So,……Does Ravin yet have their new arrows, nocks, metal inserts on both ends, string issues and screw drive system “fixed or not”on the new R 500 crossbows being sold?? Has anyone had issues with your new crossbows and if so have you spoken to someone other then Tech Service which are great guys but hold minimal power. By that I mean Customer Service or Marketing Management. Where is the proof they’ve repaired all these items now that Ravin is in full production and shipping many of these crossbows? One item is I don’t understand Ravin not providing their premium .001 straightness arrows with this package that costs the customer over $3000.00. Seems like that should be standard for the top end crossbows being sold today no matter what the company. I’ interested in purchasing this crossbow in 2023 but only if I start seeing multiple reports of very satisfied “regular customers” who own and use these versus the “Outdoor Life” accolade’s they recently posted. Are their any owners on CBN that have R500’s and if so could you please state what have you experienced?? Regards
RAVIN R500 ISSUES??
NDPronghorn
21 - 40 of 46 Posts
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113 Posts
If I remember correctly my R29X was 13-14 revolutions per. I’m anxiously awaiting my R500E which I heard should be shipping within a couple of weeks! Can’t wait after a 14 months of waiting!
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2,589 Posts
After careful evaluation thus far I will in all likelihood purchase the R29X over the R500. It’s lighter, fits super well & pretty much proven. Will wait however now until after the ATA Show. Want to wait & see if Mathews does anything & if TP goes away from their Dry Fire Inhibitor on their top end like they did this year on their lower/mid range crossbows. Having an R29 & R15 that have been fail proof other then the cost of replacing string & cables yearly has me leaning in that direction. The R500 just looks iffy with everything on it & slower manual cranking with the twin screw design. When out west & remote for 6 weeks I have to be able to do any maintenance necessary by myself
I agree with you. Tenpoint replaces their anti-dry fire with a "true" safety then it will be a no-brainer for me between the two superspeed bows. In the meantime, my R9 has been putting the hammer down on the deer population. An absolutely awesome crossbow that I have no complaints about. And it has taken a beating over the years- rain, snow, sleet, heat, any may miles of rough terrain.
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1 Posts
I have a 500e and was extremely excited to hunt with it. I have hunted the past two seasons with a Ravin 26 and love it. Great product and very dependable. I have killed a lot of deer with that bow. Bought the new 500e anticipating the same great product. I outfitted the bow with a Garmin zero scope. The power and accuracy of the bow is amazing. 70-80 yards shots with very tight groups. I was ecstatic. Went on my Kansas bow hunt last week. And took the bow. On the 3rd day while sitting in the stand both screw retrieval bolts snapped and broke. Just broke. My arrow popped out 5 inches but stayed cocked and the trigger dis-engaged with no way to uncock the bow. I was completely screwed on a dream hunt in Kansas. No way to fix that in the stand. I called Ravin last Friday I stayed on hold two separate times for over an hour. No one took my call at CS. I then emailed them two times explain my situation. It’s Wed and no one from Ravin has contacted me. I’m completely shocked. I have always had pretty good CS from Ravin and I realize companies are short staffed but this is a serious defect and safety issue and they have completely ignored me and my situation. Shame on them. I really liked the bow but it’s obviously unusable. Thankfully Bass pro shop refunded my money 100 %. I purchased through their internet store. They were very apologetic and responsive and couldn’t believe the product had failed so dramatically. $3600 is a lot to pay, but I assumed at that price they had the product dialed in. It really makes me sick because I have loved my Ravin 26.
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12,021 Posts
Sorry to hear about the crossbow. That crossbow lists for $4400 in Canada
before 13% sales tax and that is if one is lucky enough to be able to get one.
Ravin was way behind getting the crossbow to market for reasons like Covid,
having to import parts which many companies are having that problem.
When one looks at the narrow crossbows and the speed they are trying to push
an arrow, it is pretty easy to see the stress the crossbow is under and why certain
parts are failing with very few shots.
As for customer service, it is lacking in a lot of areas. There are businesses that
will sell a product but will not service it. This means a free ride for that business
and the owner has to ship back to the manufacturer or importer.
