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The truth about Wicked Ridge Raider 400 De-Cock

18K views 38 replies 13 participants last post by  10PtCrossbow  
#1 ·
Sorry this is so long, but the Truth need to get out there

I just want everyone to know that the Specification on the Wicked Ridge Raider 400 De-Cock on their web page is not correct. And have not been for a few years now... I had a Dealer order me the news Wicked Ridge Rader 400 De-Cock. I waited almost 4 weeks for it... 1/20/23 The Dealer put it together and asked it I wanted to shoot it, I said no I will shoot it through the Chronograph when I get home. Got home and started shooting it the first shot was a 371 FPS, I was hoping for 385 but it was what it was. I may have shot it about 7 or 9 times, and all of a sudden it shot 338 the nest shot was 341 and the next was 338. I looked everything over did not see anything wrong, so I shot it again got 371. OK must have been me some how.

For some reason I thought check the Axle to Axle. The Axle to Axle specification for the Xbow is 19 inches. Mine is 19.75 inches. I called Customer Support, The very nice lady there said yes it should be 19 inches. She said send it back and we will fix it for you.

I sent it in and got a call from the Technician that said he was working on my Xbow. He said he put it togeather and adjusted the string and cables a little bet it was shooting 380 FPS, I said great I asked him about the Axle to Axle he said he would look at it again and call me back that was on 2/9/23. Today 2/10/23 he called and said he could not adjust the Axle to Axle that it was safe to shoot that way, I said I know it safe to shoot it like that but the bow is still out of specification. He said let me get some one else that can explain it better to me. Another gentleman got on the phone and began to me that they could not set the bow into specification... He said the limbs and string and cable were all correct for that bow. I ask why can't you put it into specification???

He said that when they changed a put different cams on the Wicked Ridge Raider 400 De-Cock a few years back it changed the Axle to Axle and they had measured all the Raider there in service that they all measured were 19.75 inches.

Now here's were I get very upset. They have been selling these bows for years and not tell the public that the Specification have changed. I don't like being lied to or misled on something like this. It's against the law!!!!! they are sending the Wicked Ridge Raider 400 back out side of there published Specification. I'm not very happy with TenPoint and shady marketing practices!!!!! Why are they hiding this form the public???? I think we all know Why!!!!!!
 
#2 ·
I would question as to whether the axle to axle spec. is a lie or more of an oversight in the printing of there catalog not getting updated. What are you suggesting that they are "hiding from the public"? As to "we all know why", I don't know why. What is your bottomline reason for being upset? The arrow speed or what? I am not being disrespectful just trying to understand.
 
#5 ·
I'm upset the the bow could not be put into Specification stated on the Wep page. They don't want to public to know that there bow won't meet there specification. People buy bows based on the stated specification by the manufacture. We all know as the string and cables stretch the Axle to Axle will also change. So some where in the near future my bow will be a 20 inch Axle to Axle... If I had wanted a 20 inch Axle to Axle I would have bought a 20 inch Axle to Axle.
 
#4 ·
VA Hunter, fiberglass limbs come in a variety of deflections or poundage when they are made, that is just the nature of crossbow limbs, and I would suspect compound limbs as well. They are not identical from one set to another but come in a range. When the limbs are made, all four sticks with the same deflection are kept together. Those different deflections will cause a variety of changes on the bow speed, draw weight and axle to axle measurements specifically. When we assemble the bows on the production line, we don't focus on axle to axle, we look at poundage and timing on the cams because those are key to performance. They were building a batch just now and they measure a squeak und 19.5. They vary based on the limb deflection. No way around that. Just an FYI, the Raider has ben out about 13 months.
 
#11 ·
They said that is up to 400 FPS with a 370gr bolt. The Xbow comes with 400 gr bolts.
Curious as to why cams cannot be advanced to get this closer to 19 ata. Can the cables not have twist added to do this?
They just kept saying that the Cam's timing, and limbs flexion was correct. They where more focused on that.
 
#9 ·
I get your frustration. Coincidentally my Raider decock is in for warranty repair. I know from a lifetime with real bows, the brace height and axle to axle measurement were critical to set correctly. Maybe A to A is not so critical on a crossbow ? Dunno. I’m pretty new to crossbows but the explanation from 10pt sounded reasonable. they corrected their charts to show the ’up to’ speeds IBO (vs) the ‘as equipped’ speeds. From that example it looks like it’s important to them to provide correct specs. So maybe this might motivate a change in the A to A from an exact measurement dimension to a range Or approximate . interesting
 
#20 ·
Some of the crossbows that are advertised using a certain arrow-point weight combination, but are being supplied with
a heavier arrow, the company knows using their lighter arrows and doing a lot of shooting the limbs will not last. It is just
an advertising sales gimic to keep up with other manufactures.
Here is an example using a crossbow with the front mounted riser. Before the riser is installed, the cams can be in time
and level and suggested axle to axle measurement can be right. Looking from one cam to the other, the bow string and
cables are in a straight line.
Install the riser and what happens to the bowstring and cables? Looking from one cam to the other along the bowstring,
most crossbows, the bowstring humps up as it crosses the rail. The reason being, the cables are trying to pull the end of
the limbs downward. The bowstring is trying to pull the cam end up the limbs upward.

