So how bad is the CP400 really?

23181 Views 58 Replies 14 Participants Last post by JeffB1961, Nov 12, 2021

Jack Pine

Discussion Starter · Dec 9, 2019

4

Technology Electronic device Measuring instrument Scale

Technology Electronic device Display device

I liked the looks and concept of the CP400, but after such bad reviews on the trigger, decided to pass on it. Just was not going to pay what was demanded for something that was that bad from the start. BUT last week i
found a used one at an unbelievable price; the guy must have been really disgusted with it, and his displeasure was reflected in the price, so I bought it and it arrived Friday. Been real busy so didn't pay much attention to it until the next day.
Pulling the trigger without it being cocked, the effort to to pull it seemed excessively stiff, so putting the trigger gauge to it revealed a free movement pressure of a little under 3 pounds (2lb 11.6 ounces)!
Testing when cocked shows a force of 8lb 6.5 ounces required to fire the bow. In addition, the (creep) distance is longer than a bad day at work! So the trigger talk on this thing is true, and is the worst trigger I've ever seen on a crossbow. It's really too bad, I really wanted to like this crossbow. It does have some good points, it's pretty fast with a 400 grain arrow, shooting 399.9 fps. The cocking can be a little tricky, the sled could use some larger hooks and you really have to give cocking your full attention.
Bottom line, stay away from this bow until they fix it; you shouldn't be expected to have to use something this bad after paying hundreds for it, there are better bows available for much less.

See less See more

Reactions: 5

1 - 20 of 59 Posts

KTownKiller

· #2 · Dec 9, 2019

Thanks for your honesty, and the guinea pig test, man! LOL. Doesn't sound like much of an improvement can be made to them either, from what I've heard.
I was look'n real serious at them also, but got a Swat on it's way to me after SEW's raving!!!! Which has a 2.5 lb trig, just as a comparison!!! Which is really, no comparison at all!!!

Reactions: 1

Gabowman

· #3 · Dec 9, 2019

Man, that thing sounds TERRIBLE!!!! BUT....if bought cheap enough you can still get that trigger job done. It's what I would do anyway.

I know, I know. At full price I'd pass too.

Reactions: 2

Jack Pine

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 9, 2019

I actually have a purpose in mind for it, it will fill a niche application, but will never get shot much. When I finish the modifications, I'm hoping to use it hunting from my Ameristep chair blinds.

JOE PA

· #5 · Dec 9, 2019

Another "Darn Wheelie Bow", Cal? Are you feeling OK?

Reactions: 1

TX_RDXguy

· #6 · Dec 9, 2019

Let's hope the Ravin team wins the discussion with the CenterPoint team regarding the trigger and they pay some attention to it for next years CP400.

JP nailed the break pressure and the creep (pull length at 5/8") is so long you might call it a "two breath" pull.

The stock internal spring that affects trigger pressure is well over 12 lb per inch spring. I've gone down to a 4 lb load spring and break pressure is just under 5 lbs. 4.8 lbs is routinely what my gauge reads. Going lighter make no difference and unloaded trigger pressure get ridiculously low when you are under 4 lbs. Pin length changes and rocker control will make the creep pretty short at 1/8". The xbow is now shootable anyway.

It's fast and narrow and with some trigger work it's a shooter.

Reactions: 2

BHC

· #7 · Dec 9, 2019

It's on my list , but with this post, and other reports with my conversation with CP it will be on the bottom of my list. Per CP they have no plans on fixing the trigger, it all falls under liability

Jack Pine

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 9, 2019

JOE PA said:
Another "Darn Wheelie Bow", Cal? Are you feeling OK?

Jeff, ever so often I fergit how much I love the pure simplicity of my recurves. Somethin comes over me and when it passes, I find myself with yet another dang wheelie crossbow.
I'd say it's a lot like a young happily UNmarried guy who has the whole world before him until he meets a nice young girl, and goes soft in the head, thinkin maybe his life would be happier if he married her. After all, she told this poor innocent boy his life would be better if he was married, so he says "OK". Well it's not long before he finds out he can't go fishin, huntin, or hangin out with his friends any more, can't scratch himself in public without gittin criticized, and don't get to watch football. Top that off with the fact that he has to spend too much of his time over at his inlaw's place.
Well it's not long until both are unhappy, start fightin all the time, and end in divorce.
The guy's still young, and eventually gets back to his old life of doin things that make him happy, fergittin about all the stuff he didn't like about bein married. But did he learn anything? Heck no, it's not long until he finds himself married agin a short time later, having fergot how unpleasant life was back then. Just dumb and doomed to repeat his mistakes!
Well that's me Jeff, one bad relationship with a dang wheelie crossbow after another, fergittin how sweet life was with my simple recurves, determined to punish myself repeatedly for somethin bad I musta done, and end up with yet another dang wheelie crossbow, havin fergot everthang I shoulda larnt in the past!

