Ravin R470 Review 2026: Stealth Gray

Fast, narrow and finished in a low-glare gray, the Ravin R470 Stealth Gray chronographed at 463 to 472 FPS in my testing against its 470 FPS rating. It is a forward-draw HeliCoil crossbow with a 6-inch cocked axle-to-axle width, it weighs 6.9 lbs, and it costs $2,450 to $2,550. I rated it 4.7 out of 5.

This review is for hunters choosing between the R470, Ravin's R29X and TenPoint's flagships, and for anyone who wants the fastest Ravin crossbow I have tested without a wide frame. I tested it over three weeks, chronographing speed, shooting for accuracy, and tracking cam timing and finish wear across more than 45 logged cocking cycles. If the R470 is more than you need, my Ravin R29X vs R26X comparison covers the two models below it.

Ravin R470 Stealth Gray Specifications

These are the Ravin R470 specs most buyers search for: speed, size, cocking system, finish and price.

The 13-inch power stroke ties with the Ravin LR as the longest of the Ravins I have reviewed, and the HeliCoil cam system is how Ravin fits it into a 6-inch cocked width. Ravin does not publish the true stored draw weight for this model, so I have not quoted one.

What I Like

The R470's strengths are speed and a narrow frame, backed by results from my testing.

• Speed close to the rating. I measured 463 to 472 FPS across five shot strings with a 400-grain bolt, essentially matching Ravin's 470 FPS factory claim.
• A narrow cocked footprint. The HeliCoil cam system gives a 6-inch axle-to-axle width when cocked, despite the flagship-level velocity.
• A finish that held up. The Stealth Gray Cerakote showed no visible wear after 45+ cocking cycles and repeated handling over my three-week test window.
• Quieter to cock. A decibel meter showed a clear, audible noise reduction from the integrated HeliCoil Silent Cocking system compared with an external crank-cocked crossbow.
• Accuracy at distance. Once zeroed, my 60-yard groups stayed inside a 2.25-inch cluster, tight for a crossbow in this speed class.

Potential Drawbacks

This is a premium crossbow with a few real constraints, so here is each one with what to do about it.

• A premium-tier price. At $2,450 to $2,550 it is out of reach for budget-conscious buyers. The Ravin R26X and R10 Pro XK7 cost less.
• No manual cocking backup. The HeliCoil Silent Cocking system is mandatory hardware, and there is no practical hand-cocking fallback if it were to fail in the field.
• Dealer-only repairs. The proprietary HeliCoil components limit serious maintenance to Ravin dealer service.
• Balance takes adjustment. Hunters used to a traditional wide-limb compound will need a session or two to adapt to the very narrow HeliCoil geometry.

Key Features Explained

Four features account for most of what makes the R470 different from a conventional compound crossbow.

How does the R470 stay so narrow?

The R470 is a forward-draw crossbow, with the limbs and cams at the front of the rail, not a reverse-draw design. Its narrow width comes from Ravin's HeliCoil cams, which coil the cables in helical grooves so the cams can rotate about 340 degrees while staying level. That lets very short, nearly parallel limbs store flagship-class energy, giving a 6-inch cocked axle-to-axle width. The trade-off is length: at 33.6 inches overall it is a full-length crossbow.

How does HeliCoil Silent Cocking work?

The integrated system lets one person cock the R470 without a separate rope or crank, and without pulling the true stored draw weight by hand. There is no external accessory to lose or forget, unlike a rope-sled or crank-cocked platform. For how external cocking aids work, see how to cock a crossbow.

Did the cams stay in time?

Given the 470 FPS rating, I watched cam synchronization closely, inspecting timing after every 10 cocking cycles across more than 45 total cycles. The Quad Limb Composite and HeliCoil system held timing with no measurable drift, a reassuring result for a crossbow storing this much energy per shot.

Is the Stealth Gray finish different from black?

The finish reads as more neutral and less tactical than Ravin's black models. It uses the same Cerakote process in a lighter tone, so the durability case rests on how it held up in my hands-on testing, not on the color.

Performance & Usability

How fast and accurate is the R470?

The 463 to 472 FPS I measured gave a flat trajectory that made range estimation more forgiving at unfamiliar distances; the bolt drop chart shows how little drop to expect between 20 and 60 yards at this speed. My 60-yard groups, inside 2.25 inches once zeroed, reflected the consistency of the HeliCoil draw cycle. See how fast does a crossbow bolt travel for more on what that speed means.

Is it really quiet?

The Silent Cocking claim held up under a decibel meter: cycling the R470 was audibly quieter than an external crank-cocked crossbow. That helps a hunter who needs a quiet re-cock for a follow-up shot from a stand or blind. The 9.7 noise score reflects this cocking-noise comparison; no decibel figures are published here.

How does it handle?

At 6.9 lbs and a 6-inch cocked axle-to-axle width, the R470 handled tight ground blinds and confined positions with the ease I expect from Ravin's narrow HeliCoil platform. The compact width was the standout in my testing, and it made a tree stand easier to work from than with wider platforms. Note the length, though: at 33.6 inches overall it is longer than the R26X (26 inches) and R29X (29 inches).

Does cold weather affect it?

In a single cold-morning function check at 31°F, the R470 cocked, fired and cycled normally with no cold-related issues. That is one check, not a winter-long study.

