The RAVIN R500E

Ravin took crossbows to a new level with their R500 line. The RAVIN R500E was such a huge leap forward from anything that I’ve seen before that I started to wonder how long it would be before I’d see Chewbacca’s Bowcaster in production. Putting Star Wars references aside and getting straight to the point, this is hands down the best crossbow I’ve ever used. If you are looking for a crossbow package that will take down big game all around the globe, maybe the occasional T-Rex, or hit targets further than you ever thought possible, then the Ravin R500 is exactly what you’re looking for.

We had the chance to test Ravin’s R500E which came with Ravin’s Electric Drive Kit. Pressing a button on the Electric Drive Kit will engage Ravin’s Versadrive Cocking System and electronically send their Trac-Trigger Firing System towards the string. The Trac-Trigger Firing System will automatically lock on to the string and the Electric Drive kit will stop. Simply press the other button on the Electric Drive Kit and the Versadrive Cocking System will begin cocking, no crank needed. One finger is all you need to cock or de-cock this crossbow! 

The motor and cocking mechanisms are indeed enough to make someone believe they are being pulled into a Star Wars movie, but then you shoot it and realize it’s not a movie prop. The Raven R500 sends a 400gr bolt over 500 fps which is good for 222 ft-lbs. of kinetic energy; making it one of the fastest crossbows in production. Ravin’s Hexcoil Cam system rotates the cams 360 degrees allowing the R500 to be lightning fast and pinpoint accurate all in a compact platform. When cocked, the Ravin R500 is only 3.6 in axle-axle while still maintaining all that power.

We also found that you can’t shoot two bolts at the same spot at 40 yards because the second shot will cut fletchings off or just “Robin Hood ” your first bolt. Ravin uses a ball bearing rest and Ravin’s Frictionless Flight System to achieve unimaginable accuracy all the way out to 100 yards with ease. It was impressive..

There are some points worth noting: the Ravin R500 series is not for the buyer looking for a budget crossbow. For the base package the R500 will run you $3,124.99 and climb from there. Also, the Electric Drive Kit does make a sound similar to handheld drill when it is cocking so we don’t advise engaging the motor while you’re in the blind. However, all Ravin R500 models still come with the Silent Cocking System for manually cranking the bow when maximum stealth is required. Also, the R500E is not a lightweight crossbow. At 9.9 lbs. it is a beast to carry long distances, but it is easy to remove the Electric Drive kit which drops the weight to 8.4 lbs. Ravin did a good job balancing this 28-inch package so that you don’t really feel the weight when it’s shouldered.

Ravin built the R500E to exceed every performance expectation imaginable. This is an extremely advanced crossbow and will satisfy anyone looking for the best money can buy. If you’re a big game hunter, long distance target shooter, or just looking for the most accurate crossbow you can find, go check out the Ravin R500E.