Inside Archery December 2021

The 2022 Ravin R500, like other models from the Compact Performance Crossbow Arrow
company, includes a forward roller rest, the R500's speed Specifications and Flight
requiring steel bearings. The R500’s remarkable performance is Specifications
the sum of all its parts. That is to say, ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Ravin R500 limbs are quite substantial, wider spaced there is not just a single trick that boosts ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
and well beyond parallel to harness this crossbow's velocity with this crossbow, but an ar- Length
extreme power. ray of advanced technologies at play that 28 inches Test Bolt
pushes performance to extremes. A long Ravin R500 Series
ing handle. The new VersaDrive Cocking 15-inch power stroke is part of that, and ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
System includes an internal screw drive the bullpup stock design makes that pos- ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
that moves the proven Trac Trigger Firing sible, without creating a burdensome Width
System (TTFS) smoothly back and forth. weapon. The R500’s 300 pounds of draw 7.6 inches at rest Bolt Weight
An internal clutch prevents over-cocking, weight offers a substantial contribution 3.6 inches cocked 400 grains
while also allowing de-cocking the cross- and can’t be viewed as inconsequential.
bow after the hunt. The system also allows But there is more than brute strength in- –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
the cocking process to be stopped, and then volved here. The cutting-edge Hexcoil Cam
resumed/reversed, at any point desired. As System, well-beyond-parallel quad limbs, Power stroke Kinetic Energy
a quick aside, this system can be upgraded frictionless launch deck and extremely 15 Inches 222 foot-pounds
to the R500E system by purchasing the new rigid riser and platform all create ex-
Electric Drive Kit. treme efficiency—technology that comes –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
at a price, certainly, but a price those
seeking maximum velocity are willing Draw Weight Arrow Speed
to pay. 300 pounds 500 fps

The heavy-duty limbs are set in two –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
opposing arcs, axles 7.6 inches apart at
rest and quad-pinned limb butts about Mass Weight FOR MORE
5.25 inches apart at rest or when cocked. 8.4 pounds INFORMATION
Limb stance is an incredible 3 3/8 inches VISIT
wide, the stability needed for the ex- –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– RAVINCROSSBOWS.COM
treme cams, outboard buss cable an- OR CALL
choring points and torque control neces- Finish (715) 718-3574.
sary for such a powerful platform. Each Slate Gray
split limb supports a rubberized/radiated
dampener. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The stock is milled aluminum, and the MSRP
top bridge/Picatinny rail/bolt shroud is $3,024.99
one piece of intricately milled aluminum
bolted to the bottom chassis with ma- ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
chine screws. The front riser is the most
substantial portion of the crossbow, save weight. This forward weight lends
thick milled aluminum skeletonized to the R500 exceptional in-hand balance.
The butt is covered in non-slip rubber,
as is the forward hand grip, the frame of
which is part of a polymer AR-style pis-
tol grip, trigger guard and grip structure.
Length of pull is about 13.5 inches, a fairly
average dimension in modern firearms.

The safety is located just forward of
the butt, including a simple knurled alu-
minum lever and white (safe) and red
dot (fire) positions. The safety clicks into
safe upon cocking, and an anti-dry fire
mechanism is included to prevent dry-
fires without a bolt clicked firmly into
place. The bolt does not ride along a full-
length aluminum rail in the traditional
fashion, but on a two-point rest common
to earlier Ravin models, though this rest
includes stainless steel bearings instead
of plastic rollers.

The R500 arrives fully assembled
and pre-tuned with a removeable draw
handle, six Ravin R500-specific bolts
with 100-grain field points, a quiver and
mounting bracket, and 100-yard illumi-
nated scope. IA

WebXtra ■ Take a closer look at

the Ravin R500 and see it in action! Go to
insidearchery.com/ravinr500

DECEMBER 2021 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 51

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY LEADING ARCHERY MANUFACTURERS

