I have set my goal to buy the Killer Instinct Swat X1 based on recommendations here, for the compactness, covered rail, accuracy and speed, just looking for a deal. But then today Amazon has a sale of CenterPoint Wrath 430 for $340, not as good as last year with rebate, but pretty good for a deal involves no rebate. I am not sure if this is really a wise decision, or more of a lack of resistance. What do you think? Should I keep it or return it and wait for a Swat X1 deal in the future?
Wolverinegs
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I’ve had lots of xbows in the past 6 years at every price point. Liked most of em and loved a couple. The Wrath is one of those, especially the X. It’s compact yet not too small, respectively fast and very good quality for a sub$600 xbow.
For $340, it’s a bargain and IMO if you find one you like better, this is great backup.
Enjoy it!
For $340, it’s a bargain and IMO if you find one you like better, this is great backup.
Enjoy it!
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The Wraths I own or have been involved with (and that's a few) all are 415ish bows with a 400 gn arrow. Today I'm shooting a 445 gn setup (TY FD) and I'm consistently sub 2" at 50 with a good pull.
I agree with Cronos, that's a freak Wrath or a BS YouTuber getting 400 fps with an arrow over 500 gn. No way..... Crossbow voodoo!
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I shoot as ATN setup on two Wraths and the bow speed in the ballistic profile with the 445 gn arrow is 380 fps and it works.
Lighted nocks.... I'm using the TenPoint Alpha Blaze (22gn nock, 9gn bushing).
I agree with Cronos, that's a freak Wrath or a BS YouTuber getting 400 fps with an arrow over 500 gn. No way..... Crossbow voodoo!
I shoot as ATN setup on two Wraths and the bow speed in the ballistic profile with the 445 gn arrow is 380 fps and it works.
Lighted nocks.... I'm using the TenPoint Alpha Blaze (22gn nock, 9gn bushing).
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It's lighted. I'm not a fan of arrow overhang so the arrows are shorter and the tip is 125 gn. This is an 18" arrow build using the EVO-X shaft.
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To get the insert out, I use a soldering iron to heat and loosen the glue and made a simple puller for the hot brass insert. Works well.
To cut the carbon shaft, this is the best way to get a square cut.
It's essentially similar to a dremel cutter, which you could use. Ideally you would need a way to square the shaft after the cut unless you could mount the dremel and squarely cut the shaft.
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Size aside, it’s a powerful scope. Day and IR night plus video. Laser ballistics work well too. I’ve had the 4K on xbows for 4 years so it predates the Oracle or Xero. I had an Oracle X for a season and it was pretty good. No issue at all for a basic ranging day scope. The new Gen 5 ATN will help with the size/weight complaints for most but it’s new and still has buggy firmware.
Just started using an ATN thermal.
ATN ThOR Video
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It will. The Gen 5 X-Sight will be a good one when they get the firmware debugged.
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The first year base Wrath had a run of bows that were prone to limb separation. I had one and know several guys that did as well. We all got new risers that solved that issue. not aware of any of the 430Xs having limb issues. As with any xbow, limb failure can happen.
I’d agree with the guys commenting on string failure. Probably a dry fire due to nock alignment.
I did just experience a Bear limb failure from a guy shooting 600 gn arrows. 3 hours into a hog hunt we hear a sharp CRACK! Which got our attention. He was hoping those heavier arrows would help reduce risk of limb failure. In this case it didn’t.
FWIW, I like Scorpion Venom products for strings, cables and the rail.
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I also cut back my 20” arrows to 18.25 which works well in the Wrath.
Arrow weight in the mid 400s shoot well. I’m very accurate to 50/60 yards.
Have fun with it!
I’d agree with the guys commenting on string failure. Probably a dry fire due to nock alignment.
I did just experience a Bear limb failure from a guy shooting 600 gn arrows. 3 hours into a hog hunt we hear a sharp CRACK! Which got our attention. He was hoping those heavier arrows would help reduce risk of limb failure. In this case it didn’t.
FWIW, I like Scorpion Venom products for strings, cables and the rail.
I also cut back my 20” arrows to 18.25 which works well in the Wrath.
Arrow weight in the mid 400s shoot well. I’m very accurate to 50/60 yards.
Have fun with it!
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I've looked at that too but have not radiused any of the 3 sleds that I have and after thousands of shots, no issue with contact wear on the serving. I know of two other close friends that also shoot the heck out of the 430/430Xs and they have not had a problem.
