OWNER’S GENERAL
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
NOTICE: Read this manual, along with
the warnings contained in it, before
assembling, cocking, loading,
or using your crossbow.
HORTON CROSSBOW INNOVATIONS™
1325 Waterloo Road
Mogadore, OH 44260-9608
330-628-9245
www.hortoncrossbows.com
ThIS MANUAL COvERS
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS ............................................2
Introduction ....................................................................... 2
ANSI Standards ................................................................. 2
SHOOTING & TRIGGER SAFETY WARNING ....................3
Never Preload Your Trigger ................................................. 3
Shooting and Trigger Safety Protocol .................................... 3
GENERAL SAFETY .................................................... 3-4
COCKING & UNCOCKING YOUR CROSSBOW ............. 4-5
Cocking Safety ................................................................... 4
Manual Cocking Instructions (Legend Ultra Lite only)........... 4-5
Uncocking Safety ................................................................ 5
Uncocking Instructions ....................................................... 5
LOADING AND UNLOADING YOUR CROSSBOW .............6
Arrow Loading and Unloading Safety .................................... 6
Arrow Loading Instructions ................................................. 6
Arrow Unloading (Removal) Instructions ............................... 6
SHOOTING YOUR CROSSBOW .................................. 6-9
Hand & Finger Safety ....................................................... 6-7
Shooting Safety and Guarding Against Accidental Discharge ... 8
Shooting Instructions & Technique ........................................ 9
SIGHTING YOUR CROSSBOW .....................................10
Sighting Safety ................................................................ 10
Sighting the 4x 32 Multi-Line Scope ................................... 10
TREESTAND SAFETY ............................................ 10-11
ARROW SAFETY & SELECTION ...................................11
Arrow & Broadhead Safety ................................................ 11
Arrow Selection ............................................................... 11
Horton 20-Inch Carbon Arrow Specifications ....................... 11
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE & CARE
OF YOUR CROSSBOW .......................................... 12-13
Maintenance Warnings ..................................................... 12
Maintenance Procedures ............................................. 12-13
CROSSBOW TROUBLESHOOTING .......................... 13-14
STRING & CABLE ADJUSTMENT & SPECIFICATIONS ...14
RETURNING YOUR CROSSBOW FOR SERVICE .............15
NOTES......................................................................15
LIMITED LIFETIME OPERATIONAL WARRANTY..Back Cover
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
INTRODUCTION
Today’s modern crossbows, like firearms and other lethal
weapons, are dangerous if you use them improperly or unsafely.
We want you to enjoy shooting your crossbow, but to do so safely.
Whether you are an experienced crossbow shooter or have never
handled one before, CAREFULLY READ THE ENTIRE MANUAL and
its warnings before assembling, cocking, loading, or using your
crossbow. It explains your crossbow’s operation and handling and
warns of the potential danger, including property damage, death,
or serious personal injury that can result from using it unsafely.
Your safety and the safety of others requires that you always
remain aware of the danger inherent in handling a lethal weapon
and that you embrace the responsibility to yourself and others to
focus on the rules of safe operation every time you handle
your crossbow.
Format Note: As you read the manual from
cover-to-cover, you will notice that we repeat some of
the safety instructions multiple times. The hand safety
instructions, for example, apply when you cock, load,
unload, carry, and shoot your crossbow, so we restate
them again where we think it is important to do so - even
at the expense of being repetitious.
ANSI STANDARDS
This manual contains safety instructions preceded by the
following American National Standards Institute approved signal
words (ANSI Standards):
These signal words alert you to specific levels of hazard:
The DANGER signal word indicates a hazardous
situation which, if not avoided, will, without
doubt, result in death or serious personal injury.
The WARNING signal word indicates a hazardous
situation which, if not avoided, may result in
death or serious personal injury.
The CAUTION signal word indicates a hazardous
situation, which, if not avoided, may result in
moderate or minor personal injury.
The NOTICE signal word addresses safety
practices unrelated to personal injury.
In addition, generally we list safety instructions before
we present operational instructions in all sections of the
manual to emphasize their importance.
2
ShOOTING & TRIGGER SAFETY WARNING
NEVER PRELOAD YOUR TRIGGER
The bowstring engages or sets the trigger Safety when cocking
Horton crossbows. This is visually apparent by watching the
safety knob move from FIRE, the Red position, to SAFE,
the White position.
Never pull (preload) your trigger when the Safety is engaged to
test your Safety. Preloading the trigger is a dangerous practice
that has the potential to alter the alignment of internal
trigger parts.