Musacchia Broadheads
BY PATRICK MEITIN

N ow located in a converted farmhouse and a 3D printer used to make the car- iting a trade-show booth while he was
in Upstate New York, the nexus of tridges for the blade packaging. Another with a former broadhead company.
“Ah, a trocar tip,” the surgeon said. This
bedroom is used for finished inventory, sparked a conversation about the merits
Musacchia Broadheads began with one of the packaging supplies, shipping boxes and of the approach and convinced John they
had taken the right path. Musacchia’s
largest names in the broadhead sphere. a small compressor—which only shakes trocar broadhead tips are made from 416
stainless steel with a minimum Rock-
the first floor. The living room serves for well hardness, or 42RC. This guarantees
the tip will not distort after encounter-
Today John Musacchia conducts busi- assembly, spin-testing, packaging and ing bone. The 416 material includes good
machinability and is cost effective. John
ness from his 3,000-square-foot home shipping. points out that most 416 stainless guar-
antees only a 35RC. Carpenter steel, in-
in Lexington, New York, this space com- Musacchia Broadheads has operated cluding Project 70 416 stainless steel, is
guaranteed to 38RC. Musacchia Broad-
prising the manufacturing facilities and successfully from this humble setting heads has tips he guarantees to 42RC,
utilizing a process John mastered 30
warehouse, where everything but the for three years, now surpassing the years ago by purchasing specific “heats”
of material (a typical “heat” of  material
kitchen, master bedroom, and two bath- $500,000-plus annual sales mark by run- is 16,000 pounds) and then employing a
proprietary heat-treating process. This
rooms are used to produce and deliver ning a lean and efficient operation. John process brings more carbon to the sur-
face, which can result in some super-
Musacchia Broadheads. employs local friends for piece-work as- ficial rust over time, though the loose
carbon can be easily wiped from the sur-
John’s unfinished basement in- sembly and does the final inspections face. A light coat of lubricant also solves
the problem.
cludes three rooms, the largest hous- himself. Musacchia also recently signed
John says every broadhead he has
ing a Swiss-style screw machine to with Gartland Associates, a sales group ever had a hand in producing included
aluminum ferrules, though he has cer-
produce the slotted broadhead bodies at that covers every state east of the Rocky tainly tested other materials. John says
his first choice in aluminum is 6262 T9,
two finished parts per minute, a verti- Mountains. John and Brandon Gooding but due to its lead component it is no
longer manufactured in the U.S. So, John
cal milling center that is modified to handle the show schedule. Gooding is a chose 7075 T6 aluminum, which includes
higher yield and tensile strengths.
automatically load steel stock and un- full-time guide who has committed to
Musacchia blades are made from 420
load  finished trocar tips at three per the show schedule indefinitely. stainless steel, which John feels is the
only worthwhile choice. Musacchia 420
minute, and the near-finished shuttle- John put Musacchia Broadheads into blades contain 12 percent chromium,
which makes them less brittle and al-
type blade grinding machine to produce motion on the same day that a 5-year lows heat-treating to Rockwell 51 RC—a
hardness John feels is perfect for his
Musacchia 4-blade blades, which is ex- non-compete agreement with his for- blades’ geometry, sitting right on the
bend/break threshold and providing ex-
pected to spit out 30 blades per minute. mer company ended in June 2017. cellent edge retainment after encounter-

A Bridgeport mill is used for tooling. His goal was to manufacture the best

100-grain three- and

four-blade broadheads

that his 30-plus years

of studying and manu-

facturing broadheads

Two- and three-phase power converters would afford him. After only three years

are also located in this room. in business, customer feedback has been

Of the two other rooms, one holds exceptional.

floor-to-ceiling shelving to hold unas- What truly sets Musacchia Broad-

sembled broadhead parts, packaging, heads apart are superior materials and

promo items and some finished inven- design. John chose only materials he

tory, the other used as a tool room with felt were the best for the applications he

a lathe wash basin for parts, compara- had in mind, namely producing a dead-

tor for quality control, and 35-cfm air reliable broadhead capable of taking any

compressor—which shakes the entire big game animal world-wide. The trocar

house when in use. An upstairs bed- tip design is one recognized in the medi-

room serves as Musacchia Broadheads’ cal industry as offering the best penetra-

office, including a custom sealing ma- tion available—a design stumbled upon

chine for clamshell packaging, shipping in the mid ‘80s.

scale, postage machine, shipping boxes John relates a story of a surgeon vis-

52 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2021

ing bone. Musacchia Broadheads include 53
a blade attack angle of 31.5 degrees—the
transition point between a blade slicing
instead of chopping.

When getting his start in the broad-
head business, John traveled the country
to locate vendors that could supply the
materials necessary to assemble a qual-
ity broadhead. During this time, John
met Eric Hoeker of H&H Swiss Machine
Products. Hoeker would become instru-
mental in saving John’s initial broadhead
company, while also introducing John to
the manufacturing philosophies of  Dr.
Deming, the man largely credited with
rebuilding Japan after WWII. In Toyota’s
headquarters, for instance, there are
three pictures on the boardroom wall: the
founder, the current CEO, and Dr. Dem-
ing. Hoeker gave John two books; “Dr.
Deming—The American Who Taught the
Japanese About Quality, What Every U.S.
Businessman Should Know About Suc-
cessful Management & Bringing Quality
Back Home” and “The Essential DEMING:
Leadership Principle From the Father of
Quality!” These books, in short, instilled
the notion of continuous improvement in
every aspect of business through statisti-
cal process analysis. As CEO of his previ-
ous broadhead company, during meet-
ings John continually told his people he
wanted to beat the competition on every
level, from quality, to how they answered
the phone and right down to how their
front door opened. His team worked to-
ward that goal. John says the competition
had to deal with that philosophy then,
and he says they will have to deal with
Musacchia Broadheads today.

John has long believed that well-placed
broadheads will take care of themselves.
He designs broadheads to deal with inevi-
table bad hits. He settles for nothing less
than pass-through performance, no mat-
ter where an animal is hit. John says that
for animals the size of a whitetail, if you
are not consistently finding your arrow
stuck in the ground beyond a shot animal,
your broadhead is not doing its job.

