Ravin R26X Crossbow

Do you love to hunt your target with a Ravin R26X Crossbow ? Or are you looking for a Ravin R26X Crossbow that catches your hunt with a single blink of an eye?

Ravin Crossbows lineup for 2022 is pretty remarkable if you are a crossbow hunter. The new R26X takes the compact R26 platform and adds the Ravin Fully-Integrated Silent Cocking system to give apex hunters a whisper-quiet draw every single time.

When the Detroit Pistons selected Spud Webb in the fourth round of the 1985 NBA draft and immediately discarded him, few believed the 5-foot-6-inch guard had a shot to play in the same league as Michael Jordan. He moved on to enjoy a tremendous 12-year career, winning the 1986 slam dunk contest and demonstrating that big things can come in little packages.

The Ravin R26x is the crossbow equivalent of Spud Webb. The Ravin R26x is one of the smallest Ravin crossbows on the market, measuring just 26 inches long and 9.25 inches broad at the axles when uncocked, yet it packs enough punch to be considered one of the best crossbows for hunting.

Speed

Despite its small appearance, the Ravin R26 crossbow fires 20-inch bolts at a blistering 400 feet per second, making it one of the quickest crossbows on the market. It’s a tack-driving machine, with every working element on the bow engineered for exact precision, forcing you to consider firing multiple bolts at the same point on the target.

The revolutionary R26X adds the Ravin Fully-Integrated Stealth Cocking function to the tiny R26 platform, giving apex hunters a whisper-quiet draw every time. Advanced HeliCoil Technology allows for a thin 26″ length, 5.75″ axel-to-axel width, and a blistering 400 FPS speed. The R26X is only available in black.

Ravin r26x specs

• 400 FPS
• Weight: 6.5 lbs.
• Length: 26”
• Width Axle to Axle 5.75” Cocked
• Width Axle to Axle 9.25” Un-cocked
• Power-Stroke: 9.5”
• Kinetic Energy: 142
• Draw Effort: 12 lbs.
• Draw Weight: 340#
• HeliCoil Technology

Ravin R26 package includes:

• Fully-Assembled/Pre-Tuned
• 3 – Ravin .003 Arrows & Field Tips (400 Grain Total)
• 1 – Removable Draw Handle
• 1 – Quiver/Mounting Bracket
• 100 Yard Illuminated Scope
• Fully-Integrated Silent Cocking System
• Anti-Dry Fire/Auto Safety
• Built-in Sling Mounts

Ravin R26x Overview

When the Ravin R26 was released in 2019, we’d heard a lot about it, and it rapidly became the finest new crossbow of the year. To discover if the R26 lived up to the hype, we put it through its paces. The equipment I borrowed was the regular R26 kit, which includes an illuminated scope, six 300-grain ravin bolts with tips, a cocking, and a quiver.

At first sight, the compactness of this Ravin crossbow catches your eye. You instantly assume how easy it would be to move in a ground blind or tree stand, making it one of the finest crossbows for deer hunting.

Engineering

The Ravin R26x crossbow is a work of art in terms of engineering. The Helicoil cam system is the engine that drives 400-grain bolts (including points) at 400 fps. The cams may spin 340 degrees as they shoot bolts owing to their unique construction.

Because the string at rest lies on the front edge of the cams and the Trac-Trigger Firing System draws the strapline into the butt of the frame, well behind the pistol grip, the bow has approximately 10 inches of power stroke despite its small size. Ravin deserves credit for making the most of the limited time allowed for string travel.

As the bow is pulled, the cables on each side of each cam coil are away from the cams, keeping them exactly level during the firing process. The frictionless flying mechanism is also crucial. Ravin bolts have only two points of contact: the nock receiver and two rollers on a rest at the bow’s front end. There isn’t a standard crossbow rail, which effectively removes friction that would otherwise slow down the bolt and perhaps affect accuracy. (Not having a rail on your crossbow will also help to extend the life of your string.)

The Versa-Draw cocking mechanism is where we believe the Ravin R26 shines. Everything is confined inside the bow. When you go hunting, you won’t need to remember to bring a cocking rope. The stock does not have a large, horseshoe-shaped string catch attached to it.

Ravin’s Cocking System

Nothing is more frustrating or laborious in the world of crossbows than having to cock and load the unit using a cocking rope. The user must first get his cocking rope out of his pocket, straighten it, sort the hooks, and lay it appropriately over the stock or cocking groove — you get the picture.