Instead, test your Safety by pushing the safety knob as far as you
can in the SAFE or White direction. It should move approximately
1
⁄16 of an inch and then bounce back or spring back the same
distance. This “bounce back” means the safety is engaged. If
there is no “bounce back”, the safety is not engaged and you
must re-engage it by forcefully pulling the bowstring as if you
were cocking the crossbow. The bowstring corrects possible
misalignment and properly sets or engages the Safety.
SHOOTING AND TRIGGER SAFETY PROTOCOL
To avoid accidental discharge and possible
serious injury or loss of life, never put your
finger on the trigger until you are ready to take your shot.
To avoid an accidental discharge and possible
serious injury or loss of life, never move the
Safety to the FIRE, or Red, position until you are ready to take
your shot.
To avoid the potential for accidental discharge
and possible serious injury or loss of life never
pull (preload) the trigger for any reason, including testing your
trigger Safety, while the Safety is engaged or in the
SAFE/White position.
Be certain of your intended target and what is
beyond it before pulling your trigger. An arrow
can cause serious injury or loss of life even beyond its effective
hunting range.
This manual illustrates numerous ways you might
handle your crossbow carelessly or improperly.
Careless or improper handling could cause it to discharge
unintentionally, which could result in serious injury or loss of life.
Carefully read all of the safety advice contained throughout this
Owner’s Manual.
GENERAL SAFETY
Before shooting your crossbow, also read
Safety and Shooting Safety and Guarding Against
Accidental Discharge
page 6.
sell or loan your crossbow to another person.
involved. Take a hunter’s education and safety course. In fact,
most states require that you complete such a course prior to
obtaining your hunting license.
Some jurisdictions require that a crossbow be encased
during transport.
property damage and/or serious personal injury or death.
in the Shooting section beginning on
Always keep your manuals with your crossbow
and always make certain you include them if you
Before hunting with your crossbow, make sure
you are qualified and understand all of the risks
Check your local, state, or provincial regulations
regarding transporting a crossbow.
Failure to follow the safety advice and
instructions in this manual could result in
Hand & Finger
Always seek a doctor’s advice if you are taking
medication to be sure that you are able to shoot
and handle a crossbow safely. Do not consume drugs or alcohol
before or while using the crossbow. Your vision and judgment
could be seriously impaired, making your handling of the
crossbow unsafe.
Wear safety glasses when assembling, cocking,
loading, or shooting your crossbow to protect
your eyes from being injured if the limbs, bowstring, cables, or
cocking device cords were to break.
Your crossbow is a dangerous and deadly
weapon that is designed for hunting and target
shooting only. Do not use it for any other purpose.
Do not modify your crossbow or remove or
deactivate its safety features because doing
so could cause the crossbow to malfunction and could create a
dangerous situation.
Modifying your crossbow will also automatically
void your warranty.
When carrying a cocked (always unloaded)
crossbow, make sure the safety is in the SAFE
position (rearward, toward the white dot) and to avoid serious
injury, be careful not to place any part of your body in the release
path of the bowstring in case of an unintentional discharge.
3
When handling your crossbow in the treestand
or while carrying it when it is cocked, do not
grab or hold it by the barrel and fore-stock, thereby putting your
hand into the release path of the bowstring. If the bow were
to accidentally fire, the string will severely injure your hand or
possibly amputate one or more fingers.
discharge of a loaded crossbow could cause death or serious
personal injury. Storing a cocked crossbow can weaken it and
possibly break its limbs, string, and/or cables.
Do not transport your crossbow while loaded and
do not store it while it is cocked. An unintentional
COCKING & UNCOCKING YOUR CROSSBOW
COCKING SAFETY
Wear safety glasses when cocking your
crossbow to protect your eyes from being
injured if the limbs, bowstring, cables, or cocking unit cords were
to break.
When manually cocking your crossbow, grip
the bowstring securely with all four fingers of
both hands and do not relax your grip until the string passes the
Dry-Fire-Inhibitor (DFI) and engages the string latch. Otherwise,
you could severely injure your fingers or hands as you release the
string, and/or you could dry-fire the bow, potentially breaking the
limbs and causing severe injury or other property damage.
Be careful to use proper lifting techniques when
manually cocking your crossbow because you
could injure your back or shoulders if the draw weight is too much
for you to handle. Note: If the draw weight is too heavy for you to
cock your crossbow manually, various cocking aids are available
to make it easier, including the ACUdraw, ACUdraw 50, and
Rope-Cocker. These cocking devices have their own manual or
instructions. Read the manuals/instructions before using one
of them.
When cocking your crossbow with an ACUdraw
automated cocking unit do not over-crank it.
