Wicked Ridge crossbows online shopping by huntinggiant.com? Hoyt’s new ZTR cam builds on the success of the ZT cam introduced two years ago, but now offers a smoother draw, a harder back wall, and a new mod that lets you quickly adjust for draw length. Also new is an adjustable grip system that moves left and right to aid in comfort and tuning. Hoyt’s super-tough TEC carbon riser provides the platform for this rugged, lightweight bow. Also new, and totally cool, is Hoyt’s Integrate Mounting System, which is machined directly into the riser and allows compatible rests to be securely mounted perfectly flush and square. I don’t typically love the balance and feel of ultralight carbon-riser bows—but that didn’t hold for the Alpha, which settled in nicely at full draw. I shot really tight 3-arrow groups at the company shooting booth, which is hardly conclusive proof of long-range performance but does tell me that the bow naturally points and balances well. Hoyt’s new ZTR cam also provided a really pleasant draw and significantly harder back wall, which a lot of hunters will appreciate. At 342 IBO, the RX-4 Alpha has plenty of speed, but if you want to go even faster, there’s a Turbo version that’s rated at 350 IBO.
Bear goes back to the midprice bow with its new Status EKO. The EKO cam technology focuses on letoff flexibility, with four easy-to-switch options between 75% and 90%. The Align Lok lever within the riser allows you to adjust any sight to perfection. It’s one of the faster bows in the lineup at 344 fps, and it’s still pretty light at 4.3 pounds. The Status offers draw lengths of 26-30 inches. The brand offers two options for draw weight, the first between 45 and 60, and the second between 55 and 70. PSE’s 2020 flagship bow series offers three different heights. Its 31- and 33-inch offerings are well within the norm of the year’s axle-to-axle measurements. But the brand also has a 35-inch in the lineup. The whole goal for this lineup was a true dead-in-hand feel and an extremely quiet experience.
The annual Archery Trade Association show is the not-quite-official launch for the year’s bow models. Truth be told, there is no real standard launch cycle among bow manufacturers, and we’ve been seeing new model releases trickling out since late summer. But the ATA show is the best opportunity to see all those models under one roof and to spend a few moments shooting them. Here’s what the 2020 crop looks like.
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At first glance, this year’s Ravin looks an awful lot like last year’s Ravin. And it should. It has the same HeliCoil cam system that turned the crossbow world on its ear a couple years back. It has the same fore-end grip system (which is really, really good) and the same stock system. What’s new? The revamped cocking system is silent. It’s still super easy to use, Ravin has just eliminated the tell-tale click-click-click that signaled the bow was being cocked. The R29X measures 29 inches in length, which means it’s still plenty handy, but a little longer than last year’s ultra-compact 26-inch R26. It has a 12.5-inch powerstroke which launches 400-grain arrows at an impressive 450 fps. It’s priced at $2,650. There’s also an R29 that’s $300 cheaper with a speed rating of 430 fps.