Sighted in my crossbow today and review.

[Saltwater60]

I bought a killer Instinct ripper 425 and here are my thoughts.
Mira a nice looking bow.
assembly was easy
I bought rage mechanical broad heads and practice tips.
The rope cocker is not bad but I’m a bit short and it is difficult to get the last 1-2”. If you’re shorter than me get the crank. I’m 5’6”.
I bought the crank cocker, but the rope cocker is faster, but it’s very difficult on my back. I feel like the crank cocker is expensive for what it is.
Now to the test fire. It’s fast. It’s fast!! It is accurate but the scope was not very easy to adjust. I was shooting a tad high and 7-8” to the right. I adjust down easy but the left right took a lot more turns to get it to move than I expected. It’s supposed to be 1/4” per click, but I must have turned it 50-60 times to get it to move 5-6”. I’m still shooting about 1-2” right. It was raining so bad I stopped. I shot at 20 yards and 40 yards and no adjustment was needed. Same point of aim at 20 and 40 yards so I was very pleased to see that.
8 shots were in a 2-3” grouping. And I was still adjusting the scope so I’m pleased

 

[kev74]

With the rope cocker, make it as short as you can and still get it in place and it will be a bit easier to pull that last little bit. I did that with mine and it helped when my wife and son would use it.

 

[Catskillkid]

Nice review. I'm a new crossbow owner too. Test fired mine at the place I bought it and it was dead on balls accurate there. Practiced with it again a few weeks ago and it was still dead on balls accurate. Looking forward to deer season this year.

 

[Saltwater60]

With the rope cocker, make it as short as you can and still get it in place and it will be a bit easier to pull that last little bit. I did that with mine and it helped when my wife and son would use it.

The rope cocker there is not much room to make it any shorter to begin with. There maybe an inch of play on each side. I hated to buy the crank but after using the rope cocker my back kills me. I’m going to avoid it anyway. I like the rope cocker over the crank because it’s just easier and less to fuck with, but pain is pain.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

The rope cocker there is not much room to make it any shorter to begin with. There maybe an inch of play on each side. I hated to buy the crank but after using the rope cocker my back kills me. I’m going to avoid it anyway. I like the rope cocker over the crank because it’s just easier and less to fuck with, but pain is pain.

I never gave body height much thought (I'm 6'2") so naturally I assumed it was just as easy for anyone to cock a crossbow using a RCD.

The rope on mine was too long, so I merely cut some off one end, and used a simple (double overhand) stopper knot to reattach the handle.

At 5'6" you must have to pull the handles WAY up. Interesting dilemma, especially if by design your Xbow has an unusually long cocking stroke.

Wish I had some constructive and useful input at the moment, but I don't. Seems as though someone somewhere must have overcome this challenge.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

The rope cocker there is not much room to make it any shorter to begin with. There maybe an inch of play on each side. I hated to buy the crank but after using the rope cocker my back kills me. I’m going to avoid it anyway. I like the rope cocker over the crank because it’s just easier and less to fuck with, but pain is pain.

Maybe bring a phone book with you?

On a serious note, start establishing ranges with the scope. Not sure how it's set up for a reticle. Distance is just as much a key for a crossbow as it is with a bow. There's not a ton of room for error.

 

[Saltwater60]

Maybe bring a phone book with you?

On a serious note, start establishing ranges with the scope. Not sure how it's set up for a reticle. Distance is just as much a key for a crossbow as it is with a bow. There's not a ton of room for error.

I shot at 20 and 40 yards and it was the same point of impact. I was very surprised myself. I had about 2-3” groupings with multiple arrows. I want to mark and group a couple arrows next weekend so I can tighten it up to 1” or less.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

I shot at 20 and 40 yards and it was the same point of impact. I was very surprised myself. I had about 2-3” groupings with multiple arrows. I want to mark and group a couple arrows next weekend so I can tighten it up to 1” or less.

I'd be suspect of that. You should be seeing a noticeable drop at such varying distances if your using the same aim point.

 

[Saltwater60]

I'd be suspect of that. You should be seeing a noticeable drop at such varying distances if your using the same aim point.

I will verify it. It was raining badly and the scope was wet and had some haze on it. However I shot it and a friend shot it. We both observed the same in amazement.
It does shoot 425 FPS so I’m not sure if that matters?
My friend even asked me what dot on the scope I used at 40 yards since that is where he shot from. I said the top one, the same as 20 yards. We both shrugged, he used that ring, and was impressed.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

It's entirely possible to be zeroed @ 20 yards, a bit high @ 30, and zeroed again @ 40 due to arrow speed and trajectory.

I'd be curious to know how high @ 30 using the same dot. 3" high or less would be mint. You could use the same dot for a dead on hold to 40 yards.

 

[Saltwater60]

They

It's entirely possible to be zeroed @ 20 yards, a bit high @ 30, and zeroed again @ 40 due to arrow speed and trajectory.

I'd be curious to know how high @ 30 using the same dot. 3" high or less would be mint. You could use the same dot for a dead on hold to 40 yards.

All shot a bit high and to the right and in the same 2-3” circle. I used two arrows and each arrow shot a tad bit differently. I have to group them and mark them.

 

[Blimey]

It's entirely possible to be zeroed @ 20 yards, a bit high @ 30, and zeroed again @ 40 due to arrow speed and trajectory.

I'd be curious to know how high @ 30 using the same dot. 3" high or less would be mint. You could use the same dot for a dead on hold to 40 yards.

It’s so fast this may be the case. Will make it easy to use in the field.

