In today’s crossbow market, innovation isn’t just about speed; it’s about delivering real-world performance that hunters can rely on in the field. The new TenPoint TX 28 hits that mark with deadly accuracy, a compact footprint, and cutting-edge technology that improves every shot. Whether you’re in a tree stand, ground blind, or stalking through tight brush, the TX 28 offers forward-draw performance tailored for modern hunters who demand consistency, safety, and shooting confidence.
An Illinois whitetail hunt was my introduction to the new TX 28, and it provided a freezer full of venison. A mature doe wandered past my blind at 28 yards, and the whisper-quiet crossbow launched an arrow that disappeared and passed through the deer in the blink of an eye. The deer did not go far and fell where I could see it, ensuring there was no tracking required. The noticeable benefits of the bow were the compact design that made it adaptable to hunting from a blind or stand, where movement was reduced. The most significant advantage is the performance, which is not minimized by the compact design.
Purpose-Built for Serious Hunters
At just 28 inches long and 6.5 inches wide when cocked, the TX 28 blends full-size crossbow power with a maneuverable design that shines in tight quarters. This forward-draw crossbow is ideal for deer hunters who need a fast-handling setup that won’t sacrifice performance. Whether hoisting it into a tree stand or lining up a shot in dense timber, the TX 28 remains lightweight, balanced, and quick to shoulder.
Speed & Power
Delivering arrow speeds up to 410 fps, the TX 28 offers a perfect balance of velocity and control. This ensures flat arrow trajectories and deep penetration at ethical hunting ranges, with more than enough kinetic energy to take down any North American big game. The included CenterPunch HPX carbon arrows, paired with broadheads like the SEVR Ti 1.5, chronograph at consistent speeds of 382 fps, offering minimal shot-to-shot variance and exceptional reliability. The consistency of the crossbow showed up with the speed tests, with a 1.0 fps variance between three shots.
Field-Tested Accuracy
The TX 28 proves itself on the range and in the field. During the Illinois whitetail hunt, the bow consistently grouped arrows to 50 yards, with shafts touching so tightly that multiple aiming points were required on the target to avoid damaging arrows. That kind of precision builds confidence in real hunting scenarios, especially for longer or more challenging shots.
Hunting-Driven Innovations
TenPoint has packed the TX 28 with proven features and new advancements that directly benefit hunters in the field. The jargon used to define and explain the features can be interesting. Still, the deliverables from each are what you need to pay attention to in order to understand the new engineering and technologies.
TriggerTech Precision
The Canadian-built TriggerTech triggers lend themselves to consistent accuracy in premium TenPoint crossbows. The 3-pound, zero-creep TriggerTech trigger offers a crisp, consistent break that eliminates shot uncertainty. Integrated with the anti-dry fire mechanism, this trigger ensures safety and accuracy, which every ethical hunter should strive for. It’s a trigger that offers and feels like a custom component, and it shows in the shot groupings.
Twin-Riser Technology
The TX 28 incorporates Twin-Riser Technology, a game-changing feature for the forward-draw bow. The dual risers are 41% lighter and twice as stiff as traditional designs, reducing riser flex by 70%. The strength and stability dramatically improve shot stability, reduce vibration, and enhance downrange accuracy. At the same time, the design trims weight for better balance in-hand and a compact design.
ZERO-Trac Rail-less Barrel
Traditional crossbows use rails that create friction, wear, and inconsistencies during arrow flight. The TX 28 eliminates that with its ZERO-Trac barrel, a floating arrow system stabilized by spring-loaded ball bearings and a front-end retention brush. The result is increased arrow speed, longer string life, and more consistent shot placement, without rail lubrication. Loading and nocking an arrow is silent, consistent, and adds to operational safety.
ACUslide MAXX Cocking & De-Cocking System
Safe and silent, the ACUslide MAXX makes cocking and de-cocking the TX 28 effortless and secure. It reduces the 250-pound draw weight to a manageable 7 pounds of force, locks at any point during operation, and prevents accidental free-spooling. You can take your hand off the crank handle at anytime during operation and the cocking is halted safely. It’s perfect for hunters who want to quietly load or unload their crossbow in a blind or stand, without firing a discharge shot at the end of the hunt.
