Model | Draw Weight | Stroke | Velocity | Suggested Arrow Length | Crossbow Length / Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arrow Precision Blitz II (Blitz Optimum) Check price on Amazon.com | 150 lbs. | 12.5" | 285 fps Crossbow Academy: ballistics, sighting, tuning | 20" | 33" / 7.37 lbs. |
Pros: - Everything included to get started, including arrows - Rope-cocking device included Cons: - Scope does not perform well in low light conditions - Scope can be very difficult to sight in | Small Game Hunting? | |
Deer, Elk Hunting? | ||
Moose, Bear Hunting? | ||
Target Shooting? | ||
Also Recommended: | Best Arrow Precision Crossbows |
Package Contents
Welcome to my review of the Arrow Precision Inferno Blitz II Crossbow, which in 2015 has apparently been renamed to the “Blitz Optimum”. This crossbow comes with everything you need to get started with target archery or crossbow hunting. Each package delivered by Arrow Precision includes the following items:
- Arrow Precision Blitz II Crossbow, including Riser and Prod
- Assembly hardware and tools
- 4 x 32mm multi-reticle illuminated scope
- Quick-detach quiver
- 4 20” carbon arrows
- Safety glasses
- Rope-cocking device
- Padded sling
- Owner’s manual
- Warranty card
Assembling The Crossbow
To assemble the Arrow Precision Inferno Blitz II crossbow, you need to install the prod onto the riser and attach it with the included bolts. Then, you should mount the scope and quiver. After that, you can install the padded sling, if you want.
Installing the prod onto the riser takes patience and a bit of muscle power, but it can be done relatively easily. My assembly of the crossbow took about half an hour, including mounting the scope. Make sure to have a 7/64” Allen wrench or a flathead screwdriver on hand to mount the scope, since the tools required to mount the scope are not included in the packaging. All other tools needed are in the box.
Accuracy And Power
The Inferno Blitz II fires arrows at 285 fps. With 20” 400-gr arrows, you’ll have around 72 ft. lbs. of kinetic energy behind each shot. This will be powerful enough to rip through the flesh of a large game animal, so be sure you have a good crossbow target block made of compressed foam for sighting in and practice shooting.
Once the scope was sighted in, I began testing accuracy. As long as you use the rope-cocking device to ensure proper string draw, this crossbow is fairly accurate. I was able to maintain 1.5” groupings from 20 yards, and put down 2.5” groupings from 40 yards. Beyond 40 yards, accuracy began to fall off a bit, and I only managed 4.5” groupings from 60 yards.
Part of the trouble with this crossbow’s accuracy is the exceptionally heavy trigger pull. I’m accustomed to 3.5 lbs. trigger pulls, and the Inferno Blitz II has a 4.5 lbs. trigger pull.
Use our arrow ballistics calculator for more valuable information.Ballistic Data For The Arrow Precision Blitz II
- Speed Reduction
- Kinetic Energy
- Hunting Requirements
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.
Hunting: What To Expect
The crossbow weights around 7 pounds and, in most cases, comes with a padded sling. This makes it very easy to carry around in the bush. The Inferno Blitz II is powerful enough to take down most of the game legal in North America, but I’d call it at the low end of the necessary power to bag a Cape buffalo or grizzly bear.
The other thing to be wary of is the noise of this crossbow; it’s quite loud if you don’t install limb dampeners to help quiet the crossbow’s string snap. With the silencers installed, this crossbow is about as quiet as the average to above-average crossbow.
During my hunting trip with the Blitz II, I dropped a large doe. The bolt flew through her shoulder and out the other side, coming to rest about 2” deep into a tree. She ran off for about 50 yards, then dropped from blood loss.
Cocking The Arrow Precision Inferno Blitz II
The Inferno Blitz II has a draw weight of 150 lbs. This is light enough for most men to draw the crossbow by hand, but this is not recommended. The crossbow comes with a rope-cocking device, so use it! Using a rope cocking device ensures you have the string drawn evenly on either side for each shot, improving your accuracy tremendously.
The Crossbow Scope
The scope included with the Inferno Blitz II is advertised as a “premium” illuminated multi-reticle scope. Unfortunately, I didn’t see much premium about this scope, because sighting it in was such a chore. From a mere 10 yards, it took me at least a half dozen shots and adjustments to windage and elevation before the crossbow was zeroed at 10 yards. The scope, once sighted in, does hold zero pretty well.
The other problem with the scope is in the optics themselves. During my hunting trip, I spotted another deer and tried to take aim. The day was quite early, so lighting was poor. What I could see plainly with my naked eye only showed as a silhouette through the scope.
See our detailed guide on how to sight-in your crossbowBolts
The Arrow Precision Inferno Blitz II ships with 4 20” carbon arrows with field tips. These arrows are okay, but I would recommend either Firebolt carbon arrows or Carbon Express arrows. Make sure you do not use less than 400-gr arrows, or you risk damaging the arrows, the crossbow, and/or yourself.
You can also learn more about crossbow arrows and take a look at our broadhead recommendationsSafety and Design
The Arrow Precision Inferno Blitz II is equipped with both an anti-dry fire mechanism and an automatic safety. When the string is drawn, the anti-dry fire mechanism is automatically engaged, as is the safety. Until an arrow is cocked against the string, the anti-dry fire mechanism prevents the safety from being turned to Fire.
The limbs on the Inferno Blitz II are made from compression fiberglass, and the riser, track and barrel are aluminum. The riser is cast aluminum, and the track and barrel are extruded and machined aluminum.
The Inferno Blitz II is well-balanced, and is easy to hold and maintain a bead. Unfortunately, the bow has a 4.5 lbs. trigger pull, which makes it difficult to hold the target as you pull the trigger.
Warranty
The Arrow Precision Inferno Blitz II is covered by a 1-year limited warranty against manufacturer’s defects under normal use and service. Arrow’s customer service personnel are sometimes less than helpful, but are usually willing to do almost anything to please a customer.
What Crossbow Case Fits the Arrow Precision Blitz II?
For under $70 the Carbon Express Deluxe Case is a great fit for the Precision Blitz II; however, it does not work as well for crossbows with large scopes. The Allen Company case is a soft case, second choice which allows a little more room for scopes at about $30.
Crossbow Review – Summary
Thanks for reading our review. The Arrow Precision Inferno Blitz II is a good starter crossbow, and performs reasonably well in the hunting field. Unfortunately, this is primarily a short-range crossbow because of the heavy trigger pull. Take a look at today's amazon.com price on this crossbow and check out our top 10 crossbows rankings for more.
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