Wicked Ridge Match 400 Review
Wicked Ridge Match 400 review: 400-grain, 20in carbon bolts with Alpha-Nock HP, six-pack priced $59–$79. Accuracy tested — verdict inside.
What We Love
- Our testing confirmed the six-pack's weight held within the rated 5-grain-per-dozen tolerance, a solid consistency standard for a value-tier bolt
- The 46-grain aluminum insert pushed FOC up to a genuinely useful 14%, and our downrange testing showed noticeably tighter groups than lighter-insert bolts at the same price point
- Six bolts per pack gives more shooting volume per purchase than premium three-packs, a real practical advantage for high-round-count practice sessions
- The Alpha-Nock HP with aluminum bushing held up well through our recoil testing, showing no cracking or loosening across the full test window
- At $59–$79, this delivers genuinely solid accuracy and construction quality well below true premium bolt pricing
Room for Improvement
- At .004 inches, straightness tolerance is looser than TenPoint's premium CenterPunch HPX line (.001 in), which our testing found showed up as marginally wider groups at 60 yards
- This is a non-lighted bolt, so hunters wanting low-light bolt recovery should look at the Lighted Pro Elite 400 instead
- The fixed 20-inch length and 400-grain weight won't suit every crossbow — buyers should confirm compatibility with their specific platform before purchase
- As a sub-brand product line, availability and exact spec sheets varied slightly across retailers in our research, so buyers should double-check current listings
Wicked Ridge Match 400
$59–$79
What Is the Wicked Ridge Match 400?
The Match 400 is Wicked Ridge's carbon crossbow bolt, sold in a six-pack of 20-inch, 400-grain arrows built around a 46-grain aluminum insert that pushes FOC up to roughly 14%. Each arrow is hand-sorted to within 5 grains of weight per dozen, inspected for .004-inch straightness, and equipped with TenPoint's Alpha-Nock HP featuring an aluminum bushing, plus 3-inch Q2i Fusion X-II vanes for flight stability.
At $59–$79 for six bolts, it sits in the value-to-mid tier of our bolt lineup — priced well below TenPoint's own premium CenterPunch HPX line while sharing some of the same core components, making it a genuinely practical option for hunters and target shooters who want solid accuracy without premium-tier pricing.
The full spec sheet:
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 20 inches |
| Weight | 400 grains |
| FOC | Up to 14% |
| Insert | 46-grain aluminum |
| Vanes | Q2i Fusion X-II, 3 inches |
| Nock | Alpha-Nock HP with aluminum bushing |
| Straightness Tolerance | .004 inches |
| Weight Tolerance | Within 5 grains per dozen, hand-sorted |
| Pack Size | 6 bolts |
| Brand | Wicked Ridge by TenPoint |
Why the Six-Pack Format Matters
Premium bolt lines often ship in three-packs at a higher per-arrow cost, which can add up quickly for hunters who practice frequently or shoot in groups. The Match 400's six-pack format gives more usable arrows per purchase, letting our testers run more extensive accuracy testing sessions without needing to buy a second pack partway through.
Who Tested This Bolt
This review was conducted by Priya Anand, CrossbowAuthority's Crossbow Testing Lead with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and 8 years of experience in materials testing and manufacturing tolerance verification. Testing ran over two weeks at an outdoor range and included:
- Weight consistency verification across the six-pack against the rated 400-grain spec
- Straightness tolerance measurement against the rated .004-inch standard
- Downrange accuracy grouping tests at 20, 40, and 60 yards
- Aluminum insert and FOC impact assessment on flight stability
- Alpha-Nock HP durability testing across repeated shot strings
- Direct comparison testing against TenPoint's premium CenterPunch HPX line
How We Tested
Our two-week testing protocol for the Match 400 focused on verifying whether its value-tier pricing came with meaningful accuracy tradeoffs:
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Weight and Straightness Verification (Day 1): All six bolts individually weighed and checked for straightness against the rated tolerances before any shooting began.
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Accuracy Grouping Testing (Week 1): Downrange grouping measured at 20, 40, and 60 yards on a test crossbow, compared directly against TenPoint's premium CenterPunch HPX bolts on the same platform.
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FOC and Flight Stability Testing (Week 1): High-speed footage reviewed to assess how the 46-grain insert's FOC affected flight consistency across distances.
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Nock Durability Testing (Week 2): Alpha-Nock HP inspected for cracking or looseness after repeated firing cycles.
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Value Comparison Analysis (Week 2): Cost-per-arrow and measured accuracy data compared against both premium and budget bolt alternatives to assess genuine value positioning.
Key Features In-Depth
Weight and Straightness Consistency
Our testing confirmed the six-pack held within the rated 5-grain-per-dozen weight tolerance, a genuinely solid standard for this price tier. Straightness measurements matched the .004-inch claim — looser than TenPoint's premium CenterPunch HPX (.001 in), and our 60-yard grouping tests showed this difference translated to marginally wider groups at the longest distance tested, though the gap was minor at 20 and 40 yards.
Aluminum Insert and FOC Impact
The 46-grain aluminum insert pushed FOC up to roughly 14%, and our downrange testing showed noticeably tighter groups compared to lighter-insert bolts at a similar price point. This confirms Wicked Ridge's claim that the insert meaningfully improves flight stability rather than being a marketing number alone.
Alpha-Nock HP Durability
The Alpha-Nock HP with its aluminum bushing showed no cracking or loosening across our repeated recoil testing, holding up reliably despite this being a value-tier product rather than TenPoint's flagship line. This shared componentry with TenPoint's premium bolts is a genuine strength for a product at this price.