“One of my greatest thrills,” says John,

DECEMBER 2021 INSIDEARCHERY.COM

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY LEADING ARCHERY MANUFACTURERS

“is when a customer calls to say they shot and unassembled broadhead parts. This my amazing father and the company
an animal, and the arrow went through has allowed Musacchia Broadheads to he once started, allowing me to work
so fast that they couldn’t find that arrow. deliver product quickly and without the and learn from amazingly talented and
No. 1, they’ll have to buy another broad- backorder waits some companies are dedicated people with one goal in mind:
head, and No. 2, it confirms that I’m mak- now experiencing. producing the best broadhead we could
ing an effective broadhead.” for bowhunters. I will now take all I’ve
As Musacchia Broadheads grows, learned and apply it to the manufactur-
John adds, “The list of people who have John’s future plans include 125- and ing and distribution of the Musacchia
helped me over the years, and also made 150-grain broadhead models, all includ- Broadheads NBS100!”
Musacchia Broadheads thrive, is so exten- ing the same basic geometry. If he is to
sive I hesitate to list them for fear of over- enter another product category, John says NBS100 broadheads (No BS, 100 grains)
looking someone. The exception are my that the product must prove equal to or are offered in four- and three-blade mod-
mother and father, who I couldn’t have superior to the best products on the mar- els, the 1 1/8-inch-wide four-blade includ-
done anything without. But I extend a big ket—in short, helping to enhance bow- ing cross-locking blades, the 1 3/16-inch-
thank you to every friend, family mem- hunters’ chance of success. wide three-blade using angled blade bas-
ber, business associate, customer and es, both designs locking blades securely
pro-staffer for all their hard work, moti- John quotes his father, John Musacchia inside the heart of the ferrule, anchored
vation and goodwill sent my  way. I love Sr., in saying “There are those who want by the screw-on trocar tip. Musacchia
you all and am eternally grateful.”  to know what archery can do for them. Broadheads arrive in three-packs stored
We want to know what we can do for in a reusable plastic hardcase that keeps
Addressing ongoing supply-chain is- archery.” edges shaving sharp and protects cus-
sues, John says that when he launched tomers from injury.
Musacchia Broadheads he fortunately Musacchia Broadheads’ pro-staffer
overestimated needs and began well John “Bubba” nicknamed John Musac- For more on Musacchia Broadheads,
ahead of the curve with raw materials chia the “The Godfather of Broadheads.” got to musacchiabroadheads.com. IA

“Well, if I am that, it’s only because of

54 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2021



MARKET TRENDS BOW REPORT

Elite Archery EnVision
BY PATRICK MEITIN

I ’ve shot a good number of November treestands and the prospect the EnVision riser strategically position-
Elite Archery compound bows of shooting with stiff, inactive muscles ing bow mass over the grip and behind
and a brain required to perform straight the shooting hand to provide a more solid
feel. The past-parallel limbs and new ris-
over the years, some reaching back out of “sleep mode.” I continued shoot- er design create a highly-forgiving 6 7/8-
inch brace height. This high brace makes
at least 15 years, when I was still ing Elites, when the opportunity arose, its 334 fps IBO speed rating even more
for the same reasons, even after adopt- impressive.
releasing the bowstring with fingers. ing releases. I wasn’t necessarily seeking
EnVision Tuneability
raw speed, but pure-and-simple forgive-
The 2022 EnVision naturally includes
I have never met an Elite bow I did not ness and shootability. Though, Elite has Elite’s proprietary S.E.T. Technology,
found on models from the past couple
get along with and shoot well. Of course, more recently upped their velocity game, years like the well-received Kure and En-
Kore—both of which I’ve used success-
complete shootability has long remained while also managing to retain their fully in the field. S.E.T. is the acronym
for Simplified. Exact. Tuning. In case you
an Elite Archery hallmark, including sweet-shooting characteristics. missed it, S.E.T.-equipped bows include
a lock bolt behind each limb pocket, and
some of the smoothest draw cycles in The 2022 Elite Archery EnVision prom- tuning bolts top and bottom through the
rear-side riser surfaces. An arrow rest
the business, exceptional in-hand bal- ises “an enhanced shooting experience is installed and adjusted to center-shot
and fired through paper to receive feed-
ance and inherently forgiving natures. that increases your accuracy, confidence, back. S.E.T. then allows tuning out any
perceivable arrow kick—lock bolts loos-
That is why I gravitated to Elite models and stealth like never before—EnVision ened and the adjustment bolts turned
counter clockwise to tune out “Tail Left”
initially—especially as a finger shooter— Shootability,” while also relinquishing tears, or clockwise to correct “Tail Right”
tears or arrow kicks. The system does
as I was contemplating chilly October- arrow speeds of up to 334 fps. this by altering limb tension at the rear
limb-pocket bridge. Distinctive refer-
I was naturally intrigued. Another ence marks and arrows are included to
ensure uniform tuning top and bottom.
treestand favorite in the making? This initially requires some trial-and-
error auditioning, but once you get a feel
The EnVision was engineered around for how the system works, establishing
perfect arrow flight becomes nearly in-
what the experts at Elite Archery en- tuitive and incredibly fast. Adjustments
can then be locked down securely for
visioned the ideal shooting experi- lasting results. It is a time saving and
precise avenue to achieving perfect tun-
ence should feel like. The result is a ing for optimized arrow flight and per-
formance—much faster than fiddling
compound bow that integrates a target with sometimes cumbersome or impre-

inspired bow design into a compact,

stealthy and deadly bowhunting rig. I

couldn’t wait to get my hands on one.

Elite's ASYM Tri-Track Cam draws smooth, EnVision Geometry
relinquishes 334 fps IBO speeds and allows draw
lengths from 23.5-30.5 inches in 1/4-inch increments. At a glance, the EnVision is equipped
with wider limbs and pockets set on a
Elite Archery's S.E.T. system allows quickly longer, straighter cage-style riser. This
"dialing out" imperfect arrow flight by adjusting seems to be where bow design is going,
limb tension at their bases. the wider limb stance providing a more
stable, torque-free base that decreases
limb stress and eliminates cam lean un-
der load. The result is increased accuracy
through more even bowstring/nock trav-
el, and decreased noise through quicker
post-shot recovery.

