Barnett Crossbow Bolts, Strings & Parts
Headhunter or Hyperflite, 20 inch or 22, which string fits your model and which crank actually mounts. An independent reference - not affiliated with Barnett Outdoors.
Headhunter or Hyperflite: which bolt your Barnett takes
Barnett runs two bolt families and they are not interchangeable. Hyper-series crossbows are built around the narrow-diameter Hyperflite shaft; every other Barnett uses the standard-diameter Headhunter. Shooting the wrong family is not a fit annoyance - it is how people damage a rail or a limb.
| Bolt family | Lengths | Spec | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headhunter (standard diameter) | 20" and 22" | 13.78 gpi, 303 gr total at 20" with the 100 gr point | Whitetail Hunter, Recruit, Wildcat, Jackal, Raptor, Quad, XP series, Droptine, Ghost, Predator, GameCrusher |
| Hyperflite (narrow diameter) | 20" and 22" | Small-diameter shaft, half-moon nock | Hyper series only - Hyper Raptor, Hyper Ghost, Hyper Whitetail, Hyper XP405 |
If the model name contains the word Hyper, you need Hyperflite. If it does not, you need Headhunter. Length within the family is set by what your bow shipped with - full breakdown on the bolts page.
Bolts, Strings & Parts
Which bolt family your bow takes, which string fits your model, and the parts that wear first.
Crossbow Models
Bolts, Strings & Parts
Fit & Compatibility
Common Questions
What Barnett owners ask most often about bolts, strings and parts.
What is the difference between Headhunter and Hyperflite bolts?
Shaft diameter. Hyperflite is Barnett's narrow-diameter bolt, built specifically for the Hyper series - Hyper Raptor, Hyper Ghost, Hyper Whitetail, Hyper XP405. Headhunter is the standard-diameter bolt that everything else in the Barnett range uses. They are not interchangeable in either direction, and the simplest rule is the model name: if it says Hyper, it takes Hyperflite.
How much does a Barnett Headhunter bolt weigh?
The 20-inch Headhunter runs 13.78 grains per inch and comes out at 303 grains total once you include the insert, the half-moon nock, the vanes and the 100-grain field point that ships with it. The 22-inch version uses the same shaft at the same grains per inch, so it lands proportionally heavier. Both come with the half-moon nock already installed.
Does my crossbow take 20-inch or 22-inch bolts?
Go by what your bow came with rather than by what fits. Barnett has shipped both lengths across the range and the correct one is set by the rail and the model, not by preference. A bolt that is too short can sit badly against the string, which is the single most common route to a dry-fire. If your original bolts are long gone, check the manual for your specific model before ordering.
Which replacement string fits my Barnett?
String length is model-specific and there is no universal Barnett string. As examples, the Whitetail Hunter STR takes a 38.125 inch string with 20.8125 inch cables, the Wildcat C5 takes 37 inches, the Raptor FX 32.938 inches, the Quad 400 39.625 inches and the Ghost 360 40.313 inches. The full list is on the strings page. If your bow has been restrung before, measure what is on it rather than trusting the model name.
Will a crank cocking device fit my Barnett?
Barnett's crank follows the BAR20020 pattern and mounts to the stock rather than the rail, so fit depends on your stock design rather than on the model's speed. Several models ship with a crank already fitted from the factory - the XP400 Midnight Edition and the Recruit XP with CCD, for example. If yours did not, check that the stock has the mounting provision before buying.
Can I still get parts for a discontinued Barnett?
Usually yes. Barnett has been building crossbows for decades and the installed base is enormous, so the aftermarket keeps supplying strings, cables and bolts for models that left the catalogue years ago - the Jackal, Wildcat, Quad 400, Ghost series, Predator and GameCrusher all still have string sets available. Structural parts such as limbs and trigger assemblies are the harder ones to source.
Parts Barnett owners reorder
Bolts go first, then the string, then whatever the cocking device does to your shoulder. Check current pricing on Amazon before you buy - listings change often.
Headhunter 20" Crossbow Arrows
Barnett's standard 20-inch carbon bolt: 13.78 grains per inch, 303 grains total with the 100-grain field point, half-moon nock pre-installed. The default bolt for most of the Barnett compound lineup.
Hyperflite 22" Crossbow Arrows
The narrow-diameter bolt built for the Hyper series. Hyperflite and standard bolts are not interchangeable - a Hyper crossbow needs Hyperflite, and putting a standard bolt through one is a way to break something expensive.
Barnett Crank Cocking Device, Ambidextrous
Barnett's own crank, mounting to the BAR20020 stock pattern. Worth it on anything in the 400 FPS class - cocking by rope is where most consistency problems on a Barnett start. Check your bow did not already ship with one: packages with CCD in the name have it fitted.
About This Guide
Barnett has been building crossbows for decades and the installed base shows it: Jackals, Raptors, Recruits, Wildcats and Whitetail Hunters are still in use long after the model itself left the catalogue. What those owners need is rarely another crossbow - it is the right bolt, a replacement string, or the part that finally gave out.
This site is organised around that. Bolt fit first, because Barnett runs two incompatible bolt families and getting it wrong is expensive. Then strings by model, then the parts that wear. Every figure here is either a manufacturer-published specification or comes from the listing being described.
This is an independent reference. It is not run by Barnett Outdoors and it is not endorsed by them. Where a page links to Amazon, that link is an affiliate link.