Stop cranking as soon as you see and hear the trigger-safetyknob slide from FIRE to SAFE and you hear the string latch
engage the string. If you continue to crank it beyond this point,
you can lift the trigger box out of alignment, damaging the bow;
and/or you can break the draw cords, sending the mechanism’s
string-claw flying, which may cause serious injury and/or property
damage. (See the ACUdraw Instruction Manual for complete
operating instructions.)
When cocking your crossbow with an ACUdraw
automated cocking unit, do not forget to return
the string-claw to its storage position prior to loading an arrow.
Otherwise you will “shoot the claw” when you pull the trigger,
which may cause serious personal injury and/or damage to your
bow from flying debris. (See the ACUdraw Instruction Manual for
complete operating instructions.)
Do not place your foot in the foot stirrup when
cocking your crossbow with an ACUdraw cocking
mechanism. In the unlikely event that the string-claw was to
break away from the draw cords, it could injure or possibly break
your foot. (See the ACUdraw Instruction Manual for complete
operating instructions.)
Do not attempt to manually cock the Storm RDX
crossbow. It is too narrow to cock manually, and
you will pinch and possibly injure your fingers if you attempt to
do so.
Once the crossbow is cocked, do not grab, hold,
or carry it by the barrel or fore-stock, thereby
putting your hand into the release path of the bowstring. If the
bow were to accidentally fire, the string will severely injure your
hand or possibly amputate one or more fingers.
When carrying a cocked but unloaded crossbow,
make sure the safety is in the SAFE position (the
rearward position, toward the white dot) to prevent against an
accidental discharge and possible serious injury.
If your crossbow comes with an ACUdraw,
ACUdraw 50, Rope-Cocker, or Dedd Sled cocking
mechanism, refer to the appropriate manual/instructions for
specific safety recommendations, operation, and instructions
before cocking it.
MANUAL COCKING INSTRUCTION
(FORWARD DRAW CROSSBOWS ONLY)
Cocking your crossbow inaccurately is the most frequent cause of
inaccurate shooting. With any crossbow, if the bowstring is not
centered on the string latch when cocked, the crossbow will not
shoot straight.
1. Before cocking your crossbow, move the safety knob into the
FIRE position (forward, toward the red dot). If you try to cock
your crossbow with the safety in the SAFE position (rearward,
toward the white dot), the string latch will not engage the
string. Instead, the DFI (Dry-Fire-Inhibitor) will catch and hold
the string, making it appear that the crossbow is cocked when
it is not. When the DFI – instead of the string latch – engages
the bowstring, you cannot fire the crossbow. When cocked
correctly, the bowstring will automatically set the safety and
the string latch will grasp and hold the string
(photos 1, 2, & 3).
2. With the underside of the crossbow facing you, place your foot
far enough into the foot stirrup that it will not slip out when you
draw the bowstring.
3. Grab the bowstring on both sides of the barrel using all four
fingers of both hands.
4
1
Make sure the trigger’s safety is in the forward, FIRE position (forward, toward
the red dot) before cocking your crossbow.
2
If you try to cock the crossbow while the safety is in the SAFE position (rearward,
toward the white dot), the DFI will hold the bowstring and the bow will only appear
to be cocked.
4
Slide your index fingers along the barrel.
5
3
When you cock your crossbow correctly, the safety will automatically move to the
SAFE position (rearward, toward the white dot), and the string latch will engage
the string.
4. Slide your hands together so that your index fingers are flush
against the sides of the barrel (photo 4). Note: The
ACRA-ANGLE barrel allows you to slide your index fingers
along the barrel without pinching them.
5. Using the sides of the barrel as a guide, and with a secure
grip, pull the bowstring toward the trigger assembly and
into its string slot until you hear the string latch and see and
hear the safety knob automatically move from FIRE to SAFE
(rearward, toward the white dot). Note: If you attempt to cock
the crossbow with the safety in the SAFE position (rearward,
toward the white dot), the string-latch will not engage the
string. To correct this problem, move the safety knob forward
to the FIRE position (toward the red dot) and firmly pull the
bowstring to engage the string latch and the safety.
DFI (Dry-Fire-Inhibitor).
UNCOCKING SAFETY
When uncocking (shooting) your crossbow, do
not allow your thumb or fingers to move above
the crossbow barrel’s flight deck or anywhere into the bowstring’s
release path because the string will severely injure or amputate a
finger or thumb when you pull the trigger.
Wear safety glasses when uncocking (shooting)
your crossbow to protect your eyes from being
injured if the limbs, bowstring, or cables were to break.
