Hawkwing

After several hours, researching the new Ballista Hawking crossbow I made the decision to purchase the crossbow using my Amazon Prime as a matter of convenience. I placed the order September 21, 2026 and my bow arrived at my address September 28. I was excited to check out this little crossbow for accuracy in my back yard. Not knowing if the scope was factory set, I decided to take my first shot on a close 15 yard target. When I pulled the trigger, nothing happened so at this point I knew that I was holding a fairly dangerous piece. keeping the bow pointed down range. I tapped the trigger 3 to 5 times before it finally discharged landing the practice arrow short of the target in the dirt. I made the attempt several times yielding the same result before I contacted Ballista support team. Ballista informed me that I needed to provide them a short video showing what was happening. After I did so, they agreed that I had a faulty trigger and that they would send me a replacement for me to install myself. After the new trigger arrived, I made the installation and decided to return to my backyard range to see how things would pan out. The first attempt successfully landed my practice arrow somewhere in the target I made some adjustments to my aim point and continue to practice, eventually at some longer ranges up to 40 yards. I was confident that I could kill a deer with this little bow, so I equipped some new sting bolts with broadheads and l decided to replace the nocks with lighted nocks. These I had also purchased from Amazon. I finally had my first opportunity to put my new set up to the test Halloween weekend. That Saturday evening I observed several doe within range and one mature buck far out of range. The following morning I watch several doe come into the food plot and then about 8:00 AM. the Big boy shows up. He is a nice even 12 pointer that would score handsomely. I took aim and squeeze the trigger, but instead of hearing the thump of your arrow finding its target something stung me on my left cheek and the noise I heard was my bow string snapping, the clatter of loose 200 pound limbs and the sound of the buck of my lifetime crashing through the brush to safety. Upon inspection, it appears that the bolt had found its mark somewhere on the deer‘s body, possibly penetrating an inch or less and falling to the ground where the deer had once stood. The lighted nock was split and the fletching was torn from behind. When I was able to contact Ballista support team, I was instructed to provide them multiple photos of my bow and the arrow so that they could review and make a determination. After their assessment, they informed me that the lighted nock that I was using, even though they were branded Ballista were not rated for use on a high speed crossbow such as their Hawkwing and that my claim could not be warranted because there was a warning for such use on their webpage. I have since seen the warning on ballista crossbows.com, but I have yet to see such warning on the Amazon site where the lighted nocks were purchased. The good news for me is that Ballista has agreed to send new string/cables and replacement nocks. i’m still confident that this little crossbow could be highly effective after a few bugs are worked out. The trigger should be upgraded to eliminate the long travel before discharge. I wish that Ballista would offer replacement fletching and a three blade fletching jig. Also, I wish that they would provide a lighted nocks, strong enough to handle high speed Crossbows.
I believe that every brand has a horror story. This was mine.

good crossbow super compact took it out and got a deer with it the ss bolt were blowing through my targets causing the vanes to break would be nice if ballista would offer a jig so we can refletch those bolts right now I am waiting to buy more bolts when they become available.

After watching and reading all the great reviews going around about the Ballista Hawkwing, I decided to get one. I placed my order 28th September which was received on 2nd October 2026. I was excited like 'a child in candy store' with this bow, setting it up that evening only to get it ready to try the next day.

That excitement turned out to be pure disappointment when the Ballista Hawkwing blew up on me, i.e. fired on its own whilst it was cocked and I was in the process of loading the bolt, which was very dangerous mind you, and at the same time snapped the string.

I immediately took a photo, the moment it broke.

The bow is now useless to me...

Note: This review is written on the 1st day I that I tested the bow, today (3rd October 2026). I have emailed Ballista to see what the resolution is.

Love this crossbow. It’s a solid, compact unit. Shoots great!

Cool bow, but lacking for the price.

I had it for about 10 shots and the string blew up. After about 5 shots I had a “miss fire” which I assumed was from the string not contacting the lighted nock properly. After that, I made sure the bolt was seated all the way down and the lighted nock was engaged. It happened a second time and the string was toast. Ballista did replace a pack of lighted nocks and hunting bolts since the 2 that had this issue were no longer usable. I replaced the string with the “upgraded strings and cables” (+$200) and haven’t had issues since.

The trigger has a lot of creep and could use some work. I also wish they had the cock vane a different color for ease of loading in low light. I striped mine with a sharpie.

I hunt with a 375 gr bolt and a 1.5” SevR Hybrid. Shot a mature buck at 28 yds and it blew through it with no issues. Deer was down within sight.

I can hold about 1” groups at 20 yds. Dead on at 25 yds, about 3” of drop at 25 yds, and about 5” at 30 yds.

Wish the bow came already the “upgraded” strings and a better trigger for the price.

Super fast, compact lightweight crossbow. Nothing like it on the market!!!

The scope mounting screws came loose after about 50 shots other than that pretty nice product Not big and bulky like other crossbows

I absolutely love this crossbow it’s light and easy to handle saddle hunting. It is the most fun crossbow I have owned

Bow itself is good but falls short in some areas. The foot stirrup could be a bit bigger and could use a larger hole to hang bow on a hook while hunting or storage. They need a sling/shoulder strap because I had to cobble one together so I could walk in woods hands free. They need a storage case for travel and storage. The quiver attachment is hard to work in the dark and not very solid. It sounds like a lot but I do love the bow itself.

Some of the screws mounting the scope can lose after about 60 shots

4th pullback the little tiny pull handle broke. causing it to release with now arrow. basically dry firing the bow

I absolutely love this tiny crossbow. I was having an issue with weight on my last couple bows. Getting to weak I guess lol. I really love the size and weight of this. The pull string to cock it is amazing. Not that hard to pull at all, I love it, sooo quick an easy. Very quiet as well. Made of good quality material. Powerful little crossbow. I am very happy with the price also. It’s better than a bunch of the more high end, unreal expensive bows out there. The only thing that has been bothering me since I started using it, and maybe it’s just mine I don’t know but when u load the arrows, they do not lay into the rail straight and center at the very end. On mine all three arrows, at the end/tip of the rail, they were slightly raised and offset. I don’t know if it had to do with the fletching or what. They still shot straight after the bow was sighted in but it doesn’t look right. I had purchased mine back in Jan or February but I only opened the box and set everything up a week b4 the season, so I’m hoping it’s nothing but really Thats always my luck. Crossing my fingers lol.

Love everything but the trigger, trigger is way too long of a pull

Amazing crossbow!! Fastest lightest i have ever shot.

Very good 👍

Great tactical bow. Going to be order the bat reverse with L Stock to go with this bow

Must buy