A good target should do more than simply stop an arrow. It needs to suit the bow or crossbow, the arrow or bolt being used and the conditions in which you shoot.

Choosing the right target therefore involves more than simply comparing a maximum draw weight in lbs or a maximum bolt speed in FPS.

Bow type, arrow length and diameter, total arrow weight, point type, shooting distance, target construction, frequency of use, wear and environmental conditions can all influence penetration.

These differences become particularly important with compound bows and modern compact or repeating crossbows.

This guide will help you select the target that best suits your setup.

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Quick selection

These are practical recommendations. With powerful bows, crossbows or unusual arrow configurations, we recommend also reading the detailed information below.

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1. Bow targets

For conventional bows, draw weight in lbs provides a useful first indication, but it does not completely determine how much stress is placed on a target.

A light recreational recurve, traditional bow and modern compound bow can perform very differently even when their stated draw weights appear similar.

Compound bows in particular can transfer energy to the arrow very efficiently and may therefore place considerably greater demands on a target.

Bow Target Matrix

 

Arrow type matters too

The stated draw-weight classes should be regarded as guidelines rather than absolute limits.

An important example is the difference between aluminium and carbon arrows. A relatively thin carbon arrow may travel faster from the same bow and, because of its smaller diameter, can penetrate differently or more deeply than a wider aluminium arrow.

Some target draw-weight ratings are established using an aluminium arrow appropriate for the test bow. When using thinner and often faster carbon arrows, the practical limit may therefore be lower.

This is particularly important with compound bows. In addition to draw weight, consider:

• arrow material;
• shaft diameter;
• total arrow weight;
• arrow speed;
• point type;
• shooting distance.

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2. Our bow targets explained

EK Archery Easy & Quick – youth, beginner and recreational

A complete and affordable target set for light bows, supplied with target, stand, target face and fixing pins.

We position this as a youth, beginner and recreational target, with approximately 20 lbs as a practical guideline.

EK Archery Foam Target Set – complete mid-range solution

The 60 x 60 x 10 cm EK Foam Target Set is the logical next step for recreational archers using light to medium draw-weight bows.

It includes a wooden stand, target face and fixing pins and is positioned in approximately the 30–35 lbs class.

Eleven EcoWave PRO Green Label – all-round foam target

The EcoWave PRO is our stronger conventional foam solution for recurve and traditional bows.

It has a practical guideline of up to approximately 60 lbs and forms part of the Eleven Green Label range. Approximately 80% of its weight consists of recycled material.

Rinehart Badger Bag – compound-first

The Badger Bag is our premium bag option with particular emphasis on compound bows.

Its generous shooting surface and robust bag construction make it particularly attractive for regular practice with powerful bows.

Speedbag Revolver – compact hybrid

The Speedbag Revolver is useful when one compact target needs to serve both a powerful compound bow and a crossbow.

With six shootable sides and a manufacturer rating of up to 450 FPS, it clearly bridges our bow and crossbow target ranges.

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3. Crossbow targets – look beyond FPS alone

Crossbow target selection is often based primarily on maximum bolt speed in FPS – feet per second.

FPS is useful, but it cannot fully predict actual target penetration.

An 80 lbs pistol crossbow using a short aluminium bolt, a repeating crossbow using a 6.5-inch carbon bolt, an Adder using a 7.5-inch bolt and a modern compound crossbow using a conventional 20-inch bolt are very different combinations.

For this reason, we consider not only FPS but also the type of bolt being used.

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4. The main crossbow bolt categories

Conventional bolts – approximately 16–22 inches

These are the longer traditional bolts used with many recurve and compound crossbows.

Important factors include:

• bolt speed;
• shaft diameter;
• total bolt weight;
• material;
• point type;
• shooting distance.

Many of these bolts also use replaceable screw-in points.

Short bolts – approximately 6.5–7.5 inches

This category has become increasingly important.

Short bolts are used by:

• mini and pistol crossbows;
• Steambow AR-Series models;
• various approximately 80 lbs pistol crossbows;
• magazine-fed and repeating systems;
• EK Archery REVO 7;
• Vlad;
• Adder;
• other short-bolt applications.

