Adam Scepaniak 01.02.25
The Archery Trade Association (ATA) Show is only a matter of days away where an inevitable avalanche of new products will be announced to the delight of all archers everywhere. It is essentially the “2nd coming of Christmas” for outdoorspeople during the doldrums of winter. One of the first new products to be announced comes from a titan within the crossbow space being Ravin Crossbows. They have announced their new Ravin LR being a crossbow meant for long-range precision and scintillating accuracy as well. We received an early sample to get time behind the cams to see if this crossbow is everything that it is billed to be. So, let’s take a look at the new Ravin LR crossbow to see how it performs. Let’s dive in!
Ravin Crossbow Coverage on AllOutdoor
Technical Specifications – Ravin LR Crossbow
The new Ravin LR crossbow has an MSRP of $2,549.99 placing it in similar territory to a lot of the other crossbows currently in their portfolio. What sets this one apart from previous models is that the “LR” is really meant to shine long range accuracy and confidence like never before. Below are some of the basic technical specifications you can come to expect as presented by Ravin:
- Length: 34″
- Speed: 450 FPS
- Kinetic Energy: 222 Foot-Pounds
- Width: 6″ Cocked | 10 1/2″ Un-Cocked
- Extended Picatinny rail for additional accessories
- Adjustable length of pull and cheek comb
- Silent cocking and de-cocking system
- 135-yard down range accuracy
As always, in the rare event that you should ever need service for your crossbow, Ravin has a Limited Warranty that stands behind the Ravin LR for a period of five years from the date of original purchase against defects in materials or workmanship that adversely affect the crossbow’s operation. While I have never experienced any issues with Ravin products that I have handled over the years, it is nice to know that you have that safety net and support from Ravin Crossbows.
A Word from Ravin on the NEW Ravin LR Crossbow
Sometimes if you want to get the scoop on something it is best to get it straight from the horse’s mouth (that’s two idioms in one sentence for ya). So, we can take it straight from Ravin to learn exactly what the new Ravin LR is all about via their press release statement below:
Superior, Wisconsin (January 2nd, 2025) – Ravin, the leader in crossbow innovation, introduces the all-new LR, designed for extreme downrange accuracy. Modeled after today’s advanced long-range rifles, its ergonomic design and integrated technology create a forgiving crossbow to deliver the same stability, precision and handling. Engineered to meet the demands of today’s hunter, the LR delivers exceptional power and accuracy, setting a new standard across the crossbow industry.
“With the launch of the LR, we are bringing real, never-before-seen innovation to the crossbow industry by pushing the boundaries of accuracy to distances,” said Russ Rowan, Chief Brand Officer at Ravin Crossbows. “The LR is set to revolutionize the crossbow world by extending seasons and providing more opportunities to achieve success when it matters most.”
The LR is Ravin’s most accurate crossbow to date, designed for precision and speed at extended ranges. Shooting at speeds of 450 fps, the LR houses 222 foot-pounds of kinetic energy and delivers accurate shots at distances up to 135 yards. Its longer profile enhances balance, reducing recoil transfer to the shooter for increased stability. The adjustable turret scope, paired with a full-length scope rail, allows for the addition of precision accessories to optimize long-range performance. With an adjustable cheek comb and butt pad, premium arrow rest and a 2.5-pound trigger pull, every shot is customizable, controlled and consistent. Featuring a fully integrated silent cocking and de-cocking system, it ensures smooth and stealthy reloads in the most critical moments of the hunt. Fully assembled and ready to go, the Ravin LR comes with a 1-8×24 adjustable-turret scope, scope level, three-arrow quiver, draw handle, and three .001 premium arrows to elevate hunting and shooting experiences right out of the box.
What’s in the Box? NEW Ravin LR Crossbow
One of the most basic yet important questions we get asked while reviewing products is, “what’s in the box?” This can have a bearing on whether we need to buy additional accessories with a certain purchase, or if we have everything we need already to hit the woods or the range. This is everything that you can come to expect from purchasing a new Ravin LR crossbow in its FDE (Flat Dark Earth) colorway:
- Premium Arrow Rest
- 1-8x24mm Adjustable-Turret Scope
- Scope Level, Mount & Rings, Scope Covers, Lens Cloth, Allen keys, and Adjustable Turret key
- (3) Three Arrow Quiver
- Draw Handle
- (3) Three .001 Premium Arrows
***6 additional arrows and 3 Ravin broadheads were provided for this review, but are NOT included in a standard purchase***
What’s the Upsell? Why Should you Buy the NEW Ravin LR
If you were stuck in an unfortunate archery elevator with me, what would be my elevator pitch for the Ravin LR? What’s the upsell to buying one of these versus models from their competitors? For me, it boils down to several elements: accuracy, distance, and a silky smooth trigger pull.
- “the LR is Ravin’s most accurate crossbow to date” – If this claim holds true, this crossbow is worth every penny you spend on it.
- “delivers accurate shots at distances up to 135 yards” – To accurately shoot this far with a compound bow is impossible… its unethical… so, if you can double your effective range from that of a compound bow, why wouldn’t you?
- “2.5-pound trigger pull” – Most of the firearms I own do not have a trigger that is this nice, and firearms are typically advertised for their impressive triggers.
First Impressions
So, what are my first impressions of the new Ravin LR crossbow in its FDE (Flat Dark Earth) colorway?… Sans scope, quiver, and the other accessories this crossbow comes with, I thought this was a pretty light crossbow. That’s not an attribute that Ravin is touting, but relative to the crossbows I have handled from Ravin in the past, this very well may be one of their lighter ones. So, that is a plus.
