Maybe after our original arrows get shot a few hundred times and they start to deteriorate (but before they're dangerous) we can experiment with Beverly Hillbillies style bank shots. I'm not a fan of the through the PVC tube shots... looks like they lose a lot of fletching that way.
I've been shooting (a lot) in the basement at about 15 yards (that's all I've got) and it's getting boring. Wait, what? I suspect that shooting at this short range doesn't allow the arrow to stabilize out of the bow, so I'm getting some deviation from dead center hits. Sometimes as much as 1/2". Can't wait to get outside and some more appropriate distances.
See, that's where, as a newb, it seems tricky to figure out when they are "trashed," but still have one or two safe shots in them. I wear safety glasses, but I still don't want one to shatter right in front of my face At the moment, I only have the six it came with plus 3 lighted ones. I'm treating them like gold I definitely plan on stockpiling some more, and will maybe lighten up a little
Just as a FYI. I have my R10 Kit's on sale. The Gunmetal Grey Kit (R011) is $1169. The Predator Camo Kit (R010) is $1245.
That is a fantastic price!
For anyone else one the fence, as was mentioned, by the time you build up other brands (like adding the crank), you're really close to Ravin cost anyway. The part that really pushed me over the edge was the decocking. As I've learned from my Google crash course on crossbows, you can't store them cocked and you can't dry fire them. If you don't shoot...well, you have to shoot before you store it. They make arrows specifically for decocking...but I don't understand how they work (I mean...you're still shooting it ). The Ravin lets you uncock it by simply holding a release and turning the crank backwards. That feature seemed like it was worth a couple of bucks...to me, at least.