There was so much new and different about TenPoint’s new-for-2019 Turbo M1 crossbow that I was forced to follow my own advice and read the owner’s manual and accompanying paperwork before assembling and shooting the company’s latest offering.

TenPoint has made significant changes in the Turbo’s cocking and trigger mechanisms, and the traditional long, wide stirrup standard in the industry is now a “hanger” because the crossbow may now be cocked while seated in a treestand, blind or on the ground — a tremendous innovation in the world of crossbows. No more hunching over the crossbow while struggling to keep one foot firmly planted in the stirrup and no more wrestling with the crossbow to get it cocked while confined in a climber or one-man stand 25 feet up a wind-blown oak. More on this later.

TenPoint Turbo M1 Unboxing

As usual, TenPoint has made the assembly process as easy and quick as possible with all tools and parts provided other than a 7/16 wrench and a Phillips screwdriver, both common household tools that any backyard mechanic should own. One bolt connects the split-limb bow assembly to the barrel while two set screws keep the stirrup and quiver mount solidly in place. Done.

Because TenPoint’s policy is to pre-mount and laser sight their proprietary built-for-crossbows scopes, there is little left for the buyer to do but head for the range. I’ve yet to see a TenPoint, Wicked Ridge or Horton crossbow (all owned by the same company) that isn’t pre-sighted to be dead on at 20 yards. The Turbo M1 was right there as well, putting its first three arrows into a 2-inch-diameter circle at 20 yards. I don’t recommend hunting with any crossbow without first spending some time at the range to ensure where the arrows are striking at specific distances, but I have yet to see a TenPoint Technologies crossbow fail its initial 20-yard test firing.

Also new for 2019 is the Turbo’s Alpha-Nock arrows, touted to increase string-to-nock engagement by 28 percent. The new nock features a deep bowstring groove, a large, smooth-radius base and elongated ears designed to hold the bowstring in place to avoid shoot-over or shoot-under accidents. TenPoint’s available Alpha-Brite Lighted Nock System features a nock-receiver insert with a six-sided interior cavity designed to accept a combined LED unit and translucent pegged Alpha-Brite nock.

By the way, beginning in 2019 TenPoint crossbows will require the use of the new Alpha-Nock arrows. Failure to use them could void TenPoint’s lifetime warranty.

The Turbo M1 also boasts TenPoint’s new T5 Trigger, featuring a new string latch design that reduces friction and delivers a crisp, consistent break shot after shot. The ambidextrous T5 Trigger includes an auto-engaging safety and Dry-Fire Inhibitor.

After more than 200 shots fired, the Turbo’s trigger pull remained consistent at 3.5 pounds. This may sound insignificant or routine to some, but there are crossbows out there that develop a severe case of trigger creep that can be dangerous, if not disconcerting, to use while hunting.

Shooting the TenPoint Turbo M1

After tightening all scope and mount screws (which I do before any and all sighting-in sessions with firearms as well as crossbows), it was time to head to the range. As expected, the Turbo M1 performed admirably at 20, 30 and 40 yards during less than admirable conditions; wind, rain, snow and sleet were the order of the day. But, with arrow speeds hovering around 385 fps, there was little time for the weather to affect accuracy. However, when I moved back to 50 yards, my groups tended to open up from less than 2 inches to more than 4 inches. This is to be expected under such conditions, and is another good reason for crossbow hunters to keep their shots on game within 40 yards. The slightest gust of wind can blow an arrow completely off target, resulting in a wounded whitetail and a ruined day.

Despite the unpleasant weather, I stayed on the range for my self-imposed minimum of 100 shots, figuring that if I wanted to see how the Turbo M1 performed under hunting conditions this would be a good test. No malfunctions occurred and all arrows landed well inside the 2-inch kill zone. In fact, at 30 yards and less, I destroyed several Alpha-Nock arrows during the testing phase, proving once again the folly of shooting two arrows at the same bull’s-eye. This kind of accuracy is typical of any TenPoint, Wicked Ridge or Horton product.

On the roving range it was once again a real-world test, with me having to contend with snow-covered targets, wind, sleet and swirling snow. I decided this was a good time to use my rangefinder in tandem with the Turbo M1. Using the rangefinder and compensating for the yardage, I was able to make kill shots on every target on the course. All of those “deer,” “bears” and “hogs” were dispatched with ease despite the variation in yardage.

A definite plus was the ACCU-draw Pro cocking system (see sidebar below), which does not require that one foot be placed inside the stirrup. The Turbo M1 can be easily cocked while standing, sitting or kneeling next to the crossbow instead of hovering over it, a benefit that traditional rope-cocker users will appreciate.