Additionally, I like the panels built into the pistol grip near the trigger as well as the palm area for your non-dominant hand. It is tacky and grippy enough to give you ample dexterity yet it is not slick to the touch at all.
I also liked the generous amount of Picatinny rail space on top for optics mounting as well as on the bottom to potentially attach a bipod, tripod, or other accessories to stabilize your shot.
Assembly of your (3) Three Arrow Quiver
Assembling your Ravin LR crossbow is not difficult, but it is time consuming. If you want to ensure your quiver and optic are mounted properly, you need to set aside the time to do it right. These are not tasks you can do by unboxing your crossbow and working on it 15 minutes before you intend to head out the door.
For starters, I began with the quiver. As you can see from the photo above, there is a central Picatinny rail beneath the crossbow with a threaded hole. This is where you will hand screw in a large bolted nut to secure your quiver. You can start it by hand and then gently finish it with a flathead screwdriver.
Once the quiver mounting bracket is in place and secured down, you can quickly connect (and disconnect) the quiver with ease because of the side spring-loaded locking mechanism. With the push of a finger you can clear some retaining brackets to simply stick on your three arrow quiver.
Mounting of your 1-8x24mm Ravin Adjustable-Turret Scope
Next up, we have the 1-8x24mm Ravin Adjustable-Turret Scope. If you haven’t mounted optics on a firearm or a crossbow before, it may be best to bring your Ravin LR to an archery pro shop so this can be completed by a professional for you. If you are feeling ambitious and are savvy enough to do it yourself though, this is an extremely condensed explanation of how to mount your 1-8x24mm Ravin Adjustable-Turret Scope.
To begin, simply unpackage everything you have and lay it out to ensure you are not missing anything (or dropped anything while unpacking).
Seeing that you have everything that you need, begin to mount the one-piece mount in the 3rd or 4th most rearward cross-slot of the top Picatinny rail. This should place the optic in a desirable position for optimal eye relief.
Next, you will want to gently secure the ring tops to the one-piece mount. Gently, because we will want the ability to rotate the scope within the rings to make sure it is level. Ironically, you will need to own some kind of level in order to level the bubble level that comes with the Ravin LR package.
First, level the Ravin LR crossbow you are working on and stabilize it so it won’t shift or move while you are working on it. Next, when you are confident that the crossbow is level, you can level the optic. Then, with the crossbow and its 1-8x24mm Ravin Adjustable-Turret Scope secured properly with an Allen key and tightened down, you can begin on attaching the bubble level. With the crossbow still in its leveled position – having not moved yet – you can attach the bubble level and separately level it with another level.
There’s lots of levels to this – HA!
Now you should be good to go to hit the range and sight this crossbow in.
Field-Use and Shooting the Ravin LR Crossbow
To begin the sight-in process for your Ravin LR crossbow, you will want to start shooting at 20 yards at a “crossbow approved target.” The reason why it needs the air quotes and has to be crossbow approved is because normal compound bow archery targets are not meant to stop the bolts or projectiles that are launched at crossbow speeds. So, with proper target acquired, we can begin the sight-in process.
Like a traditional rifle scope or optic, you will want to shoot 1 shot. Hopefully you are not aggressively far off from the bullseye, but wherever that first shot lands, you need to make necessary up/down and right/left adjustments to make your way to the bullseye. Again, this is a hyper-condensed explanation of how to sight-in your crossbow at 20 yards. For a better and more thorough explanation, please read your Ravin Owner’s Manual.
Next, you will want to find your factory velocity card in the original box your Ravin LR came in. This will aid you in selecting the ballistic tape for your scope. My Ravin LR was factory-tested to be shooting the factory arrows at 456 FPS. So, I could simply find that sticker, peel it from the ballistic sticker table, and place it on the adjustable-turret after having reset it to zero (reference your Owner’s Manual for that process from Ravin as well).
Now, having zeroed your scope, having identified its specific velocity, and adhering your correct ballistic tape, you have your adjustable-turret setup to allow you to shoot out to 100+ yards. You may want to shoot additional arrows at 20, 30, 40, and 50 yards to ensure you properly placed your tape where it needs to be, but I was able to mount my scope and quiver plus sight everything in properly in roughly 1 hour. So, not bad at all.
Departing Thoughts
So, what are my final thoughts on the NEW Ravin LR Crossbow in its FDE (Flat Dark Earth) colorway?… Overall, I was impressed. It is spicy fast, incredibly accurate, intuitive to use if you’re familiar with crossbows, and surprisingly light. I received the Ravin LR crossbow as an editorial sample with about 1 week left in 2024. So, I had enough time to get this crossbow to the range to become familiar with it, but I did not have enough time to take it hunting, unfortunately. All this being said, I look forward to deploying it maybe for spring turkey hunting or hunting whitetail deer next fall. At a street MSRP of $2,549.99, I do believe this crossbow is worth the asking price if you want a high-end, quality crossbow.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Ravin for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their NEW Ravin LR Crossbow in its FDE (Flat Dark Earth) colorway. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the NEW Ravin LR Crossbow in its FDE (Flat Dark Earth) colorway is something worth spending your money? Would you deploy one hunting, recreationally target shooting, or even competing in a league amongst friends? As always, let us know all of your thoughts about Ravin and the NEW Ravin LR Crossbow in its FDE (Flat Dark Earth) colorway in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
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