We could earn income from the merchandise accessible on this web page and take part in affiliate applications. Be taught Extra ›
Gone are the times of dragging a heavy, clunky crossbow to your deer stand after which preventing to correctly purpose it in tight quarters when a buck steps out. For years Ravin has shaken up the trade by making narrower, sooner, and easier-to-use crossbows than ever earlier than.
Nevertheless the R18 brings a decidedly un-crossbow-like design (even for one within the Ravin lineup) to the deer woods. It seems extra like a fictional weapon some renegade bounty hunter from the Star Wars universe would wield than a crossbow {that a} deer hunter would carry. Its wildly futuristic design makes it the lightest, shortest, and narrowest of the corporate’s crossbow fashions. However how does the Ravin R18 shoot?
I acquired my palms on a brand new R18 and put it via its paces at my house vary. I’m a life-long deer hunter whose archery expertise facilities round compound bows. I’m a model new, wet-behind-the-ears crossbow shooter, so I shot this crossbow with out the numerous preconceived notions {that a} veteran crossbow hunter may need. Whereas I might not be completely able to commerce in my compound, there have been loads of issues that impressed me concerning the R18.
Ravin R18 Specs and Options
- Weight: 6 kilos (7.98 kilos with scope)
- Size: 25 inches (with inventory); 18 inches (with out inventory)
- Width: 4.75 inches
- Pace: 330 fps
- Arrow weight: 400 grains
- Draw Power: 12 kilos
- Set off weight: 2.2 kilos
- Constructed-in cocking mechanism
- Contains Ravin 3-dot reflex sight
- Removable inventory
- Detachable quiver
- Worth: $2,050
VertiCoil Cam System
Photograph by Alice Jones Webb
The Ravin R18 is a marvel of engineering with a brilliant distinctive design. Not like the normal crossbow design through which the limbs stand out from the edges like a cross, the R18 has limbs that run parallel to the rail. Ravin’s VertiCoil expertise rotates scaled-down cams 720 levels via the draw cycle. When the string is launched, the limbs spring upward, and the string and cables quickly uncoil, sending the arrow downrange towards your goal. The cams are slaved collectively to stop timing points.
The design shrinks the gap between axles to a scant 1.3 inches when the crossbow is cocked and cuts the general width of the bow right down to lower than 5 inches.
Trac-Set off Firing System
The R18 encompasses a built-in set off mechanism that slides alongside the rail and attaches on to the middle of the string to make sure a balanced draw each single time. The design permits for straight nock journey to enhance accuracy and consistency. When appropriately positioned, the TTFS (Trac-Set off Hearth System) produces an audible click on, activating each the anti-dry-fire mechanism and the set off security. When you load a Ravin bolt, which has a novel nock, the anti-dry hearth mechanism is moved out of the best way so you’ll be able to transfer the protection lever to the “hearth” place and safely pull the set off.
Purple Dot Sight
Apparently, the R18 comes with a Ravin 3-Dot Reflex sight, as an alternative of a scope like most crossbows do. It’s a fundamental crimson dot, though it options three stacked dots to compensate for arrow drop over distance, which is an fascinating function.My greatest beef with the optic is that the windage and elevation adjustment screws didn’t have audible or tactile clicks. Consequently, the method took a little bit little bit of guesswork. Nonetheless, it took lower than 5 minutes to get the bow roughly sighted in. Then as soon as I had a strong zero at 20, the remaining dots have been spot on at 30 and 40 yards. If I’m being tremendous choosy, I feel a little bit magnification would have been good. Nevertheless, that’s coming from somebody who wants readers to learn the again of the broadhead bundle, so that will simply be my getting older eyesight speaking.
Versa Draw Cocking System
Photograph by Alice Jones Webb
With an built-in cocking mechanism and an ambidextrous crank, the R18’s patented Versa Dra Cocking System is extremely straightforward to make use of. It solely requires 12 kilos of pressure to cock and uncock. The cranking deal with can be removable and clicks conveniently into place on the inventory for straightforward entry.
Frictionless Flight System
One other of the R18’s distinctive options is its Frictionless Flight System. This patented system permits the string to drift above the rail, lowering friction to elongate string and cable life. The suspended configuration additionally prevents contact deflection throughout launch to extend accuracy. On most crossbows, the consumer has to sometimes apply rail lube to scale back friction.
Removable Inventory
The R18 comes with a detachable nylon fiber inventory. The take-down design shortens the general size from 25 inches to a conveniently packable 18 inches.