The same bolt length does not mean the same target load.

A 6.5-inch aluminium bolt from a relatively light pistol crossbow can behave very differently from a short carbon bolt fired from a more powerful repeating system.

Short bolts also have very little distance between the point and vanes. A few centimetres of additional penetration can therefore be enough for the vanes to reach the target.

Thin high-speed carbon bolts

Some crossbow bolts are not exceptionally short but are relatively thin and very fast.

Several bolts used by X-BOW FMA Supersonic models are good examples.

This creates another challenging combination:

small diameter + carbon construction + high speed.

A target that performs extremely well with a wider conventional bolt may therefore behave differently with a thin high-speed bolt.

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5. Crossbow Target Matrix

 

The matrix is a practical selection guide rather than a technical guarantee. Actual stopping performance always depends on the complete setup.

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6. Speedbag 20 – our most versatile crossbow target

For shooters looking for one broadly applicable crossbow target, the Delta McKenzie Speedbag 20 is the most versatile choice in our range.

It combines:

• a generous shooting surface;
• two shootable sides;
• manufacturer rating up to 450 FPS;
• high stopping performance;
• relatively easy bolt removal;
• suitability for powerful compound bows;
• broad practical compatibility with different crossbow bolts.

Based on our long-term sales experience, the Speedbag 20 also performs well with different bolt types including Adder-type short bolts and relatively thin FMA Supersonic bolts.

For a very specific bolt type, however, a specialised target may be a better choice.

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7. Steambow AR Target – specialist for short approx. 6.5-inch bolts

For mini, pistol and repeating crossbows using short approximately 6.5-inch bolts, the Steambow AR-Series Target is our most versatile specialised choice.

Steambow developed the target around its short AR-Series bolts. This short bolt length and comparable projectile geometry also make it interesting for other mini and pistol crossbows using the same 6.5-inch bolt class.

Steambow approves the target for its own AR-Series configurations up to the 120 lbs MAGNUM.

This 120 lbs figure relates specifically to the Steambow setup and must not be interpreted as a general 120 lbs target rating.

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8. EK Premium – premium short-bolt specialist

The EK Archery Premium Short-Bolt Target is the specialist premium option in our range.

EK developed this model specifically for short bolts and systems including:

• REVO 7;
• Vlad;
• Cobra Adder;
• R9;
• RX.

Its dual-layer PU construction is specifically designed to decelerate short bolts in a controlled manner and help reduce excessive penetration.

It is therefore not our most versatile or most economical solution, but rather the premium choice for specialised short-bolt applications. This also makes the EK Premium particularly suitable for powerful repeating systems using very short approx. 6.5-inch bolts, such as the REVO 7 with the 90 lbs front.

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9. Rinehart X-Bow Bag 18 – conventional bolts and scope sight-in

The Rinehart X-Bow Bag 18 was specifically developed for crossbows and carries a manufacturer rating of up to 450 FPS.

Its distinctive feature is the MOA Sight-In Grid, which helps when accurately sighting in and checking a crossbow sight or scope.

The opposite side features twelve individual aiming points.

We primarily recommend the X-Bow Bag for powerful crossbows using conventional longer crossbow bolts.

With very short and/or thin bolts, we recommend carefully checking penetration depth.

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10. Why lbs or FPS is not a guarantee

Draw weight and speed are useful specifications, but only describe part of the complete setup.

Manufacturer or supplier lbs/FPS ratings should therefore be regarded as a guideline or product classification rather than an absolute guarantee.

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11. Arrow weight and replaceable points

Many conventional 16–22-inch crossbow bolts use screw-in points.

Common point weights include 100 and 125 grains.

Replacing a 100-grain point with a 125-grain point adds 25 grains to total bolt weight. It also changes the balance point and normally affects velocity.

A heavier bolt may therefore travel slightly slower without automatically becoming easier for a target to stop.

The shape of the point also matters. A narrow or penetration-oriented practice point can behave differently from a wider standard target point.

When using alternative points, consider the complete bolt weight and configuration rather than point weight or FPS alone.

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12. Shaft diameter is often underestimated

Arrow or bolt diameter can significantly influence penetration.

