How to Sight In a Ravin R20 Crossbow in 2026

The Short Version

• Set a solid rest: Anchor your crossbow on a sturdy bench rest or shooting vise, verify your carbon arrows, and measure target distances with a rangefinder.
• Lock 20 yards with the knobs: Set the scope speed ring to 430 feet per second, then turn the top and side knobs until your top crosshair hits dead center at 20 yards.
• Tune 50 yards with the speed ring: Step back to 50 yards and aim with the 50-yard mark. Leave the turret knobs alone and turn the speed dial to a lower number if hitting low, or a higher number if hitting high.
• Confirm middle markers: Shoot at 30 and 40 yards to confirm your intermediate dots hit true before heading into the hunting woods.

Gear and Bench Setup Before Shooting

Sighting in a high-speed crossbow requires a stable platform and matching components. The Ravin R20 sends arrows downrange with incredible velocity, so small bench shifts or inconsistent bolt weights will throw your arrows off target. Preparing your gear properly saves you time and protects your equipment.

• A sturdy bench rest or shooting vise: Avoid shooting off-hand or resting your elbows on your knees. Use a firm table with sandbags or a shooting vise that holds the stock securely without pinching the limbs.
• A high-speed block target: Light foam targets meant for standard vertical bows cannot handle these arrow speeds. Use a dense target rated for high-velocity crossbows so arrows do not bury past their vanes.
• Matching 400-grain arrows: Shoot standard Ravin arrows with 100-grain points to maintain the recommended 400-grain total weight. Mixing arrow weights changes flight velocity and disrupts your scope calibration.
• A laser rangefinder: Never guess distances by pacing them out on foot. Being off by even three yards causes vertical misses at longer distances.
• Arrow safety inspection: Check carbon arrows before cocking your bow. Bend each shaft gently with your hands and listen for cracking sounds. A damaged shaft can shatter when fired, risking personal injury and bow damage.

Keep safety first during every step. Keep your thumbs and fingers well below the flight deck where the string travels. Never fire the bow without an arrow loaded in the rail. A dry fire releases massive mechanical stress directly into the limbs and cams, which can crack the limbs and ruin the bow instantly.

Zeroing the Top Crosshair at 20 Yards

The Ravin R20 scope uses a graduated reticle (the crosshairs and aiming dots inside the glass) calibrated to arrow drop. Before using those lower markers, you must establish a mechanical zero at 20 yards using the physical dial knobs.

1. Set the speed ring to factory baseline. Look at the dial on the scope marked in feet per second (the speed ring). Rotate this dial until it aligns with 430 feet per second, matching the factory rating of your bow.
2. Fire your first arrow at 20 yards. Place your target at exactly 20 yards. Cock the bow using the built-in crank, seat an arrow firmly against the trigger catch, and settle onto your bench rest. Aim using the top crosshair and squeeze the trigger smoothly.
3. Adjust the turret knobs. Unscrew the caps on the top knob (up-and-down adjustment) and the side knob (side-to-side knob). If your arrow hits two inches low and two inches right, adjust the top knob toward "Up" and the side knob toward "Left". Most scopes move about one-quarter inch per click at 20 yards.
4. Confirm with a tight grouping. Shoot two more arrows using the top crosshair, aiming at separate target dots to avoid splitting your arrows. Once your bolts form a tight grouping (a tight cluster of arrow impacts) in the center ring, replace the turret caps.

Your 20-yard zero is now locked. Do not touch the top or side knobs for the rest of the sighting process, as all further distance adjustments happen on the speed ring.

Tuning the Scope Speed Ring at 50 Yards

Once 20 yards is locked, move straight back to 50 yards. While arrows fly relatively flat at short distances, gravity pulls them down sharply by 50 yards. This drop makes any difference between actual arrow speed and the scope setting easy to see and adjust.