Testing the Ravin R18 on the Vary
I examined the R18 with two associates to get a number of views and teams from totally different shooters. Utilizing a Caldwell Ballistic Precision chronograph, we measured arrow pace over ten pictures with 350-grain arrows after which used the ability of math to calculate common velocity.
The R18 undoubtedly isn’t a pace demon. I chronographed it at a median of 328.7 fps, which is fairly darned near the marketed pace of 330 fps. Nevertheless, that’s snail-level pace for a contemporary crossbow. For perspective, the common pace produced by the fashions examined within the OL Finest Crossbows of 2024 showdown was 421.85 fps. Even the slowest crossbow within the lineup, the Excalibur TwinStrike TAC2, was sending arrows crusing 18 fps sooner than the R18.
Nevertheless, pace isn’t every little thing. One factor the R18 does very properly is shoot constantly. There have been no wild variations in arrow pace. The entire measured pictures fell inside 3 fps of one another. That’s a formidable degree of consistency.
Consistency naturally results in accuracy, and the R18 delivered 1.25-inch teams at 30 yards with a gentle crosswind. We additionally backed the goal as much as 50 yards and measured six teams whole, with two three-shot teams from three testers. The end result was a median of three.8 inches per grouping. That’s not a formidable displaying in comparison with the fashions that we included in OL’s Finest Crossbow record, which averaged 2.4 inches. Nonetheless, planting an arrow within the kill zone at that distance on a peaceful September morning needs to be a stroll within the park. Plus we have to put this accuracy information in context. The R18 is just not being marketed as a protracted vary bow. It’s meant for looking shut ranges in tight quarters. And for these functions, it delivers loads of accuracy.
We measured accuracy whereas capturing from a steady relaxation. Sadly, looking pictures are not often comprised of picture-perfect capturing stances or flat-level benches. To maintain issues actual, we additionally shot the R18 from seated, kneeling, and standing positions to see how straightforward it will be to deal with within the area.
Taking pictures the R18 virtually feels such as you’re capturing a bullpup carbine. Nevertheless, with the set off set thus far ahead, the size of pull stretches out to only shy of 17 inches. For those who anticipate the R18 to really feel like a protracted gun, there might be some disappointment. Nevertheless, the R18 is well-balanced and far lighter than the common lengthy gun. Even with that stretched-out LOP, this crossbow was comfy to shoot from frequent looking area positions and the set off was comparatively gentle, although not precisely crisp.
What the Ravin R18 Does Finest
Ravin destroyed the clunky crossbow stereotype with the R18. This mannequin is ultra-light, well-balanced, and straightforward to deal with. It’s additionally extremely compact. The petite dimensions make it straightforward to hold at a low-ready if you’re nonetheless looking. It’s simply as straightforward to haul up a treestand and maneuver throughout the compact confines of a pop-up floor blind.
The R18 can be extremely easy to make use of. Cocking and uncocking require little or no higher physique energy, and I might crank it to full attract beneath 30 seconds.
Ravin crossbows all the time appear to ship huge within the accuracy division. It in all probability has to do with Ravin’s free-float Frictionless Flight System. How the bolts click on onto the string might also be a optimistic issue within the firm’s accuracy scores. Most different crossbows use arrows with a groove that rests in opposition to the string as an alternative of snapping into place.
The place the Ravin R18 Can Enhance
Though the R18 properly executes the small, light-weight design, there are some areas for enchancment. First, it is a noisy crossbow. Whereas it’s troublesome to guage sound quantity with out subtle gear and a sterile laboratory setting, the R18 is undeniably a loud shooter, significantly in comparison with most trendy compound bows.
It additionally makes a god-awful clicking sound whilst you’re cranking it, nonetheless, which isn’t good within the whitetail woods. You’ll wish to draw this one on the truck earlier than you stroll into your stand.
Ultimate Ideas
Photograph by Alice Jones Webb
The Ravin R18 is a unusually distinctive crossbow with a futuristic dystopian vibe that may elevate some eyebrows at deer camp. For those who’re on the lookout for pace, this isn’t the bow for you. Nevertheless, if you would like constant accuracy in a compact, light-weight, easy-to-maneuver bundle, the R18 undoubtedly delivers. This crossbow is about as svelte as a crossbow can get, and it will be a strong choice for looking from a treestand or floor blind, particularly within the woods the place pictures are normally inside 40 yards.