The Invader HP is production by Wicked Ridge Crossbows. Built in similar quality control as its bigger brother TenPoint’s crossbows, the Invader HP comes with a number of modern technological innovations as well as features you’d find in some of TenPoint’s products.
If you’re looking for a mid-priced crossbow that is well worth your money this is one of the best compound crossbows available in this price class.
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Wicked Ridge Invader HP Packages
The Invader HP, much like its little sibling the more affordable Wicked Ridge Warrior HL is offered in premium and standard packages. Here are their differences.
1. Invader HP Premium Kit – compared to the standard package the premium set comes with TenPoint’s 3x Multi-Line Scope, 3 bolts and a sling. It is priced at $460.
Inside the Premium package, you also get:
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- ACU-52 rope cocking attachment
- Ten Point 3X Multi-Line Scope
- Wicked Ridge Quiver
- 3 Wicked Ridge Aluminium Arrows
- Wicked Ridge Embroidered Sling
2. Invader HP Standard set – is surprisingly priced similarly at $460. But it does come with a Multi-Dot scope, but no included arrows nor sling.
For the standard set you also have:
- ACU-52 drawing system
- Ridge-Dot 40mm Multi-Dot Scope
- Wicked Ridge Quiver
At similar prices, this is really a no-brainer. Get the premium package if you have a choice between the two. I’m not sure if their priced with diverging in the future but at the moment, take advantage of the same price.
Wicked Ridge Invader HP or Warrior HL?
Now if you’re the question is do I get the Invader HP or the Warrior HL the answer is quite simple.
- If you’re saving money, on a budget, want to stay at around $400 or under, then get the Warrior HL.
- If you want more performance, more power and fast velocity are willing to spend a little extra, the Invader HP is the way to go.
Design and Look of the Invader HP Crossbow
The Invader HP comes with a Mossy Oak camo covered skeleton stock that helps you stay hidden in the trees and bushes as you wait or stalk your prey. It uses a quad limb system so you get 4 thinner limbs (2 on each side) as opposed to the 2 solid limbs. While the argument between solid and split limbs is still debatable as to which is better, or if there’s any difference. A lot will agree, us included, that it really comes down to your preference since there isn’t much of a difference in ability, or durability (at least so far). You probably do get a slight weight advantage with the quad limb design being lighter.
This is a 38 inch long crossbow with 25.25 inches from one axle to the other axle. It comes in at 7 lbs. and has a nice balanced feel to it. You also have the guard that sits right above the forehand gripping area that prevents your fingers to reach over it, which keeps you safe.
Specifications
Draw Weight and Cocking
The invader comes with a 180 lb. draw weight and includes a ACU-52 self retracting rope system. This is similar to the standard rope cocking device except that it is already attached to the stock. The slim stock really helps such that the addition of the ACU-52 doesn’t make the rear end bulky.
Being attached to the stock, the ACU-52 relieves you of figuring where to keep or set your rope cocker aside when in the field. It also has a self retractable mechanism that pulls the rope back after you’ve cocked the bow.
While it does work similarly in reducing the cocking effort by 50% it somehow feels like it uses more leverage since pulling the string back felt a lot less than 90 lbs. (half of the 180 lb. draw weight). Though we can’t tell for sure.
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Speed and Power
When it comes to speed, you get 315 ft/sec initial arrow velocity that translates to around close to 93 ft-lbs. of energy. This makes it a more than worthy companion for hunting medium to large sized game including moose, elk and whitetail.
Other Features
As you’d expect it comes with the excellent PowerTouch trigger mechanism, its Dry Fire Inhibitor system, ambidextrous stock and safety. It includes its own CNC-machined HP cams, which is a feature that isn’t available with the Warrior HL.
You can tell that the components are well built and made. They fit snug with when put together and there are no gaps or spaces between the different parts.
Shooting the Invader HP
If you plan on using your crossbow to go hunting you want to be sure you have a sufficient amount of shots under your belt in practice before doing so. This gives you a good feel of the weapon as well as its overall behavior and how much effort you expend cocking it.
Start with sighting it in at 20 yards, then move to 30 yards and then 40 yards. Crossbows are more effective hunting tools between these ranges so you want to get your weapon zeroed in there. Twenty yards is often the low end because you aren’t really going to get much closer than that to the prey without it getting a whiff or feeling that you’re there or at least risking that. Past 40 yards, you’ll need to have better than average skill and many crossbows start falling off past this point.
Thirty yards seems to be quite optimal and probably where most of the practicing will take place.
At this range, you can expect nothing but excellent results with the Invader HP. One note of caution though you may want to shoot at different spots on your target instead of repeatedly at one point. That’s because you’ll get really accurate shots with nice groupings but will probably have bolts nicking each others shafts and nocks. That’s as accurate as you can get with this.
Shooting at separate points saves you money from having to buy more arrows. Keep in mind check you arrows each time before you shoot. Damages on any part of a crossbow bolt will affect its flight and can be dangerous. See our safety guide for more information.
Moving at 40 yards, shooting groups of an inch or slightly more shouldn’t be unexpected. For target shooting you can expand you range to as far as 50 to 75 yards and still get respectable results.
Summary
Overall, at under $500 this is one of the best crossbows for the money at this price level. Wicked Ridge succeeds in making products that represent the TenPoint brand.
In this crossbow, you get a powerful, exceptionally accurate feature filled shooter. What we also like is that at slightly over $450, you get all the things you need included in the package along with a multi-reticle scope.
Wicked Ridge Warrior HL Crossbow Review