Do not attempt to uncock your crossbow by
hand or by using an ACUdraw, ACUdraw 50,
Dedd Sled, Rope-Cocker, or other mechanism because doing
so could cause you to lose control of the bowstring, possibly
resulting in serious personal injury.
UNCOCKING INSTRUCTIONS
The safest way to uncock your crossbow is to shoot it using
a practice arrow or an unloading bolt such as the TenPoint
Crossbow Unloading Bolt (CUB). The CUB is a single-use, twopiece biodegradable unloading shaft, which decomposes in or on
the ground over time.
6. Take a quick glance inside the string slot to make sure the
string-latch is holding the string. The more firmly you draw
the string back, the easier it is to cock the crossbow.
Over time, you will develop a drawing technique that will make
cocking the crossbow quite easy.
Reminder: All Horton crossbow models are equipped with a
DFI, which prevents the crossbow from dry-firing if an arrow is
not loaded (photo 5).
7. Check the safety knob to make sure it is in the SAFE position
(rearward, toward the white dot).
Do not dry-fire the bow. You need the weight of an arrow to
absorb the bow’s energy and to prevent damage to the bow.
If your state allows you to carry an arrow equipped with a
practice point while hunting, carry an old one in your quiver to use
when uncocking your crossbow. You can shoot it into soft,
rock-free ground or into a special-purpose unloading target that
you keep in your vehicle.
If shooting into the ground, aim at a point roughly three feet in
front of you. If you aim further out, you could bury your arrow and
not recover it.
5
LOADING AND UNLOADING YOUR CROSSBOW
ARROW LOADING & UNLOADING SAFETY
Do not load an arrow in your crossbow until
you are situated where you intend to remain
stationary until shooting it. Never carry your crossbow with an
arrow loaded in it. Death or serious personal injury could result if
you were to slip or fall while carrying a loaded crossbow.
Wear safety glasses when loading, shooting, or
unloading your crossbow to protect your eyes
from being injured if the limbs, bowstring, cables, or cocking
mechanism cords were to break.
Broadheads are razor sharp. Do not handle them
with your bare hands to avoid serious personal
injury. When transporting or storing field- or broadhead-tipped
arrows, keep them safely protected inside a quiver.
When loading or unloading (removing) an arrow,
do not allow any part of either hand to move
into the release path of the bowstring because if the bow were
to accidentally fire, the string would severely injure your hand or
possibly amputate one or more fingers in its path. Carefully hold
the arrow with your index and middle fingers and your thumb,
just behind the broadhead or point, as you slide it into or out of
position.
Note: When loading the arrow, hold it between your index
and middle fingers and your thumb, just behind the point or
broadhead (photo 1).
2. Slide the arrow along the arrow-flight-groove under the arrow
retention brush, and into the trigger box’s string slot until its
nock sits firmly against the cocked bowstring.
1
PROPER POSITION. Hold the arrow with your index and middle finger and your
thumb just behind the broadhead.
ARROW UNLOADING (REMOVAL) INSTRUCTIONS
When the crossbow is cocked and loaded, and the safety is in
the SAFE position (rearward, toward the white dot), follow these
steps to unload your arrow:
After your hunt, remove your arrow and secure it
in your quiver.
ARROW LOADING INSTRUCTIONS
When the crossbow is cocked and the safety is in the SAFE
position (rearward, toward the white dot), follow these steps to
load your arrow:
1. While keeping your crossbow pointed in a safe direction, your
finger off the trigger, and no part of either hand in the release
path of the cocked bowstring, place a Horton recommended
crossbow arrow on top of the barrel, with one of the vanes or
feathers slipped down into the barrel’s arrow-flight-groove.
1. While keeping your crossbow pointed in a safe direction, your
finger off the trigger, and no part of either hand in the release
path of the cocked bowstring, remove the arrow. Note: When
unloading the arrow, hold it between your index and middle
fingers and your thumb, just behind the point or broadhead
(photo 1).
2. Secure the arrow in your quiver.
ShOOTING YOUR CROSSBOW
HAND & FINGER SAFETY
Also refer to Cocking Safety in the Cocking & Uncocking
Your Crossbow
anywhere into the bowstring’s release path (photos 1, 2, & 3)
because the string will severely injure or amputate a finger and/or
thumb in its path when you fire the crossbow.
(photo 4).
section beginning on page 4.
Do not allow your thumb or fingers to move
above the crossbow barrel’s flight deck or
You must keep your hand and fingers safely
positioned every time you shoot the crossbow
do not allow the fore-grip hand to rotate to the side of the grip or
to slide in front of the grip, thereby allowing your thumb to move
above the flight deck and into the release path of the bowstring.
