Barnett Brotherhood Crossbow Review – 2021 Guide

| Last Updated September 28, 2021

Whenever there is talk of crossbows, slingshots, and, in general, archery equipment, the prestigious brand name, Barnett Outdoors, LLC, comes up. 

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Lightweight and compact design
  • 4.5 lbs bow
  • 150 lbs draw weight
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Like many great, big brands we see today, the company started small in 1962 when an enthusiastic man, namely Bernard Barnett, started to pursue the hobby of working with his crossbows right from his garage in the United Kingdom. Impressed by his incredible handiwork, his acquaintances seemed interested; thus, he began filing orders for them, and the business came into existence. 

But this was just the beginning. Their manufacturing processes expanded throughout Europe and soon reached the States. Their magnificent success and growth due to streamlined processes, cost reduction, etc. resulted in permanent operations in the U.S by 2003.

Key Terms to Know 

To help compare products in this review, we have included a few key specifications for each. Here is a quick summary of what they mean:

  • Weight: The weight of the crossbow.

  • Draw Weight: This is the amount of force necessary to draw a bow and is measured in pounds.
     
  • Length: The full length of the crossbow.

  • Kinetic Energy: This is the amount of energy transferred into your target by the arrow. It is measured in Foot Pounds of Kinetic Energy (fpke).

  • Power Stroke: The distance (in inches) between the resting point of the bowstring and the position of the string when fully drawn. This is similar to the draw length on a traditional bow. 

  • Speed (fps): How fast the arrow flies when released from the crossbow.

 Barnett The Brotherhood M3 Recurve Crossbow

PROS

  • Durability
  • Accuracy
  • Convenience
  • Metal Injected Mold (MIM) and Anti Dry Fire (ADF)

CONS

  • Noisy
  • Limited sight

Main Features

The Barnett Brotherhood M3 Recurve is truly a magnificent crossbow. It has impeccable design and is equipped with many such meticulous and innovative features that greatly enhance its working. Firstly, the product is lightweight and portable, which makes it less arduous for the consumer. On top of that, the design is highly sturdy and durable.

Furthermore, it has a very convenient and easy assembly, which enables it to be beginner-friendly. The product is thus highly accessible. It offers the greatest quality tolerance available, given its metal injection-molded trigger. 

It has a step-thru riser for lengthening the power stroke without actually enabling the cocking string to go beyond the arm length. It offers smooth and fast strokes with its highly powerful design that offers 245 feet per second and works at a 50-60 yards distance.

Pros

There is a long list of benefits that this wonderful bow brings to the table, which is why it is such an exceptional product. Whether it is the performance, handling, or accuracy, everything is top-notch. Let’s take an in-depth look into the pros that this incredible unit offers:

Accuracy

Accuracy is a major aspect of any crossbow, and this seems to be living up to the expectation well. The smooth pull it offers is a great factor which contributes to the notion. Furthermore, it has been constructed with a 0.204-inch small diameter, which makes it compatible with Hyperflite arrows, which also tend to be highly accurate and penetrate well. 

Convenience

There are two aspects of this wonderful bow that greatly add to its convenience. Firstly, this is a lightweight and portable product. This allows it to be easy to carry and pack as well for long hunting trips where most archery paraphernalia is heavy. This doesn’t affect its durability in any sense other than the aesthetics. 

Furthermore, it is constructed to be easy to assemble, which makes it efficient and quick. It can be gifted to a beginner as their first crossbow as it doesn’t need much expertise to be operated. The affordable price range adds to this connotation.

Durability

The product has been made from excellent quality materials that enable it to withstand tough conditions. In order to make it lightweight, it has been constructed with a lighter material than what other Barnett bows are created from. However, this doesn’t mean that the unit is fragile or easy to break; in fact, it adds to the convenience of the product and makes it more accessible. 

Metal Injected Mold (MIM) and Anti Dry Fire (ADF)

This product is an excellent example of innovation meeting excellent execution. It carries two incredibly unique features that enable it to completely take the game to the next level. 

One of them is the Anti-Dry Fire (ADF), which is essentially a safety and security system. The bow is equipped with a spring-loaded safety bar that retains its place until an arrow is correctly fixed and protects the user from accidental shooting of the bow. 

Furthermore, another stunning feature of this wonderful crossbow is the metal injection molded trigger, which is responsible for the highest quality tolerance one gets with the product. 

