Crossbow Review: Wicked Ridge Invader M1 De-Cock

When you think of Wicked Ridge, there should be visions of hard-working, dependable, hunting cross- bows that offer excellent value for your money. That is, at its very core, the purpose of every Wicked Ridge crossbow. Value comes from the performance, quality and overall workmanship built into each rig at the company’s Mogadore, Ohio, facility. And, of course, they are designed, built and tested by industry heavy hitter TenPoint Crossbows.

Wicked Ridge’s 2025 Invader M1 De-Cock takes the popular M1 platform up a level with the ACUdraw De-Cock that offers safe and easy cocking and de-cocking. A set of 190-pound, dual-laminated limbs work with the VX-5 Reverse Cams and a 13.8-inch power stroke to produce advertised speeds of 380 fps with a 410-grain bolt. A lightweight, injection-molded stock is home to a pistol grip, oversized trigger guard and integrated rail. A two-stage, no-creep trigger features an anti-dry-fire and auto-engaging trigger safety. Let’s dig into the details.

Upgrade!

Let’s start with the feature that is new for 2025 and boosts ease of use, safety and overall value — the ACUdraw De-Cock. The company’s patented Auto-Brake System offers total control and safety from start to finish while cocking or de-cocking. The user can remove their hand from the crank handle at any point in the process and it will not freewheel; it stops in place. Shooters of all ages and abilities can operate this rig, as the ACUdraw reduces cocking effort to only 5 pounds.

Shooter Interface

The lion’s share of the shooter’s contact with the Invader M1 De-Cock is tied to the core stock unit, butt stock assembly and foregrip. An injection-molding process forms the polymer core stock unit that includes a contoured pistol grip with textured checkering, an oversized trigger guard and the entire rail section. It also has an integrated connection tube to mount the butt stock unit, complete with ACUdraw De-Cock, raised cheek piece, textured butt plate and docking slot for the cocking sled. A molded, plastic, pass-through foregrip mounts to the bottom of the stock in front of the trigger guard and incorporates safety wings to keep the shooter’s fingers/thumb below the flight deck and out of harm’s way, as well as a docking station for crank handle storage. The stock, butt stock and limbs are all finished in Peak camo, while the riser, cams, foregrip, trigger housing, scope mount and ACUdraw are all black.

The flight rail uses a deep groove for cock vane clearance and chamfered edges to reduce friction and wear. Wicked Ridge mounts the trigger box at the rear of the flight rail, along with a Picatinny rail for scope mounting and a bolt-retention brush that holds bolts in place before the shot. The D-1 two-stage, zero-creep trigger produces a 3.5-pound pull. The trigger housing includes an auto-engaging trigger safety and Dry-Fire-Inhibitor that prevents the crossbow from being shot unless a compatible bolt is properly loaded.

Bow Assembly

Wicked Ridge builds the bow assembly on a compact, cast-aluminum riser that is black anodized and features a generous broadhead-clearance scoop and integrated limb-pocket components. The scoop allows broadhead-tipped bolts to be drawn further back into the structure, while the limb-pocket components work with separate rockers, spacers and limb caps to maintain the gap between limbs, provide a pivot point and control positioning. A set of 11-inch TPX split limbs work with the VX-5 Reverse Cams to generate speeds of 380 fps with a 410-grain bolt. Drawing the string from the far side of the cams increases power stroke and, in turn, bolt speeds. Force 10 string and cables complete the package.

Range Notes

The 2025 Invader M1 De-Cock produced one of the quietest shots and registered one of the lightest mass weights among all the crossbows we have tested this year — and it also has one of the lowest prices. That is a good combo!

The addition of the ACUdraw De-Cock mechanism takes the Invader M1 to a new level of versatility and safety, while the axle-to-axle width of less than 10 inches (when cocked) and relatively short overall length resulted in good maneuverability and easy handling. Bolt speed, 35-yard bolt grouping and average trigger pull lagged slightly behind other performance markers.

What’s in the Box?

The Invader M1 De-Cock crossbow comes with the integrated ACUdraw De-Cock mechanism, Pro-View 400 Illuminated Scope, 3-bolt quiver with rubber hanging loop, 3 Match 400 Alpha-Nock Carbon Bolts with fieldpoints and an owner’s manual.

The Specs

• Manufacturer: Wicked Ridge Crossbows, 330-628-9245; wickedridgecrossbows.com
• Model: Invader M1 De-Cock
• Safety Features: Dry-Fire-Inhibitor, auto-engaging trigger safety, safety wings
• Riser: Compact, cast aluminum
• Cam System: VX-5 Reverse Cams
• Axle-to-Axle Width: 9.5 inches (cocked); 14 inches (uncocked)
• Weight (crossbow only): 5.8 pounds (advertised); 7.5 pounds (as tested, with ACUdraw)
• String: Force 10, 31.625 inches
• Cables: Force 10, 15.75 inches
• Limbs: TPX, split, dual-laminated, Gordon Composites
• Draw Weight: 190 pounds, reduced to 5-pound cocking effort via integrated ACUdraw crank mechanism
• Power Stroke: 13.8 inches
• Stock/Forearm: Injection-molded XS Stock
• Finish: Peak Camo
• Advertised Speed: 380 fps w/410-grain bolt
• Retail Price: $899.99
• Comments: A wallet-friendly workhorse that is easy and safe to operate.

Speed & Energy

• Velocity: 369.3 fps (420-grain bolt), 341.0 fps (500-grain bolt), 375.7 fps (405-grain mfr. bolt)
• Kinetic Energy: 127.2 ft./lbs. (420-grain bolt), 129.1 ft./lbs. (500-grain bolt), 126.9 ft./lbs. (405-grain mfr. bolt)

Test Measurements

• Maximum Width: 12.5 inches (cocked); 17.25 inches (uncocked)
• Overall Length: 32.38 inches
• Axle-to-Axle Width: 9.19 inches (cocked); 14.25 (uncocked)
• Mass Weight: 7.5 pounds (crossbow with integrated ACUdraw); 9.01 pounds (w/accessories)
• Average Trigger Pull: 2.28 pounds
• Length of Pull: 13.63 inches
• Average Shot Noise w/420-gr. Bolt: 99.9 dBA
• Max. Shot Deviation @ 35 Yards: 1.063 inches

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