TenPoint Vapor RS470 – Crossbow Review

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If you’re seeking a serious edge in the field this hunting season, the TenPoint Vapor RS470 reverse draw crossbow could be your ultimate weapon of choice. Unveiled as TenPoint’s flagship model at the 2020 ATA show in Indianapolis, the Vapor RS470 delivers exceptional quality, performance, and cutting-edge features, making it a standout in the crossbow market.

TenPoint has long been a dominant force in the crossbow industry, alongside top competitors like Excalibur, Ravin, and Barnett. After impressing hunters with its Nitro XRT model the previous year, TenPoint raised the bar even higher with the Vapor RS470. This new crossbow is designed to be compact, lightweight, and highly maneuverable, making it perfect for hunters who demand precision and versatility.

What truly sets the TenPoint Vapor RS470 apart from its rivals, however, is the groundbreaking ACUslide system. This revolutionary feature allows users to cock and decock the crossbow with ease and, most importantly, in complete safety, ensuring both a smooth hunting experience and peace of mind.

TenPoint Vapor RS470 Crossbow Specs

TenPoint Vapor RS470

TenPoint Vapor RS470 Crossbow

Speed

470 FPS

Overall Length

31″

Width (Axle to Axle) cocked/uncocked

12″/6.5″

Weight

8 lbs.

Draw Weight

225 lbs.

Our Rating

Price

Package Contents

The factory package is complete and gives you everything you need to start using your TenPoint Vapor RS470 efficiently.

  • Optics: EVO-X Marksman Scope mounted on a machined aluminum 7/8-inch Fixed Dovetail Mount
  • Bubble Level
  • Cocking Device: ACUslide Cocking and De-Cocking System
  • Quiver: 6-Arrow Tech Quiver
  • Arrows: Six Lighted Evo-X CenterPunch premium carbon arrows with 100-grain practice points
  • Arrows: Six Evo-X CenterPunch premium carbon arrows with 100-grain practice points
  • Broadheads: 3 EVO-X CenterPunch Broadheads
  • Noise Dampening: Integrated String Stop System
  • Case: TenPoint STAG hard crossbow case
  • Sling: TenPoint Neoprene Sling
TenPoint Vapor RS470 Review - Best Crossbow for 2020?

Size and Weight

The TenPoint Vapor RS470 boasts a full length of 32 inches and an impressive axle-to-axle width of just 12 inches when uncocked, narrowing to a mere 6.5 inches when cocked. Weighing in at 6.5 pounds without accessories, the Vapor RS470 remains lightweight and easy to handle. Even when fully accessorized, with all components installed, it tips the scales at only 8.5 pounds, a remarkable weight considering the crossbow’s power and the advanced technology packed into its sleek frame. This combination of compact design and light weight makes the Vapor RS470 an excellent choice for hunters who need a high-performance, easy-to-maneuver crossbow in the field.

ACUslide

For years, the crossbow hunting community has called for a safer, more efficient cocking and decocking mechanism, and TenPoint has answered the call with their innovative ACUslide system. Featuring the Auto-Brake-Gear-System, the ACUslide offers silent cocking and ensures safe, controlled decocking with minimal effort.

One of the standout features of the system is its internal brake, which prevents dry firing. You can remove your hand from the handle at any point, whether cocking or decocking, and the handle will remain securely in place,never spinning out of control, which could lead to injury or expensive bow damage. This added safety feature enhances both comfort and confidence during use.

The ACUslide’s handle is 5 inches long but can be extended to 7.5 inches, providing extra leverage for easier operation. Additionally, the trigger box locks into the same position each time the bow is cocked, ensuring a consistent and precise arrow launch with every shot. The ACUslide system works seamlessly, offering hunters both reliability and peace of mind.

TenPoint ACU slide Review/Testimonial by Brad Fenson

This is a big feature that TenPoint added to their crossbows. Ravin, unfortunately, released the Ravin R29X without the possibility to let go mid-draw.

Click here to read our review on the Ravin R29X Sniper.

Reverse draw advantage

The TenPoint Vapor RS470’s 17-inch power stroke delivers greater speed with less draw weight, making it highly efficient. The longer power stroke also increases the distance that the arrow nock remains engaged with the string, which is a crucial factor in performance. The longer the nock is engaged with the string, the more accurate the crossbow will be upon impact. With a draw weight of 165 lbs, the Vapor RS470 is well-suited for any big game that is allowed to be hunted, offering impressive power and precision for a wide range of hunting situations.

Speed and Arrows

The TenPoint Vapor RS470 delivers an impressive 470 feet per second, making it one of the fastest crossbows available. Powered by TenPoint’s RX-7 Cams, which rotate a remarkable 404 degrees during the draw cycle, the RS470 stores more energy and provides a “turbo boost” of speed at launch. This feature, known as SLING-SHOT technology, enhances both velocity and performance.