Again, if you fire the crossbow with your thumb in the release
path of the bowstring, you will seriously injure it and possibly
amputate it. A safe way to position the fore-grip hand is to place
it flat on the bench rest with your fingers pointing toward your
target. Spread the thumb away from the fingers to form a “V”.
Position the fore-grip flat on the bench rest in front of your hand
and slide the back end of the grip into the “V” (photo 5).
Your fore-grip hand is particularly vulnerable
when shooting from a bench rest. Make sure you
6
All Horton crossbows come with integrated
safety wings & fore-grip.
When loading an arrow in your crossbow, do
not allow any part of either hand to move into
the release path of the bowstring because if the bow were to
accidentally fire, the string will severely injure your hand or
possibly amputate one or more fingers in its path. Carefully hold
the arrow with your index and middle finger and your thumb just
behind the broadhead or point as you slide it into position
(photo 6).
While handling or carrying your crossbow after
it is cocked, do not grab or hold it by the barrel
and fore-stock, thereby putting your hand into the release path
of the bowstring. If the bow were to accidentally fire, the string
will severely injure your hand or possibly amputate one or more
fingers (photo 7).
1
4
PROPER HAND POSITION. Proper way for a right-handed shooter to hold the
fore-grip on Horton crossbows.
5
IMPROPER. With your fore-grip hand positioned as shown above, you will severely
injure or amputate your thumb if you fire your crossbow.
2
IMPROPER. With your fore-grip hand positioned as shown above, you will severely
injure or amputate your finger(s) if you fire your crossbow.
3
PROPER POSITION. With your fore-grip hand flat on the bench rest you can
position the grip in the “V” between your fingers and thumb.
6
PROPER POSITION. Hold the arrow with your index and middle finger and your
thumb just behind the broadhead.
7
IMPROPER. With your fore-grip hand positioned as shown above, you will severely
injure or amputate your finger(s) if you fire your crossbow.
Do not grab or hold it by the barrel and fore-stock.
7
SHOOTING SAFETY & GUARDING AGAINST
ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE
TO AVOID POSSIBLE AMPUTATION OF FINGERS
OR A THUMB, FOLLOW THIS HAND AND
FINGER SAFETY ADVICE WHEN SHOOTING YOUR CROSSBOW.
To avoid accidental discharge and possible
serious injury or loss of life, never put your finger
on the trigger until you are ready to take your shot.
To avoid an accidental discharge and possible
serious injury or loss of life, never move the
Safety to the FIRE, or Red, position until you are ready to take
your shot.
To avoid the potential for accidental discharge
and possible serious injury or loss of life never
pull (preload) the trigger for any reason, including testing your
trigger Safety, while the Safety is engaged or in the
SAFE/White position.
Make certain others are well behind you when
you are shooting. If the limbs, bowstring, cables,
or cocking unit cords were to break, you could seriously injure
someone standing close to you.
When carrying a cocked but unloaded crossbow,
make sure the safety is in the SAFE position
(rearward, toward the white dot) and do not grip the bow with
your hand in the path of the bowstring to prevent certain serious
injury in the event of an accidental discharge.
Do not fire your crossbow if branches or other
obstructions block its limbs’ release path.
Doing so could cause the limbs, bowstring or cables to break and
possibly result in serious personal injury.
If you handle your crossbow carelessly or
improperly, you could cause it to discharge
unintentionally, which could result in property damage and/or
serious personal injury or death.
Be certain of your intended target and what is
beyond it before pulling your trigger. An arrow
can cause serious injury or loss of life even beyond its effective
hunting range.
Wear safety glasses when shooting your
crossbow to protect your eyes from being
injured if the limbs, bowstring, cables, or cocking device cords
were to break.
When hunting, never shoot just because you see
movement, because that movement could be a
camouflaged hunter.
When target shooting, set up in a safe, open
area with a proper target and backstop.
When you are at a shooting range, make sure
you always keep your loaded crossbow pointed
toward the target. Accidentally pointing it in the direction of
others is extremely dangerous and potentially life threatening.
Do not use your crossbow if it is not in top
working condition. Carefully examine it and your
arrows for worn, loose, damaged, or missing parts every time
before you use them. A damaged crossbow, or one in need of
maintenance or repair, could break during use and cause injury or
death to you or bystanders. Contact Customer Service at
www.hortoncrossbows.com or by calling 330-628-9245.
