I used when testing many bows during the 2022 ATA Show. This is not an exaggeration: The 400XTR’s trigger is as good — if not better — than many bows costing two or three times more.

What all this “trigger talk” means is you can shoot the 400XTR with incredible precision. Again, with aid of a solid rest (I used a tripod for most of my practice), and from a sitting position, I could hold the crossbow rock solid when aiming at various bull’s-eyes.

It took only a few shots to dial in the scope’s top aiming point to 20 yards, and after that was accomplished, I had to limit my shots to one per bull’s-eye or I would have wrecked arrows. Many times while practicing at ranges from 10 to 30 yards, my arrow would impact the hole from the previously pulled arrow. I did shoot from 40 yards just for fun, and the accuracy was superb. Note: I limit my shooting on whitetails to 30 yards. To me, bowhunting is a game of “how close” not “how far.”

Arrows and Broadheads

The Barnett Whitetail Extreme 400XTR package comes with two 22-inch Headhunter arrows, but I purchased another 10 (two five-packs) right from the start so I wouldn’t have to worry about obtaining more anytime soon. In the farmland area I bowhunt in Wisconsin, I receive two antlerless deer tags and one buck tag each year when buying my nonresident archery deer license; two arrows weren’t going to get the job done for long.

I experienced excellent accuracy on the range using both 100- and 125-grain field points. I’m in the camp of thinking heavier is better for penetration on game, so I chose 125-grain broadheads for the 2022 and 2023 Wisconsin archery deer seasons. Specifically, my broadhead-tipped Headhunters impacted the target in the same place as they did with field points when using 125-grain Magnus Black Hornet Ser-Razor fixed-blade broadheads. Yes, I know that many crossbow hunters prefer mechanicals because these heads usually fly like field points, but I have a lot of confidence, gained through years of positive experiences, with the fixed-blade Magnus heads, so I found no reason to change. Of course, even with mechanicals, you should dedicate one broadhead to target practice; don’t assume that broadheads and field points impact the target in the same place.

When matched with a 125-grain field point or broadhead, my 22-inch Barnett Headhunter arrow weighed 425 grains. I didn’t test the crossbow’s speed with this combo. The published specs says the bow will fire a 380-grain arrow/head combo downrange at up to 400 fps. Certainly this bow wouldn’t be as fast when pushing an arrow weighing 45 grains more, but I couldn’t care less. To me, accuracy is what counts, and this crossbow is not only plenty fast, but it’s supremely accurate, too.

Final Thoughts

Perhaps the best compliment I can give a piece of hunting equipment is to say I have 100 percent confidence it will perform well in the field. And that’s how I feel about the Barnett Whitetail Extreme 400XTR. I simply know to my core that when I pull the trigger on this bow, the broadhead-tipped arrow will launch exactly when I want it to (thanks to the fine trigger), and it will fly to the precise spot that I’m aiming (thanks in part to a solid rest).

Could a whitetail still jump the string, resulting in a marginal hit? Sure. But assuming I do my job taking only high-percentage shots — meaning, passing on alert animals — and limiting my shooting distance (30 yards for me), my chances of a quick and clean kill are extremely high.

The Barnett Whitetail Hunter 400XTR isn’t the fastest crossbow on the planet, it’s not the sexiest, and it’s not the most expensive. If you must own a bow that will turn heads in deer camp, then don’t buy this bow. But if you want a crossbow that flat out drives tacks, for an affordable price, then I highly recommend checking it out.