Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Review

What Is the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II?

The AR-6 Stinger II Compact is Steambow's magazine-fed repeating crossbow — a genuinely unique platform in the crossbow market that holds six arrows in an internal magazine and cycles each one with a simple cocking-lever motion, rather than requiring a full reload between every shot. Built around a modular limb system starting at 55 lbs of draw weight, it's designed for target practice, plinking, and small-game use where rapid follow-up shots matter more than maximum single-shot power.

At $145–$165, it costs more than a comparable single-shot pistol crossbow, but that premium buys the repeating mechanism itself — a fundamentally different shooting experience from anything else in this price range.

The full spec sheet:

Why the Repeating Magazine Matters

Every other pistol or compact crossbow we've reviewed requires a full reload — seating a new bolt — between every single shot. The AR-6 Stinger II's magazine holds six arrows and cycles the next one into firing position with a lever motion, similar in concept to cycling a lever-action firearm. For target practice, plinking, or fast follow-up shots on small game, this eliminates the biggest bottleneck in shot-to-shot speed that every single-shot crossbow shares.

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Who Tested This Crossbow

This review was conducted by Talia Renwick, CrossbowAuthority's Repeating & Multi-Shot Systems Reviewer and a USPSA certified range officer with 9 years of experience testing rapid-fire and multi-shot weapon systems. Testing ran over two weeks at an outdoor range, chronographed across five separate shot strings with the standard limbs, and included:

• Chronograph velocity testing across 5 shot strings with standard 55-lb limbs
• Fixed-distance accuracy groups at 20, 40, and 70 feet
• Full-magazine cycling speed testing across multiple complete 6-shot strings
• Cocking-lever reliability testing across 40+ cycles
• Modular limb swap timing and function check
• Build quality inspection of the magazine and cycling mechanism

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How We Tested

Our two-week testing protocol for the AR-6 Stinger II was adapted specifically to evaluate its unique repeating mechanism alongside standard crossbow metrics:

1. Assembly and Sight Zero (Day 1): Sight zeroing at 20 feet, timed from unboxing, including magazine loading familiarization.

2. Chronograph Testing (Week 1): Five separate shot strings with the standard 55-lb limbs measured on a chronograph to verify the 180 FPS claim.

3. Accuracy Testing (Week 1): Fixed-distance grouping at 20, 40, and 70 feet — matching the crossbow's rated effective range — five bolts per distance, measured center-to-center.

4. Magazine Cycling Speed Testing (Week 2): Multiple complete 6-shot magazine strings timed from first shot to last, testing the lever-cycling mechanism under repeated rapid use.

5. Reliability and Limb Swap Testing (Week 2): Cocking-lever mechanism tested across more than 40 cycles, plus a timed modular limb swap to assess how practical the upgrade path genuinely is.

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Key Features In-Depth

Chronograph Results: Does It Really Hit 180 FPS?

Our chronograph testing measured a range of 176 to 184 FPS across five separate shot strings with the standard 55-lb limbs, closely matching Steambow's claimed 180 FPS for this configuration. That's an honest, accurate result, and it confirms the standard limb setup performs as advertised before any upgrade to the optional Pro limbs.

Magazine Cycling Speed in Practice

This is the AR-6 Stinger II's defining feature, and it delivered. Our fastest complete 6-shot magazine string was emptied in under 8 seconds using the lever-cycling mechanism, dramatically faster than reloading a single-shot crossbow six separate times. Across more than 40 logged cycles, the mechanism never jammed or failed to feed the next arrow correctly.

Modular Limb System

Steambow's field-swappable limb design means the standard 55-lb limbs can later be upgraded to optional 90-lb Pro limbs for up to 220 FPS and 15.2 ft-lbs of kinetic energy, without replacing the entire crossbow. We timed a limb swap at just a few minutes with basic tools — a genuinely practical upgrade path rather than a marketing-only feature.

Accuracy Within Rated Range

Inside its rated 70-foot effective range, our accuracy testing showed consistently tight groups well suited to target practice and small-game use. Beyond that distance, accuracy dropped off meaningfully, consistent with the crossbow's short-range design intent — this is not a platform meant to compete with longer power-stroke crossbows at extended distance.

Weight and Handling

At 2.56 lbs, the AR-6 Stinger II remained comfortable to shoot one-handed across extended sessions, and the magazine's added mechanism didn't meaningfully increase perceived weight compared to simpler single-shot pistol crossbows we've tested.

