Ravin R20: Is Your Next Rifle Actually a Crossbow?

When a crossbow company’s tagline is “meet your next rifle,” we just have to put that to the test. Can a Ravin crossbow keep pace with a budget rifle? Or even a premium rifle? What’s the effective hunting range? What kind of accuracy does it offer? Guns.com finds out. 

Ravin’s R20 crossbow is not new. In fact, it was last year’s model, but the technology and accuracy guarantees have not changed all that much just yet. The R20 shoots at a zippy 430 fps with 164 pounds of kinetic energy. Most notable is the promise of 3-inch bullseyes at 100 yards. A crisp, 4-pound trigger pull aids with that accuracy guarantee. There’s an anti-dry-fire mechanism as well as an automatic safety. Built-in sling mounts make packing the R20 to the deer stand a snap. 

The Ravin R20 is cocked with its included crank with a draw weight of only 12 pounds, and it’s just as easily decocked. The package includes three Ravin arrows and field tips, a quiver, and – best of all – a specialized 100-yard illuminated scope with mounts. 

The Wisconsin-based company dresses most of the bows, including the R20, in their own Predator camo. Retail price for the R20 at the time of our feature is $1,724.99.