This installation and reaction, if no adjustment is made to advance the cams, the crossbow will not make the advertised
speed using the advertised arrow weight. The axle to axle measurement will also have changed since installing the riser.

Cocking and shooting the crossbow is putting a lot of stress on the limbs that if the limbs are not properly manufactured
using high quality products, the limbs are going to sliver and possibly break. If a limb breaks, serious damage can happen
to the crossbow and possibly the shooter.

Personally, shooting crossbows as received in stock condition, limbs have slivered and one, the limb actually broke at 56
shots. Other limbs failed at 330 and 1100 to 1300 shots where the limbs slivered. All arrows shot were 425 and into the 460
grain weight which included the point. Absolutely no dry fires with any of these failures. These crossbows were advertised as
shooting 370 grain arrow-point combinations to achieve their advertised speed.

Some of these crossbows I am referring to are basically the same where many parts will interchange, but they have been sold
under different brand names depending which company requires them.

For test purposes, I have taken some of these new crossbows and re enforced the limbs in various ways only to hide the slivering
when this happens..
Checking the crossbows when cocked by measuring from the axle to the nearest rail-stock, one is looking for a weaker limb or a
different limb deflection. The stronger limb will pull the weaker limb closer to the rail-stock. Removing my re enforcement (high
quality electrical and 250 pound tensile zip ties taped to the large flat area on both sides of the limbs as re enforcements) the limbs
had slivered.

This company is an importer and checking their website for either replacement limbs or the complete riser which only costs a few
dollars more U.S. they are unable to either keep these parts in stock or unable to import them. This has been going on for many
months. Another importer selling basically the same crossbow under a different name, being the crossbows are cheaper to buy here,
does not stock replacement parts.

Some of these crossbows have a composite rail-stock with the hollow area filled with a type of foam to make them lighter. Due to this
they have a very high recoil rate which has damaged the crosshairs in some of the high dollar valued scopes.

My advice if one wishes to increase the speed of a crossbow in feet per second, adjust timing or make string and cable repairs or
the necessary change outs, is purchase your own bow press. This can save one a lot of time and money in down time, shipping or
taking the crossbow to a bow shop and maybe an extra trip to pick the bow up.

Wishing you all the best.
Take care.
 
#22 ·
Some of the crossbows that are advertised using a certain arrow-point weight combination, but are being supplied with
a heavier arrow, the company knows using their lighter arrows and doing a lot of shooting the limbs will not last. It is just
an advertising sales gimic to keep up with other manufactures.
Here is an example using a crossbow with the front mounted riser. Before the riser is installed, the cams can be in time
and level and suggested axle to axle measurement can be right. Looking from one cam to the other, the bow string and
cables are in a straight line.
Install the riser and what happens to the bowstring and cables? Looking from one cam to the other along the bowstring,
most crossbows, the bowstring humps up as it crosses the rail. The reason being, the cables are trying to pull the end of
the limbs downward. The bowstring is trying to pull the cam end up the limbs upward.

This installation and reaction, if no adjustment is made to advance the cams, the crossbow will not make the advertised
speed using the advertised arrow weight. The axle to axle measurement will also have changed since installing the riser.

Cocking and shooting the crossbow is putting a lot of stress on the limbs that if the limbs are not properly manufactured
using high quality products, the limbs are going to sliver and possibly break. If a limb breaks, serious damage can happen
to the crossbow and possibly the shooter.

Personally, shooting crossbows as received in stock condition, limbs have slivered and one, the limb actually broke at 56
shots. Other limbs failed at 330 and 1100 to 1300 shots where the limbs slivered. All arrows shot were 425 and into the 460
grain weight which included the point. Absolutely no dry fires with any of these failures. These crossbows were advertised as
shooting 370 grain arrow-point combinations to achieve their advertised speed.

Some of these crossbows I am referring to are basically the same where many parts will interchange, but they have been sold
under different brand names depending which company requires them.

For test purposes, I have taken some of these new crossbows and re enforced the limbs in various ways only to hide the slivering
when this happens..
Checking the crossbows when cocked by measuring from the axle to the nearest rail-stock, one is looking for a weaker limb or a
different limb deflection. The stronger limb will pull the weaker limb closer to the rail-stock. Removing my re enforcement (high
quality electrical and 250 pound tensile zip ties taped to the large flat area on both sides of the limbs as re enforcements) the limbs
had slivered.

This company is an importer and checking their website for either replacement limbs or the complete riser which only costs a few
dollars more U.S. they are unable to either keep these parts in stock or unable to import them. This has been going on for many
months. Another importer selling basically the same crossbow under a different name, being the crossbows are cheaper to buy here,
does not stock replacement parts.

Some of these crossbows have a composite rail-stock with the hollow area filled with a type of foam to make them lighter. Due to this
they have a very high recoil rate which has damaged the crosshairs in some of the high dollar valued scopes.

My advice if one wishes to increase the speed of a crossbow in feet per second, adjust timing or make string and cable repairs or
the necessary change outs, is purchase your own bow press. This can save one a lot of time and money in down time, shipping or
taking the crossbow to a bow shop and maybe an extra trip to pick the bow up.