ACU-Lock Scope Bridge
The ACU-Lock Scope Bridge enhances optic stability with 25x the strength of traditional rails. Designed to hold heavier scopes like the Burris Oracle X or Garmin Xero X1i, it prevents vibration-related drift, ensuring your optic remains accurate and consistent in the field, even after bumps, jolts, or transport.
Lightweight, Rugged & Ready to Hunt
At just 7.2 pounds, the TX 28 is easy to carry and holds steady for extended periods. The premium stock offers excellent grip and adjustability, with customizable pull spacer lengths for a tailored fit. In short, it’s a crossbow that fits like a glove and performs like a sniper rifle.
Whisper-Quiet Lethality
Real-world hunting tests show that the TX 28 is extremely quiet, an essential feature when every millisecond counts. Shooting from a box blind can be like launching an arrow from a speaker box, but the bow provided a clean pass-through shot on the whitetail doe at 28 yards. The deer didn’t react until the arrow had already done its job, highlighting the TX 28’s silent release and efficient energy transfer.
Versatility for Any Hunter
The benefits of the TX 28 became even clearer on a spring black bear hunt where I harvested a big, mature bruin. The next day, my grandson Memphis, at age 12, joined me and shot the same crossbow. There is easily a 175-pound difference between us, and our frames are at extreme ends of the spectrum for shooters. The aspiring young hunter shot his first black bear at 21 yards, following in his papa’s footsteps.
The ability to have two different hunters use the bow without adjusting the stock or aiming points spoke volumes about the crossbow’s design, features, and versatility. Both hunters could shoot dimes at 20 or 30 yards when practicing and preparing for the hunt. The bow could be passed back and forth and worked flawlessly in either hand.
Neither of the bears harvested went more than 25 yards due to well-placed arrows with killing speed and accuracy, not to mention quiet operation. Memphis is already asking if he can use the crossbow again during deer season this fall.
Crossbow Package
TenPoint provides everything you need to confidently hit the field the day you open the box of your new crossbow. The package comes standard and includes the items listed below.
- RangeMaster 100 Scope with variable speed calibration and illuminated reticle
- Three CenterPunch HPX carbon arrows (20″, 445 grains)
- Integrated string stop system
- Bow hook
- Quiver
- ACUslide MAXX cocking system
- Available in Vektra camo or Moss Green
Exceptional Value in the Premium Crossbow Class
With a price point just over $2,000, the TX 28 looks like a lightweight, but punches above its class. When you factor in included accessories, advanced features like ACUslide MAXX, and TenPoint’s precision engineering, it represents one of the best values in high-performance crossbows on the market. If you found this review helpful and are looking at purchasing one – here are some purchase options:
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Broadhead Compatibility
Crossbow hunters looking for a broadhead that can keep up with the energy and speed of their bow should check out SEVR Broadheads. SEVR provides multiple benefits to the crossbow hunter with rear-deploy locking-pivoting blade technology and a fluted, hardened-steel ferrule design that will perform with any modern high-energy crossbow. The broadheads are assembled with a machined one-piece ferrule and precision-ground tip.
The blade and cut technology will improve penetration and provide stretch-cut entry and exit wounds for well-defined blood trails. Some hunters refer to this as a slap cut. The Lock-and-Pivot blades lock open on impact but can pivot as needed when hitting bone or other dense body parts. The pivoting blades ensure the arrow continues to fly true and straight through game when needed.
SEVR designed a Practice Lock screw that can be placed into the broadhead, keeping the blades locked and contained. The lock screw allows hunters to practice with the actual broadheads used to hunt without dulling blades. Remove the lock screw after practice and head to your treestand. Options include the SEVR Robusto 2.0 in 150 grains, SEVR Titanium (Ti) 1.5 inch 4-blade Hybrid, standard Ti 1.5, Ti 1.75, and Ti 2.0 in 100 grains, in standard 8-32 threads. SEVR broadheads are available at www.sevrbroadheads.com.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a compact, fast, accurate, and whisper-quiet crossbow built with the hunter in mind, the TenPoint TX 28 should be at the top of your list. Its forward-draw design keeps it familiar for traditional users, while advanced tech like the Twin-Riser, ZERO-Trac barrel, and ACUslide MAXX delivers next-generation performance. Whether upgrading from an older model or buying your first serious hunting crossbow, the TX 28 offers a complete system that’s more than ready for the hunt.
