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Must have crossbow features vs fluff

I've now owned a Ravin R20, Scorpyd Nemesis, Tenpoint Turbo M1 and 10pt Vapor 470. I only own the Tenpoints now.
Speed is by far the most overrated thing. My turbo which is the "weak" bow compared to my others, blew through a bucks spine I shot 2 years ago. Obviously he needed a followup shot, and the second shot went in behind his right ribcage, up through his body, out his chest, and stuck in the dirt 6 inches. The cons of speed are enormous. Limited target selection, absolute PITA getting arrows out of foam targets, having to set your scope to a ridiculous zoom level to compensate for the speed, more wear and tear on all components. The cons go on and on.
Weight for me is a big factor. The public I hunted last year is roughly an hr to 2 hrs of walking one way. A heavy Xbow gets old fast for me. As a matter of fact, my vapor stayed home most of last year because it's so much heavier than my m1.
Decocking isn't a big factor at all for me. And despite having it on several bows already I don't care if I have it or not. I just throw the cocked m1 in the back and shoot it soon as I get home.
Another big deal is Xbow narrowness. Having 6 in ATA is a huge deal. It's so much easier hunting in a tree filled with limbs. I will never use a wide ATA again.
FOR ME, the biggest thing I'm looking for in a crossbow is durability and reliability. Maybe I'm just the unluckiest guy in the universe, but I've had serving issues on every bow Ive had except my M1.
If a manufacturer guaranteed 500 shots + on their serving or you get a new one I'd buy it tomorrowIMG_20210809_140600_resize_69.jpg
 
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I've been using Wicked Ridge crossbows (Tenpoint "entry level") and think they are great for the price. I'll second what bigmike is referring to with limited target selection based upon speed. At 30-40 yards my Invader 400 puts a 21" arrow (with slick trick broadhead) about 8-10" out the back of a 13 inch thick "crossbow target". My Ranger, which is ~330 FPS isn't quite so bad but will occasionally punch all the way through the target as well. Even with field tips, I'm getting 10+ inches of penetration from the Invader. Pulling those out sucks. That said, every shot I've taken on a deer has been a full pass-through and buried in the ground unless I hit a shoulder blade (twice) or (once) a spine. Even then it's generally through the bone and buried to the other side of the body.

For me, the biggest issue I've found while hunting from a saddle is getting the damn thing cocked. It's awkward as hell when hanging. With a solid platform, it would be easier but I haven't used a real platform yet while saddle hunting.

Width is a concern but I tend to lean away from the tree so it's less of an issue. You definitely have to remember how much the limbs spring back though. I've heard of folks breaking their crossbow when the limb slaps against a tree trunk.

Weight can be an issue for folks but my crossbow is my "primary" deer hunting weapon so I'm used to it. I also don't have to travel deep into the woods or through particularly thick stuff to get to my hunting locations. That might change my opinion a little bit.

One feature I've recently added is a lighted scope. The simple black line reticles are hard as hell to sight through at low light conditions and having the battery-powered lighted reticle makes a huge difference.
 
@frankp,

Totally agree about Wicked Ridge. I decided to buy a xbow, but wasn't ready to drop 1k+ quite yet. But I wanted something of decent quality. So my research led me to the Invader. ~500 on sale from Borkholder. I spent some of the money I saved on Tenpoint Centerpunch bolts and broadheads. It's a very effective setup.
 
Been saddle hunting with a Scorpyd Aculeus 110 for two years. IMO it’s like the excal of compound crossbows. I’ve had a sub 1 and sub 1 lite and imo the Scorpyd trigger is way better. Cocking is easier/ faster with the Scorpyd short sled too. Been using the same set of strings and cables since I got it and because of the low draw weight no issues with serving and timing. It’s a little wider than your ravins or sub 1 series bows bur it hasn’t been an issue yet. Killed 4 with it so far. In terms of reliability it’s practically bombproof and very low maintenance.
 
Do not bypass the Killer Instinct sub $400 crossbows. I have 2 of them - Ripper and Burner, one primary and one backup. Over 400 fps for under $400.

The company even has a lifetime warranty. I stay pretty stock with what the bow comes with, no special arrow builds or customizations. I did upgrade the scropes to the luminix.

I've also had the Centerpoint 370 that @WISCO mentioned. Another great crossbow for under $400. No complaints. I would own another one in a second. The only reason I went with the KI is the 1lb-1.5lb weight difference. The KI may be a little more compact but I never had an issue with that.

Point is you can get some really top of the line crossbows for under $500, so don't think you have to take out a second mortgage.
 
Does anybody have some commentary to offer on conventional crossbow vs the Hickory Creek? This would be my first crossbow, and since I’m in the saddle and JX3 about 60% of the time, but not all the time, I’m wondering what the best all purpose approach would be. Tonight I was looking at a ladder stand I might start sitting heading into late season and Im wondering what I’d rather be holding up there. I assume the vertical crossbow is way more convenient from the saddle, but admit some of the features and speed of the other models are tempting too.
 
