Hawkwing vs MegaBat vs BAT Reverse: Which Ballista Crossbow Fits You?
If you're stuck on a Ballista crossbow comparison, the short version is this: the BAT Reverse is the pocket-size backpack bow, the Hawkwing is the lightweight all-rounder for real hunting, the MegaBat is the full-size workhorse, and the MegaBat Reverse is the big-game hammer. Below is every spec side by side, plus which one actually fits how you hunt.
Ballista crossbow comparison: full spec table
Every number below comes from the current product pages. Speeds are measured with the bolt weight noted — that matters, because the same crossbow loses 100+ fps when you move from a light stock bolt to a heavy hunting arrow.
| Spec | BAT Reverse | Hawkwing | MegaBat | MegaBat Reverse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.95 | $799.00 | $799.00 | $999.00 |
| Velocity | 340 fps (150gr 13" bolt) | 500 fps (150gr 14" stock bolt); ~425 fps with 250gr, ~340 fps with 363gr | 365 fps (346gr stock bolt); 360 fps (350gr Piercer 20) | 390 fps |
| Draw weight (limb) | 150 lbs | 200 lbs | 330 lbs | 360 lbs |
| Cocking effort (pull rod) | 50 lbs | 72 lbs | 110 lbs | 120 lbs |
| Weight | 3 lbs | 4.8 lbs | 8.92 lbs | 9.28 lbs |
| Length | 16" | 27" with stirrup / 26.5" without | 33" with stirrup / 29" without | 32–35" with stirrup / 28–30" without |
| Width cocked (axle to axle) | 5" | 5.9" | 9.1" | 8.6" |
| Power stroke | 8.5" | 10.51" | 10.6" | 12.2" |
| Draw type | Reverse draw, self-cocking | Compound, dual-cable, no-press service | Compound, standard limbs | Reverse draw |
| Best use | Bowfishing, small & medium game, packing light | Deer-size game, blinds and tree stands, all-round hunting | General hunting, target, high-volume shooting | Big game, longest shots, hunting + fishing + target |
BAT Reverse — the one you can carry everywhere
At 3 lbs and 16 inches, the BAT Reverse is a different category of tool. It's the world's most compact reverse-draw crossbow, and it drops into a 30-liter daypack without hanging off the outside. The reverse-draw limbs stretch the power stroke to 8.5", which is how a 150 lb limb still pushes a stock bolt to 340 fps.
Honest limitation: this is a short-range instrument. It's superb on hogs, turkeys, small game and bowfishing, and plenty of hunters have taken deer with it — but you owe the animal a close, controlled shot. If most of your shots are 40+ yards, keep scrolling.
Who it's for: bowfishermen, backpack hunters, anyone who wants maximum capability per pound, and buyers under $500. Pair it with the Mid Game Hunting Bundle if you want optics and bolts sorted in one order.
Hawkwing — the lightweight hunting crossbow that fixed the annoying parts
The Hawkwing is the newest design in the lineup and the one that changes the most about ownership. It's the first Ballista hunting crossbow you can service without a bow press: string, cables, even limbs come off with a standard hex key, in camp or in the truck. That alone kills the worst part of crossbow ownership.
Numbers-wise it splits the difference perfectly. 4.8 lbs, 27" long, 5.9" wide cocked — small enough for a blind or a saddle — but a 200 lb limb and a 10.51" power stroke behind it. Speed depends entirely on your arrow: about 500 fps with the light 150gr 14" stock bolt, ~425 fps with 250gr 16" bolts, ~340 fps with 363gr 16" bolts. That heaviest setup is the hunting configuration, and Ballista lists effective hunting distance up to roughly 60 yards depending on arrow build, tune, conditions and shooter. Micro-adjustable limb poundage lets you tune speed by ±30–40 fps.
Who it's for: the hunter who wants one crossbow for everything deer-sized and down, and hates hauling a 9 lb rig up a tree. Full breakdown in our full Hawkwing review, and the Big Game Hunting Bundle packages it with the extras.
MegaBat — full-size power, fastest loading in the lineup
The MegaBat is the conventional full-size compound of the family: 330 lb limbs, 365 fps with the 346gr stock bolt, 8.92 lbs on the sling. The headline feature isn't speed, it's the self-retracting cord tensioner — cocking is fast, quiet and repeatable, with 110 lbs of pull-rod effort instead of wrestling a rope cocker. We covered it in detail in the MegaBAT crossbow review.