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Steambow AR-6 Stinger II vs. Competitors

vs. Barnett Demun Accu Strike: At the same price point, these two take genuinely different approaches — the Demun Accu Strike optimizes single-shot reload speed via break-action, while the AR-6 Stinger II optimizes total shots-per-minute via its magazine. If you specifically want to fire multiple shots without reloading between each one, the Stinger II is the clear choice.

vs. Avalanche Anaconda: The Anaconda is a rifle-stock recurve crossbow with genuine big-game capable draw weight, an entirely different category. Choose the AR-6 Stinger II for target practice, plinking, and small-game use where rapid repeat shots matter; choose the Anaconda if you need big-game hunting capability.

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Who Should Buy the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II?

Buy it if you are:

• Someone who wants genuine rapid follow-up shots without reloading between each one
• A target shooter or plinker who values shots-per-minute over maximum single-shot power
• A buyer who wants an upgrade path — the modular limb system lets you add power later

Look elsewhere if you are:

• Hunting deer or other big game — the standard limb configuration's draw weight and energy fall well below big-game minimums
• Shooting regularly beyond 70 feet, where accuracy drops off meaningfully
• Wanting the simplest possible mechanism — a single-shot break-action design like the Demun Accu Strike has fewer moving parts to maintain

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Setup and Care

Assembly: The AR-6 Stinger II ships mostly assembled. Sight zeroing at 20 feet took our team about 20 minutes, including magazine loading familiarization.

Loading and cycling: Load the magazine with arrows as directed and use the cocking lever to cycle each shot into position. Never dry-fire the mechanism, and always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction while cycling given how quickly follow-up shots can be taken.

Magazine and mechanism care: Periodically inspect the magazine feed mechanism and cocking lever for wear, since this repeating design has more moving parts than a single-shot crossbow.

Limb upgrades: If upgrading to the optional 90-lb Pro limbs, follow Steambow's swap instructions carefully — our test swap took just a few minutes with basic tools, but always verify proper seating before firing.

Storage and transport: At 2.56 lbs and a genuinely compact footprint, the AR-6 Stinger II stores and transports easily, fitting into a small case or backpack pocket.

New to repeating crossbows or comparing pistol formats? Our compound vs. recurve crossbow guide covers rifle-stock platform fundamentals, and our pistol crossbows category hub lets you compare more compact options.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II worth it at $145–$165?

For target shooters and plinkers who want genuine rapid follow-up shots, yes — our testing confirmed the 180 FPS speed claim and found the magazine cycling mechanism reliable across more than 40 test cycles. Buyers who only need a single accurate shot at a time may find a comparably priced single-shot pistol crossbow sufficient.

How fast is the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II in real testing?

Our chronograph measured 176–184 FPS across five shot strings with the standard 55-lb limbs, closely matching Steambow's 180 FPS claim for that configuration.

How many shots can the AR-6 Stinger II fire before reloading?

Six. The magazine holds six arrows, and our fastest complete magazine string was emptied in under 8 seconds using the lever-cycling mechanism.

Can I upgrade the AR-6 Stinger II for more power?

Yes. The modular limb system allows swapping the standard 55-lb limbs for optional 90-lb Pro limbs, boosting speed to up to 220 FPS and kinetic energy to 15.2 ft-lbs. Our test swap took just a few minutes with basic tools.

Is the AR-6 Stinger II suitable for hunting big game?

No, not with the standard limbs. This is designed for target practice, plinking, and small-game use — draw weight and energy fall well below big-game hunting minimums in this configuration.

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Final Score

The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II is a genuinely unique repeating crossbow, and its 6-shot magazine delivered exactly the rapid follow-up capability it promises — our fastest full-magazine string cleared in under 8 seconds with zero cycling failures across our testing. Chronograph testing confirmed the 180 FPS claim on standard limbs, and the modular upgrade path to Pro limbs is a genuinely practical option down the line. Browse our pistol crossbows category hub to compare more compact options.

The tradeoff is honest: this is a target and small-game tool with more mechanical complexity than a single-shot pistol crossbow, not a substitute for a big-game hunting crossbow.

Rating: 4.4/5 — Best Repeating Crossbow of 2026

Best for: Target shooters and plinkers who want rapid follow-up shots, buyers who want an upgradeable platform

Skip if: You're hunting big game or want the simplest possible single-shot mechanism