Cons

There are many benefits to investing in the Barnett Brotherhood Crossbow, but there are certain cons as well. It is important to know these as well, so you know the true nature of your equipment and can understand why it performs the way it does. 

Limited Sight

People often complain of the limited eyesight the scope offers, which can be truly troublesome when it comes to hunting from long distances. This is a major concern for this crossbow as the scope is simply not clear enough as it should be. 

Noisy

This crossbow is highly noisy. This might not appear like a big deal; however, it may be to some of you. There are many uses of a crossbow, and some features might be troublesome in some situations. 

When it comes to hunting, one requires a quiet stroke, which doesn’t make the target aware of the hunter’s whereabouts. This results in a higher failure rate. Meanwhile, when it comes to target practice, the high noise might not be that big of an issue to some, whereas it is distracting to others. 

Product Specs

Bow Weight:

4.5 lbs

Draw Weight:

10.5 GPI

Length:

37.5"

Kinetic Energy (ft lbs):

65

Power Stroke:

12.5"

Speed (fps):

245

What is the Barnett Brotherhood Crossbow Best For?

Barnett Brotherhood Crossbow is a true work of art. It is incredibly well-constructed and has unique features. The entire design and performance are truly remarkable, and both these factors contribute to its versatility. So, this bow can be used for:

Hunting

One of the most common uses for these wonderful crossbows is hunting. Professional or amateur, they are trusted by all to deliver excellent performance, and there are several reasons for it. 

Firstly, archery paraphernalia is often expensive; however, this is one of the most affordable yet high-quality ones. They are constructed to be lightweight and portable so that they can be easily traveled with and packed. The high power and excellent speed make them a beast in the hunting field. 

Target Practice

Accuracy and penetration are two key factors required for a crossbow to work well in target practice, which is exactly what this bow offers. Alongside incredible speed, it has a draw weight of 160 pounds. Its design makes it truly versatile and easily used in multiple ways. It has a smaller diameter and is Hyperflite arrow compatible, which makes it highly accurate, smooth performing, and easily penetrable. 

Barnett The Brotherhood M3 Recurve Crossbow

What Do I Need to Know Before Buying?

One of the most important questions that come to mind when it comes to buying archery paraphernalia is, what factors make a good product? There are certain considerations one needs to make to make a good investment. These include:

Design

One key factor to look out for when searching for crossbows is the design. It is important that the design isn’t just durable and sturdy but also involves key features that improve speed, accuracy, and performance overall so that the unit is a worthwhile investment. 

Warranty

Warranty is an incredibly important consideration to make. Some companies like Barnett offer an incredible warranty of five years, whereas others don’t offer that much. It is important to avoid the latter. Warranty is a measure of how reliable and durable the product is, and it shouldn’t be compromised on.  

Convenience and Comfort

Look for a product that is easy to carry and store as well. Several units are of good quality and lightweight, yet they tend to be sturdy and capable of working in tough situations. Make sure there are safety lock mechanisms that prevent the arrow from being fired without being correctly placed for consumer convenience. 

Comparison Overview

Barnett has a wide range of crossbows that are often put against one another to see which one stands out. This serves as a standard for consumers to make their preferred picks upon understanding their similarities and differences. Thus, let’s take a look at a few such comparisons. 

Barnett Outdoors Brotherhood Crossbow vs. Brotherhood Realtree

These two crossbows are often compared with one another as they are quite popular amongst the masses, given their high-quality performance and good design. 

Similarities

Here are a few similarities between the two:

Anti Dry Fire

This is one of the most notable features both bows seem to have in common. The Anti Dry Fire ensures that the bow doesn’t fire until the arrow is correctly placed.  

Warranty

A five-year manufacturer’s warranty backs both devices.

Differences

Let’s take a look at a few differences the two models have:

Price

The Brotherhood Realtree is much more expensive than the Outdoors Brotherhood crossbow. This is justified by the added features, overall construction, and superior speed the former has. 

Certain Features

Several added features to the Brotherhood Realtree make it the more advanced and high-tech bow, such as the high-definition camo finish, anti-vibration isolation, high compression, etc. 

Barnett Jackal vs. Brotherhood

Both of these bows are incredibly well-designed in their own ways. For this reason, consumers often find themselves in a position where they need to pick one of the two. Let’s have a look at how the two compare to each other:

Similarities

Here are a few similarities the two products have:

Noise

Both the units seem to have similar noise suspension, which, according to consumers, isn’t much. Both the Jackal and Brotherhood are considered to be noisy bows. 

