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Post by HuntMeister on Sept 3, 2023 13:19:11 GMT -5
Purchased this bow this past week. I am pretty much new to crossbows, my dad used one for a few years and killed some deer with it and that is really the extent of my firsthand experience with them. Acquiring a new crossbow has been on my mind the last couple of years as I find I have to start shooting my compound bow earlier and earlier each year in order to keep the muscles conditioned for hunting season, aging process sucks. This year has offered no time for conditioning. I also felt that my kids could use a crossbow if they wanted to hunt with me during archery season. Sportsman's Warehouse put the Vengent S440 on sale nearly 50% off and I could not resist the urge to buy one. It has pretty much everything I thought I wanted in a crossbow, number one feature being the ability to de-cock the bow without shooting an arrow. The Accuslide cock / de-cock function is sweet! First time I shot it was offhand at 20 yards and the arrow went ~20" high and nearly as far left of POA. I chalked that up to me being new to a crossbow and shooting it offhand. Yesterday I setup a table so I could have a proper rest for sighting in the bow. First shot from the table was the same result from the offhand shot, I was actually happy to know it wasn't my offhand shooting form. After some close up inspection I found that the folks that assembled the bow at Sportsmans Warehouse had the bubble level mounted so that the scope was making contact causing the scope to be tilted slightly downward. I took the scope and bubble off, the rings were mounted too close to each other, moved them back and then reassembled with some red Loctite. Now I could get the bubble level on the picatinny rail without contacting the scope. 160 clicks right and 100 clicks down, I found POI happiness at 20 yards! Now to shoot all the arrow to ensure they all have similar POI and then start backing up 10 yards at a time and do it again out to 60 yards. I am going to limit my hunting shots to 40 yards.   |
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Post by HighCotton on Sept 3, 2023 18:52:13 GMT -5
That's awesome!
It sure looks like you're getting it dialed in!
And from my limited experience, it's been one of the greatest ways to get the young ones hooked on archery!
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Post by parrothead on Sept 3, 2023 19:06:57 GMT -5
It pretty amazing how accurate those things are
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Post by esshup on Sept 3, 2023 22:40:50 GMT -5
So, how's the noise of the thing?
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Post by HuntMeister on Sept 4, 2023 7:11:20 GMT -5
From the shooter's position it seems loud. I am looking forward to standing back a few feet and hearing it when one of my kids shoot it to compare. Amazed at how much recoil it has, I would say more than a .22 rifle.
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Post by greghopper on Sept 4, 2023 7:46:19 GMT -5
From the shooter's position it seems loud. I am looking forward to standing back a few feet and hearing it when one of my kids shoot it to compare. Amazed at how much recoil it has, I would say more than a .22 rifle. What the longest shot you tried with accuracy? |
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Post by esshup on Sept 4, 2023 8:15:50 GMT -5
From the shooter's position it seems loud. I am looking forward to standing back a few feet and hearing it when one of my kids shoot it to compare. Amazed at how much recoil it has, I would say more than a .22 rifle. What the longest shot you tried with accuracy? From a good rest, I'm afraid of Robin Hooding an arrow at 50 yds if the wind is calm. I weight matched my bolts using small washers behind the head so they are within a few grains of each other. |
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Post by HuntMeister on Sept 4, 2023 13:01:30 GMT -5
From the shooter's position it seems loud. I am looking forward to standing back a few feet and hearing it when one of my kids shoot it to compare. Amazed at how much recoil it has, I would say more than a .22 rifle. What the longest shot you tried with accuracy? I have only made 30 yards max with it so far. I am having some issues with differing POI with a couple of the arrows. I tried nock tuning this morning and got one to be borderline acceptable. I think I am going to find a custom arrow builder and get me some Black Eagle Zombie Slayers made for it. I will not tolerate questionable performance, the game animals deserve my best effort. |
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Post by greghopper on Sept 4, 2023 15:37:57 GMT -5