Does anybody have some commentary to offer on conventional crossbow vs the Hickory Creek? This would be my first crossbow, and since I’m in the saddle and JX3 about 60% of the time, but not all the time, I’m wondering what the best all purpose approach would be. Tonight I was looking at a ladder stand I might start sitting heading into late season and Im wondering what I’d rather be holding up there. I assume the vertical crossbow is way more convenient from the saddle, but admit some of the features and speed of the other models are tempting too.

I think one of the smaller, narrower offerings would work for both. In the ladder stand you could use the rail as a rest. But you could potentially spend several thousand on a Tenpoint or Ravin vs $800 for a Hickory mini. You could get the mini and then a cheaper Centerpoint or Barnett crossbow for the ladder stand. There are $200-300 options that will drop deer easily.
 
I sold my mini this past year to finance some other things but I liked that crossbow a lot. For a variety of reasons, I took my El-Cheapo Carbon Express Blade Pro out and shot my buck with it and the blood trail was complete devastation from start to finish. You don't need to spend a lot for a decent crossbow. That being said, now is the time to find some great deals on higher end xbows. BSS has a Darton Toxin 150 on sale for under $800 that shoots a 400 gr. bolt 425 fps and its a very underrated crossbow in my opinion. Todd Bromely from Crossbow Magazine agrees and Darton was the first to incorporate the Bullpup design into their crossbows which now several other companies like Mission and Raven and others mimic.
 
After watching 2 of my friends with Ravins bust their scopes by losing their grip on the crank, I am thrilled with the ACUslide crank on my Tenpoint. It is a must have going forward for me.
 
I'll second the crank on the crossbows. My excalibur micro assassin 400 TD has a crank that I do not have to do much to hold. 12 lbs of pressure is all it takes and maybe for two to three cranks and it drops to 4-6 lbs. Then after two more, it's barely moving. I would hate to have to hold it with a rope cocker.
 
Must have features;
1.) 400+ feet per second (fps)
2.) Reverse Draw, Reverse Cam because what ever weight the crossbow is, the weight is Centered and not all forward. And this is also where all of the technology is heading anyway because it allows for a longer Power Stroke emparting more inertia and power to the arrow.

these are the only two deal breakers.

then I get into;
1.) anti dry fire
2.) deCocking
3.) trigger feel

One more thing. Once you try the Burris or the Garmin ranging scopes you will never want anything else. They are pricey but worth it. The Garmin being the more pricey of the two but I prefer the Garmin.
 
Must have features;
1.) 400+ feet per second (fps)
2.) Reverse Draw, Reverse Cam because what ever weight the crossbow is, the weight is Centered and not all forward. And this is also where all of the technology is heading anyway because it allows for a longer Power Stroke emparting more inertia and power to the arrow.

these are the only two deal breakers.

then I get into;
1.) anti dry fire
2.) deCocking
3.) trigger feel

One more thing. Once you try the Burris or the Garmin ranging scopes you will never want anything else. They are pricey but worth it. The Garmin being the more pricey of the two but I prefer the Garmin.
Death by Bunjie fan?
 
I've been using Wicked Ridge crossbows (Tenpoint "entry level") and think they are great for the price. I'll second what bigmike is referring to with limited target selection based upon speed. At 30-40 yards my Invader 400 puts a 21" arrow (with slick trick broadhead) about 8-10" out the back of a 13 inch thick "crossbow target". My Ranger, which is ~330 FPS isn't quite so bad but will occasionally punch all the way through the target as well. Even with field tips, I'm getting 10+ inches of penetration from the Invader. Pulling those out sucks. That said, every shot I've taken on a deer has been a full pass-through and buried in the ground unless I hit a shoulder blade (twice) or (once) a spine. Even then it's generally through the bone and buried to the other side of the body.

For me, the biggest issue I've found while hunting from a saddle is getting the damn thing cocked. It's awkward as hell when hanging. With a solid platform, it would be easier but I haven't used a real platform yet while saddle hunting.

Width is a concern but I tend to lean away from the tree so it's less of an issue. You definitely have to remember how much the limbs spring back though. I've heard of folks breaking their crossbow when the limb slaps against a tree trunk.

Weight can be an issue for folks but my crossbow is my "primary" deer hunting weapon so I'm used to it. I also don't have to travel deep into the woods or through particularly thick stuff to get to my hunting locations. That might change my opinion a little bit.

One feature I've recently added is a lighted scope. The simple black line reticles are hard as hell to sight through at low light conditions and having the battery-powered lighted reticle makes a huge difference.
Not deCocking your bow for so long May leed to limb problems and greater wear and tear.
BTW I am a 10pt fan as well. My first and only crossbow is a Siege rs410. Centered weight is my thing, so Reverse Draw and Reverse Cam technology is my absolute must. I will carry an extra pound if I need to. I agree that as long as you are above a certain minimum speed any extra speed is just going to break down the bow faster and increase the maintenance issues. Don’t store your bow in extreme heat or extreme cold.
 
