Barnett Panzer V Review

ModelDraw WeightStrokeVelocitySuggested Arrow LengthCrossbow Length / Weight
Barnett Panzer V Package

Barnett Panzer V Package Review
Check price on Amazon.com
150 lbs.9.5"245 FPS


Crossbow Academy: ballistics, sighting, tuning
18"33.5" / 5.7 lbs.
Pros:
- Exceptionally light-weight
- Powerful for such a small and cheap bow
- Easy to cock, dependable string latch
- Quite small for a recurve crossbow
- Equally good for target practice and hunting small to medium game
- Can't beat the price

Cons:
- Comes with a mediocre scope
- Not enough FPS for serious hunting
Small Game Hunting?yes2
Deer Hunting?yes2
Moose, Bear Hunting?No3
Target Shooting?yes2
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Also Recommended:Best Barnett Crossbows

Package Contents & Assembly

Welcome to our Barnett Panzer V review. I received my package from Amazon 2 days after placing my order, and upon opening the package I saw the following items:

  • The Barnett Panzer V crossbow (stock + prod)
  • StringBarnet Panzer V Package
  • Single-dot red dot scope
  • Foot Stirrup
  • Spring clip
  • Pressure pad
  • Assembly hardware
  • A tub of lube wax
  • Detachable quiver
  • 3x 18″ arrows with field points
  • Assembly & Care booklet
  • Warranty card

Assembly was as straightforward as it gets with a recurve crossbow. You need to make sure the prod latch located on the bottom of the stock is opened, and then attach the prod (that’s the part with the limbs that where you attach the string), securing it with the screw and nut.  Then you’ll inser the pressure pad into the groove at the front of the crossbow and then tighten the nose bolt until the prod is securely in place. Next you attach the foot stirrup using the hex bolt that came with the package, screw in the quiver mount to the bottom of the stock, and finally insert the red-dot scope.

The assembly booklet that came with the Panzer V was very detailed and included a picture outlining all the parts of the crossbow that are mentioned throughout the instructions. There’s also a very detailed guide on how to string and un-string the weapon. Overall, I’d rate the instructions and assembly process a solid 9.5/10 for clarity and simplicity.

Preparing to Shoot

The Barnett Panzer V is a very light-weight crossbow, however it does carry more of a punch than you might expect. You must never forget to wax the string and string groove ever 5 or 7 (10 at most) arrows fired; failing to do that will significantly reduce the life of your string and will also reduce the speed of the arrow due to excess friction. It’s best to buy one or two extra tubs of wax with your crossbow so you don’t need to worry about running out to soon.

At 150 lbs. of draw weight, stronger individuals can cock the Panzer V manually, though if you’re a beginner then it’s better to use the provided rope cocking device as it will:

  1. Make the process much more enjoyable
  2. Helps you draw the string evenly on both sides of the crossbow

That last part is important: if you’re not holding the string at equal distances from both the left and right as you draw it, the arrow will not fly straight due to uneven tension, and you’ll wear out your arrows and string more quickly. Once the crossbow is cocked, seat the arrow and please remember to push it back in until the arrow nock comes in full contact with the string.

In practice: Target Shooting & Hunting

Barnett Panzer V Package ReviewAs I’ve already mentioned, the Panzer V is light-weight though quite powerful. The sight that comes with it (more on the sight further below) is factory-sighted at what seems to be a different distance depending on the package you get – some people receive theirs sighted at 20 yards, while others at 30 or even 40. Not sure why this is, but at any rate make sure that you know how to sight a crossbow as it will definitely come in handy.

I tested it at 20, 30 and 40 yards at the range. It was VERY accurate and powerful at the first two, with the 40 yard shot being still very decent though I could definitely notice the reduction in arrow velocity taking place, as the arrow dug into the target by a good 2-3 inches less than was the case at 20 and 30 yards. This was to be completely expected of course; what I’m getting at is that the Panzer V seems to “peak” at around 30 yards, so if you plan to go hunting with this model I’d recommend not shooting from a further distance when bigger game (whitetail etc.) is concerned. If you’re going after turkey pig only however, then you can definitely get away with a 40 or maybe even 50-yard shot.

I’ve  harvested one big fat buck with the Panzer V. Fired an arrow with some Barnett broadheads from 20 yards or so away and achieved a perfect shoulder pass-through without much resistance. And it didn’t run away too far either – probably no more than 100 yards, maybe less. Just remember that the effectiveness of your hunting trip is determined not only by the crossbow, but also the type of broad-heads you’re using (not to mention your skills as a shooter, of course). Feel free to take a look at our list of the best hunting broadheads for a crossbow.

You’ll really love the weight of the Panzer V by the way; it’s so light weight that you can carry it with you for hours on end without feeling the least bit of fatigue. This also makes it an excellent hunting crossbow for youth/teenagers for whom an 8 lbs. crossbow can be too cumbersome. Overall though, I would not recommend it as a hunting crossbow due to the FPS – better check out some the best hunting crossbows instead.

Ballistic Data For The Barnett Panzer V

Your actual results will vary slightly depending on weather, and significantly with arrow weight change. See our Crossbow Ballistics Guides section for a complete understanding of how we conducted our tests and why this data matters.

The Barnett Panzer V Scope

Alright so the scope on this Barnett is probably the only thing I had some issues with. It’s a single-dot red dot scope that looks and feels quite cheap. It does hold zero for a decent time after sighting it, but I still found myself having to re-Barnet Panzer Vadjust windage (left/right) quite often.

To be honest this is completely understandable; a decent scope costs $40-$50, and since the Panzer V package was supposed to be a budget selection, a compromise had to be made. Mind you – the sight is NOT useless. It will do absolutely fine and will serve a beginner well for a good while as he acquires more experience and becomes familiar with the weapon.

Once you do get somewhat better however, and when you decide that shooting from 20-30 yards away is no longer enough, getting a new sight is pretty much mandatory. The Barnett 4×32 (amazon.com link) is one such sight worth considering.

See our detailed guide on how to sight-in your crossbow

The Arrows

I got 3x 18 inch aluminum arrows with the crossbow, and as far as I know this is the standard, though some websites I’ve seen mention 4 arrows coming with the package. No big deal either way.

The arrows are solid just like all the other ones you can buy from Barnett. They can take a beating and won’t bend nor break even if shot at targets from a very short distance, though don’t take this to mean you can shoot at a thin target hung on a wall, as some people seem to do – the arrow WILL go through even a 2″ x 4″ piece of wood, and if there’s a wall behind that you’ll damage the arrow and the field point.

You can also learn more about crossbow arrows and take a look at our broadhead recommendations

What Crossbow Case Fits the Barnett Panzer V?

The Carbon Express Deluxe Case is a favored choice for the Barnett Panzer V. It is only around $66; however, it is not roomy enough for larger scopes. The Barnett Case (Model 17083) is available for slightly less and provides a little more room for scopes and quivers.

Barnett Panzer V Review – Summary

If you’re on a really tight budget and would like to get a solid crossbow that will give you an excellent taste of how much fun this weapon is to both hunt and target shoot with, the Panzer V will do the trick perfectly. It’s durable, accurate, really powerful considering the average draw weight, and if you take care of it properly it will last for many years (or until you decide to get a better crossbow). Take a look at today's amazon.com price on this crossbow and check out our top 10 crossbows rankings for more.
Have fun!

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