Wicked Ridge Invader HP Review – Compound Crossbow

Model	Draw Weight	Stroke	Velocity	Suggested Arrow Length	Crossbow Length / Weight
Wicked Ridge Invader HP Crossbow Check price on Amazon.com	180 lbs.	12.25"	315 FPS Crossbow Academy: ballistics, sighting, tuning	20"	38" / 7 lbs.

Package Contents

Hi there, and welcome to our review of the Wicked Ridge Invader HP. Each package delivered by Wicked ridge includes the following items:

• Wicked Ridge Invader HP Crossbow
• ACU-52 cocking system
• Ten Point 3X Multi-Line scope
• Wicked Ridge quiver
• 3 Wicked Ridge aluminum arrows
• Wicked Ridge embroidered sling
• Assembly hardware and tools
• Owner’s manual
• Warranty card

Once you’ve unboxed the parts, you can move on to the next step — assembling the crossbow.

Assembling The Crossbow

The owner’s manual gives very good instructions on assembling the Invader HP, and the crossbow is relatively simple to put together. You attach cable saver to the cables first, and then attach the prod to the riser. Next, you install the main assembly bolt and then install the foot stirrup. Finally, mount your quiver and your scope, and you are ready to sight in your crossbow.

Accuracy And Power

The Wicked Ridge Invader HP fires its arrows at 315 FPS, and delivers 93 ft. lbs. of kinetic energy. Not the fastest crossbow on the market, but it is still highly respectable and has enough power to drive my arrows all the way through my target block from 40 yards.

Before I could test the accuracy of the crossbow, I had to sight in the scope. Wicked Ridge is using one of Ten Point’s scopes for this crossbow, and it is a good one. It sighted in quickly and easily, requiring only a few minor adjustments to windage and elevation.

Once those adjustments were made, I was able to test accuracy. From 30 yards, I am able to hold a 1-1/2” pattern with the Invader HP, and I don’t love much accuracy when I move out. My groupings from 40 yards fell in the 2” range, and 2-1/2” from 50 yards. I am very pleased with the accuracy of this crossbow.

Hunting: What To Expect

The Wicked Ridge Invader HP shells out 93 ft. lbs. of deadly kinetic energy, making it one of the most powerful crossbows around. It is easily capable of taking down the largest game animals, such as Cape buffalo and bear.

The light weight of the Invader HP makes it a pleasure to carry, riding for literally hours on my back without causing a hint of fatigue. The crossbow includes a sling, which is a definite nice inclusion, and the sling is very comfortable to wear.

This crossbow is a bit noisy, but no more so than most other crossbows. I’ve had quite a bit of success with the crossbow, including the bagging of a 14-point buck that only managed to stumble away from about 5 yards before he fell to the ground. I have also used this crossbow for wild boar hunting and have managed to take down a Cape buffalo with the Invader HP.

Kinetic Energy of The Wicked Ridge Invader HP

So, we know that the Wicked Ridge Invader HP can speed 420-grain arrows to your target at 315 FPS, but how hard do those arrows hit? Assuming your shot is from point blank range, you’re looking at around 92 ft. lbs. of kinetic energy for each shot. However, most shots won’t be from point blank range, so you need to know that you’ll lose a few % of kinetic energy for every 10 yards beyond point blank range. This still leaves you with 86 ft. lbs. of kinetic energy from 30 yards, which is definitely enough power to tackle even the toughest legal game in North America: the majestic Cape buffalo or the terrifying grizzly bear.

Use our arrow ballistics calculator for more valuable information.

Ballistic Data For The Wicked Ridge Invader HP

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.

Cocking The Wicked Ridge Invader HP

The draw weight on the Wicked Ridge Invader HP is a hefty 180 pounds, but there is absolutely no reason to draw the crossbow by hand. The manufacturer has installed a fantastic rope cocking device right into the buttstock of the crossbow, the ACU-52. This self-retracting rope-cocking system works beautifully, making the draw easy and consistent every single time.

The Invader HP Crossbow Scope

The Wicked Ridge Invader HP ships with Ten Point’s 3X Multi-Line scope, a lightweight scope with 3X optics and three duplex crosshairs for shooting at various ranges. The scope zeroes in easily, and holds true even after months of carting the crossbow around.

The optics are crisp and clear, but does suffer some fogginess during colder temperatures. Also, the light gathering capabilities aren’t as good as other scopes I’ve used, and there is no illumination to the reticles.

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

Bolts For The Invader HP

The Invader HP ships with a three-pack of aluminum arrows, which I would probably suggest you throw away as soon as you unbox them. Aluminum arrows with a crossbow this powerful are a recipe for disaster, and I proved that when I broke two of them during my first round of sighting in.

The Manufacturer recommends 20” arrows with a weight of at least 420 grain, so I quickly moved to my Firebolt 20” arrows at 425 grain. I found this shooting combination to be fantastic, and my chronograph still showed a velocity of almost 315 FPS.

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

Safety and Design

The manufacturer has put out a very fine crossbow in the Invader HP. The bow shoots smoothly and consistently every time, and the dry fire inhibitor keeps you safe at all times, not allowing the crossbow to be fired if an arrow is not loaded. The trigger has a smooth 3.5 lb. pull, with very smooth and quiet operation.

The riser and pockets are CNC-machined, with fantastic quality and strength compared to other crossbows in this class. The integrated swing swivel stud mounts makes for quick installation of a sling, either the included sling or your favorite camouflage sling.

My only complaint about the Invader HP is the noise factor. Even with the inclusion of a string dampening system, this crossbow is still noisier than average. It hasn’t scared away any game, though, so it’s obviously not THAT noisy!

The integrated ACU-52 self-retracting rope-cocking device is a marvel of engineering. I thought at first that having the rope cocking system right against my cheek as I fired would be uncomfortable, but the manufacturer has placed the device in the perfect location to be out of the way for your shot.

Warranty

The Wicked Ridge Invader HP is covered with a five-year limited warranty, as long as you send in the included warranty registration card within 30 days of your purchase. Wicked Ridge can boast an excellent customer service staff that will go out of their way to make sure every customer is pleased with their purchase, even covering shipping costs from time to time for manufacturer defects that make you need warranty repair work on your crossbow.

What Crossbow Case Fits the Wicked Ridge Invader HP?

The Barnett Case (Model 17083) is a great soft case selection. A sturdy hard case for the Invader but at a considerably higher price is the SKB Hunter Series Crossbow Case. For a more affordable decent hard case, see the Plano 1133-00 Manta Crossbow Case.

Wicked Ridge Invader HP Summary

Thanks for reading our crossbow review of the Wicked Ridge Invader HP. The Invader HP is a terrific crossbow at a terrific price. It shoots accurately and consistently, and has enough power behind it to take down even the largest legal North American game. I would strongly recommend this crossbow to anyone looking to get started in crossbow hunting, or even experienced veterans of crossbow hunting. Take a look at today's amazon.com price on this crossbow and check out our top 10 crossbows rankings for more.