1. Range your target to 50 yards. Confirm the distance from your bench with a rangefinder. Settle into your rest and ensure the bow sits level without canting.
2. Aim with the 50-yard reticle mark. Look through the scope and locate the aiming marker for 50 yards, which is typically the fourth mark down from the top. Center that mark on the bullseye. Do not aim with the top crosshair.
3. Fire an arrow and check impact height. Note whether your arrow hits high or low relative to the bullseye. Ignore minor sideways drift from wind and focus strictly on arrow elevation.
4. Adjust the speed dial. Follow one simple rule: if the arrow hits low, turn the speed ring to a lower number; if the arrow hits high, turn the speed ring to a higher number. For example, if you hit two inches low, turn the dial down from 430 toward 415.
5. Fire a follow-up arrow. Aim at a fresh target dot using the 50-yard mark. Make small adjustments on the speed dial until your arrows strike dead center.

This adjustment works because the speed dial changes scope magnification. Turning the dial to a lower speed zooms the image out slightly, which widens the visual gap between aiming marks. That wider spacing forces you to aim the bow slightly higher, lifting your arrow impact point directly into the bullseye.

Verifying the In-Between Distance Markers

When your 20-yard top crosshair and 50-yard speed calibration are dialed in, all intermediate yardage markers align with your flight curve. The reticle geometry inside the glass mathematically spaces each mark based on your arrow velocity.

Verify this by moving your target to 30 yards. Settle onto your bench rest, aim using the 30-yard marker, and fire an arrow. Repeat this step at 40 yards using the 40-yard marker. Both arrows should impact inside the center bullseye circle. This balance across multiple ranges is why hunters value matched optical systems, whether they shoot a Ravin or set up specialized gear like the TenPoint TX Ultra 265 crossbow for ground blinds.

If you see small height variations at 30 or 40 yards, check your bench form before touching any scope dials. Shifts at middle distances usually happen when the shooter flinches, pulls the trigger unevenly, or lets the bow limbs contact a bench rest during release.

Frequent Sighting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Sighting in a speed-rated crossbow scope is simple when done in order, but common bench habits can ruin your results. Watching out for these mistakes will keep your zero intact.

• Adjusting the top knob at 50 yards: This is the most frequent blunder. Turning the top up-and-down adjustment knob at long range ruins your 20-yard zero. The top knob is strictly for 20 yards, while the speed ring controls your drop at longer yardages.
• Shooting at the same bullseye twice: Ravin crossbows shoot exceptionally tight groupings. Firing multiple arrows at the same dot often results in arrows striking each other, breaking expensive carbon shafts. Always aim at separate dots on your target block.
• Canting the bow sideways: Tilting the bow even slightly to the left or right pulls arrows off target and causes them to drop low. Check your scope level bubble to confirm the limbs sit flat before firing.
• Resting moving limbs on supports: Only support the forearm and rear stock on sandbags. Crossbow limbs flex and vibrate upon release. Letting the limbs touch bench bags disrupts arrow launch and throws shots off mark.
• Changing arrow weights: Switching from 100-grain field points to heavy broadheads slows arrow velocity. Whether tuning your setup or researching options among the best TenPoint crossbow for hunting, always ensure your field tips match your hunting broadhead weight.

FAQs

Why is my arrow hitting low at 50 yards when 20 yards was dead center?

Your arrow is moving slower than the number set on the scope speed ring. Turn the speed ring to a lower feet-per-second number without touching the top turret knob to raise your point of impact.

Can I sight in my Ravin R20 starting at 30 yards instead of 20 yards?

You should always begin at 20 yards because the top crosshair is calibrated as a 20-yard baseline. Starting at longer ranges introduces extra drop and wind drift that make locking an initial zero difficult.

Do I need to adjust the side-to-side knob at 50 yards if my arrow hits slightly left?

Do not touch the side knob at 50 yards right away. Check for crosswinds, ensure you are not tilting the bow, and confirm your bench form before making any windage changes.

Will hunting broadheads impact the same spot as practice field points?

Quality mechanical broadheads generally match field points of identical weight, but fixed-blade broadheads create more air drag. Always confirm broadhead flight on an approved target before hunting season begins.