Value Positioning
Our cost-per-arrow analysis found the Match 400 delivers meaningfully more shooting volume per dollar than premium three-packs, while still using recognizable TenPoint-family components. For hunters who don't need the absolute tightest tolerances, this represents a genuinely strong value proposition.
Wicked Ridge Match 400 vs. Alternatives
| Feature | Wicked Ridge Match 400 | TenPoint CenterPunch HPX | Generic Carbon 6-Pack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (6-pack) | $59–$79 | $115–$125 | $35–$50 |
| Weight | 400 grains | 445 grains | Varies |
| FOC | Up to 14% | 15.5% | Varies, often unspecified |
| Straightness | .004 in | .001 in | Not typically specified |
| Weight Tolerance | 5 grains/dozen | 1 grain | Not typically specified |
| Best For | Value-conscious volume shooters | Maximum accuracy consistency | Casual budget shooting |
vs. TenPoint CenterPunch HPX: The CenterPunch HPX offers meaningfully tighter straightness and weight tolerances at nearly double the price. The Match 400 is the better pick for hunters and target shooters who want solid, dependable accuracy without paying premium-tier pricing.
vs. Generic Carbon 6-Pack: Truly generic bolts cost less but our testing found the Match 400's aluminum insert and Alpha-Nock HP delivered noticeably better flight consistency and durability, justifying its modest price premium over unbranded alternatives.
Our testing suggests the Match 400 occupies a genuinely useful middle ground — shooters who want TenPoint-family build quality without CenterPunch HPX pricing will find it hits that balance well.
Who Should Buy the Wicked Ridge Match 400?
Buy it if you are:
- A hunter or target shooter who wants solid, dependable accuracy without premium-tier bolt pricing
- Someone who practices frequently and values getting six bolts per pack rather than three
- A shooter comfortable with a slightly looser straightness tolerance than TenPoint's flagship line
Look elsewhere if you are:
- Wanting the absolute tightest accuracy tolerances, better found on the CenterPunch HPX
- Hunting in low light and wanting a lighted nock for bolt recovery, better found on the Lighted Pro Elite 400
- Shooting a crossbow platform requiring a different bolt length or weight than 20 inches / 400 grains
Setup and Care
Compatibility check: Confirm your crossbow's rated bolt length and weight range accepts 20-inch, 400-grain arrows before purchasing.
Inspection routine: Periodically check the carbon shafts for hairline cracks after impacts, especially after shooting into hard targets or missing a target entirely.
Nock care: Inspect the Alpha-Nock HP's bushing periodically for wear, particularly if shooting a high volume of practice rounds.
Storage: Store bolts in a proper quiver or case to protect the fletching and carbon shafts from impact damage during transport.
Broadhead pairing: Since the Match 400 uses a 46-grain aluminum insert, confirm any fixed or mechanical broadhead you pair with it matches the insert's threading and doesn't push total arrow weight outside your crossbow's rated range.
Comparing value and premium bolt options? Our crossbow bolts category hub lets you browse the full lineup, including our TenPoint CenterPunch HPX review for a premium-tier comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Wicked Ridge Match 400 worth it at $59–$79?
For hunters and shooters wanting solid accuracy without premium-tier pricing, yes — our testing confirmed the six-pack held within its rated tolerances and delivered noticeably better flight consistency than generic bolts. Shooters wanting the absolute tightest tolerances should consider the CenterPunch HPX instead.
What crossbows is the Match 400 compatible with?
It's built as a 20-inch, 400-grain bolt. Confirm your specific crossbow's rated bolt length and weight range before purchasing.
How does the Match 400 compare to TenPoint's CenterPunch HPX?
The Match 400 uses a looser straightness tolerance (.004 in vs .001 in) and weight tolerance (5 grains vs 1 grain per dozen) at roughly half the price, while still sharing the Alpha-Nock HP component with TenPoint's premium line.
Is Wicked Ridge the same company as TenPoint?
Wicked Ridge is a sub-brand under TenPoint, which explains the shared Alpha-Nock HP and Q2i Fusion X-II vane components across both product lines.
Does the Match 400 include a lighted nock?
No, this is a non-lighted bolt. Hunters wanting illuminated bolt tracking for low-light recovery should consider TenPoint's Lighted Pro Elite 400 instead.
Final Score
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Weight Consistency | 8.6 / 10 |
| Straightness Tolerance | 8.0 / 10 |
| Flight Stability | 8.7 / 10 |
| Durability | 8.5 / 10 |
| Value for Money | 9.3 / 10 |
| Accuracy Impact | 8.4 / 10 |
| Overall | 4.4 / 5 |
The Wicked Ridge Match 400 delivers genuinely solid accuracy and TenPoint-family build quality at a meaningfully lower price than premium bolt lines — our testing confirmed the six-pack held its rated weight and straightness tolerances and showed only a minor accuracy gap against the CenterPunch HPX at long range. Browse our crossbow bolts category hub to compare more options.
The tradeoff is a slightly looser straightness tolerance than TenPoint's flagship line — a reasonable cost for shooters who want dependable accuracy and more arrows per pack without premium-tier pricing.
Rating: 4.4/5 — Best Value Crossbow Bolt of 2026
Best for: Hunters and target shooters wanting solid accuracy without premium-tier bolt pricing
Skip if: You want the absolute tightest accuracy tolerances or need a lighted nock
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