Bear Archery Fisix FFL Review – Compound Crossbow

Model	Draw Weight	Stroke	Velocity	Suggested Arrow Length	Crossbow Length / Weight
Bear Archery Fisix FFL Crossbow Check price on Amazon.com	135 lbs.	17.5"	375 FPS Crossbow Academy: ballistics, sighting, tuning	22"	36.75" / 9.9 lbs.

Thanks for stopping in to read my review of the Bear Archery Fisix FFL crossbow. Bear Archery has been renowned for years for their fantastic traditional and compound bows, and the company has continued the tradition with innovative crossbows. In its latest offering, this x-bow features forward-facing limbs to help distribute the weight towards the weapon’s center of gravity, providing you with fantastic balance. Let’s see how well it performs.

What Comes With This Crossbow?

Naturally, you’ll want to know what comes with the crossbow. When you unbox the Fisix FFL, here’s what you should expect to find:

• The Bear Archery Fisix FFL itself, including riser and stock
• Trophy Ridge SpeedComp Illuminated Reticle Scope
• Three Trophy Ridge Insidious Arrows & Points
• Picatinny Mount Quiver
• Integrated String Suppressor
• Cocking Sled
• Rail Lube
• Owner’s Manual
• Warranty Card

That’s just about everything you need to get going. I wish they’d included some string wax, but I won’t quibble over such an inexpensive material.

How Much Hassle Is It To Assemble This X-Bow?

The first time you assemble a forward-facing limb crossbow, it might seem a bit on the strange side, if you’ve ever put together a more traditional model. With that said, Bear has done an excellent job of depicting the proper assembly of the weapon, so you should be able to have it up and ready to shoot in under ten minutes. Once you’ve got it assembled and the scope mounted, you’re ready to start sighting it in.

How Powerful And Accurate Is It?

Once properly sighted in, this puppy is a tack driver, plain and simple. I usually hit two-inch groupings from 40 to 50 yards, but with the Fisix FFL I was nailing down one and a half inch groupings without breaking a sweat. Just for giggles, I backed up to 100 yards, the length of a football field, and was able to place two-inch groupings with the aid of a shooting stick.

As far as power goes, the Fisix FFL definitely has it where it counts. Despite the light 135 pound draw weight, this x-bow delivers arrows at a blistering 375 feet per second. Using my usual load of 400-grain arrows, that provided me with 125 foot-pounds of kinetic energy. You’d better have a strong backstop behind your target, and an arrow puller, because you’ll drive your bolts at least halfway into it when you practice your shooting.

Use our arrow ballistics calculator for more valuable information.

The Bear Archery Fisix FFL

Your actual results will vary slightly depending on weather, and significantly with arrow weight change. See our Crossbow Ballistics Guides section for a complete understanding of how we conducted our tests and why this data matters.

Can I Hunt With The Fisix FFL?

Once cocked, this x-bow has a very slim 11.1-inch width from axle to axle. That’s definitely one of the narrowest crossbows I’ve ever come across, and it makes it an absolute beauty to maneuver inside a ground blind or a tree stand. The only drawback to the Fisix FFL is its weight: without accessories, it tips the scale at 9.9 pounds. Once you add on the quiver and full complement of arrows, you’ll be at 11.4 pounds. That’s fairly heavy to carry around, so keep that in mind when you’re preparing your load-out for the wilderness. The good thing, though, is that the weight is nicely balanced front to back, so it’s still fairly comfortable to hold and prepare your shot.

One of the nicest features of the Fisix FFL for the hunter (and the target shooter, as well) is the ability to customize the crossbow. The butt stock is adjustable for various sizes, and the foregrip slides along a Picatinny rail so you can place it where ever it’s most comfortable for you.

How Difficult Is It To Cock?

This model has a draw weight of just 135 pounds, making it one of the most efficient crossbows on the market. Pull back is smooth and silky, and the included cocking sled makes it even easier to cock. While you could probably pull the string back by hand, why would you? Using the cocking sled makes the whole process so much easier, and safer to boot. Using the cocking sled, you can be assured of having the string pulled back evenly.

What’s the Included Scope Like?

Bear Archery includes a Trophy Ridge SpeedComp scope with an illuminated reticle. This scope features a nine-position reticle for accurate shooting from 20 to 100 yards, and the illumination levels are perfectly designed for a wide variety of lighting conditions.

The scope sights in like a breeze, so I was ready to go within minutes. It holds zero quite well, making for one of the nicest scopes you can hope to find on the market anywhere, let alone included with your crossbow.

See our detailed guide on how to sight-in your crossbow

What Kind of Arrows Do I Need?

When you buy this crossbow, you get a three-pack of Trophy Ridge Insidious arrows with field tips. These 20-inch carbon arrows are fantastic quality, but if you prefer different bolts, feel free to go with your favorite. Just make sure they are 22 inches long and at least 400-grain arrows.

You can also learn more about crossbow arrows and take a look at our broadhead recommendations

How’s the Design And Safety?

Everything about this crossbow oozes quality. Bear Archery’s 3 Times Safe trigger is billed as the safest and most intuitive trigger ever in a crossbow. The safety is always set when cocking the bow and it can be in safe or fire prior to cocking. The anti dry-fire mechanism works flawlessly every time, so you don’t have to worry about inadvertently shooting your crossbow without an arrow loaded.

What Kind of Warranty Backs The Fisix FFL?

All Bear Archery crossbows are backed with a limited lifetime warranty for the original owner. The company’s customer service department is top-notch, ready to answer any of your problems or complaints with a professional and helpful attitude. They’re also some of the most knowledgeable folks I’ve ever come across.

Bear Archery Fisix FFL Crossbow Review – Summary

Thanks for reading my review of the Bear Archery Fisix FFL crossbow. It’s definitely a hefty investment, but well worth every penny. This might not be the lightest crossbow on the market, but the weight distribution is very well done and you can count on it delivering the killing power you need for your next hunt.

Make sure to check today’s Amazon.com price on the Bear Archery Fisix FFL if you’re interested.