See less See more

Reactions: 3

Wapster

· #9 · Dec 9, 2019

Cal, maybe you should just consider "dating" bows instead of "marrying" them......lol

Reactions: 4

Jack Pine

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 9, 2019

Wapster said:
Cal, maybe you should just consider "dating" bows instead of "marrying" them......lol

Sure would be great if you could rent one (crossbow) before you bought it, Randy. Oh, I guess some are doing that already

Reactions: 2

JOE PA

· #11 · Dec 9, 2019

Jack Pine said:
Jeff, ever so often I fergit how much I love the pure simplicity of my recurves. Somethin comes over me and when it passes, I find myself with yet another dang wheelie crossbow.
I'd say it's a lot like a young happily UNmarried guy who has the whole world before him until he meets a nice young girl, and goes soft in the head, thinkin maybe his life would be happier if he married her. After all, she told this poor innocent boy his life would be better if he was married, so he says "OK". Well it's not long before he finds out he can't go fishin, huntin, or hangin out with his friends any more, can't scratch himself in public without gittin criticized, and don't get to watch football. Top that off with the fact that he has to spend too much of his time over at his inlaw's place.
Well it's not long until both are unhappy, start fightin all the time, and end in divorce.
The guy's still young, and eventually gets back to his old life of doin things that make him happy, fergittin about all the stuff he didn't like about bein married. But did he learn anything? Heck no, it's not long until he finds himself married agin a short time later, having fergot how unpleasant life was back then. Just dumb and doomed to repeat his mistakes!
Well that's me Jeff, one bad relationship with a dang wheelie crossbow after another, fergittin how sweet life was with my simple recurves, determined to punish myself repeatedly for somethin bad I musta done, and end up with yet another dang wheelie crossbow, havin fergot everthang I shoulda larnt in the past!

Red Photography

Cal, LMAO! Now, as far as "renting", or "dating" a crossbow, I did that a couple of times, buying off Amazon and returning when I knew I (we in the case of a bow I got for the , ahem, wife

). Essentially cost me under $20 to try a bow for a few days and return it. I won't do that very often. My cure for crossbow curiosity is always just to shoot what I got. My style of hunting needs neither big speed or super narrow, so I guess I'm remain an old fuddy duddy.

See less See more

Reactions: 2

Jack Pine

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 9, 2019

I really DO have plans and a purpose for this dang wheelie crossbow, Jeff. I plan to cut it down and make a RAV KUNG R27 out of it, LOL.

I wanted something real narrow to shoot out of an Ameristep single chair blind. Even my Micros are a little too wide and long, and a couple times I whacked 1 of the limbs against the steel support hoop. So I want a rig I can carry far into public land and pack up and carry out when I leave.

I'm pretty sure I can do something to make the trigger manageable, or, since it won't get used much, and then not til next season, I can afford to wait a while to see if CP does anything to improve it, and still maintain factory warranty. Maybe I could even get used to it enough to use it a little. In any case, CP really peed in their Wheaties releasing this thing for sale as it is. This thing isn't worth half its price as it is.

Reactions: 1

JOE PA

· #13 · Dec 9, 2019

Can't wait to see it, Cal. I've thought, from the Sniper on, that ManKung needed more bullpup to shorten those bows up a good bit. You can show 'em how!

Reactions: 1

Jack Pine

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 9, 2019

JOE PA said:
Can't wait to see it, Cal. I've thought, from the Sniper on, that ManKung needed more bullpup to shorten those bows up a good bit. You can show 'em how!

Gonna be a while Jeff, I have to gather some materials and I'm in no hurry. First though I want to press it and get the string/cable specs. Factory string has loose/separated center serving already.

Gabowman

· #15 · Dec 9, 2019

BHC said:
It's on my list , but with this post, and other reports with my conversation with CP it will be on the bottom of my list. Per CP they have no plans on fixing the trigger, it all falls under liability

Ya know, CP was put on the map with the Sniper 370 (atleast is what I think) and it did good here on the Nation because of the trigger fix for most of us. BUT....that said, I really wonder what their market share really is. If theyre unwilling to meet customer demands it's very likely they could loose enough sales to go under. In the meantime it looks like Barnett has a 370 fps bow (same as the Sniper) that has the trigger tech trigger added. IF Barnett can fix their CS reputation they could very well put a hurting on CenterPoint. JMO though...…..

Reactions: 3

MZCC

· #16 · Dec 11, 2019

Gabowman said:
Ya know, CP was put on the map with the Sniper 370 (atleast is what I think) and it did good here on the Nation because of the trigger fix for most of us. BUT....that said, I really wonder what their market share really is. If theyre unwilling to meet customer demands it's very likely they could loose enough sales to go under. In the meantime it looks like Barnett has a 370 fps bow (same as the Sniper) that has the trigger tech trigger added. IF Barnett can fix their CS reputation they could very well put a hurting on CenterPoint. JMO though...…..

A few years ago I tried Barnett but I couldn't get past all the flimsy plastic. Has that changed?

KTownKiller

· #17 · Dec 11, 2019

And they look fat in the front end!

But, maybe still balanced? I wouldn't know, so don't take me serious!

Huntersthompson

· #18 · Dec 11, 2019

First centerpoint /ravin hybrid. I am thinking there is work to be done.

Reactions: 1

KTownKiller

· #19 · Dec 11, 2019

KTownKiller said:
And they look fat in the front end!

But, maybe still balanced? I wouldn't know, so don't take me serious!

The Barnets, I meant!

Huntersthompson

· #20 · Dec 11, 2019

KTownKiller said:
The Barnets, I meant!

I am not a fan of the step thru riser design. I shoot the ts370. It has a traditional front end. I also not a fan of bearings in Cams or composite rails. The ts370 has bushings and a machined aluminum rail with a trigger tech trigger. Rock solid xbow. 12.75 when cock and under 7 lb. If barnett would put their 430 fps limbs from their predator and longer rail into this xbows design I would add it to my arsenal.

Reactions: 2

1 - 20 of 59 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.