A longer, straighter riser automati-
cally lends any bow stability by spread-
ing the weight of the limb pockets, limbs
and cams across a wider plane, just like
a tight-rope walker’s long balancing pole.
The bow just wants to sit steadier in the
hand at full draw, for more precise aim-
ing, and resist jump after the shot for
a more pleasant shooting experience.
Elite’s distinctive Cage Riser design fur-
ther accentuates balance and stability,

56 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2021

Specifications Arrow Speed

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Elite Archery EnVision set at 70.0 pounds at 30 inches.

Axle-to-Axle Length 29-inch Arrows/ Shaft *Finished Kinetic Arrow
31 inches
100-Grain Tips gpi Arrow Wt. Energy Speed
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Brace Height
6 7/8 inches CX Triad 300 10.9 564 grains 93.8 ft. lbs. 273.7 fps

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Mass Weight Easton T64 DF 7.9 tapered 528 grains 91.4 ft. lbs. 279.1 fps
4.45 pounds
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Bloodsport Evidence 300 11.7 518 grains 92.4 ft. lbs. 283.4 fps
Let-Off
70 to 90 percent, adjustable –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Arrow Tech MT 12.2 508 grains 93.1 ft. lbs. 287.3 fps

Available Draw Lengths –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
23.5 to 30.5 inches
Victory VAP-SS 300 9.9 473 grains 90.8 ft. lbs. 294.0 fps
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Available Draw Weights
40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and CX Max RED SD 350 9.4 465 grains 92.6 ft. lbs. 299.5 fps

new/optional 75 pounds –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Black Eagle Spartan 340 9.9 453 grains 93.7 ft. lbs. 305.2 fps

Available Finishes –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
New Mountain Tan and
Elite Archery's Cage Riser design creates improved Sienna Brown, Ninja Black, Victory VAP 300 8.7 424 grains 91.6 ft. lbs. 311.8 fps
in-hand balance and decreases mass, while maintaining Graphite Grey, Outdoor Brown
a stiff platform. and Green, Realtree Excape and –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Edge, Kuiu Verde, Pure Whitetail
cise arrow rests. Easton Hexx 330 7.9 386 grains 90.9 ft. lbs. 325.6 fps
Elite’s proven ASYM Tri-Track Cam and six target colors
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
System, including Versa Performance ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Mods, is also part of the EnVision’s easy Black Eagle Carnivore 350 7.5 363 grains 87.9 ft. lbs. 330.1 fps
tunability. The system, first of all, al- MSRP
lows setting up draw lengths from 23.5 $1,199 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
to 30.5 inches in a single bow—saving
display space and lowering inventory Victory RIP XV 300 7.0 355 grains 87.4 ft. lbs. 332.9 fps
needs while serving just about any cus-
tomer who walks through your doors. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
More impressively, the mod system al-
lows adjusting draw length in precise Liberty Archery 320 5.9 292 grains 85.6 ft. lbs. 363.2 fps
¼-inch increments, and let-off from 70 to
90 percent, to help dealers provide cus- –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
tomized service to individual shooters’
dimensions and draw-cycle, let-off and Arrow speeds established using a Caldwell Shooting Supplies Chronograph G2.
rear-wall preferences.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (877) 503-5483, OR VISIT ELITEARCHERY.COM.
EnVision Stealth
string loop, rest, sight and stabilizer. A re-
Pre-loaded, past-parallel limbs, lined limb fined VRT—Vibration Reduction Technol-
pockets and an ultra-stiff riser, taken as a ogy—adjustable buss cable management
whole, contribute to shot silence, but the system includes bearing-equipped rollers
EnVision holds several additional silenc- to eliminate friction and potential cable
ing features. This makes it virtually hunt chatter while drawing, and this design
ready out of the box—just add a peep, also reduces lateral torque at full draw.
The system maintains tension on the buss
Elite's Vibration Reduction Technology (VRT) cable cables to eliminate vibrations after release.
management system was refined for 2022, making The split limbs hold highly effective Elite
the EnVision more torque free and quiet. VibeX blocks to soak up noise and residual
vibrations, and a standard rubber string
stop mounted on a carbon rod is added.
The bowstring speed buttons serve double
duty, as they are made of soft rubber that
also eliminates post-shot string twang.

My overall impression is a superbly bal-
anced and highly forgiving package that
makes centering bull’s-eyes, 10-rings or
big-game vitals more automatic. I’m a seri-
ous stickler for bow balance, and this bow
has that. The bow is well behaved in the
hand before and after the shot, and it in-
cludes no perceivable vibrations after the
string drop. I usually prefer a tad longer
bow, but the EnVision creates the feeling
that it’s a couple inches longer than its ac-
tual 31-inch axle-to-axle specs. The result is
the ideal cold-weather treestand package,
or one to make the toughest shots possible
after slogging up steep mountains. IA

