Review: Ravin R500 vs. Tenpoint Nitro 505

The crossbow arms race has two foremost gamers: TenPoint and Ravin. Each producers make the quickest crossbows on this planet with marketed velocity at and above 500 fps. 

That velocity is completely unimaginable for one thing that shoots an arrow. Particularly when you think about that as lately as 2019, the quickest crossbows had been simply breaking 400 fps. The quickest we examined that yr was a 430 fps TenPoint. Three brief years later, we’re speaking about two 500 fps crossbows. With two choices, the pure query now turns into: Which 500 fps crossbow is healthier?  We took the Ravin R500 and Tenpoint Nitro 505 and examined them head-to-head for accuracy, velocity, and ease of use. Listed below are the outcomes. 

• Pace: 502.5 fps
• Bolt weight: 403 grains
• Momentum: .904 slug fps
• Weight: 8.4 kilos
• Uncocked width: 7.7 inches
• Worth: $3,025 to $3,725

• Pace: 515 fps
• Bolt weight: 404 grains
• Momentum: .924 slug fps
• Weight: 7.9 kilos
• Uncocked width: 12 inches
• Worth: $3,050 to $4,650

Pace

Do these two bows actually shoot quicker than 500 fps? Yep. Utilizing a LabRadar Doppler chronograph, we clocked the Nitro 505 at 515 fps and the R500 at 502 fps. Speeds are primarily based on a five-shot common and each crossbows used 400-grain bolts. The Nitro 505 can also shoot 450-grain CenterPunch bolts, which deliver the velocity all the way down to 488.5 fps. 

The Doppler radar chronograph tracks projectiles downrange and offers speeds at numerous distances. At 50 yards, the R500’s bolt is transferring at 462 fps and carries 191 ft-lb KE with .827 slug fps of momentum. At 50 yards, the Nitro 505’s Professional Elite 400 bolts are transferring at 474 fps, and have 201.5 ft-lb KE, and .85 slug fps of momentum. For perspective, these crossbows produce extra vitality and momentum at 50 yards than a compound bow does capturing a 600-grain arrow, 300 fps at point-blank vary. As you may see, neither of those crossbows are missing terminal efficiency at distance. 

Plus, velocity might help you make a well-placed shot as a result of in case you’re capturing something within 40 yards, there’s no have to vary the goal. We discovered that out after we shot two bolts at 20 yards and two bolts at 40 yards with no elevation adjustment. The R500’s 40-yard group was 1.5 inches beneath the 20-yard group, and the Nitro 505’s was 1 inch decrease at 40 yards. 

Accuracy

We shot six, three-bolt teams at 50 yards from a bench with a lead sled for our accuracy testing. The R500 averaged a 2.7-inch group, and the TenPoint averaged a 3.08-inch group. You should purchase a extra correct crossbow, however each produced acceptable subject level accuracy. Broadheads had been one other story.

For broadhead testing, we used the SEVR 100-grain and 150-grain broadheads. They had been additionally fired from a capturing bench and lead sled with the goal at 50 yards.

The Nitro 505 with the TenPoint Professional Elite bolts produced inconsistent broadhead accuracy. We discovered some bolts had a 9-inch distinction in subject level to broadhead level of affect. Different bolts with the identical broadhead grouped with the sphere factors and people teams had been 2.75 to three.5 inches. In case you select a Nitro 505, we suggest shopping for a dozen bolts, numbering each, and capturing every with broadheads to weed out flyers. We additionally examined the heavier CenterPunch bolts to see if their slower velocity would enhance accuracy, however acquired the identical outcomes. 

We had higher luck capturing broadheads from the Ravin. My first two photographs of broadhead testing–one broadhead and one subject level—had been close to Robinhood with each bolts touching. We shot a number of teams with a 100-grain SEVR crossbow broadhead at 50 yards, and it constantly grouped with subject factors. We additionally swapped the broadhead onto totally different bolts and located just one flyer that shot 4 inches exterior the group. We ran the identical take a look at with the 150-grain SEVR broadhead, and it neither damage nor improved broadhead accuracy. 

Whereas these crossbows can shoot excessive speeds, different elements like bolts, fletching, and broadheads aren’t but in a position to maximize that efficiency. We wouldn’t be stunned to see improvements from Ravin and TenPoint in these areas subsequent yr.

Cocking and Loading 

The Nitro 505 is less complicated to cock and cargo than the R500. Cranking it takes minimal effort and is aided by the well-designed crank deal with. The R500 has an inexpensive and uncomfortable crank deal with. It additionally takes extra effort to crank, and you must snap the nock onto the string, which requires gripping the bolt close to the tip. It’s a sketchy step with a broadhead. 

However the cocking mechanism on the R500 is much extra revolutionary. The set off group strikes on threaded rails for a clear design with no straps or ropes. The Nitro 505 is a extra acquainted design that makes use of straps. We had a problem with the primary TenPoint we examined when the strap grew to become disconnected from the interior cranking mechanism. Nothing harmful occurred when the strap broke; it merely wouldn’t cock the crossbow. The second crossbow TenPoint submitted for testing labored flawlessly. 

One other cool function of the R500 is the shroud that encloses the string. It’s a wise approach so as to add an extra stage of security to a robust crossbow. The Nitro 505 makes use of the usual finger defend to maintain your fingers beneath the string. On this class, it’s a draw. The Nitro 505 requires much less effort to crank, is less complicated to load, and has a a lot nicer crank deal with. The R500 has a extra revolutionary design, and it didn’t have any failures whereas testing.  

Uncocking each crossbows is a straightforward course of: Unload the crossbow, insert the deal with, and reverse crank. The good factor is you may let go of the handles with out worry of them unwinding uncontrolled. The largest distinction between the 2 is that on the Nitro 505 you must press the discharge tab to start out the uncocking course of and the R500 you simply uncrank. You may depart the set off mechanism connected to the string on each crossbows with out injury, however solely the Nitro 505 means that you can disengage it from the string. Learn the instruction manuals for full directions.

Closing Ideas

We’ve sidestepped discussing worth as a result of each of those bows are wildly costly. The R500 and the Nitro 505 begin round $3,000, and a few accent packages exceed $4,000.

There’s a silver lining in case you’re not occupied with dropping $3,000 or extra on a crossbow, the expertise that makes these crossbows potential will finally make its approach into cheaper bows. For instance, in the course of the 2022 Outside Life Crossbow Take a look at (learn our full evaluate of the very best crossbows right here), we shot a number of crossbows underneath $1,000 that clocked in over 400 fps, which was peak efficiency just a few years in the past. Possibly we’ll see a funds 500 fps crossbow on the 2025 crossbow take a look at.