Wishing you all the best.
Take care.
Thank you for all the information, I would agree with everything you have said. Hope you have a nice day.
 
#21 ·
Wait till you see how they say how much they weigh in their specs and realize it’s without a scope.
ATA width has always been kind of ridiculous way to measure width of a bow.
I always try to make light of a situation and if you’re so upset about a 1/2” and feel you were lied to, then put yourself in the shoes of millions of women who were told a number that was a lie 😂

the only reason I had to edit is because of a stupid ad that’s always in the way of what I’m typing. Not sure if the issue is the site or myphone. It’s effing annoying to not be able to see what you’re typing due to an ad 😠
 
#23 ·
Wait till you see how they say how much they weigh in their specs and realize it’s without a scope.
ATA width has always been kind of ridiculous way to measure width of a bow.
I always try to make light of a situation and if you’re so upset about a 1/2” and feel you were lied to, then put yourself in the shoes of millions of women who were told a number that was a lie 😂

the only reason I had to edit is because of a stupid ad that’s always in the way of what I’m typing. Not sure if the issue is the site or myphone. It’s effing annoying to not be able to see what you’re typing due to an ad 😠
They state their specification about their weigh on their web page is with out scope so I know that up front. And they state that the Axle to Axle it 19 inches, not 19 +/- something. Just to let you know, it 3/4 of an inch out side of the specification. After the cables and string stretch from shooting it could very easily be 1 inch.
 
#25 ·
As mentioned in Post #4, limb deflection and draw weight will affect axle to axle measurement. As you mention
about their advertised axle to axle measurement on their website, that should be left out if they are not concerned
about it.

People looking for a crossbow are interested in the axle to axle measurement, even though that is just a guide line,
due to the type of hunting etc. they plan on doing. Any tuning of a crossbow or string and or cable change can result
in different axle to axle measurements.

Recommendations I have read on various posts is to shoot the crossbow for a while to let the string and or cables
settle in (stretch). The reason being many builders are used to building for vertical bows that have far less draw weight
than crossbows, not realizing unless they up grade to better product and increase the tension before serving, the bow
string and or cable will stretch.

Wishing you all the best.
Take care.
 
#37 ·
Sorry this is so long, but the Truth need to get out there

I just want everyone to know that the Specification on the Wicked Ridge Raider 400 De-Cock on their web page is not correct. And have not been for a few years now... I had a Dealer order me the news Wicked Ridge Rader 400 De-Cock. I waited almost 4 weeks for it... 1/20/23 The Dealer put it together and asked it I wanted to shoot it, I said no I will shoot it through the Chronograph when I get home. Got home and started shooting it the first shot was a 371 FPS, I was hoping for 385 but it was what it was. I may have shot it about 7 or 9 times, and all of a sudden it shot 338 the nest shot was 341 and the next was 338. I looked everything over did not see anything wrong, so I shot it again got 371. OK must have been me some how.

For some reason I thought check the Axle to Axle. The Axle to Axle specification for the Xbow is 19 inches. Mine is 19.75 inches. I called Customer Support, The very nice lady there said yes it should be 19 inches. She said send it back and we will fix it for you.

I sent it in and got a call from the Technician that said he was working on my Xbow. He said he put it togeather and adjusted the string and cables a little bet it was shooting 380 FPS, I said great I asked him about the Axle to Axle he said he would look at it again and call me back that was on 2/9/23. Today 2/10/23 he called and said he could not adjust the Axle to Axle that it was safe to shoot that way, I said I know it safe to shoot it like that but the bow is still out of specification. He said let me get some one else that can explain it better to me. Another gentleman got on the phone and began to me that they could not set the bow into specification... He said the limbs and string and cable were all correct for that bow. I ask why can't you put it into specification???

He said that when they changed a put different cams on the Wicked Ridge Raider 400 De-Cock a few years back it changed the Axle to Axle and they had measured all the Raider there in service that they all measured were 19.75 inches.

Now here's were I get very upset. They have been selling these bows for years and not tell the public that the Specification have changed. I don't like being lied to or misled on something like this. It's against the law!!!!! they are sending the Wicked Ridge Raider 400 back out side of there published Specification. I'm not very happy with TenPoint and shady marketing practices!!!!! Why are they hiding this form the public???? I think we all know Why!!!!!!
I also was miss lead. After purchasing it the claw would not lock into the stock as explained it should. Dealer says its been a defect for years and the company has not fixed it. TenPoint told me to hold it in place with a small bundgee or a hair tie to hold it in place ! Really it's brand new !
Will not take it back or repair or replace. It's only a week old ! Do not buy Wicked Ridge they hide their errors in production and will not honor their warrantees.
 
#38 ·
Happiest day of my life was when I stopped using my Chrony....
Second happiest day was when I stopped weighing my animals.

I used to run my own archery bear hunting service .

A guy would shoot a blackie and be on top of the world.

After weighing it and coming up with a weight of 175 field dressed he would be bummed out.

I put the scale away after two years and my comment when asked what I thought it would weigh was ,
"That's a nice bear".