What the longest shot you tried with accuracy? I have only made 30 yards max with it so far. I am having some issues with differing POI with a couple of the arrows. I tried nock tuning this morning and got one to be borderline acceptable. I think I am going to find a custom arrow builder and get me some Black Eagle Zombie Slayers made for it. I will not tolerate questionable performance, the game animals deserve my best effort. That sounds interesting…Guessing you’re using the factory arrows that came with it. |
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Post by parrothead on Sept 4, 2023 15:43:18 GMT -5
Dave at Wayvern Creations
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Post by greghopper on Sept 4, 2023 15:45:45 GMT -5
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Post by HuntMeister on Sept 4, 2023 15:47:57 GMT -5
I have only made 30 yards max with it so far. I am having some issues with differing POI with a couple of the arrows. I tried nock tuning this morning and got one to be borderline acceptable. I think I am going to find a custom arrow builder and get me some Black Eagle Zombie Slayers made for it. I will not tolerate questionable performance, the game animals deserve my best effort. That sounds interesting…Guessing you’re using the factory arrows that came with it. Yes, the Evo-X Centerpunch arrows. From what I can gather, these high speed bows will really bring out the flaws in the arrows. |
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Post by HuntMeister on Sept 4, 2023 15:50:39 GMT -5
Yep those are the ones I hear alot of praise about. Custom build with those are running a bit higher than what Wyvern is charging. I need to chat with Wyvern and see if they do all the extra effort to get a well tuned set of arrows. |
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Post by esshup on Sept 4, 2023 16:25:13 GMT -5
I was having issues with my crossbow. The factory arrows were accurate, but when I put a lighted nock on them they started shooting 6" groups at 20 yds. I got a set made with more weight forward and the issue went away. Mine were made out of state though. IIRC Woody told me about the place. I can dig up the info if you want.
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Post by parrothead on Sept 4, 2023 17:48:31 GMT -5
You can also buy lights that go in fishing bobbers and put in ur nocks and save some money
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Post by HuntMeister on Sept 4, 2023 19:02:54 GMT -5
I was having issues with my crossbow. The factory arrows were accurate, but when I put a lighted nock on them they started shooting 6" groups at 20 yds. I got a set made with more weight forward and the issue went away. Mine were made out of state though. IIRC Woody told me about the place. I can dig up the info if you want. That would be awesome thanks! |
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Post by HuntMeister on Sept 4, 2023 19:04:51 GMT -5
You can also buy lights that go in fishing bobbers and put in ur nocks and save some money interesting, never thought of that! |
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Post by parrothead on Sept 5, 2023 3:57:43 GMT -5
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Sept 5, 2023 6:23:39 GMT -5
That sounds interesting…Guessing you’re using the factory arrows that came with it. Yes, the Evo-X Centerpunch arrows. From what I can gather, these high speed bows will really bring out the flaws in the arrows. I wonder if the bolts are spined correctly for such a powerful crossbow. 440 is smoking fast. |
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Post by HuntMeister on Sept 5, 2023 7:23:54 GMT -5
Yes, the Evo-X Centerpunch arrows. From what I can gather, these high speed bows will really bring out the flaws in the arrows. I wonder if the bolts are spined correctly for such a powerful crossbow. 440 is smoking fast. Based on a couple of conversations with custom arrow builders, the arrows included are mass-produced arrows that are not spine indexed and there can be significant weight differences, so I believe this is why I am having POI issues. These arrows are supposed to weigh in at 455 grains with 100 grain tips. I have not gotten around to weighing them yet to see what variances I may have. Tenpoint advertises a speed of 410fps with these arrows, yes that is smoking fast IMHO and that is now a slow bow with the +500fps bows out now. Makes me wonder when they will hit the wall with respect to speed, sounds like arrows may become the limiting factor? Not afraid to admit the first time I shot that bow it kinda scared me just a bit. After 2-3 dozen shots I am becoming more comfortable with it but I have great respect for what damage it could do to the operator. I hope I do not become too complacent with it over time. |
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