While the 3x Pro-View scope does contain two extra illuminated-dot reticles in addition to the standard 20-, 30- and 40-yard dots, my roving range proved that in typical Eastern whitetail cover (fallen trees, brush, saplings, briars and vines) getting a clean, clear broadside shot at 50 or 60 yards is doubtful at best. There are some cases in the Midwest and West where shots beyond 40 yards may be feasible, but only when conditions are absolutely perfect — a rarity on any hunt I’ve ever been on. In any case, on hay bales and foam targets, the Turbo M1 proved to be as consistently accurate as any crossbow on the market.

In addition, at 9-inches axle-to-axle when cocked, the Turbo M1 is a still-hunter’s dream. It is nicely balanced overall, quick to the shoulder and thanks to its ambidextrous thumb-operated safety, as quick to mount and fire as any rifle, shotgun or muzzleloader.

Gripes? As usual, there is little to complain about on any TenPoint Technologies product other than my usual lament: Why is a sling not provided? This is a well-designed unit, but like all crossbows, it’s heavy and awkward to carry over long distances to and from the field or range. In my experience, all crossbows should include a sling as part of the basic package.

On a minor note, the new owner’s manual now covers all TenPoint, Wicked Ridge and Horton crossbows, which creates some confusion when figuring out which instructions go with which crossbow. There will be parts left over after assembly simply because some parts go with certain models and not with others, which only adds to the buyer’s confusion after opening the box. Read first, and then proceed. This is another example of why studying the owner’s manual before delving into the assembly process should be standard procedure for all crossbow users.

Final Thoughts

The Turbo M1 is yet another TenPoint Technologies product any whitetail hunter would be proud to own; it’s sturdy, well-balanced, lightweight and Robin Hood accurate — even in inclement weather.

The company has long led the pack on many fronts including product quality, dependability and reliability. Also, their service department is second to none, providing information, advice and repairs practically overnight. You can’t ask for more than that.

The Turbo M1 basic package includes the crossbow and pre-mounted illuminated scope, three Alpha-Nock arrows, quiver and ACCUdraw or ACCUdraw Pro cocking system. Suggested MSRP is $949.99 for the ACCUdraw system or $1,049.99 for the ACCUdraw Pro.

For more information on TenPoint Technology’s complete line of crossbows and accessories, visit www.tenpointcrossbows.com.

TenPoint Turbo M1 Specs

• Draw weight: 190 pounds or 9 pounds w/ACCUdraw Pro cocking device
• Power stroke: 14 inches
• Arrow length: 20 inches, proprietary nock
• Arrow speed: 380 fps
• Trigger pull: 3.5 pounds; dry-fire inhibitor
• Sights: ProView 3-reticle, red-green illuminated scope provided
• Cocking device: Choice of integrated crank devices                     
• Overall length: 32.5 inches
• Axle-to-axle length: 9 inches cocked, 14.25 inches uncocked
• Weight: 6.4 pounds
• Other features: Available with ACU-draw Sled or ACCUdraw PRO cocking system; self-storing cocking crank, ambidextrous safety and quiver mount; red-green illuminated ProView scope.
• MSRP: $949.99 (Sled) or $1,049 (Pro)

Sidebar: ACCUdraw Pro Cocking System

Up to now, any experienced compound or recurve archer could load and accurately shoot five or more arrows, while an experienced crossbow shooter could load and fire one arrow, but those days are over thanks to TenPoint Technologies’ new ACCUdraw Pro Cocking System. Using less than 10 pounds of draw weight (compared to the industry average 170 pounds of pull) crossbow users can now cock and load certain TenPoint, Wicked Ridge or Horton crossbows quickly, smoothly and quietly, effectively cutting loading time in half.

The integrally-mounted ACCUdraw Pro system consists of a “sled” attached to two cables that is slid over the scope and down to the bowstring. A hand crank (which fits into the stock of select models) is applied and, in 10 to 12 turns of the handle, the crossbow is cocked and ready to be loaded. With practice, elapsed time is considerably less than is required to merely attach a standard cocking rope.

Cocking speed is not so much an issue while hunting because the sport, by nature, is a one-and-done event. You hit or you miss — simple as that. However, with the ACCUdraw Pro hunters can quickly reload for a second attempt, or to shoot at additional animals as allowed by law and opportunity.

Also, speedy cocking makes a day at the range that much more enjoyable because suddenly 100 or even 200 shots per day are ho-hum easy, a far cry from the days when all crossbows were cocked by hand. One hundred shots is the equivalent of 19,000 pounds of pull — you will feel it in your back and shoulders at the end of the day! With the ACCUdraw Pro, even 200 shots per session is easy and nearly effortless.

The good news is that the ACCUdraw Pro is available as an after-market accessory which may be added to or replace standard cocking devices on many TenPoint Technologies crossbows.

To find out more about the Accudraw Pro system and applications, visit www.tenpointcrossbows.com.