Setup, care and storage

Setup is covered step by step in the Setup and First Session section below; my how to sight in a crossbow scope guide covers the zeroing part in detail. The care rules that matter most are in the callout.

The Cerakote resists scuffing, but wipe it down after wet-weather hunts. At 33.6 inches and 6.9 lbs it is easy to case and carry for stand hunting or long approach walks.

Who Is the R470 Stealth Gray For?

The R470 suits buyers who want the top of Ravin's speed range in a narrow frame; the Ravin R470 speed I measured was 463–472 FPS against the 470 FPS claim. If that sounds right, compare it with its siblings in the compound crossbows hub, and read compound vs. recurve crossbow if you are still choosing a format.

Best suited to:

• Hunters who want flagship-class speed in a very narrow frame
• Anyone who prefers a lighter, less tactical field finish over Ravin's stealth-black models
• Buyers who value a quiet, integrated cocking system for solo re-cocking in the field

Consider something else if:

• You are budget-constrained
• You want the highest kinetic energy figures available

Ravin R470 vs R29X and TenPoint TRX Ultra

The comparison below uses prices, speeds and ratings from each model's own review.

The R29X shares the HeliCoil system and a nearly identical cocked footprint, but the R470 was faster on my chronograph. The TRX Ultra is faster still, though it costs roughly $1,000 more and lacks the R470's integrated Silent Cocking. For the broader comparison, read Ravin vs TenPoint.

What's Included and What Else You Need

I did not itemize every item in the R470 box, so confirm the contents with the seller. The more useful question is what you cannot simply add, because the R470 is on several Ravin exclusion lists.

That makes the R470 the Ravin where accessory choices need the most checking. Read how to choose crossbow bolts before buying bolts, and follow your manual for what it approves.

Setup and First Session

The R470 ships mostly assembled. Scope mounting plus a full 20-shot zeroing process took me about 50 minutes. Here is the order I would follow, and your manual comes first.

1. Inspect the limbs, cams and cables for shipping damage.
2. Mount a scope whose speed rating is approved for this crossbow, and seat it firmly.
3. Learn the integrated HeliCoil Silent Cocking system before loading a bolt. Hand-cocking is not realistic.
4. Expect a session or two to adapt to the narrow HeliCoil balance.
5. Shoot a zeroing group, confirm it, and recheck after your first few shots.

Worked Example: Energy and Footprint

I do not have a published kinetic energy figure for this model, so this is my own arithmetic and not a measurement. Kinetic energy is bolt weight in grains times speed squared, divided by 450,240, and the kinetic energy calculator does the same sum for any bolt weight. With a 400-grain bolt at 470 FPS that is 400 x 220,900 = 88,360,000, divided by 450,240, or about 196 ft-lbs. My slowest string (463 FPS) gives about 190 ft-lbs and my fastest (472 FPS) about 198.

Against the R29X's listed 180 ft-lbs, that is roughly 16 ft-lbs more for a price that starts $49 lower ($2,450 against $2,499). The trade is length: 33.6 inches overall against the R29X's 29, while both are 6 inches axle-to-axle when cocked. If you will carry the crossbow through brush, that extra 4.6 inches may matter more than the extra energy.

Symptoms and Risks to Watch

I saw none of these, but they are the ownership checks I would use.

Who Should Skip the R470

Skip it if you want to use Ravin's own lighted bolt, since the R133 is excluded. Skip it if you prefer the balance of a conventional wide-limb compound and do not want an adjustment period. Skip it if you want the shortest frame, as it is 33.6 inches overall. My cold check was a single function test at 31°F, so I cannot speak to a full winter.

Value for Money

At $2,450 to $2,550, the R470 Stealth Gray sits at or below Ravin's R29X and about $1,000 below the TenPoint TRX Ultra, and it was the faster of the two Ravins on my chronograph. Value scored 7.2/10: the speed, the 6-inch cocked width and the 5-year limited warranty on limbs and cams are flagship-tier, but it is still a four-figure crossbow.

My decision rule is simple. If you will take shots past 50 yards and want the flattest trajectory Ravin sells below the R500 class, the extra speed over the R29X is worth paying for. If most of your shots are inside 40 yards, the R26X or R10 Pro XK7 gives up nothing you will notice in the field and saves about $450 to $1,050. Newcomers who do not want an adjustment period may prefer a TenPoint with a more conventional limb spread. See how much does a crossbow cost for the wider picture.

If the R470's price is the obstacle, the Ravin LR costs about the same ($2,449 to $2,499) and trades 20 rated FPS for an adjustable stock and turret scope.

Where the Ravin R470 ranks

The Ravin R470 earned a place in Best Crossbows in 2026, Tested (#2), Fastest Crossbows of 2026, Measured (#2) and Best Ravin Crossbows in 2026, Ranked (#3), where it is scored against every other model I tested for that use. For a direct head-to-head, see Ravin R29X vs R26X: Which to Buy and Ravin vs TenPoint Crossbows Compared. It also comes up in Best Reverse-Draw Crossbows in 2026, Best Crossbow Bolts in 2026, Tested, How Fast Does a Crossbow Shoot? and How Much Does a Crossbow Cost?.