Who it's for: hunters who shoot from ground blinds, box stands or open country, don't care about a 9" cocked width, and want maximum downrange energy at the $799 mark. Also the pick if you shoot a lot of targets between seasons — nothing about it punishes volume.
MegaBat Reverse — the big-game specialist
Top of the range at $999. The reverse-draw limb layout pushes the power stroke to 12.2 inches — the longest here — and that's where 390 fps out of 360 lb limbs comes from. The reverse geometry also shifts mass rearward, so despite 9.28 lbs it hangs steadier on target than the number suggests. Same fast, silent cord tensioner as the MegaBat.
Who it's for: elk, bear, big-bodied whitetails, and anyone who wants one crossbow that genuinely covers hunting, bowfishing and target work without compromise. It's the heaviest and priciest — that's the trade.
Use-case scenarios: pick by how you actually hunt
Deer and big game
Go MegaBat Reverse if shots can stretch past 40 yards or you're after elk-class animals — 390 fps and a 12.2" power stroke give you the energy margin. Go Hawkwing if you hunt tight cover, tree stands or saddles: 4.8 lbs and 5.9" cocked width matter more than raw fps once you're 25 feet up a tree. MegaBat is the middle answer for blind hunters on a $799 budget.
Hogs and small game
BAT Reverse, easily. Hogs are typically close, often at night, often on foot for miles — 3 lbs and a 5" cocked width beat every spec on the chart in that context. Hawkwing if you also want the same bow to work for deer season.
Bowfishing
BAT Reverse is the default: light, short, cheap enough that you're not precious about it in a boat, and it handles a reel and heavy fiberglass arrows fine. See our BAT Reverse bowfishing breakdown and the fishing crossbow page. MegaBat Reverse works too if you want one bow for fish and big game.
Recreation and target
MegaBat wins on cost per shot and comfort: fast cocking, low effort per cycle, no fatigue after 100 bolts. Hawkwing is the fun one for backyard and range work because you can retune poundage and swap strings yourself. BAT Reverse is the one that gets passed around at camp.
How to choose in 60 seconds
- Budget under $500? BAT Reverse. No contest at $449.95.
- Weight and packability first? BAT Reverse (3 lbs), then Hawkwing (4.8 lbs).
- Hunting deer, want one do-it-all bow? Hawkwing.
- Hunting big game, want maximum energy? MegaBat Reverse.
- Best power-per-dollar at full size? MegaBat.
- Hate bow presses and shop visits? Hawkwing — hex key field service.
- Lowest cocking effort? BAT Reverse at 50 lbs pull rod, then Hawkwing at 72 lbs.
One more filter before you buy: legality. Draw weight minimums, width limits and season rules vary by state, and some of these bows sit below some states' minimum draw weight for big game. Check the state-by-state crossbow regulations guide and confirm with your wildlife agency before opening day.
FAQ
Hawkwing vs MegaBat — which is better?
Same price, different jobs. The Hawkwing is 4.1 lbs lighter, 6 inches shorter and 3.2 inches narrower cocked, and you can replace strings and limbs in the field with a hex key. The MegaBat has heavier 330 lb limbs and delivers 365 fps with a heavy 346gr bolt straight out of the box. Mobile hunters take the Hawkwing; blind and stand hunters who want maximum energy per dollar take the MegaBat.
What's the difference between reverse draw and standard draw?
On a reverse-draw crossbow the limbs point back toward the shooter, so the string starts farther forward and travels a longer power stroke — 12.2" on the MegaBat Reverse vs 10.6" on the standard MegaBat. Longer power stroke means more energy transferred per shot at the same draw weight, plus the mass sits rearward for better balance. The trade is a more complex build and a higher price.
Is a compact crossbow powerful enough for deer?
Yes, within its range. The Hawkwing pushes a 363gr hunting bolt at about 340 fps with hunting distances listed up to roughly 60 yards depending on setup and conditions. The BAT Reverse is a closer-range tool and demands disciplined shot selection. Speed alone doesn't tell the story — read why fps isn't the whole picture before you shop on the fps number.
Which Ballista crossbow is easiest to cock?
By pull-rod effort: BAT Reverse at 50 lbs, Hawkwing at 72 lbs, MegaBat at 110 lbs, MegaBat Reverse at 120 lbs. All four use Ballista's self-cocking mechanism rather than a rope cocker, so the effort is spread between both hands and repeatable in the cold.
Ready to pick one? Compare the whole Ballista crossbow lineup and check availability on the model you want — or see the hunting crossbow overview for setup ideas. Still torn? The FAQ and support team will talk you through it.