Death by Bunjie fan?
Big fan

you spotted me

but I think Richard Wilson is a big proponent of string draw and deCocking with a really blunt deCocking arrow. Richard though has dry fired a bow or two but hasn’t yet moved to the anti dry fire technology of TenPoint and instead enjoys the maintenance that occurs from dry firing.

I like the Garmin, he likes the Burris ranging scope.

I haven’t hunted with mine yet.

Richard gave up on Tree Saddle Hunting and I am gearing up for it in a big way, and don’t imagine that I will ever get tired of it.
 
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Not deCocking your bow for so long May leed to limb problems and greater wear and tear.
BTW I am a 10pt fan as well. My first and only crossbow is a Siege rs410. Centered weight is my thing, so Reverse Draw and Reverse Cam technology is my absolute must. I will carry an extra pound if I need to. I agree that as long as you are above a certain minimum speed any extra speed is just going to break down the bow faster and increase the maintenance issues. Don’t store your bow in extreme heat or extreme cold.
I've now owned a Ravin R20, Scorpyd Nemesis, Tenpoint Turbo M1 and 10pt Vapor 470. I only own the Tenpoints now.
Speed is by far the most overrated thing. My turbo which is the "weak" bow compared to my others, blew through a bucks spine I shot 2 years ago. Obviously he needed a followup shot, and the second shot went in behind his right ribcage, up through his body, out his chest, and stuck in the dirt 6 inches. The cons of speed are enormous. Limited target selection, absolute PITA getting arrows out of foam targets, having to set your scope to a ridiculous zoom level to compensate for the speed, more wear and tear on all components. The cons go on and on.
Weight for me is a big factor. The public I hunted last year is roughly an hr to 2 hrs of walking one way. A heavy Xbow gets old fast for me. As a matter of fact, my vapor stayed home most of last year because it's so much heavier than my m1.
Decocking isn't a big factor at all for me. And despite having it on several bows already I don't care if I have it or not. I just throw the cocked m1 in the back and shoot it soon as I get home.
Another big deal is Xbow narrowness. Having 6 in ATA is a huge deal. It's so much easier hunting in a tree filled with limbs. I will never use a wide ATA again.
FOR ME, the biggest thing I'm looking for in a crossbow is durability and reliability. Maybe I'm just the unluckiest guy in the universe, but I've had serving issues on every bow Ive had except my M1.
If a manufacturer guaranteed 500 shots + on their serving or you get a new one I'd buy it tomorrowView attachment 64738
I've now owned a Ravin R20, Scorpyd Nemesis, Tenpoint Turbo M1 and 10pt Vapor 470. I only own the Tenpoints now.
Speed is by far the most overrated thing. My turbo which is the "weak" bow compared to my others, blew through a bucks spine I shot 2 years ago. Obviously he needed a followup shot, and the second shot went in behind his right ribcage, up through his body, out his chest, and stuck in the dirt 6 inches. The cons of speed are enormous. Limited target selection, absolute PITA getting arrows out of foam targets, having to set your scope to a ridiculous zoom level to compensate for the speed, more wear and tear on all components. The cons go on and on.
Weight for me is a big factor. The public I hunted last year is roughly an hr to 2 hrs of walking one way. A heavy Xbow gets old fast for me. As a matter of fact, my vapor stayed home most of last year because it's so much heavier than my m1.
Decocking isn't a big factor at all for me. And despite having it on several bows already I don't care if I have it or not. I just throw the cocked m1 in the back and shoot it soon as I get home.
Another big deal is Xbow narrowness. Having 6 in ATA is a huge deal. It's so much easier hunting in a tree filled with limbs. I will never use a wide ATA again.
FOR ME, the biggest thing I'm looking for in a crossbow is durability and reliability. Maybe I'm just the unluckiest guy in the universe, but I've had serving issues on every bow Ive had except my M1.
If a manufacturer guaranteed 500 shots + on their serving or you get a new one I'd buy it tomorrowView attachment 64738
 
-Tac Driver
-400fps
-Narrow Profile
-Ability to decock without shooting it

I shoot a Ravin R20. I’ve had it 4 years and have never had a problem with it other than the scope fogging, which Ravin immediately replaced under warranty. I hunt all year with it, even during gun season and kill 3 or 4 a year with it. It is a tad heavy, but it meets all of my other criteria. With the Ravin lineup you can get whatever fit you are looking for. I would highly recommend the R10, that thing is pretty much bullet proof and runs about $1300, but you can find them on sale.

Never held a Hickory Creek, but it‘s cheap-er, light and sounds like it would be a good fit for the saddle since you don’t really have to worry about whacking your limbs on the tree trunk.
 
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