Ravin is technically the face of crossbows for a lot of people. Archers that never even held a bow in their arms have heard of Ravin at some point. It makes me wonder, are their hype real? Are Ravin crossbows that good? It should be, right? Why else would you see so many reviews about them?
Let’s talk about a hot topic in the community. Ravin R10 vs R20. Even in 2021, they are going strong. What makes them so good? And, if you are thinking of picking one up. Which one should you pick? Let’s find that out.
Ravin R10 & R20: Outlooks
Ravin R10 vs R20: Specs Table
| Specs | Ravin R10 | Ravin R20 |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 400 FPS | 430 FPS |
| Kinetic Energy | 142 FP-KE | 164 FP-KE |
| Power Stroke | 11 Inches | 13 Inches |
| Draw Weight | 220 LBS | 220 LBS |
| Axle-To-Axle | 6 / 10.5 Inches | 6 / 10.5 Inches |
| Length | 33 Inches | 34.5 Inches |
| Weight | 6.8 LBS | 7.1 LBS |
Ravin R10 vs R20: Key Differences
The key difference is the size and weight. Ravin R10 is shorter and lighter than Ravin R20. Is that a big difference? If 1.5″ in length and .300lbs is a big difference for you, sure it is. Is there any difference in the build quality? The answer is, no. Both of them are made by the same manufacturer in the same factory. You won’t see any difference here that’s for sure.
Ravin R10 Crossbow Advantages
The Ravin R10 is one of the most compact crossbows on the market. You can easily carry it to places where it’s impossible to take a bigger crossbow. Ravin R10 is also lightweight. It’s one of the few crossbows that can reach 400 FPS while still having a width of 10.5″. Ravin R10 can generate 142 ft-lbs of kinetic energy. That’s more than enough for any sort of hunting.
Both of the crossbows use cranking aid and Tract-Trigger. Tract-Trigger is an advanced trigger system. It’s a built-in trigger mechanism. Every time you fire the crossbow, the trigger system slides forward and clasps directly on the string center. This makes the nock travel straight as an arrow. With the HeliCoil technology, this trigger is one of the best in the market without any doubts.
Ravin R20 Crossbow Advantages
Ravin R20 is not cheap. Coming at over $2000, you have certain expectations from the crossbow. Don’t worry, it’s totally worth the money if you were wondering. Ravin R20 is one of the most powerful crossbows on the market. It can generate 164 ft-lbs of kinetic energy.
Ravin R20 is not that bigger than Ravin R10 either. You can consider Ravin R20 as a compact crossbow too. In fact, if you have the money, I will say Ravin R20 is the clear winner here. You will get more power, you will get a better power stroke, and you get more speed.
That’s right, Ravin R20 is 30 FPS faster than Ravin R10. In close-quarter hunting, 30 FPS can make a big difference. But on an average day with minimal wind, the difference won’t be that noticeable.
But it is the fastest among the two. Both of the crossbows also feature HeliCoil technology. It’s a technology that Ravin completed to perfection. HeliCoil makes the cam more balanced and refined. It also makes the crossbows incredibly silent.
Ravin R10 Crossbow Problems
The main problem of any Ravin crossbow is the price. They are not cheap. They are not meant for beginners either. The power and speed can be a bit overwhelming for newbies and juniors.
One of the major problems of the Ravin R10 is called clutch slipping. It’s not that big like I am making it to be. It’s still noticeable. Every 20 shots or so you will feel this problem. This happens due to the locking mechanism. The process of removing the cocking pit doesn’t feel that smooth either.
Ravin R20 Crossbow Problems
Surprisingly Ravin R20 doesn’t suffer from the clutch slipping. It’s a good thing they learned from it and improved it on the fly. Trust me, clutch slipping is not as big as people make it to be. But it’s a good thing that’s not an issue here.
Besides this, my major nitpick of Ravin R20 is the scope. For the price you are paying, it’s okay to expect a high-quality crossbow scope. Like me, many reviewers were disappointed by the crossbow scope. It’s not a scope that you want to keep for a long time.
The main problem with the scope is, it can’t keep up with high speed. It’s not completely inaccurate. You can still use it. But I won’t recommend it for any important occasion at all. Besides this and the high price tag, there aren’t many things to nitpick on this crossbow.
Ravin R10 vs R20: Videos
Ravin R10 vs R20 Summary
If you are skipping to the end to find the short answer, too bad I won’t tell you. Wait, I am just joking. The short answer is, think of the Ravin R10 is the smaller brother. It is the same package just lighter (quite literally). The price tag is also lower on this crossbow.
Besides some obvious differences (which we mentioned above), both of the crossbows perform beastly. I mean, you can’t win the best crossbow of the year award on a whim, can you? Well, Let’s hope we can meet again. Next time, let’s talk about some other crossbows. See ya.