The Vapor RS470 comes with a total of 12 arrows: 6 Lighted Evo-X CenterPunch premium carbon arrows and 6 standard Evo-X CenterPunch premium carbon arrows. While the arrows provided reach speeds of up to 440 FPS, they are slightly heavier than the Pro Lite Carbon arrows, which can achieve the full 470 FPS speed. These Pro Lite Carbon arrows can be purchased separately on Amazon. However, we recommend sticking with the Evo-X CenterPunch Carbon arrows. While they may be a bit heavier, their added weight helps reduce wear and tear on the strings, cables, and the overall crossbow, ensuring longer-lasting performance.

EVO_X_CenterPunch arrows
Tenpoint Evo-X CenterPunch crossbow arrows

Lighted Evo-X CenterPunch premium carbon arrows

Evo-X CenterPunch premium carbon arrows

4.5/5
5/5
  • Easy to use
  • Highly accurate
  • Lighted
  • ALPHA-NOCK HP
  • Easy to use
  • Highly accurate
  • ALPHA-NOCK HP

EVO-X marksman scope

The TenPoint Vapor RS470 is equipped with the EVO-X Marksman 5×30 scope, mounted on a durable machined aluminum ⅞-inch fixed dovetail mount for added stability. This high-performance scope features three duplex crosshair markers and five yardage markers, all of which are illuminated to ensure optimal visibility in low-light conditions. The yardage markers can be illuminated in either red or green, with five brightness settings, allowing for easy adjustment based on your hunting environment.

The scope is calibrated for yardages of 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 yards, making it ideal for a variety of hunting scenarios. Additionally, the speed ring is fully adjustable, accommodating crossbow speeds ranging from 330 to 450 feet per second, providing precise adjustments to match the performance of the Vapor RS470. This combination of features ensures both accuracy and versatility, making the EVO-X Marksman scope a valuable tool for any hunter.

TEC-X Stock

The TenPoint Vapor RS470 features the innovative TEC-X stock, designed for optimal comfort, balance, and performance. The stock’s unique design reduces weight while maintaining durability, making it easy to maneuver in the field. The ergonomic shape of the stock enhances the overall shooting experience, providing a comfortable grip and better control, even during long hunting sessions.

In addition to its lightweight construction, the TEC-X stock also incorporates an adjustable cheekpiece and a non-slip rubber butt pad. These features allow for a customizable fit, ensuring a stable and consistent shooting position, regardless of the shooter’s body size or shooting style. With its combination of performance-focused features and comfort, the TEC-X stock helps make the Vapor RS470 one of the most user-friendly crossbows available.

New S1 Trigger

The new S1 trigger on the TenPoint Vapor RS470 is a 2-stage, 3.5-pound, zero-creep design that sets a new standard in crossbow performance. Featuring an advanced roller sear system, it delivers a smooth, crisp trigger pull that enhances both accuracy and consistency. When the trigger is pulled, the rolling sear mechanism provides a clean, precise break, ensuring minimal disruption to your shot.

For those who had concerns with the Nitro XRT’s trigger, the S1 trigger offers a significant improvement. Its refined design and responsive performance are especially noticeable in the ACUslide series, providing a much more satisfying and reliable shooting experience. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or a newcomer, this upgraded trigger ensures that every shot is as precise as possible.

Micro-Trac Barrel

Reduces string-to-rail contact by an incredible 50% – leading to increased accuracy and the longest string life in the industry to this date.

Shooting the Vapor RS470

Update: It’s been several months now and we didn’t keep count on how many shots we made, but it’s definitely more than 1000 shots and we just needed to replace the string and cables. We could see some string-wear happening and it’s best to just replace it immediately then.

According to tests from TenPoint, their competition is getting somewhere around 200 shots maximum on average before a string and cable change is required. ‘We are achieving 1300 shots on a string and cables prior to them needing to be changed,’ says Tenpoint.

Tenpoint Vapor rs470 crossbow

Verdict

Our Rating of the TenPoint Vapors RS470

Luke Miller

TenPoint_Vapor_RS470-pic-for-review-box
Speed
Accuracy
Durability
Value

Summary

The Vapor RS470 is a revolutionary rig that pushes the market forwards, mainly because of its new ACUSlide feature and its incredible speed of up to 470 feet per second. Its 190-foot pounds of kinetic energy that the Vapor RS470 delivers is very efficient to knock down even the biggest animals that are allowed to be hunted.

4.6

What we like

  • ACUslide: Safe and Silent Cocking and Decocking
  • 470 FPS: Fastest crossbow currently on the market!
  • Compact
  • Dead Silent Shooting

What we don’t like

  • The price is rather high, definitely worth it though!
  • Assemble it yourself or work with a local dealer

The Vapor RS470 is a revolutionary rig that pushes the market forwards, mainly because of its new ACUSlide feature and its incredible speed of up to 470 feet per second. Its 190-foot pounds of kinetic energy that the Vapor RS470 delivers is very efficient to knock down even the biggest animals that are allowed to be hunted.

It might be a little bit pricey and it might not be the best pick for consumers with a small budget but if you want the quietest, most accurate, and safest rig on the market, the TenPoint Vapor RS470 is definitely the best crossbow!

Photo of author
Noah Walker is a seasoned hunter, fisherman, and outdoor enthusiast with a passion for sharing the beauty and challenges of life in the wild. As one of the new editors at Out For The Hunt, Noah brings a wealth of hands-on experience and a love for storytelling to the team.

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