WebXtra ■ Learn more about

the new EnVision and other 2022 Elite

Bows at insidearchery.com/elite2022

DECEMBER 2021 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 57

MARKET TRENDS GEAR REPORT

BLOCK Targets Infinity Crossbow Target

BY PATRICK MEITIN
W
hile testing the newest crossbows— ability to stop field
like Ravin’s R500 reviewed in this points and any broad-

issue—it isn’t uncommon to discover the reli- head style at velocities
able target you’ve been sending compound- of up to 520 fps while
using standard diam-

bow arrows into lacks stopping power. eter bolts. Introduce one

of today’s heavy, ultra-

My chin-high tuning/rough-sighting tar- thin diameter crossbow

get, located right out the door of my shop bolts and you can likely

for convenience, leans against our wood- round stopping power down

sided pump house. Shooting a crossbow to 500 fps—which still keeps you

at speeds of more than 450 fps results covered with any crossbow model I’m

in a startling whack, followed by much currently aware of.

cursing as I work to dislodge the deeply Another value-added feature is that

embedded bolt from the thick rough-cut these targets allow six-side shooting, but without sacrificing the easy-pulling
nature the brand is known for. The “Fu-
pine. I then must fill the hole and paint it so no single face receives undue wear. sion” portion of the equation keeps the
target together after accepting hun-
over so Wifey is none the wiser… dreds of shots, and it prevents slivering
or pulling out clumps of foam while ex-
There are many targets designed es- tracting broadheads. The PolyFusion de-
sign is safe to use with both fixed-blade
pecially for the incredible energy deliv- and mechanical broadheads designs,
and of course, field tips.
ered by today’s high-performance cross-
The six white-on-black faces each
bows, but few quite so economical as hold a unique target design. One of the
target faces, for instance, includes a
BLOCK Targets’ Infinity Crossbow Target. bold deer graphic with superimposed vi-
tals for quality hunting practice. Anoth-
The substantial 16-inch square model er includes multiple spots, strategically
offset to minimize wear to any single
retails for $149.99, and the massive 20- All of the shooting faces also hold mul- portion of the target, while another in-
cludes a grid design to help make faster
inch cube retails for just $203.99 (street tiple aiming points to help spread abuse and more precise scope corrections.

price usually lower). These were new ar- around. Side handles are molded into The BLOCK Infinity Crossbow 16-inch
weighs about 15 pounds, and the Infini-
rivals for 2021, both including the com- the block, so there is no rope or nylon ty Crossbow 20-inch is about 25 pounds,
making them light enough to pack
pany’s PolyFusion  layered-foam tech- webbing to accidently shoot through to hunting camp, or just to drag out
into the Back 40 for some quality get-
nology, easy arrow removal, and most and strip fletchings. away time. Check them out by visiting
feradyne.com/infinity-target/. IA
importantly for our context here, the PolyFusion layered-foam is the real

secret to these targets’ remarkable lon-

gevity and easy bolt removal. The high-

density core layers, fused inside a

protective foam casing, stop ar-

rows/bolts through friction instead

of brute resistance. The experts at

BLOCK Targets applied the right

amount of tension to the Infinity

Crossbow models to ensure they

will stop any crossbow bolt cold,

WebXtra ■ For a closer look at the

BLOCK Infinity Crossbow Target, go to

insidearchery.com/BlockInfinity.

58 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2021



The inventive minds of the that a new idea is as effective as it was quivers and stabilizers—is new for 2022.
archery industry are always imagined. The process is never ending, but Redline’s RL-1 Carbon Sight is one of the
it continually yields powerful new products company’s key new offerings for the year
hard at work imagining new that elevate the archery experience. ahead. Available with one or three pins, the
RL-1 Carbon was built to offer functionality
possibilities and new approaches Despite a hectic year, industry leaders and maximum adjustability while remain-
managed to come through again for 2022. ing sleek, stylish and lightweight. With a
to creating products that improve Like years past, the latest product designs full carbon bracket and aluminum hous-
are sleeker, more effective and geared to ing, this sight is extremely lightweight
target scores and promise greater meet consumer preferences. Many of next and built to last many seasons. The RL-1
year’s new products have not been official- Carbon features streamlined second- and
success in the field. ly revealed yet, but here’s a sneak peek of third-axis adjustments, a precise windage-
some of the new products that are sure to adjustment knob and a rugged nonslip
With passion for archery and bowhunting make a big impact in 2022. elevation-track adjustment design. It has
as their driving force, each year brings us .019-inch fiber optic pins and an enclosed
an exciting new array of innovative prod- REDLINE BOWHUNTING • Redline Bowhunt- fiber optic ring to provide bright aiming
ucts. The industry’s innovators are ob- points. Other features include an adjustable
sessed with the sport and determined to ing is a new name in the industry, but this yardage pointer and bubble level. Learn
improve their own success, and this, in brand was purpose-built by passionate in- more at redlinebowhunting.com.
turn, improves the success of their custom- dustry insiders with more than 100 years of
ers. True innovation also takes more than collective experience in the outdoor indus- TROPHY RIDGE • Trophy Ridge’s new
simple brainstorming. It requires patience try. Redline Bowhunting is committed to
and persistence—ample testing to confirm creating a new breed of highly engineered, Lite-1 Pro is a premium five-arrow quiver
top-quality accessories, and the compa- with innovative features that make it a
ny’s whole product line—including sights, fast and deadly partner on the hunt, and