To avoid an accidental discharge and potential
serious injury or death, do not move the safety
to the FIRE position (forward, toward the red dot) until you have
made the decision to fire and are ready to squeeze the trigger.
To avoid accidental discharge, do not put your
finger on the trigger until you have made the
decision to fire.
To guard against accidental discharge, make
sure your crossbow is unloaded before handing it
to another person.
8
SHOOTING INSTRUCTION & TECHNIqUE
Before shooting your crossbow also read and
follow the safety and operational instructions
listed to avoid serious injury to you or others:
• The Cocking Your Crossbow and Arrow Loading &
Unloading Safety
• The ACUdraw, ACUdraw 50, Rope-Cocker, or Dedd Sled
instructions if your crossbow comes with one of these devices.
• Your model-specic Assembly Instruction Manual.
As any experienced hunter will tell you, it is easy to make a bad
shot. To shoot a crossbow accurately, you must practice proper
shooting technique. Here are the steps to follow after you have
cocked and loaded your crossbow:
sections of this manual.
8
9
1. If you are shooting from a standing position, your feet should
be approximately shoulder-width apart and positioned either
perpendicular to the target in a closed stance or quartering at
a 45-degree angle toward the target in an open stance.
Pick the stance that is most comfortable for you
(photos 8 & 9).
2. Shoulder the crossbow keeping your fore-grip hand and fingers
on the fore-grip and below the arrow flight deck.
3. Position your cheek in the middle of the stock cheek-piece or
comb, and make sure you have a clear sight picture through
the scope.
4. Position your trigger finger on the side of the stock above the
actual trigger and pointing toward your intended target. Do not
place it on the trigger (photo 10).
5. If standing, keep both elbows pulled close to your body to
better support the crossbow (photo 11). Follow the same
steps when shooting from a seated position, making certain
your crossbow limbs will clear any obstacles.
6. If shooting from a bench rest, your fore-grip hand is
particularly vulnerable to misplacement (photo 12). Be careful
to keep your thumb and fingers below the flight deck and away
from the cables to avoid injury.
Proper foot position. Proper foot position.
10
Position finger on the side of the stock.
11
Keep elbows close to your body.
12
7. When you are ready to take your shot, slide the trigger’s
safety knob from the SAFE position to the FIRE position.
8. Just before taking your shot – take a breath; exhale about half
of it and hold the remaining air. Place your trigger-finger on
the trigger and begin to squeeze it slowly until the bow fires.
This breath control and trigger squeezing process will keep you
steady and improve your accuracy.
9. Follow the shot through your scope until your arrow hits its
target rather than looking up immediately after pulling the
trigger. This technique is called “follow-through” and it, too, will
improve your accuracy.
Keep your thumb and fingers below the flight deck and away from the cables to
avoid injury.
9
SIGhTING YOUR CROSSBOW
SIGHTING SAFETY
TO AVOID POSSIBLE AMPUTATION OF FINGERS
OR A THUMB, FOLLOW THE HAND AND FINGER
SAFETY ADVICE BEGINNING ON PAGE 6 WHEN SIGHTING
YOUR CROSSBOW.
Wear safety glasses when shooting your
crossbow to protect your eyes from being
injured if the limbs, bowstring, cables, or cocking unit cords were
to break.
Make sure your crossbow is uncocked and
unloaded when making the windage and elevation
adjustments on your scope.
Keep the scope away from acid, alkaline and
other corrosives to avoid damaging it.
SIGHTING THE 4x 32 SCOPE
Horton crossbows are equipped with a 4x 32 scope and fixed
7
⁄8-inch Weaver style dovetail scope mount. Each crossbow is
pre-sighted for 20-yards at the factory, meaning they are set
accurately enough to hit a 7-inch pie tin at that distance. Most
likely, you will want to fine-tune your sights at some point.
Elevation and Windage Adjustments:
The 4x 32 Multi-Line Scope is equipped with four lines calibrated
for 20, 30, 40, and 50-yards. The top line is calibrated for
20-yards, the center for 30-yards and the bottom for 40-yards.
The fourth partial line is calibrated for 50-yards.
Note: Exact yardages for your scope may vary based on the
speed of the crossbow.
Shoot one to three shots at 20-yards to confirm you are at least
close to the bull’s-eye. Make any windage/elevation adjustments
needed to get close to the bull’s-eye. Make final adjustments on
the scope at 30-yards using the center line. If the impact point is
different than the aiming point, make adjustments to the vertical
(elevation) and/or horizontal (windage) adjustments. Unscrew the
adjustment caps and turn the adjustment knob(s) in the direction
indicated by the arrow to make your correction(s). Continue to
shoot the crossbow and adjust the scope until your impact and
aiming points coincide. Once sighted in at 30-yards, the top
line should be accurate at 20-yards, the bottom line should be
accurate at approximately 40-yards, and the fourth partial line
should be accurate at 50-yards. Note: At 30-yards it takes
approximately four to five clicks to move your point of
impact ¼-inch.
