Ravin doesn’t make that many crossbows all year around. But when they do, they make sure to storm the market. Most of the time, Ravin competes against their products. Just like the debate between Ravin R10 vs R20, we have Ravin R9 vs R10.
Both of the crossbows featuring today is more of a budget range. Surprising right? Budget and Ravin don’t go together usually. Compared to the big boy Ravin’s, they are cheaper. Let’s find out which one is the better crossbow and why.
Ravin R9 & R10: Outlooks
Ravin R9 vs R10: Specs Table
| Specs | Ravin R9 | Ravin R10 |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 390 FPS | 400 FPS |
| Kinetic Energy | 135 FP-KE | 142 FP-KE |
| Power Stroke | 13 Inches | 11 Inches |
| Draw Weight | 12 LBS | 12 LBS |
| Axle To Axle | 6 / 10.5 Inches | 6 / 10.5 Inches |
| Length | 34.5 Inches | 33 Inches |
| Weight | 6.9 LBS | 6.8 LBS |
Ravin R9 vs R10: Key Differences
The price of Ravin R9 and R10 is quite similar. Both of them have a lot of similarities in terms of specifications as well. But they also feature a large number of differences.
The key difference between the two is speed. Ravin R9 was the first Ravin crossbow that didn’t have 400 FPS standard. I know 400 FPS is not standard anywhere. It’s just, you get used to finding high-speed crossbows all the time.
Let’s not forgot Ravin announced R500e, which is supposed to have 500 FPS maximum speed. That’s why below 400 FPS is a bit of a letdown for me.
In reality, 390 and 400 FPS doesn’t have that big of a difference. Both of them travel at almost the same velocity. If you are thinking you will miss your prey for 10 FPS, you won’t.
The next key difference between the two is the cocking system. Ravin R10 uses a cranking aid that tunes down the draw weight to mere 12 lbs. While Ravin R9/R15 has a 190 lbs of draw weight.
The thing is, Ravin R9 came way before Ravin R10. The standard back then wasn’t this high. Ravin R9 is still faster than many other crossbows on the market. Ravin R10 is a little bit lighter than R9. Not by much, but it’s worth mentioning.
Is It Worth To Purchase Ravin R9 In 2021?
That’s a valid question that needs answering. Ravin R9 is not a new crossbow. It’s been out there for a few years. A lot of veterans have used this crossbow in the past. You will find many reviews regarding this crossbow.
Ravin R9 may not be faster than Ravin R10, but it’s cheaper. The trigger creeps on the R9 is lower than R10. You can say Ravin R9 is a lot easier to operate than Ravin R10. Besides that, Ravin R9 doesn’t win at anything else against the Ravin R10.
Why Not The Ravin R10 Instead?
Ravin R10 and R20 won the best crossbow of the year 2019 editor’s choice award. You don’t win a prestigious award like that by making a bad crossbow. Ravin R10 is Ravin R20 but shorter and packs a little less speed. Instead of firing at 430 FPS, Ravin R10 fires at 400 FPS. Which is faster than almost 90% of the crossbows on the market.
Ravin R10 is lightweight and compact. You can carry it around anywhere you want. You can do big-game hunting with this crossbow, or target practice with it as well. Ravin R10 is a crossbow blessed with many features. It’s something that can enhance and take your archery to the next level.
Ravin R9 Crossbow Problems
The main problem with Ravin R9 for me is the draw weight. When a crossbow priced just a bit higher than you is offering cranking aid, it doesn’t make any sense to take R9 over that.
If you want the premium build quality and promised 390 FPS speed, that’s different. The noise suppression on the Ravin R9 is not that good either.
Ravin R10 Crossbow Problems
The main problem of Ravin R10 when it was released was the price. Some TenPoint crossbows and Excalibur crossbows offered similar specifications for a lesser price tag. But that’s not an issue anymore. As time went by, the price of the Ravin R10 dropped quite a bit.
The crossbow can be a bit much for beginners. If you didn’t use a high-speed crossbow with insanely fast reload time, you may have a hard time in the beginning. But it won’t take that much to get used to it.
Ravin R9 vs R10: Videos
Ravin R9 vs R10 Summary
Ravin R9 vs R10 shouldn’t be a competition. R10 straight-up smoked the R9. I mean, what did you expect? R10 is the upgraded version of R9. Yet, Ravin R9 holds a good value even in 2021.
The reason is simple, Ravin R9 can fire arrows at 390 FPS. Unlike many other crossbows that claim to have 400 FPS and struggles to reach 370. That’s not the case here. If you can find a Ravin R9 for a good price, take it. Otherwise, Ravin R10is the clear winner here.