Ravin Crossbows No Compromise

Every once in a while, something crosses your path that shifts everything. For me, it was the R470 by Ravin Crossbow. As someone who’s spent over 20 years immersed in the firearms training world on both sides of the firing line I didn’t expect to be shocked by a crossbow. After stacking arrows into a 3-inch group at 100 yards I knew I wasn’t just trying out a new piece of gear, I was blazing a new path for myself. 

From Curiosity to Passion

My experience with bow hunting is limited. I’ve only ever hunted with a crossbow once over a decade ago – while the hunt was a success, it was purely luck that it ended with a white tail headed to the freezer. I knew I didn't have the knowledge or skill to continue efficiently or ethically. As someone who places great value in being competent and confident with the tools they're using it was easy for me to step back into my comfort zone with a rifle – but that nagging curiosity never left me, and Ravin Crossbow stepped in to turn that curiosity into passion!

Ravin was kind enough to invite me to their facility in Superior, Wisconsin to see what they do firsthand. I got to meet people behind Ravin, walk through their build processes, and get firsthand experience with their culture – and build my very own Ravin Crossbow R470! My experience at the Ravin Crossbow facility gave me a chance to see crossbows and archery from a completely different perspective.

More Than Just a Bow

Walking through the Ravin facility, I wasn’t just checking out high end equipment or looking at an assembly line, I was meeting real hunters. These weren’t corporate suits talking about projected sales or using fancy $10 words. These were outdoorsmen and women. They were bowhunters, anglers, hikers, and trappers. They shoot their own vertical bows on their lunch breaks, chase game with rifles and crossbows in their free time, and constantly push themselves into every method of hunting out there. These are people who don’t just build crossbows from a spec sheet, they truly have a passion for living the hunting lifestyle. That being said it, is clear that the dedication to producing superior solutions for hunters is front and center in everything they do! The dedication and enthusiasm was evident in each of the members of the Ravin Crossbow team I interacted with. They weren’t just making bows to sell – they were making the tools that they would trust in the field.

The Details Matter

What stands out immediately when handling a Ravin crossbow isn’t necessarily how it looks, though they are aesthetically appealing, it's what’s going on under the hood! Ravin was the first to break the 500 FPS barrier with a crossbow. 

The R470, clocking in at… you guessed it… 470 feet per second. While it’s not quite the 500 FPS found in other models the Ravin Crossbow 470 hits hard – and it doesn’t just hit hard, it hits where you want it to!

The draw system, the cam design, the anti-dry fire system, and the impressive accuracy all demonstrate a level of attention to detail that you don’t usually see outside of elite level firearms manufacturing. 

With my background of 20 plus years in automotive assembly and production at my day job, I have pretty high standards when it comes to build quality. After witnessing the Ravin Crossbow build process in person, I can say with confidence that Ravin’s tolerances and quality control are exceptional.

A Fork in the Road

So why choose a crossbow instead of a compound or traditional vertical bow?

Put very simply, it's the fastest route to extending your hunting season and exploring archery without starting from scratch. This concept wasn’t even a thought in my mind until I had some range time with the Ravin R470. 

Crossbows offer a pathway into archery that is remarkably similar to operating a rifle. It is a way to get into the woods faster, earlier, and more confidently for those unfamiliar with vertical bows. Crossbows are tools that still require skill and practice and there’s still a learning curve, but it’s a far more forgiving curve than that of vertical bows.

Some might say it’s cheating. That it’s not “real” archery. I get it, I used to think the same. My experience at the Ravin Facility and my time with the R470 have given me a new perspective. Crossbows are a gateway, not a shortcut. They offer a taste of what bowhunting has to offer. Many of the challenges from traditional bow use are still present. You still must read the wind, manage the trajectory, be quiet and still, and learn how to properly maintain your bow. 

Range Day: The Real Test

On day two, we hit the range and shot several bows in Ravin’s lineup from legacy models like the mind bending R18 which I absolutely loved to the brand new R470 that I built on day one, and Ravin’s new long-range (LR) builds.

 The results? Nothing short of jaw dropping.

A significant difference between a rifle and a crossbow is that by the time you feel recoil from a rifle the projectile has left the barrel. The opposite is true of a crossbow. The sudden release of tension on the string allows the limbs to press out, rocketing the arrow riding the chassis of the bow causing the front to lift as the energy transfers. To combat this, you need a little downward force on the “muzzle end” of the crossbow. 

At 50 yards I was hitting arrows with arrows. 60 yards was the same story. By the time we moved out to 100 yards I figured things would begin to change and get much more difficult. Putting three arrows inside a 3-inch group didn’t feel like luck. It felt like I had been doing this for some time. I don’t want to go so far as to say effortless, but a strong background in shooting fundamentals goes a very long way with a Ravin. 

Now, would I take a shot at a game animal at that distance? Not likely. At that range, too much can happen. The sound of the bow, the animal’s reaction, wind shifts can all spell disaster for an ethical shot at ranges of 100 yards. Just knowing the system is capable of that kind of precision gives me all the confidence I need to take a shot at half that distance. It’s not reckless confidence but measured and respectfully thought-out confidence. The kind that matters when you’re in the woods and the opportunity comes.

A New Trail Begins

So, what did this experience do for me? It stoked a fire in me. I’ve subscribed to a bowhunting magazine. I’ve started studying up on arrow flight, string maintenance, and the nuances of archery that, quite frankly, used to bore me to tears. I’ve begun talking to friends and industry experts that have been in the archery world long enough to teach me properly. My kids will learn to shoot on a crossbow. Down the road we’ll transition to vertical bows together. This is not to say we’ll forget about how much fun a crossbow is or that we won’t continue to hunt with them. 

I understand there’s tension in the archery world about whether crossbows “count” or not. That’s fine. Let people argue. From my vantage point, crossbows like the Ravin bring more hunters into the fold, especially those of us coming from the firearms world- and not just any hunters, ethical, disciplined, and thoughtful hunters. The kind of people who care not just about the harvest, but people who care about the land, the animals, and the meaning behind the hunt. I’m hoping the archery community is ready for a few new members, because we’re on our way. Crossbows are an entry point for those who are drawn to challenging oneself with the complexities and nuances of bowhunting – my plan right now is to go all in, and Ravin Crossbow opened that door for me.

Check Out the Full Lineup of Ravin Crossbow's

Featured Ravin Crossbow Spec Sheet

Ravin Crossbow R470

• Speed (400 gr.): 470 fps
• Kinetic Energy: 196 ft-lbs
• Crossbow Weight: 8.4 lbs
• Length: 26.75″
• Draw Force: 17 lbs
• Powered By: Hexcoil Cam System
• Limbs: Fiberglass
• Riser: Aluminum CNC
• Stock Material: Composite

Ravin Crossbow R18

• Speed (400 gr.): 330 fps
• Kinetic Energy: 85 ft-lbs
• Product Weight: 6 lbs
• Length: 25″
• Draw Force: 12 lbs
• Powered By: Verticoil Cam System
• Limbs: Fiberglass
• Riser: Aluminum CNC
• Stock Style: Removable
• Stock Material: Nylon Fiber

About The Author

Matthew Williams has devoted the majority of his adult life to firearms training and education and is an avid outdoorsman. Williams has trained with some of the most revered national level instructors from around the world in trauma med, escape and evasion, counter custody, tracking, and a variety of things that go bang and boom. Based out of mid Michigan Matthew teaches personal protection based around pistols and improvised weapons through company name Foundation Defense LLC and is the New Products Columnist for RECOIL OFFGRID.

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