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That may work but I'd compare the string angles of the Wrath and the WHII. You may find that the free hooks will be caught in the string when cocked due to string angle.
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I just shot a new 430X setup (bow and scope) with a 9.1 GPI woven carbon arrow (similar to the Sirius Phoenix) and the Gen 2 Versa nocks.
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The arrows are indexed 18.25" and came with OE half-moon nocks and shot OK but were not holding good groups like I wanted to see. The new Versa solved that.
They are .347 OD shaft and I see good string engagement with very little engaged shaft rotation and no arrow lift at the trip (from poor nock-string alignment).
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I initially shot at 15 yards and was low left 6" both ways, zeroed once with a second shot that was a little elevated and right. I did not correct that to see how it looked at 30 yards. Shot an end of 6 and the POI carried over pretty consistently.
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That's a good start! I'll dial them in this evening and check them from 20 to 50. I'm surprised a little how the nock improved consistency.
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The arrows are indexed 18.25" and came with OE half-moon nocks and shot OK but were not holding good groups like I wanted to see. The new Versa solved that.
They are .347 OD shaft and I see good string engagement with very little engaged shaft rotation and no arrow lift at the trip (from poor nock-string alignment).
I initially shot at 15 yards and was low left 6" both ways, zeroed once with a second shot that was a little elevated and right. I did not correct that to see how it looked at 30 yards. Shot an end of 6 and the POI carried over pretty consistently.
That's a good start! I'll dial them in this evening and check them from 20 to 50. I'm surprised a little how the nock improved consistency.
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Possibly and if the nock you use for hunting (possibly a lighted nock) is longer, that will come into play.
I like the broadhead fully contained if possible.
And I index them as well. It makes a difference even with these low profile mechanicals.
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It is a about 4-5% lower than what I would have estimated. My experience has been that 410-415 is pretty common with the factory 400 gn arrows. That's based on testing 3 base Wraths and 3 of the X, which I still shoot. I'm shooting 445 gn arrows 380 fps.
What's your ATA measurement are rest?
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You're ATA is good. No issue there. As the folks have commented, the performance is a little low but not far off from what anyone here would expect.
The advertised up/to speed has never been CenterPoint's strong suite going back to the original Sniper 370 in 2016, which was rated with 370 gn arrows. Frankly I'm not sure CP even tests these bows built for them. If you look at the manufacturers spec on the XB65 (what CP calls the Wrath) with it's 200 lb limbs, it produce up to 425 fps with a 370 gn arrow. Any idea how it's possible shipping it to the US would improve that to 430 fps with a 400 gn arrow. Anyway, the overall performance is still very good even though the manufacturer represents it as something it never could be.
I routinely test speeds on the Wraths when I build one and so far with my chrono, the best I've seen is 415 with a 400 gn arrow.
Frankly CP missed the boat this year passing on the next generation ManKung bows, the XB 68 and XB70. Both are very likely to be better than the Sinister 430, Tradition and Dagger 405 twins they currently offer from another manufacturer.
I kinda like that XB70.....
Man Kung E-catalog (archery-manufacturer.com)
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I've sent a note to a ManKung contact I've communicated with in the past on their 2024 crossbow product availability. Hopefully CenterPoint will be on board again. Frankly that may be why they are doing the 2-fer deal to make room for new products. If the XB70 is as advertised, I'd have to own one to see if I like it better than the 430X. Let's see.... Slightly shorter, narrower, faster and it may have a decocking compatible crank. The trigger box looks different so maybe the trigger is better??? I'd guess it to be $500-700 retail package. I'm curious.
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De-cocking in the context of safe-decocking. None of the existing CP xbows are intended to be decocked as a normal method of letting the bow down. The use of the Cocking Preparation switch, the trigger and the cranks release on a cocked bow to let it down is the result of creative application. I’m hoping they have a full break system built which I believe is pretty optimistic.
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I'm shooting 18.25" custom arrows out of the Wrath. They were built with a 1.25" setback with 2.5" Heat vanes at 1 degree right offset. Looking back through notes on other customs I've had and liked, the 1.5" setback is also not uncommon.
This Wrath arrow setup has successfully taken deer and hogs at over 50 yards. I'd consider the same setup I'm shooting now with a 1.5-2 degree vane offset for my next arrow build.
This Wrath arrow setup has successfully taken deer and hogs at over 50 yards. I'd consider the same setup I'm shooting now with a 1.5-2 degree vane offset for my next arrow build.
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