Scope Focus Adjustment:
If the reticle is not in focus when you look through the magnified
scope, adjust the focus by rotating the non-locking knurled ring on
the end of the rear bell until focused.
TREESTAND SAFETY
Treestand accidents are usually the most
dangerous, debilitating, and deadly types
of Bowhunting accidents. Make certain you use a Treestand
Manufacturer’s Association approved treestand, and make sure
you watch the Treestand Safety DVD included with your purchase.
Always wear a safety belt or harness when
hunting from a treestand because a fall could
result in death or serious personal injury. Check it to make
certain it is in good condition and securely fastened.
To further guard against a life-threatening fall,
buy and install an approved climber’s lifeline
with each treestand you purchase, and always keep your harness
safety-strap attached to your lifeline while in your stand and while
ascending and descending from your stand. As you climb, make
sure you anchor both hands securely with each step you take.
Cock, but do not load, your crossbow when you
arrive at your treestand. It is too dangerous to
cock a crossbow from a standing position in your stand. If your
crossbow is equipped with an ACUdraw cocking mechanism, you
may cock it from a seated position in a stand. It is not safe to
manually cock your crossbow or use an ACUdraw 50, Dedd Sled,
or other rope-cocking mechanism in a treestand.
Do not carry your crossbow while climbing up or
down a tree because you could lose your balance
or the crossbow could catch on the tree/stand and cause you to
fall. Attach your unloaded crossbow to a bow retrieval rope with
the butt stock pointing up.
Once in your stand, fasten your safety harness
to its tree-strap and check to make certain it
is secure before sitting down. Then you are in a safe position to
hoist your crossbow.
10
When handling your crossbow in the treestand
or while carrying it when it is cocked, do not
grab or hold it by the barrel and fore-stock, thereby putting your
hand into the release path of the bowstring. If the bow were
to accidentally fire, the string will severely injure your hand or
possibly amputate one or more fingers. To keep your hand away
from the release path of the bowstring while loading an arrow,
carefully hold the arrow with your index and middle fingers and
your thumb just behind the broadhead as you slide it into position.
Before you load an arrow, check all of your
shooting lanes to make sure there are no tree
limbs or branches in the way of your crossbow limbs. If your
crossbow limbs were to hit a branch or tree limb during the
shot, you could damage the bow, knock yourself off your stand,
or otherwise seriously injure yourself. Finally, carefully load your
arrow, and hang your crossbow on a bow hook or hold it securely
in your lap while hunting.
unloaded crossbow to the bow rope and lower it to the ground.
After you disconnect your safety harness from the tree strap,
make sure you remain connected to your lifeline before you begin
your descent.
ARROW SAFETY & SELECTION
Following your hunt, remove your arrow and
return and secure it in your quiver. Attach the
ARROW & BROADHEAD SAFETY
Broadheads are razor sharp. Do not handle them
with your bare hands to avoid serious personal
injury or death from bleeding. Make sure broadheads are safely
protected by a quiver when storing or transporting arrows.
Keep your crossbow and broadheads out of the
reach of children.
Inspect your arrows before shooting them to
determine that they are not bent or damaged.
Never use an arrow with a bent shaft, damaged nock or fletching,
or with a missing insert or field point/broadhead because it could
cause the crossbow to operate improperly and/or the arrow to fly
in an unintended direction, potentially seriously injuring you or a
bystander.
Use standard-weight arrows weighing at least
370-grains. Arrows heavier than 370-grains are
acceptable as well. Using arrows lighter than what is specified by
the manufacturer can cause a dry-fire effect and may cause the
limbs to break resulting in serious personal injury.
Do not use small diameter arrows (less than
22/64ths) or arrows with flat, moon, or capture
nocks because they may cause the crossbow to malfunction and
may seriously injure you or others.
Inspect carbon arrow shafts for hairline
fractures or cracks. Firing a damaged carbon
shaft can cause it to shatter, scattering fragments, which could
seriously injure you or others.
ARROW SELECTION
Horton Crossbow Innovations recommends the Horton 20-inch
Carbon Arrow, made by Victory® Archery, with its crossbows.