A thin shaft concentrates impact over a smaller frontal area and may therefore penetrate relatively deeply depending on the target construction.

This helps explain why a thin carbon arrow may sometimes be more demanding on a target than a wider aluminium arrow, even when both are fired from the same bow.

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13. Shooting distance matters

Arrows and bolts lose speed during flight.

At very short range, the projectile therefore reaches the target at a higher impact speed than at a longer distance.

This can be particularly important with powerful crossbows.

When using a new combination of bow/crossbow, arrow and target:

start at a sufficient distance and check penetration after the first shots.

An FPS rating does not mean that a target is suitable for every crossbow at every shooting distance.

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14. Foam, bag or specialised target?

There is no single target construction that is automatically best for every application.

Foam targets

Foam targets are compact, shape-retaining and popular for conventional archery. Depending on material and thickness, models are available for light recreational bows through to more demanding applications.

Bag targets

Bag targets use fibrous or comparable internal filling to decelerate the projectile.

They often combine high stopping performance with relatively easy arrow removal, making them popular with compound bows and crossbows.

Specialised targets

Modern short-bolt systems have led to targets developed specifically around these shorter projectiles.

The Steambow AR Target and EK Premium Short-Bolt Target are clear examples.

A specialist target is not automatically better than a universal target. Its value lies in matching the specific application for which it was designed.

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15. More stopping power is not automatically better

The best target is not simply the hardest or heaviest one.

A good target provides a balance between:

sufficient stopping performance → controlled penetration → vane protection → practical arrow removal → useful service life.

A target that barely allows the arrow to penetrate but then makes removal extremely difficult is not automatically the better choice.

The aim is therefore not to buy the target with the highest theoretical rating, but the target that best matches your setup.

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16. Temperature, moisture and outdoor use

Depending on their construction, target materials may react differently to:

• low or high temperatures;
• moisture and rain;
• UV exposure;
• prolonged outdoor storage.

There is no universal rule that every foam or bag target reacts in the same way to heat or cold. The specific material matters.

Product-specific manufacturer instructions therefore remain important.

A target described as weather resistant should also not automatically be regarded as suitable for unlimited permanent outdoor storage.

Whenever possible, store your target dry and sheltered when not in use.

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17. Targets wear out

Every impact places stress on the target material.

Avoid repeatedly shooting exactly the same aiming point. Use different aiming points and rotate the target where the design allows.

Regularly check:

• are arrows penetrating deeper?
• are the vanes getting closer to the target?
• are soft or heavily worn areas developing?
• is the outer cover becoming damaged?
• is arrow removal noticeably changing?

A target that stopped a particular setup perfectly when new may not provide exactly the same stopping performance after intensive use.

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18. Testing a new setup

Even when the technical specifications appear more than sufficient, check the first shots with every new combination.

A simple practical assessment:

Good: the arrow or bolt stops reliably before the vanes reach the target.

Extra attention: penetration is unusually deep or the vanes come close to the target.

Unsuitable: the projectile passes through, the vanes enter the target or the arrow/vanes become damaged.

If in doubt, increase the shooting distance first and assess the combination again.

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19. Use the correct point

Only use arrow or bolt points for which the specific target is designed.

Most bag targets are intended for field points, bullet points and comparable non-cutting practice points.

Unusual, highly penetrating or cutting points can place greater stress on a target and reduce its service life.

There are product-specific exceptions, so always check the individual product description and manufacturer's instructions.

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20. Always provide a safe backstop

No target should be treated as the only safety measure.

An arrow or bolt may:

• miss the target;
• strike a heavily worn area;
• penetrate unexpectedly deeply;
• or under exceptional conditions pass through.

Always provide a safe shooting direction, sufficient clear space and an appropriate backstop.

Consider not only what is directly behind the target, but also the surrounding area.

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Our recommendations at a glance

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Still unsure which target you need?

Do not look at draw weight or FPS alone.

For a more accurate recommendation, the most useful information is:

bow/crossbow make and model + arrow/bolt used + length + diameter + total weight + point type + normal shooting distance.

With this information, target suitability can be assessed much more accurately than from draw weight or maximum FPS alone.