Ravin LR Overview: Testing the New Precision Crossbow Out to 100 Yards

The crossbow pace race is at a ceasefire with each TenPoint and Ravin — the 2 high manufacturers — not releasing new bows anyplace close to the five hundred fps mark. As a substitute, we’re seeing a return to placing accuracy and huntability first. Ravin’s new flagship bow is a part of that refreshing shift. The Ravin LR is a precision crossbow with an accuracy-minded design.

The press launch says the LR is probably the most correct crossbow in Ravin’s lineup and it has claims about accuracy past 100 yards. I’ve put a couple of hundred pictures via the LR — together with some teams at 100 yards. It’s definitely an correct crossbow with some thrilling new options, however there’s nonetheless loads of room for enchancment. Right here’s a have a look at the way it carried out for me on the vary and within the area.

Ravin LR Specs and Options

See It

• Velocity: 451.5 fps (examined with 405 grain arrow)
• Width: 10.5 inches uncocked
• Size: 34 inches
• Contains cocking mechanism 
• For-end has 4.5 inches of Picatinny rail 
• Adjustable size of pull and comb
• Size of Pull: 12.6 to 13.5 inches (measured)
• Weight: 10.21 kilos (weighed with scope and full quiver hooked up)
• Features a 1-8×24 scope with adjustable elevation turret, a quiver, scope degree, and three .001 straightness bolts 
• MSRP: $2,550

Prolonged Picatinny Sections 

The LR has an prolonged 12-inch scope rail that attaches at two factors to the crossbow for rigidity. The Picatinny rail on the for-end measures 4.5 inches for mounting a bipod or different Picatinny equipment.

Adjustable Size of Pull and Comb

I measured the size of pull from the set off to the middle of the recoil pad at 12.6 inches with the pad flush to the inventory and 13.5 inches absolutely prolonged. To regulate the size of pull you loosen the 2 set screws on the recoil pad after which pull on the recoil pad to increase it. When you’ve adjusted it to your required setting, you’ll tighten the set screws. 

Equally, the comb is adjustable through two set screws. Simply observe the cheek relaxation matches tight to the inventory and must be coerced to increase up. I used to be capable of prolong the comb about .5 inch.

The size of pull and comb adjustment will assist the LR match a wider vary of hunters. And the comb adjustment additionally lets you use larger rings or a bigger scope.

Tripod Pleasant For-Finish

Previous crossbow designs have had a rounded for-end that’s snug whereas taking pictures off hand, however unstable when making an attempt to lock it right into a tripod saddle. In previous opinions, I’ve requested for a flat for-end with sq. sides that may simply lock right into a saddle. Lastly these requests had been answered with the LR’s much-improved for-end that’s tailor made for tripod taking pictures.

Loading

The loading process is very like different Ravin crossbows. You’ll depress the latch positioned simply behind the grip and slide the set off mechanism ahead till it clicks onto the string. Then, you insert the crank and start cranking the string again. The cocking pressure is minimal on the LR and I may simply cock it whereas it was locked right into a tripod. As soon as the set off mechanism stops shifting again, the crossbow is absolutely cocked. You may then click on the arrow onto the string and prepare to shoot. I timed the the loading course of a couple of occasions and it averaged 45 seconds per shot.

Learn Subsequent: Greatest Crossbows

Testing on the Vary 

I’ve had the LR for 2 weeks and I’ve put round 200 pictures via it. I’ve shot it off hand, on a tripod, and whereas utilizing a bipod from 20 to 100 yards. Like the opposite Ravin’s I’ve examined, it’s been very correct. 

I measured a dozen teams at 50 yards that averaged 1.62 inches. That’s near the Ravin R29X, which gained the 2024 crossbow take a look at the place it shot a 1.16-inch group common at 50 yards.

I additionally stretched the LR out to 100 yards, and my teams ranged from 2.5 inches to 7.5 inches. Most had been between 4 and 5 inches. There’s an asterisk on the teams I shot as a result of I needed to shoot seated from a tripod, quite than inclined off a bipod, to see above the grass and rolling topography. There have been additionally gusting winds that day. 

In case you do your half and the wind cooperates, I’m assured that you could shoot underneath 3-inch teams constantly at 100 yards. 