Price

As far as the price is concerned, the two have a similar price point. The Barnett Jackal is a tad bit more expensive but around in the same range as Brotherhood.

Differences

It may not seem a lot, but the units have a major difference between them, which can be a deciding factor for a lot of consumers. 

Speed

The Barnett Jackal has greater power and more speed at 315 feet per second as compared to the 245 feet per second of the Brotherhood. 

Barnett Brotherhood vs. Quad 400

The Barnett Brotherhood and Quad are two incredibly popular crossbows for their respective target audience. It would be interesting to see how they compare to one another. Let’s take a look:

Similarities

Let’s look at the similarities these two units carry:

Warranty

Both the products carry the same warranty plan, which is for five years.

Scope

They tend to have the same red dot scope, which isn’t as clear for long-range, even though it works remarkably well for shorter distances. 

Differences

Here are some differences between the two units:

Price

There is a significant difference in the price of the two, where the Quad 400 tends to cost more than the Barnett brotherhood bow.

Speed

Quad 400 has a greater speed of 345 feet per second as compared to the 245 feet per second of the Barnett Brotherhood.

Quad 400 (Source)

How to Use the Barnett Brotherhood Crossbow 

The Barnett Brotherhood crossbow has been able to garner incredible reviews; however, one question that often comes up is how to use it properly. This section will go in-depth and explain the working of the product and how it is used so that there is no room for confusion left. 

  1. The product comes with three arrows, scope, instructional manual, bolt tips, retention spring, four Elmer inch screws, crossbow lube, etc. 

  2. To set up the product, one needs to first attach the bracket to the quiver and slide it up to the hole and secure the screws. 

  3. Now, the riser assembly is put under the flight track or the working table. Then, bolt it all down and make sure you do not over tighten the main bolt. 

  4. Then put the dampers in place with the foot stirrup and attach it with the bolts that come along. 

  5. Next, mount the scope according to whichever adjustments work for you. This finishes the setup, and the product is now ready to be used. You can use it for hunting, target practice, etc.  

If you feel as if there is anything about the description that is ambiguous or hard to understand, go right ahead and look at the video below. It surely will clear any confusion you may have. 

Conclusion

Barnett Brotherhood crossbows are considered to be amongst the best in the market, given their exceptional build and superb performance, and therefore, people are curious about how they perform and what they offer. This post is directed towards those of you who want to gather a good understanding of the working of these crossbows, how they work, their pros and cons, and much more. 

It summarizes what these bows offer and why they stand out amongst the many others. Hopefully, by now, you will have a good idea of the Barnett Brotherhood Crossbow. 

People Also Ask

People tend to have tons of questions when it comes to buying the right crossbows. Thus, we took some of the most frequently asked questions, which stirred a lot of confusion and answered them so one can make the right decision. Let’s take a look at them:

How Fast Does a Barnett Brotherhood Crossbow Shoot?

The Barnett Brotherhood crossbow can shoot as fast as 350 feet per second.  

What Grain Broadheads For the Barnett Brotherhood Crossbow?

For high accuracy and penetration, it is recommended to use 125-grain heads for Barnett Brotherhood Crossbow. 

How to Restring a Barnett Brotherhood Crossbow

A normal crossbow setup has two bus cables. Firstly, press the bow and take the bus cables off. There isn’t much room to work in the crossbow's tiny wheels as crossbow strings are thicker than that of a compound bow. Thus, to get more room to work, take the string off. 

Then take a new bus cable and feed it through exactly like the one you took off and hook it back up. Repeat with the other cable. 

When it comes to crossbows, it doesn’t matter which direction you hook the string up. Just make sure you take the string and hook it up while the cable stays in the track. This might be difficult as the table often pops off and there is already little space to work in. But once you have everything hooked up, relax the tension. 

How Accurate is the Barnett Brotherhood Crossbow?

Barnett Brotherhood Crossbows is incredibly well constructed and accurate. Most well-constructed crossbows are about 50-60 yards. 

Is the Barnett Brotherhood Still Being Made?

Yes, Barnett Brotherhood is still made.



My name is Caleb and I am obsessed with hunting, fishing, and foraging. To be successful, you have to think like your prey. You have to get into the mind of your target - and understand Big Game Logic. If you have any questions, or just want chat about your latest hunting score or big catch, you can reach me at admin@biggamelogic.com. Read more about Big Game Logic.