A budget-friendly crossbow that comes ready to hunt, Wicked Ridge’s Commander M1 is an accurate, easy-to-cock shooter you can depend on to make your fall dreams a reality.
by Jace Bauserman
Certain manufacturers in the archery industry never fail to produce. Each year, they unleash one or more marvels that excite, inspire, and help make hunters’ hopes a reality.
TenPoint Crossbow Technologies is one such manufacturer. One thing I’ve always appreciated about TenPoint, in addition to their relentless drive to produce exceptional crossbows and crossbow accessories, is their ability to put as much energy and emphasis on what I consider their “budget” bow lineup, Wicked Ridge.
Over the past decade, I’ve tinkered with and tested numerous TenPoint and Wicked Ridge crossbows. This past fall, I reviewed Wicked Ridge’s RDX 410. This sleek, compact shooter showed up ready for the woods, and after a week of testing, its speed, accuracy, and ease of handling blew me away.
This year, the Wicked Ridge branded box on my doorstep held the new-for-2024 Commander M1. Before I opened the box, I did a quick internet search on the crossbow. Jumping at me from the get-go was the price. Yes, Wicked Ridge is known for producing quality budget crossbows, but the $599.99 with ACUdraw cocking device ($499.99 with Rope-Sled) comes with a Multi-Line Scope, three Match 400 carbon arrows, and a quiver. You’re ready for the wood for under $600, minus a broadhead purchase. That’s impressive.
First Impressions
My Commander M1 arrived, as expected, packaged perfectly. The 4x Multi-Line Scope was attached, and according to Wicked Ridge, it comes pre-sighted at 20 yards from the factory. More to come on this.
The bow assembly (limbs) is unattached from the stock assembly, and Wicked Ridge includes a cable saver with instructions. My model arrived with the ACUdraw ($599.99) system built into the stock. The crank handle sits in a slot, which Wicked Ridge integrated into the bottom of the M1’s stock for convenient storage and easy access.
Wicked Ridge’s innovative stock design allows the crank handle to fit into the stock for easy storage and quick access.
Other in-the-box items were three Match 400 carbon arrows with Alpha-Nock HP components. NOTE: Only arrows with Alpha-Nock HP components work with this crossbow. Wicked Ridge includes three 100-grain field points, a quiver, and a mounting bracket.
The included quiver attaches to the underside Picatinny Rail and holds the arrows tight.
At first glance, the crossbow’s stock assembly looked solid. The gridded butt-plate is slightly curved to accommodate the natural curvature of the shooter’s shoulder pocket. I appreciate the stock’s airiness. Wicked Ridge removed mass where they could without compromising rigidity. The pistol grip has four through-and-through cutouts, and the area to insert the hand is large, which makes for quick grip acquisition. The trigger box is large, and the forearm is flat and vented.
The pistol grip is comfortable and airy.
I appreciate that Wicked Ridge was able to make the bow assembly narrow. The crossbow is only 14 inches wide uncocked and 9 inches wide cocked. This slim, narrow design should make the bow highly maneuverable, even when hunting from tight treestands or confined ground blinds. I also like a narrow, compact crossbow design when spotting and stalking.
The Build
I don’t want to beat a dead horse here, and I know I write this line often in my reviews, but: Please Read The Manufacturer’s Instructions Carefully.
Wicked Ridge includes a cable saver. This cable saver goes over the top of the cables where they cross before attaching the bow assembly to the stock assembly.
The process is elementary. The cable saver features a grooved slot that goes down and over the cables. Next, use the included Rail and Trigger Lube and place a few drops in the barrel’s cable slot. The cables go into the slot, and the string comes over the flight deck. Pull back slightly on the string to pull the bow assembly tightly to the stock assembly. Lastly, use the included set screw and washers to attach the bow assembly to the stock assembly firmly.
