My first crossbow

[deadeye]

After my issues drawing my compound bow last fall, I decided to jump in with the crossbow crowd.
I wanted a compact, reverse draw, good scope and crank cock and decock. I went with the Siege RS410 by TenPoint.

[Jerkbiat]

Looks sweet DE!!!

[Steve-o]

That is quite the machine.  410 ft/s! but the thing I think is best is that it is quiet.

Get some Ninja clothes and you'll be all set. 

[deadeye]

Last weekend I setup my crossbow range and tried a few shots. First this is I have to say I'm impressed with the crank cocking system as it's a breeze and once you do a few it's very simple and easy. The crossbow package came with arrows and the TenPoint RangeMaster Pro arrow speed compensating scope. To setup the scope you zero in at 20 yards using the top (20 yard dot). Then set the arrow speed dial to what the bow is rated for using the arrows supplied. If you are hitting high your bow is presumed to be shooting faster and you simply raise the dial to a faster speed. This is where the magic happens. The 20 yard dot does not change but the others are optically adjusted to allow for arrow drops at various speeds and distances. Really cool concept. Then an issue pops up. Being the Siege is rated at 410 ips, the scope was factory set to 410 ips. My initial shots at 30 were high so I simply turned up the dial which lowered the point of impact. The bad news is the scope can be set for arrow speeds from 300-425. The bow still shot high at the highest speed setting. I contacted TenPoint and they are aware of the issue. During production they had a supply issue getting the Siege RS410 limbs. Being the Siege is essentially a "Havoc RS440" (which shoots faster and comes with a more expensive scope) they used the Havoc RS440 limbs on the Siege. The end result is I essentially have the Havoc RS440 which shoots at 440 ips which is faster than the RangeMaster Pro can compensate for.  They have two suggestions. Purchase a different scope that can compensate for the 440 ips arrow speed. The second option is to use the 20 yard dot and zero in at 25 yards. Then adjust the arrow speed dial with targets at 35, 45, etc. I fiddled a bit with this but wasn't happy about it. Too much thinking involved. Note: TenPoint will not swap out the scope because they feel I already got a great deal on a faster bow. (The Havoc RS400 is about $600-$700 more than the Siege RS410). 

[Steve-o]

Good news/bad news.  How much is the new scope?  Less than $6-700?     Still...  it is perhaps more than you expected to spend.   

In for a penny/in for a pound.   

I wonder how many "enhanced" bows they sold like that, because pretty much everyone is going to run into the problem you had, right? 

You'd think they are going to get a bunch of bad reviews if no one can zero their scopes.

[LPS]

I am surprised they didn't  send you the scope that should be on the crossbow.  I would keep bugging them and let them you expected better out of a quality bow like that.  Tell them you will send your old scope back in the box the new one comes in. 

[Boar]

Yuo id return it and a get one tjat opperates the way its supposed to. The money one pays for for those things. One should not have to rinky dink it to function the way its designed

[LPS]

Exactly. 

[deadeye]

Yes, I thought of that but before I say or do anything I'm going to verify the arrow speed to see if what they said makes sense. I will borrow a friend's chronograph and check the arrow speed. If indeed it does shoot 440 fps, I may want a scope that has calibrated dots out to 100 yards. 

[deadeye]

The chronograph indicates arrow speed is 420 FPS which is higher than the advertised 410 but lower than the tech support statement that 440 limbs were used on this bow. I relayed this information to TenPoint customer support and they gave me an RMA number to send the scope back where they can correct the issue or replace the scope.  I'm not sure I will send it back as the costs may start adding up and I'm inclined to buy a Vortex Crossfire II crossbow scope as a replacement (has additional features and can be set up to 450 FPS arrow speed compensation) and maybe sell or donate the TenPoint Rangemaster Pro.

[deadeye]

I stopped in Sportsmans Warehouse in Coon Rapids to look at or purchase the Vortex Crossfire ii Crossbow scope. I saw they had them on their web site. Being I couldn't find the scope in their counter I showed the guy working there the print out and ask to see this "Vortex Crossfire II 2-7 Crossbow Scope".  He looked in the case and handed me a scope. Granted it was a Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x scope however, it was a RIFLE scope. After I told him that's a rifle scope and not a crossbow scope he replied "they are the same". We had a discussion (well, it was me trying to be nice while informing him that they are NOT the same) regarding the differences. For instance, why would you have 20, 30, 40 etc yard dots on a rifle scope? While he went in the back room to look, I approached a second worker who ask me if the guy had ignored me to which I replied "No he scared me". Anyway, long story short I proceeded to train the Sportsmans Warehouse bow/gun employees on the differences between a RIFLE and a CROSSBOW scope. I was really floored by their lack of basic scope knowledge.  At any rate, I bought the Vortex Crossfire II Crossbow scope, mounted it on my new TenPoint Siege RS410 (That shoots 420 FPS), and per instructions zeroed it at 40 yards. I then set the arrow speed at 425 FPS and proceeded to shoot arrows at 50, 30, 20, and 60 yards. All shots at 20 and 30 yards were dead on vertical and 1/2 inch right. The 50 and 60 yard shots were dead on vertical and an inch to the right.  All I can say at this point is WOW. 

[LPS]

Good job DE.  You are dialed in now. 

[Jerkbiat]

Sounds like you got it set up just the way like it. 

[deadeye]

I have the crossbow sighted in with the new Vortex Crossfire II scope. Using the turrets, I zeroed the 40 yd dot with the target at 40 yards. Then with the target at 30 yards, I zeroed the 30 yard dot by using the arrow speed dial. Now all range dots (20, 30, 40, 50, and 60) are hitting right on the spot. At this time I will assume the 70, 80 90 and 100 yard dots are on target as well. I will have to try them out soon just so I know.  By their request, I returned the original TenPoint RangeMaster Pro scope to the TenPoint tech support team. I'm not sure what they plan to do as there is nothing wrong with the scope. The bow simply shoots faster than the scope can be adjusted for. Today I got a call from TenPoint support and they wanted me to return the bow. I told them I bought a new scope and it shoots just like it should. For now I don't plan to return it to them. I told them to just send me a scope that can compensate for bow speed and we will call it good.

[deadeye]

Not sure what to make of this response from TenPoint. Per their request I returned the RangeMaster Pro scope that came with the bow package and could not be adjusted to compensate for the arrow speed achieved by the "hot" Siege RS410 bow. 

Here is their reply. OK, that's fine, but what did you do???

"We have completed your repair and will return it to you within the next 24-48 hours. After we process your shipment, you will receive
an email from FED EX or UPS with tracking information.
Thank you,
TenPoint Repair Team"

[LPS]

LOL  Seems like you are talking to someone in China.