60 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2021

Redline RL-1
Carbon Sight

Users can tuck the Centerline into their Trophy Ridge
sleeve when not in use, making it easy to Lite-1
climb a treestand ladder without snag-
ging limbs or making noise. The Centerline Pro Quiver
comes standard with a Globo-Swivel (GS)
also extremely lightweight. The Lite-1 Pro strap allowing archers to select various T.R.U. Ball
is a dealer-exclusive product, and Trophy 3/16-inch spaced hole settings. All internal Centerline
Ridge considers it the lightest, most versa- sears are hardened stainless steel materi- Release
tile and possibly the most capable quiver als and designed to last a lifetime. Separate
the company has ever built. It’s equipped travel and sensitivity set screws allow us- BCY
with three bright green LED lights on the ers to adjust trigger pull from very light to Mercury 2
top of the hood that provide illumination very heavy, while still maintaining a super- Bowstring
when needed, and its Ballistix CoPolymer crisp feel. Learn more at truball.com. Material
construction makes it extremely durable.
A braided hanging rope makes it conve- BCY • Since its founding in 1990, BCY has
nient to stash the detached quiver on a
handy limb while on stand. A customizable been dedicated to serving the needs of ar-
mounting bracket fits the quiver higher or chers, bowmakers and string-makers with
lower on the bow to help archers tweak the latest advances in bowstring technol-
bow balance, and dual arrow grippers hold ogy. BCY is a leading force in the develop-
arrows securely. The Lite-1 Pro is compati- ment of innovative material improve-
ble with fixed and mechanical broadheads. ments and product advancement, con-
Learn more at beararchery.com. stantly experimenting with ways to adapt
the latest fibers to the archery bowstring
T.R.U. BALL • The T.R.U. Ball Centerline is market. For 2022, BCY is releasing new Mer-
cury 2 Bowstring, which is a larger version
a new wrist strap release that contains a of the highly popular original. Mercury 2
“bail to wrist strap connection” straight- is comprised of high-strength Dyneema.
line design engineered to reduce torque. It has very low creep, along with high
The Centerline has the new Tri-Hook Bail strength and high durability. It’s compat-
system that automatically resets shot after ible with crossbows and some compounds.
shot, delivering the superior quality that Learn more at bcyinc.com.
consumers have come to expect from T.R.U.
Ball. The thin profile allows the archer’s EASTON ARCHERY • Easton’s new 4mm
finger to reach the trigger more naturally,
and there are also textured thumb and Superdrive Micro arrow is the latest ad-
forefinger locations for easier draw cycles. dition to the popular Superdrive family of

DECEMBER 2021 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 61

Easton products. The Superdrive Micro is Easton’s additional parts, and they come in black
Superdrive highest performing all-carbon arrow yet, only. Learn more at axcelsights.com.
designed for all-purpose outdoor tourna-
Micro ment use from target to field to 3D. En- HAWK HUNTING • Based in Irving, Texas,
AXCEL gineered to provide the lightest grain-per-
inch weights possible in a given spine Hawk Hunting is committed to ruggedly
Armortech Lite range, the Superdrive Micro will maxi- designed outdoor gear. Hawk takes tree-
Hunting Sight mize an archer’s shooting range and min- stand minimalism to new heights with
imize their pin gaps, allowing for higher the introduction of the all-new Rival Mi-
Hawk Hunting velocities and flatter downrange trajec- cro Treestand. Today’s hunters use a com-
Rival Micro tories. The Superdrive Micro is available bination of innovative new technology
Treestand in 11 spines from .325 to .950, providing a and time-tested hunting tactics to ensure
BIGshot Kinetic 650 Crossbow Target choice for the best archers across every success, and this often means they are
division with an extremely tight .002- taking more gear into the field. To re-
inch straightness spec. Accompanying the duce the weight and bulk hunters carry,
Superdrive is a full-line of glue-in target Hawk developed the Rival Micro Treestand
points, pin inserts, pin nocks and direct- stand to be exceptionally lightweight and
fit nocks. They are sold in 12 packs, and highly compact, as well as easy to secure
components are sold separately. Learn to a daypack or to carry into the woods by
more at eastonarchery.com. hand. The Rival Micro Treestand is based
on a minimalized 20.5-by-17.5-inch plat-
AXCEL ARCHERY • AXCEL Archery is form with a flip-up seat. It weighs only 10
pounds. The assembly folds flat for easy,
introducing the Armortech Lite Hunt- unobtrusive transport, and the simple de-
ing Sight for 2022. The Armortech Lite is sign and feathery weight make it easy to
geared towards bowhunters who want to install onto a tree with the included ratch-
minimize weight and keep their setups et straps. For added safety, the Rival Micro
compact. One big attraction of the new Treestand comes with a full-body safety
Armortech Lite is a lighter direct mount- harness, and includes a 300-pound weight
ing bracket with options for greater el- rating. Learn more at hawkhunting.com.
evation. Other features include complete
sight leveling capability, with a true BIGSHOT TARGETS • New for 2022, the BIG-
second and third axis, each containing
a two-screw locking system to secure shot Kinetic 650 is a revolutionary target
desired settings. A new design in the designed for today’s high-kinetic-energy
windage bracket allows for more overall crossbows. The Kinetic 650 is the only ar-
travel within the windage adjustment. chery target to utilize multilayer firearm
Both windage and elevation adjustments level ballistic material, which provides
include a lock lever that is used to secure both stopping power and the ease of pull
the settings—loosen the lock lever to that crossbow shooters have come to ex-
make a gang adjustment, and then re- pect from BIGshot targets. The uniquely
tighten when complete. The Armortech styled 20-by-20-inch face offers shooters
Lite comes standard with the AccuStat II multiple aiming points and a target large
Scope and individually micro adjustable enough to shoot longer distances. The re-
pins. Configurations include three, four duced weight also provides improved por-
or five pins, with 0.019- and 0.010-inch tability. The Bigshot Kinetic 650 is currently
pin sizes. Each pin is backed by 24 inches shipping, along with the rest of Bigshot Ar-
of ultra-flex durable fiber. All Armortech chery’s complete line up of next-generation
Lite Hunting Sights can accommodate targets. Learn more at bigshottargets.com.
right- or left-handed archers with no
HAMSKEA ARCHERY SOLUTIONS • For 2022,