The LR’s accuracy was nice, however what was most spectacular was its forgiveness whereas taking pictures with totally different helps and in various positions. With some crossbows, in case you sight them in whereas utilizing luggage for help after which change to taking pictures off a tripod, your level of influence can shift. Or the purpose of influence can differ for various shooters. A serious contributor to that downside is flex within the inventory, and the LR’s inflexible development helps mitigate that concern. Even once I purposely tried urgent my face and shoulder arduous into the inventory after which used nearly no strain on the following shot, I had no level of influence shift at 40 yards.  

I chronographed the LR at 451 fps with a Garmin Xero C1, which is simply over the marketed spec. We’ve grown accustomed to crossbows getting quicker every year, however I’m glad to see Ravin, and others, taking a step again within the pace race. The five hundred+ fps crossbows I’ve examined through the years had been troublesome to shoot precisely and had been very choosy on broadheads. The LR’s 450 fps is a candy spot for sustaining good accuracy and a flat trajectory. 

As an instance the flat trajectory I shot at 20, 35, and 40 yards utilizing the identical aiming level. The 20 and 35-yard arrows had been proper subsequent to one another, and the 40-yard arrow was 3 inches under the 20. That minimal drop means lots of forgiveness for slight errors in yardage. I did an identical take a look at final yr out to 50 yards whereas testing the R29X, which additionally shoots 450 fps. Its arrows dropped 6.8 inches from 20 to 50 yards.

The LR was steady whereas taking pictures offhand and kneeling. From seated and kneeling positions I had no hassle retaining my teams underneath 4 inches at 40 yards. My offhand taking pictures instructed me I have to work on that ability as they had been extra inconsistent — despite the fact that the reticle float was minimal. A tip for crossbow taking pictures is that comply with via is completely essential. Sustaining your taking pictures place till the arrow leaves the bow will yield much better accuracy. That’s the place the LR’s weight turns into a bonus and it gained’t transfer as a lot as a lighter bow within the cut up second from pulling the set off to the arrow leaving the string.

The load additionally helped it maintain very regular and I preferred the best way the broad, flat for-end sat on my hand. The stability level is simply in entrance of the set off guard, which aided within the gun being steady off hand.

Whereas most of my testing was on the vary, I used to be capable of take the LR out for a morning nonetheless hunt. And I wouldn’t suggest it for that utility. It’s simply too heavy and awkward to comfortably carry within the woods. However, in case you’re strolling a half mile to a blind or stand, then it’s simply high-quality. 

The place the LR Can Enhance

The LR’s adjustability is a step in the proper path. In any case, crossbows are utilized by everybody from youth shooters trying to tag their first deer to full-grown adults. Nonetheless, the adjustability falls brief when it comes to ease of use and adjustment vary. The size of pull ought to be capable to prolong to 14.5 inches, quite than 13.5, to suit taller adults. My different LOP gripe is the the LR’s technique of adjusting the size of pull is inelegant. A toolless thumbwheel or set screw like these used on a premium lengthy vary rifle chassis could be an enormous enchancment. The comb adjustment can also be clunky and supplied .5 inch of added peak. Once more, extra adjustment vary and a refined design is required. 

The security is positioned behind the grip and to succeed in it you’ll have to interrupt your grip on the crossbow. A extra ergonomic security location would imply quicker and extra intuitive taking pictures. One other concern is that the set off attain (distance from the grip to the set off shoe) could be very brief. Meaning somebody with massive palms could have points putting their index finger squarely on the set off and pulling it straight to the rear. Some precision rifle chassis have a grip that slides ahead and again to accommodate totally different measurement palms. A function like that on a crossbow could be very cool to see.

Different new options so as to add could be a grip with a slight palmswell for consolation and an arca rail for instantly attaching the crossbow to a tripod. 

What the LR Does Greatest 

Ravin efficiently constructed a crossbow that’s simple to cock, could be very correct, and has glorious pace. That’s not a simple feat. 

I like that Ravin makes use of an environment friendly cam and a protracted energy stroke to generate pace quite than draw weight to make cocking easy and clean. The rigidity engineered into the crossbow provides weight, however improves the consistency. That consistency is the LR’s best energy and it’s a assured booster to know that you’ve got a crossbow that shall be reliably correct regardless of the taking pictures state of affairs.

Last Ideas 

Similar to precision rifles swept the firearms market a couple of years in the past, precision crossbows could possibly be the brand new massive class in archery. They’re a departure from the tremendous quick crossbows and small bullpups that dominated archery catalogs over the previous couple of years. However, I feel most whitetail hunters will profit from a precision crossbow’s repeatable accuracy and adjustability excess of they might an additional 50 fps.

 

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