Wishing you all the best and thankfully you did not get injured.
Take care.
before 13% sales tax and that is if one is lucky enough to be able to get one.
Ravin was way behind getting the crossbow to market for reasons like Covid,
having to import parts which many companies are having that problem.
When one looks at the narrow crossbows and the speed they are trying to push
an arrow, it is pretty easy to see the stress the crossbow is under and why certain
parts are failing with very few shots.
As for customer service, it is lacking in a lot of areas. There are businesses that
will sell a product but will not service it. This means a free ride for that business
and the owner has to ship back to the manufacturer or importer.
Wishing you all the best and thankfully you did not get injured.
Take care.
That is about as bad as it gets. That being said, think of all the cars out there that are sold with various issues, and then recalls come out. I don't know if I'm comparing apples to apples, but in the hopes of making money, products are constantly being rushed to market. We are the actual testers of the product.
Joined
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2,589 Posts
Precisely why I won’t go in the R500 direction and opt for the R29X if I stick with a Ravin. I never go west for 6 weeks without a back up crossbow and that’s paid dividends on several occasions with multiple brands that were top of the line first year models before I went to Ravin. Now I only buy models that have been out for several years. No more being a Guinea Pig for this guy.
Joined
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110 Posts
Looks like yes, there are still some issues that need to be worked out. Purchased an R500 a few weeks ago. I've put about 50 shots on it before it became unshootable.
Nock Serving is somehow shredded
![Image]()
And their Premium .001 arrows seem to be disintegrating with every shot.
![Image]()
Nock Serving is somehow shredded
And their Premium .001 arrows seem to be disintegrating with every shot.
Attachments
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12,021 Posts
In regards to the serving issue, take fine emery paper and polish the latches that hold the bowstring.
I would polish both the front and back. The front may damage the bowstring as it passes over them
when cocking the crossbow
The back may damage the bowstring when the crossbow is shot. Automotive and or hardware stores
carry this product.
Being the crossbow is high draw weight and narrow with very sharp string and cable angles, this problem
will show up sooner than a wider crossbow.
As for the arrows, wipe them down to see if this may just be foam build up from shooting a foam filled
target. Carbon arrows generate heat causing foam in a target to bond to them.
Wishing you all the best.
Take care.
I would polish both the front and back. The front may damage the bowstring as it passes over them
when cocking the crossbow
The back may damage the bowstring when the crossbow is shot. Automotive and or hardware stores
carry this product.
Being the crossbow is high draw weight and narrow with very sharp string and cable angles, this problem
will show up sooner than a wider crossbow.
As for the arrows, wipe them down to see if this may just be foam build up from shooting a foam filled
target. Carbon arrows generate heat causing foam in a target to bond to them.
Wishing you all the best.
Take care.
I bought the 500E last summer and it’s a disappointment if you’re disabled or injured absolutely but to much extra weight for me and way noisy I literally used it 2-3 times and it really didn’t come on and off very easily and it wouldn’t go on my early 500 ? I did ask them about it and never really got a response ended up selling my older 500 to a friend he’s happy as hell both shooting the 500 grain bolts
Look at your nocks at the casting line you sometimes have to take a nail file to it sometimes there sharp another deal that shouldn’t be our responsibility but might help
The R500E dual screw drive that moves the Trac Trigger Firing System back and forth failed at the first hunt. The internal clutch within the Drive System DID NOT eliminate over-cocking.
The R500E dual screw drive that moves the Trac Trigger Firing System back and forth failed at the first hunt. The internal clutch within the Drive System DID NOT eliminate over-cocking.
I’ve had a 500 for just under two weeks now, shot maybe 30 arrows from it. Yesterday it broke and I had to return it to the factory for warranty work ( two weeks before deer season opener, so I’m extremely unhappy. While cranking the trigger block up to lock into place, both the cables came loose from the lock in point. I first took my crossbow to a local archery shop where the issue was pointed out to me. The owner said he’s returned no less than six 500’s to Raven for warranty work due to this issue. One owner has returned his 500 three times for this same problem. When I get the bow back, it’ll be sold immediately. Cannot express how dissatisfied I am with the R500.
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