Cocking the Ravin R-series crossbows is as easy as clicking, clicking, clicking — and it happens very instantly. Remove the cocking handle from the quiver mount (which is quite convenient), slide the cocking handle into the driving shaft pins, click the trigger mechanism over the string (first click), and twist the ratchet handle until the trigger mechanism is fully engaged (second click). Fully integrated silent cocking is where Ravin r26 takes it to another level.

Scope

The tiny red-green lighted nine-reticle scope included with the Ravin R26x kit will also appeal to shooters. The user must mount the scope, which means shooting must begin at 10 yards for an initial zero, but after the mount screws are properly adjusted, it should only take three or four bullets to hit the target. On the first shot, my review sample was barely 3 inches high at 10 yards, and by the end of the session, I was perilously near to “Robin Hoods” at all distances.

The range is established in 10-yard intervals for distances ranging from 20 to 100 yards.

The Ravin R26x crossbow kit comes with a Ravin scope that is easy to use. From 20 to 100 yards, it has rings for aiming locations every ten yards. The aiming references are supposed to adjust as you adjust a dial on the scope to match your crossbow’s shooting speed.

Performance

The Ravin R26x is a quick and precise bolt shooter.

That’s all there is to it. The Ravin R26 is a sniping machine that also works well as a crossbow for hunting. It’s as if the engineers just reversed the tried-and-true processes of precision arrow delivery mastered by vertical-bow archers. To prevent friction, remove the rail, keep the cams level throughout the firing cycle, and nock the arrow in the same location for each shot.

 

Because the procedure is so easy and the bow is so little, almost anybody, regardless of age, strength, or size, may cock and fire this bow. Obviously, you’ll want to keep an eye on little children, but cocking the Ravin R26x is a breeze compared to other crossbows that take a lot of power and coordination.

The Ravin R26 can be decocked without having to fire it, which is always a plus. When decocking the R26, though, you must be on your toes or you risk damaging your fingertips. Attach the hand crank and move it slightly forward to compress the Triger-Trac eject button, then unwind the crank while holding the button down to decock the R26. If your hand falls off the crank, be careful since it will spin freely and with a lot of power.

Speed And Arrows

Ravin promotes the R26x as a crossbow with a speed of 400 feet per second. We decided to put it to the test since it’s so small and light that we felt it’d be difficult to get 400 fps with Ravin’s pre-assembled, pre-tuned, and sighted crossbow.

6 Ravin 20-inch 400 grain match-grade arrows with field tips are provided by Ravin. The carbon arrows weigh 300 grains, while the field tips weigh 100 grains. Typically, the arrows that come with some crossbows are either overly light or completely useless. The 400-grain arrows that Ravin provides with the R26x are ideal in our opinion.

Ravin-engineered polymer nocks are used on these arrows. Check to see if the nock “clicks” into the string.

Cocking system

The built-in cocking mechanism with a removable draw handle is one of the key features of Ravin crossbows. The Versa-DrawTM Cocking System was patented by Ravin. To properly cock the crossbow with this cocking mechanism, you’ll only require roughly 12 lbs. of force.

It is possible to detach the draw handle and reattach it on both sides of the barrel. You can’t let go of the handle mid-crank as you can with TenPoint’s ACUdraw PRO or ACUslide.

Anti-dry fire auto safety

Safety is one of the must-have features in the modern crossbow package. Ravin crossbows have a fully integrated silent cocking system with anti-dry fire auto safety. This will prevent any accidents, also if you are using a crossbow as a beginner.

While cocking the R26 takes some getting used to, it’s also not the quietest method to do so. The crossbow may also be discreetly cocked with Ravin’s R29X, R29X Sniper, and R29 sniper versions.

Assembling

The R26x comes completely constructed and adjusted from Ravin. All you have to do now is adjust the scope. A Ravin Scope level is highly recommended for leveling the scope. This Ravin scope level is compatible with the R26, R29, and R29X crossbows.

The R26 was created by Ravin to be portable in the field. The Ravin Backpack or shoulder slings may be attached to it in three places.

Final verdict

Although the Ravin R26 is more expensive than most other crossbows, its benefits and features make it a fantastic bargain for a professional hunter looking for a single crossbow to meet all of their hunting and shooting demands.

The R26x is well-suited to most whitetail hunting conditions, as well as other wildlife (bear, pigs, elk, and moose). Helicoil technology and Fully integrated silent cocking is a work of ark by Ravin crossbows. It also has a long-range capability that varmint hunters may find beneficial while pursuing groundhogs, coyotes, and other small animals.