My “370” FPS (which I think in reality shoots about 345) I have dead nuts @ 20, with lower reticle right at 30 and the fourth is low 40’s. The scope has no adjustment for speed and assumes a slower arrow which is why it’s low 40’s. I find the groups are insanely tight (2-3”) at 30 and open up past fourth so would not take a shot that far. Thankfully I’ve never had to try past 30, within which it’s a very reliable shot.

I try to get its Zero ideal on second reticle at 30, knowing that if I’m closer the variance doesn’t matter as much.

I have a cheap range finder always with easy access.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

They

All shot a bit high and to the right and in the same 2-3” circle. I used two arrows and each arrow shot a tad bit differently. I have to group them and mark them.

You're golden big daddy

 

[Saltwater60]

Only thing that sucked was pulling the practice broadheads out of the target. A few were very difficult to remove.
I will honestly not likely have a shot over 20 yards anyway. I never got to clearing lanes this year so whatever. I really wish I would have and I’m sure I’ll regret it.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Only thing that sucked was pulling the practice broadheads out of the target. A few were very difficult to remove.
I will honestly not likely have a shot over 20 yards anyway. I never got to clearing lanes this year so whatever. I really wish I would have and I’m sure I’ll regret it.

No matter how much I do on our hunting property I wish I would have done more. Each year is an improvement over last year.

I keep an arrow with a field point in my 3 arrow quiver to uncock my Xbow at the end of each hunting day. Easier to remove from backstop. I have a target/backstop set up 30 yards away from the shooting house to shoot at. The distance makes it easier to remove from the target. I keep an arrow puller (basically a rubber hose that goes over arrow shaft) in my pocket to help remove the arrow. The field point hits only about an inch high and left.

 

[Saltwater60]

No matter how much I do on our hunting property I wish I would have done more. Each year is an improvement over last year.

I keep an arrow with a field point in my 3 arrow quiver to uncock my Xbow at the end of each hunting day. Easier to remove from backstop. I have a target/backstop set up 30 yards away from the shooting house to shoot at. The distance makes it easier to remove from the target. I keep an arrow puller (basically a rubber hose that goes over arrow shaft) in my pocket to help remove the arrow. The field point hits only about an inch high and left.

I like the arrow puller idea. I only had trouble with the practice broadheads. The field points come out fine for an obvious reason. My crossbow pretty much buried arrows to the fletchings at both distances. We were all impressed at how fast and how flat the crossbow shot.
I did leave my target there to discharge my bow into.
Next year I plan to clear some lanes and plant some fruit and nut trees to attract deer with food. They use my parents as a travel through and bed down area so it is difficult to know where they are going to be. A nicely placed chestnut tree should do the trick. I plan to plant mulberry, plum, chestnut, late apple, and late persimmon trees.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Only thing that sucked was pulling the practice broadheads out of the target. A few were very difficult to remove.
I will honestly not likely have a shot over 20 yards anyway. I never got to clearing lanes this year so whatever. I really wish I would have and I’m sure I’ll regret it.

No matter how much I do on our hunting property I wish I would have done

I like the arrow puller idea. I only had trouble with the practice broadheads. The field points come out fine for an obvious reason. My crossbow pretty much buried arrows to the fletchings at both distances. We were all impressed at how fast and how flat the crossbow shot.
I did leave my target there to discharge my bow into.
Next year I plan to clear some lanes and plant some fruit and nut trees to attract deer with food. They use my parents as a travel through and bed down area so it is difficult to know where they are going to be. A nicely placed chestnut tree should do the trick. I plan to plant mulberry, plum, chestnut, late apple, and late persimmon trees.

Just trying to give you a few tips to make your first hunting season a little easier. All these are school of hard knocks tips. Hopefully you find them useful and make your first season easier and successful.

 

[Saltwater60]

No matter how much I do on our hunting property I wish I would have done

Just trying to give you a few tips to make your first hunting season a little easier. All these are school of hard knocks tips. Hopefully you find them useful and make your first season easier and successful.

I hunted a bit two years ago and hunted daily hard last year. I saw lots of deer but no good shots except one. I I talked a tree stand so that should change that. No doe tag this year so I’m pissed, but that’s life right.
I’ll take all the help I can get man. No worries.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

I hunted a bit two years ago and hunted daily hard last year. I saw lots of deer but no good shots except one. I I talked a tree stand so that should change that. No doe tag this year so I’m pissed, but that’s life right.
I’ll take all the help I can get man. No worries.

The best you can do is the best you can do.

Smart move passing up questionable shots. At best, all day or all night tracking. At worst a wounded deer gets away to suffer.

 

[Saltwater60]

The best you can do is the best you can do.

Smart move passing up questionable shots. At best, all day or all night tracking. At worst a wounded deer gets away to suffer.

Getting up high should definitely give me a huge advantage. Time will tell. 11/6 will be my first outing.
My worst fear is injuring and losing a deer. I just do it for the fun and challenge and injuring a deer is not on my to do list.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Getting up high should definitely give me a huge advantage. Time will tell. 11/6 will be my first outing.
My worst fear is injuring and losing a deer. I just do it for the fun and challenge and injuring a deer is not on my to do list.

I do it cuz of the challenge and woodsmanship, and I like to eat them.

 

[Blimey]

Good luck tomorrow. Great weather in my area. Dusted off the xbow yesterday. Each year sitting in the basement it seems to drift around zero by an inch @ 30 yards or so, but it's uncanny how damn consistent the bolts group on it.

 

[holdover]

I was looking at them this morning at Cabela's. very sweet

 

[Saltwater60]

I got all my bolts grouped. Well 5/9. Other 4 are all over the place