TenPoint TX Ultra 29.5 Review 2026

Flagship-class speed in a compound crossbow that is only 29.5 inches long is a rare pairing, and the TenPoint TX Ultra 29.5 delivers both. It is rated at 460 FPS, costs $2,499–$2,599, and my chronograph recorded 456–463 FPS. It is the longer, faster sibling of the 26.5, and it is the one I would pick if you want speed without giving up a narrow cocked frame. If you want this rated speed in a shorter frame, the reverse-draw Flatline 460 matches 460 FPS at 26.5 inches overall, with 16-inch bolts.

I tested it over my three-week flagship protocol: chronographing speed, shooting groups out to 100 yards, and logging cocking cycles. It ships with the EVO-X Marksman Elite scope, ACUslide MAXX cocking, a custom TriggerTech trigger and an AR-style ambidextrous thumb safety.

TenPoint TX Ultra 29.5 Specs and Price

The speed figure is TenPoint's rating with a 410-grain bolt. Kinetic energy is listed for two bolt weights so you can see how arrow choice changes the result.

What I Like

• Speed that holds up on the chronograph. I measured 456–463 FPS with a 410-grain bolt, essentially matching the 460 FPS rating with minimal spread between strings.
• Maneuverable at flagship speed. At 6.5 inches axle-to-axle cocked, it was one of the most maneuverable flagship-speed crossbows I have reviewed, and it worked from a saddle or a tight blind.
• Accuracy at distance. The forward-draw platform produced tight, repeatable 100-yard groups across my full testing window.
• Cocking effort well below the draw weight. ACUslide MAXX reduced felt effort to roughly 13 lbs despite 350 lbs of true draw weight, with no failures.
• Optics that held zero. The included EVO-X Marksman Elite tracked its aiming references accurately and kept zero throughout testing.

Potential Drawbacks

• A premium price. At $2,499–$2,599 it sits well above mid-tier crossbows like the Titan X De-Cock, which costs $799–$899.
• Not TenPoint's fastest. 460 FPS trails the TRX Ultra at 515 FPS, which costs roughly $900–$1,000 more.
• The cocking system is mandatory. At 350 lbs of true draw weight, ACUslide MAXX is required, with no realistic manual backup.
• Energy depends on bolt weight. Kinetic energy drops with lighter bolts, so stay close to TenPoint's recommended arrow weight range to keep energy in an ethical hunting margin.
• Louder than the 26.5. Higher draw weight and speed cost some quietness, as the noise section explains.

Key Features Explained

What is a forward-draw design, and why does it matter here?

The TX Ultra 29.5 is a forward-draw compound crossbow: the limbs and cams sit at the front of the barrel, which is the layout most hunters know. TenPoint's own launch coverage calls it the fastest forward-draw crossbow the company has built, and the reverse-draw option in the lineup is the separate TRX Ultra. If you want to see how the two layouts differ, the reverse-draw glossary entry explains the basic idea.

How consistent is the speed?

My chronograph results came from five separate shot strings with minimal spread. That consistency matters as much as the peak number: a crossbow that occasionally reaches its rated speed is not the same as one that sits within a few FPS of it every time.

How narrow is it when cocked?

At 6.5 inches axle-to-axle cocked, the TX Ultra 29.5 was half an inch narrower than TenPoint's TX Ultra 26.5 despite the faster rating. For saddle hunters and anyone in a confined ground blind, that combination is a practical advantage.

How does ACUslide MAXX feel at 350 lbs?

Despite 350 lbs of true draw weight, ACUslide MAXX brought felt cocking effort to roughly 13.3 lbs and completed more than 40 logged cocking and de-cocking cycles without a failure or inconsistent draw. That is more draw weight than the ACUdraw De-Cock system manages on the Titan X De-Cock, which is why the felt-effort figure is proportionally higher. My how to cock a crossbow guide explains how the different systems compare.

Performance & Usability

How accurate is it at 100 yards?

Once zeroed with the EVO-X Marksman Elite, my 100-yard groups stayed in a tight cluster that is competitive for a hunting crossbow. I did not record group sizes, so I am not quoting a number. That tested the platform at distance. If you plan to shoot that far, my scope sighting guide walks through zeroing.

How much energy does it deliver?

At 193 ft-lbs of kinetic energy with a 410-grain bolt, it comfortably exceeds the commonly cited 25–41 ft-lb range for deer-sized game. Check local rules for minimum requirements before you hunt.

How loud is it?

With a decibel meter, I measured its shot noise against other crossbows in my flagship-speed lineup. Higher draw weight and speed generally trade against noise, and this platform was audibly louder than TenPoint's dampened TX Ultra 26.5 at the same distance. That is a reasonable trade for the speed gain, but it matters if you want a quiet shot for a quick follow-up.

How does it handle?

Between the narrow cocked width and the 8-lb weight, it felt easy to bring to bear from a saddle setup or a tight ground blind. The compactness was a functional advantage and not just a spec-sheet number.

Setup, care and storage

It ships mostly assembled. Scope mounting and a full zeroing process took about an hour, slightly longer than mid-tier models because I verified the zero at extended distance. Wax the string and cables every 3–5 shooting sessions per TenPoint's guidance, and check scope zero at the start of each season and after any drop or remount. My crossbow maintenance guide covers storage. At 29.5 inches overall, it fits a standard crossbow case.

What's in the Box and What Else You Need

The 29.5 ships with the EVO-X Marksman Elite scope, ACUslide MAXX cocking, the custom TriggerTech trigger and the AR-style ambidextrous thumb safety. The listed 8 lb weight is without accessories, so a loaded setup will weigh more. I did not document a quiver or bolt count for this package, so check your listing.