Hamskea unveiled the new Epsilon arrow
rest. The Epsilon features C.O.R. Mount
Technology, which places the rest behind
the riser. The C.O.R. Mount Interface is only
compatible with certain bow models, but it

62 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2021

puts the rest completely behind the riser for Tink’s #69 Doe-in-Rut irresistible to bucks, Hamskea
the ultimate low profile fit. Meanwhile, a especially during the pre-rut and rut. Us- Epsilon
Universal Bracket utilizes the standard rest ers simply hang dripper in a desired lo- Arrow Rest
tap, allowing it to mount to most bows. The cation and turn the knob for desired drip
Epsilon has micro-click windage and eleva- speed. Learn more at tinks.com. Shadow Hunter
tion adjustments, and it can be configurated Marksman
to be top-limb driven, bottom-limb driven or COBRA ARCHERY • Cobra Archery’s new 6x8 Octagon
cable driven. Three stainless steel bearings Blind
fully support the carrier rod, and other key hinge-style release, The Professional, is
features include an over-molded launcher sure to be a big hit for 2022. The Profes- Tink’s Disposable
and containment bracket. Learn more at sional has a spring-loaded head and Scent Dripper
hamskeaarchery.com. spring-loaded hook, which securely hold
the release in the firing position and pre- #69 Doe-In-Rut
SHADOW HUNTER • The newest, and larg- vent it from flopping in and out of the
ready position—a common issue with oth- Cobra The Professional Release
est, blind in the Shadow Hunter Marksman er hinge-style releases.  The hinge design
Series, the 6x8 Octagon is incredibly versa- has a patented roller sear that produces
tile. The spacious design is optimized for an exceptionally smooth shooting experi-
any style of hunting—including gun, bow ence. The micro adjustments are simple to
or crossbow—and can comfortably accom- use and lock in rock solid. The dimensions
modate up to four people. Shelves, hooks of the Professional match the Harvester
and a built-in weapon holder provide plen- thumb release to allow an archer to switch
ty of room for gear, while a total of 10 win- from thumb release to hinge release with
dows and five shooting rails offer visibility no anchor point changes. It’s machined
and shot opportunities from every angle. from 100 percent stainless steel to live
Hunters can safely stow gear in the blind up to hard use and has a lifetime war-
between sits with a locking door handle ranty.  At $184.99, it is also an incredible
for added security. An enhanced structural bargain. Learn more at cobraarchery.com.
floor support beam provides added strength
and durability. Made in the USA, Marksman VICTORY ARCHERY • The carbon arrow
Series Blinds feature composite panel con-
struction for weather protection, as well as experts at Victory Archery know what tar-
sound- and scent-blocking stealth. A Shad- get archers need to sit at the top of shoot-
owTech multi-layer wall system provides ing tournaments: high velocity, precision
insulation, and the ShadowMesh floor and durability. Those three factors come
keeps critters out. The easy-adjust Shad- together perfectly in the 3DHV, one of the
owView windows offer silent operation and lightest and fastest target arrows in pro-
blackout shields for an extra layer of protec- duction. Constructed of high modulus 100
tion. Marksman Series Blinds are finished percent carbon fiber, these .204 small-
in exclusive Vengeance camo. Learn more diameter arrows deliver maximum speed
at shadowhunterblinds.com. and accuracy with less wind deflection.
High-performance 3DHV arrows come dig-
TINK’S • Easy to transport with mess-free itally spine aligned and weight matched
to +/- 0.5 grains per dozen, for precise con-
handling, Tink’s new Disposable Scent sistency and tight groups. The Elite model
Dripper comes pre-loaded with Tink’s #69 boasts a .001-inch straightness tolerance,
Doe-In-Rut Estrous Doe Urine. The dispos- followed by the Gamer at .003-inches and
able dripper is designed to consistently the Sport at .006-inches. They’re available
drip for up to three days. Tink’s #69 Doe- in spines ranging from .300 to .800. 3DHV
In-Rut Buck Lure is 100 percent natural doe arrows are finished with Victory’s ICE
estrous urine collected from live white- Nano Ceramic Coating for maximum pen-
tail does during their estrous cycle. Tink’s etration and easy removal from targets.
quality-controlled formula keeps #69 Doe- They come equipped with AAE nocks and
In-Rut Buck Lure at the peak level of per- 7-grain unibushings, with optional up-
formance. A combination of the finest doe grades available for a customized setup.
estrous and Tink’s secret ingredient makes Learn more at victoryarchery.com.