With the crossbow assembled, I threaded the 100-grain field points into the Match 400 carbon arrows and attached the quiver bracket to the bottom of the crossbow via the Picatinny rail system. The quiver attaches to the bracket with a pair of triangle slots. Push the the button on the bracket and insert the quiver. This is one of the most straightforward quiver designs I’ve used, and I appreciated how quickly I could remove and reattach the quiver.
Cocking The Crossbow
Don’t get intimidated by the cocking process. It’s effortless. Make sure the safety is in the fire (red) position. Next, remove the cocking handle and insert it into the slot of the ACUdraw system. Crank the handle half of a turn, and while doing so, push the Engage Lever down. Pull the string claw over the scope and attach the claws to the bow string. With your foot on the stirrup, re-insert the cocking handle and crank until the safety switch goes from fire to safe. The crossbow is now cocked, and you can remove and re-store the claw and charging handle to their positions on and in the stock.
Attach the claws to the string, and you’re ready to start cranking on the ACUdraw.
I will note that to keep the crossbow light (5.8 pounds), Wicked Ridge developed a miniature foot stirrup. I was not able to get my foot in the stirrup when cocking the M1, but as long as the stirrup is flat against the ground, foot placement inside the stirrup isn’t necessary. This crossbow cocks with gentle ease (draw weight is 5 pounds), and the process is extremely easy. Just make sure when you start the cocking process the safety is in the fire position.
Before cocking the Commander M1, ensure the safety is pressed forward to the fire (red) position.
Shooting The Crossbow
With the safety engaged, place the white vane of a Match 400 carbon arrow down into the rail and push the arrow back until the nock seats against the bowstring. The crossbow is now ready to fire.
Ensure the odd colored vane (cock vane) is down when loading the arrow.
My first goal was to check Wicked Ridge’s claim that the crossbow comes pre-sighted from the factory at 20 yards. The scope can be moved to several custom positions along the long Picatinny rail, but before doing so, I wanted to check the from-the-factory eye relief and pre-sighted accuracy.
The bow shoulders smoothly and feels excellent in the hand. The from-the-factory eye relief was a tad off for me, but I executed an off-hand shot from 20 yards and hit a half-inch high and an inch right of my one-inch square on the Tuning + Precision face on my Morrell Yellow Jacket MOD Pro Target. My next shot was sitting with the crossbow’s forearm resting on my knee from 20 yards. The steadier rest cleaned up my windage, but I was still a half-inch high. I dub that as from the factory accurate, for sure!
The Commander M1 comes pre-sighted at 20 yards, and a field test without adjusting eye relief or any scope settings proved Wicked Ridge’s pre-sighted claim true.
After adjusting the eye relief and playing with the multi-reticle scope for the next two days, I achieved excellent accuracy and repeatable shot-to-shot consistency to the tested distance of 60 yards. The crossbow handled field points, fixed-blade, and mechanical broadheads with ease. The Multi-Line Scope was easy to sight in, and was extremely clear in various lighting conditions.
The crossbow’s speed was descent. My three arrow average was 378.7 fps. That’s very close to Wicked Ridge’s 380 fps branding. TenPoint and Wicked Ridge are always close on their speed numbers, and I appreciate that.
Is It A Budge Bow?
Yes. Does that mean it’s a clanky, vibration-causing nightmare? Not at all! However, shooters must know there will be some post-shot noise and felt vibration. Neither is unpleasant, but if you want an ultra-quiet shooting machine that’s smooth as butter and produces little vibration at the shot, you’ll want to look to TenPoint’s flagship lineup of crossbows. Wicked Ridge’s goal with the Commander M1 was to give horizontal hunters a ready-to-go bow that will deliver arrows accurately without breaking the bank. Mission accomplished!
If you’re looking for a freezer filler and memory-maker, this under $600 horizontal shooter is for you. The trigger is reasonably smooth, and the crossbow is highly maneuverable, making it ideal for any hunting situation.
I would have ZERO reservations about taking this crossbow afield. If you’re in the market for a banger crossbow that doesn’t dent the pocketbook, the Commander M1 is ready and waiting to make your hunting dreams reality.