Still to budget for:

• Bolts and tips. I tested with a 410-grain bolt and TenPoint's rating also lists a 440-grain bolt. Use the length and weight range in your manual, and see my bolt selection guide.
• Broadheads or field points for practice and hunting.
• String wax, a case and a hard look at your cocking routine before the first outing.

Scope compatibility

The included scope is rated for crossbows shooting 300–550 FPS with references calibrated from 20 to 100 yards, and this crossbow's 456–463 FPS sits inside that band. Because the scope has nine aiming references, write down which one matches each distance for your bolt before the season. Changing bolt weight changes drop, so re-check your zero if you switch.

Setup and first session

A sensible first session, subject to your manual:

1. Inspect the string, cables and cam area before the first shot.
2. Practice cocking and de-cocking with no bolt loaded until the motion is routine.
3. Shoot short strings, adjust the turrets by hand and confirm the zero at a short distance first.
4. Verify the longer references only after the short ones hold.
5. Recheck zero after any drop or remount.

Warning signs to act on

I saw none of these in more than 40 logged cocking cycles. They are the checks I would run on any crossbow with this draw weight.

Who Is the TenPoint TX Ultra 29.5 For?

Best suited to:

• A saddle hunter or confined-blind shooter who also wants flagship-tier speed
• Someone who wants near-TRX-Ultra performance without the full flagship price
• A buyer who wants a fast forward-draw crossbow and evidence it holds up at extended range

Consider something else if:

• You need the fastest crossbow available
• You are working with a mid-tier budget
• You want the quietest option, since the 26.5 was audibly quieter in my testing
• You mostly shoot short distances from a confined position, where the 26.5 may already do the job for $400–$500 less

If you are still shortlisting, the compound crossbows hub lists every model I have reviewed.

Which Step of TenPoint's Ultra Line Should You Buy?

TenPoint's three Ultra-tier crossbows in my reviews share ACUslide MAXX cocking, a TriggerTech trigger and the same warranty terms (5 years on limbs and cams, lifetime on the trigger mechanism). The 29.5 is the middle step, and the table shows what each step adds.

Chronograph figures in this table use the bolt each rating is quoted for: 400 grains for the 26.5 and TRX Ultra, 410 grains for the 29.5.

The jump from the 26.5 to the 29.5 is the bigger value step: 50 more rated FPS, a longer power stroke and a draw weight of 350 lbs for $400–$500 more. The jump from the 29.5 to the TRX Ultra adds 55 rated FPS and the tightest 100-yard groups I have recorded for roughly $900–$1,000 more. I only reach for the TRX Ultra if I shoot at 100 yards often.

TX Ultra 29.5 vs 26.5, TRX Ultra and Ravin Rivals

The 29.5 is the middle model of TenPoint's three flagship-tier crossbows. The TX Ultra 26.5 costs $400–$500 less and is shorter at 26.5 inches, but it is rated 50 FPS slower and is wider when cocked. The TRX Ultra reaches 515 FPS for roughly $900–$1,000 more.

The Ravin R29X is the nearest rival: 450 FPS, 29 inches, and about 180 ft-lbs in my testing, with a 12 lb felt cocking effort. For a full brand comparison, read my Ravin vs TenPoint guide.

For a full side-by-side of the two TX Ultra models, read my TenPoint TX Ultra 26.5 vs 29.5 comparison.

Value for Money

At $2,499–$2,599, the TX Ultra 29.5 sits between the TX Ultra 26.5 ($1,999–$2,199) and the TRX Ultra ($3,495–$3,515). The 26.5 costs $400–$500 less and stays compact, but the 29.5 is 50 FPS faster by rating and narrower when cocked. The TRX Ultra reaches 515 FPS but costs roughly $900–$1,000 more and is not built around the same compact priority.

The value case held up in my testing: the speed, the 6.5-inch cocked width and the reliable cocking are premium-tier results. It remains a premium-priced purchase, so the value holds only for hunters who need both speed and a compact footprint.

A worked example with the numbers

• Kinetic energy is mass times speed squared divided by 450,240. With the 410-grain bolt at 460 FPS, that gives about 193 ft-lbs, matching the figure in the specs. With the 440-grain bolt at 440 FPS it gives about 189 ft-lbs. The heavier bolt gives up only around 2 percent of the energy while losing 20 FPS; the kinetic energy calculator runs the same sum for any bolt you are considering.
• Cocking: 350 lbs of draw weight against about 13.3 lbs of felt effort means the system reduces what you feel by a factor of roughly 26. The cocking effort estimator shows what that same draw weight would feel like with a rope cocker instead.
• Price per step: $400–$500 more than the 26.5 for 50 rated FPS is about $8–$10 per FPS. The TRX Ultra costs about $916–$996 more for 55 rated FPS, or roughly $17–$18 per FPS.

On those numbers, the 29.5 is the cheaper way to get 460 FPS in this line.

Where the TenPoint TX Ultra 29.5 ranks

The TenPoint TX Ultra 29.5 earned a place in Fastest Crossbows of 2026, Measured (#3) and Best TenPoint 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 Forward-Draw vs Reverse-Draw Crossbows, TenPoint TX Ultra 26.5 vs 29.5 and Ravin vs TenPoint Crossbows Compared. It also comes up in Best Compact Crossbows in 2026, Tested, How to Cock a Crossbow: Rope vs Crank, Crossbow Draw Weight by Body Size and How Fast Does a Crossbow Shoot?.