GTW G E A R G U I D E 2 0 2 4 The new M10 Tactical, fast target acquisition, shots, and reloads in one sublime package. Steambow’s long-standing, best-selling AR-6 Tactical now has a new stablemate – the M10 Tactical: a paradigm shift in what crossbows are capable of. Box magazine, string dampeners, and 75lb of draw: the M10 on a Tactical. The AR-6 integral magazine: the design that started it all on a Tactical and pistol-configured Compact. STEAMBOW M10: ANOTHER PARADIGM SHIFT?
The feature of Steambow’s repeating crossbows that shook the archery world so comprehensively was that you could shoot six shots, one after another. Fast and accurate, thanks to the lever-action cocking system of the Tactical frame and the integral magazine of the AR-6 upper, which can be reloaded with speedloaders or by hand. A competent shooter, using the standard 55lb limb and shooting from the shoulder, can get an average shot cycle of around five seconds per shot to fully empty the magazine. The reload process is easy and straightforward, but to make it fast as well, the shooter will need to commit time and practice to hone those fine motor skills. Steambow’s latest creation is a different beast. The M10 upper on the Tactical frame uses the same repeating crossbow principle but feeds from a detachable box magazine, holding not six but ten arrows. With the option to reload by just replacing the magazine, that same practiced shooter can expect their reload time to drop to around two seconds instead of the minimum 10 seconds it took to reload the AR-6. Together with that faster reload, the shooter will also have that satisfying feeling of “seating a fresh mag”. That cycle rate can just keep on going for as long as you have loaded magazines at the ready. Let’s look at both these trailblazers of the archery world in more detail. Steambow’s continued dominance The AR-6 Tactical was the first serious design of this new generation of crossbows, adding a shoulderstock to the mix. The AR-6 Tactical (and the subsequent attempts by other manufacturers to compete with it) formed the basis for a serious new archery sector that had, hitherto, been largely a gimmick: the repeating crossbow sector. The Tactical was the only one designed to be a bona fide weapon from the outset, regardless of the end user’s intentions. It’s been a best-seller for Steambow and an easy market leader ever since, with the appeals to the buying public continuing to grow with the introduction of an impressive list of upgrades. Those upgrades helped turn the Tactical into the foundation of a truly modular crossbow platform with Steambow parts being usable on it or its original AR-Series brethren: the AR-6 Compact and the Survival. A modular range like no other The parts list is impressive. There are parts to make it easier to aim: faster or more accurately, for low light or no light. Others allow you to turn a crossbow into something that you can pack away in a bag or drawer: about a minute to take down or reassemble. There is a range of limbs that go beyond the three draw weights currently offered as standard, adding a further three more performance levels to choose from. These options give the AR-Series the kind of fps-to-weight ratio unseen in other brands. New standards, new expectations A quick calculation of what’s on sale in the recurve crossbow market shows that a Steambow AR-6 Tactical, weighing in at about 2.5lbs fitted with Steambow’s steroidal 150lb “Hunting” limb, delivers a staggering 90fps per lb of crossbow. Some of the leading, full-power, full-size hunting crossbows on the market barely deliver 60fps per lb of crossbow weight. And the Tactical’s power-to-weight ratio takes into account a full payload of six arrows. The AR-6 Tactical can punch well above its weight should the owner want it to. And that is the crux of the issue: it’s up to the owner to decide what they want. Steambow has the accessories needed to enable a customer to build the ideal crossbow for their desires. Each with a purpose What more do you get with the M10 Tactical? The first and most obvious benefit of the M10 is the fundamentally new reloading system and capacity. Ten shots over six, held in box magazines that you can carry in any standard AR- 15/M-4 magazine pouch. With that, an improved shoulder stock, a 75lb limb as standard to the AR-6 Tactical’s 55lb draw weight, integral string dampeners for the increased service life of components, and a smoother shooting experience. Not to mention a few other improvements, too. So, does the AR-6 still have a place at the table? In short, it absolutely does. The M10 offers a whole stack of performance improvements over the AR-6, true, but those come at an additional cost. And if S T E A M B O W Steambow’s Quick Detach range makes storage, deployment, and maintenance effortless, whichever variant you use. someone is happy to shoot and reload in a relatively leisurely manner, the AR-6 is a proven platform. It is inherently accurate, reliable, and robust. There are fewer moving parts, too, and the singlestack inbuilt magazine is also known to accept and work with Steambow’s wide range of projectiles. Also, not everyone needs such a high volume of fire or the ability to shoot hundreds of arrows in one session. Sometimes, a few arrows are enough. And especially for hunting or defensive scenarios, you will likely never need more than a couple of arrows at once. For applications where lightningquick reloads are necessary, especially in action-packed dynamic shooting sports, the M10 really shines. Steambow’s ingenuity has meant that a crossbow no longer needs to be heavy, it no longer needs to have a slow shot cycle, and it no longer needs to be awkward to store or carry with dynamic shooting sports now on the list. sales@steambow.com www.steambow.at No more missed targets and no missed opportunities If you recognise the potential of these kinds of products, get in touch with Steambow to see how you can get yours. You can order straight from Steambow. Use code STEAMBOW5 for a 5% discount on a single order. If you are a retailer or distributor, Steambow has an excellent starter kit: just email sales@steambow.com for details. Steambow is also offering retailers a generous 15% reduction on orders worth €15,000 or more. Between great offers and the best product lineup in the sector, becoming a Steambow customer has never been a better move.
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