DECEMBER 2021 INSIDEARCHERY.COM 63

Elite Victory Archery
Carbon Fiber 3DHV Arrows
Stabilizer

Mathews
BL Fixed
5-Pin
Sight

True North Treestands ELITE ARCHERY • In true Elite Archery metal, which is fully welded at all contact
T-Rex Climbing Stand points for a completely solid and complete-
fashion, the all-new Carbon Fiber Stabiliz- ly silent one-piece structure. Once reaching
64 er enhances the shooting experience with your desired climbing height, two LD buckle
advanced features and high-tech construc- straps are used to lock the climber in place
tion. The Carbon Fiber Stabilizer is avail- for rock-solid and secure performance. This
able in 8- and 11-inch versions. Both mod- extra-large self-climbing stand is equipped
els offer excellent improvements to bal- with TNT’s highly comfortable suspended
ance, stability and faster shot acquisition, padded seat in Realtree Edge pattern. Push-
while still remaining very lightweight. Its ing back the seat permits use of the en-
ultra-stiff, high modulus carbon construc- tire platform, and the stand folds flat to
tion dampens excess residual noise and 6 inches for easy packing. Learn more at
vibration to significantly enhance stealth. hunttnt.com.
Both length options are available in a vari-
ety of finishes, including the new Moun- MATHEWS • For 2022, Mathews took a com-
tain Tan and Sienna Brown to compliment
and match Elite Archery’s 2022 bow mod- pletely new approach to key accessories at-
els. Learn more at elitearchery.com. tachment systems, completely rethinking
how they function and mate with the bow
TRUE NORTH TREESTANDS • True North from the ground up. Mathews partnered up
with AXCEL to design and manufacture the
Treestands (TNT) is releasing the new T-Rex all-new BL Fixed 5-Pin Sight with Bridge-
Climbing Stand for 2022. Weighing in at just Lock Sight Technology, which allows us-
23 pounds, the TNT T-REX Self-Climber is an ers to micro-adjust elevation, windage and
all-aluminum climber that features TNT’s each individual sight pin with the highest
new patent-pending “T-Rex Cable” with a level of precision. The BL Fixed 5-Pin Sight
“Claw” attachment system. Dual-cable de- was built exclusively for Mathews’ new V3X
sign allows it to be used with or without bows, offering an extremely streamlined
teeth, while also providing a balance point and secure connection. The BL Fixed 5-Pin
for superior contact. The teeth will not roll Sight has .019-inch pins, and it’s precision-
over, ensuring a sure grip. The teeth are ag- cut from an ultra-high modulus carbon
gressive for a good bite but release easily for bar. All told, it has the quality and crafts-
smooth climbing. The T-Rex foot platform manship one would expect from Mathews.
is 22-inches wide and 32 1⁄2-inches deep, Learn more at mathewsinc.com. IA
and consists of TNT’s honeycomb expanded

INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2021



INSIDE THE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY 5Q

Five Questions with Cobra Archery

Cobra Archery has become a well-known name in the archery industry since its es- machined from 100 percent stain-
less steel. It has a patented trigger
tablishment back in 1974. A passionate new group of owners took over the business system that gives it butter-smooth
shooting. The release’s name is
in 2017, building upon Cobra’s legacy, while also rethinking the company’s approach called the Professional. It’s sure to
be popular.
to product design. We spoke with Jake Major, owner of Cobra Archery, to learn more.
Where do you get ideas for new
W hat was 2021 like for Cobra What are some of your hottest- products, and what goes into your
Archery, and what’s your selling products, and what makes testing and development process?
general outlook for 2022? ■ Over- them so popular? ■ Our Patented ■ God has giving me a strong me-
all, 2021 was successful for us. Our Pinch-to-Close (release) design is chanical mind mixed with creativ-
main concern is customer service definitely a top seller. It’s simple ity. I’ve been a dedicated bowhunter
and dealer relationships. Inventory to use, easy to adjust, has minimal my entire life and understand what
balances can swing quickly and parts and shoots incredibly well.
must be managed with urgency. It The popularity comes from its inge- makes equipment better. We also
all flows back to producing great nuity. It just makes everything easi- have a large pool of pro-staffers
products and customer satisfaction. er. Our Barbarian broadheads are at who test our gear to expose any is-
Efficiency produces growth in every the top of the list as well. They were sues prior to first production runs.
aspect. designed specifically for high-speed
crossbows. Patent-pending design What’s something most people
The outlook for 2022 is very good. and patent-pending blade thickness don’t know about Cobra Archery
We have received multiple patents absolutely makes them the world’s that they should? ■ We don’t just
this year that further strengthen toughest mechanical broadhead. design and build releases… We have
our designs and brand. Our release They’re truly Barbarians. broadheads and sights (with patent-
line has really evolved these last pending technology). We also have a
four years. Since purchasing Cobra What can you tell us about your fishing brand and a firearms acces-
Archery in 2017, we have removed new products for 2022? ■ One new sory brand as well. Both have very
all the existing designs and brought item for 2022 is our Hinge release. innovative designs that are patent-
groundbreaking innovation to the This release has a spring-loaded pending. We love to hunt and fish. IA
release category. These designs will head and spring-loaded hook. It’s
be the future of releases.

WebXtra ■ For more on Cobra

Archery and their products, please go

to insidearchery.com/Cobra.

66 INSIDE ARCHERY DECEMBER 2021