This arrow is standard-weight at 400-grains with a 100-grain
field point/broadhead. The 20-inch carbon arrows deliver an
optimum blend of speed and kinetic energy, making them ideal
all-purpose hunting arrows. Their weight allows them to absorb
a higher percentage of a crossbow’s energy than lighter arrows,
thereby reducing vibration, stress, noise, and the likelihood of
bow damage. Their weight makes them generate more kinetic
energy than lightweight arrows for improved accuracy and power
down range. The advantage of this arrow is that the blend of
speed and power makes them effective and suitable for nearly all
hunting and shooting circumstances.
Horton 20-Inch Carbon Arrow Specifications
400-grains (with 100-grain field point or broadhead)
22/64ths carbon
.300 shaft I.D.
8.7 grains-per-inch
Fusion 3-inch Shield cut Q21 vane
87-grain brass insert
All Horton arrows are fabricated with
Omni-Nocks.
The Omni-Nock design features six micro-grooves that form three
string alignment channels. These channels eliminate the indexing
problem associated with moon and capture nocks. On today’s
narrower crossbows with acute string angles, the Omni-Nock
also keeps the bowstring from shooting over or under an arrow.
Even if you slightly misalign your vane when you load an arrow, the
Omni-Nock will self-correct the alignment as acceleration begins.
11
PREvENTIvE MAINTENANCE & CARE
OF YOUR CROSSBOW
MAINTENANCE WARNINGS
Wear safety glasses when servicing or
maintaining your crossbow to protect your
eyes from being injured if the limbs were to shatter and/or the
bowstring, cables, or cocking unit cords were to break.
Your crossbow must be uncocked and unloaded
before conducting any maintenance on it.
Do not modify your crossbow or remove or
deactivate its safety features because this could
cause it to malfunction and create a dangerous situation.
Do not attempt to adjust your crossbow’s draw
weight or to change its cables, limbs, or string
because improper installation or adjustments could cause it to
malfunction and create a dangerous situation. Have a qualified
professional with the proper training and tools perform
these tasks.
Carefully examine your crossbow for worn, loose,
damaged, or missing parts every time before you
use it. A damaged crossbow, or one in need of maintenance or
repair, could be dangerous to you or others.
Do not use your crossbow if it is not in top
working condition because equipment failure
could cause injury to you or bystanders. Contact Customer
Service.
Do not apply string wax to the center serving,
barrel or trigger because the wax will collect
inside the trigger mechanism and eventually prevent the string
from latching properly.
Do not use heavy oil, grease, or substances
similar to petroleum jelly because they will
attract dust and grit that will work their way into the trigger
housing, making it sluggish and possibly inoperable in
cold weather.
Do not cock your crossbow if the bowstring or
cables are worn or frayed because they could
break resulting in serious personal injury.
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
The best maintenance program begins by thoroughly checking for
worn, loose, damaged or missing parts every time you use
your crossbow.
1. Immediately replace frayed or worn strings and cables:
Keep your strings and cables moist and extend their life
with a high-quality string wax such as Horton’s String Wax &
Conditioner (HCA-11015-H). Do not apply string wax to the
center serving, barrel or trigger – the wax will collect inside
the trigger mechanism and eventually prevent the string from
latching properly. Note: Horton recommends changing both
string and cables every other year under normal hunting/
shooting conditions.
2. General Lubrication:
• Use a high quality barrel or rail lubricant such as Horton’s
Flight Rail and Trigger Lube (HCA-111-H) to increase
arrow speed, reduce friction and extend the life of your
center serving. Its unique metal penetrating characteristics
provide optimum lubrication without an oily or greasy film.
• To lubricate your ight rail, apply a drop of lube on each side
of the rail, then spread the lube the length of the barrel
with your finger. Applying the flight rail lubricant
approximately every 75 to 100 shots should be adequate
(photo 1). Note: Applying too much rail lube can break down
your string serving.
• Also regularly apply a drop of lube to your wheels/cams
and axles. Do not use heavy oil, grease or substances
similar to petroleum jelly to lubricate your crossbow parts
because they will attract dust and grit and will work their
way into your trigger housing making it sluggish and
perhaps inoperable in cold weather.
• Periodically oil the Storm RDX cam bearings, especially
after getting the crossbow wet.
3. Keep your trigger dry and occasionally lubricate it:
• After using your crossbow in damp or wet conditions, dry its
trigger parts by aiming a blow dryer through the various
holes that lead to its interior parts. To avoid rusting, spray
the interior of the trigger with WD-40 (or comparable
material to displace water/moisture only) before you apply
trigger lube. Note: A crossbow with rusty trigger box parts
will be extremely difficult to cock and will need to be sent
back to the factory for cleaning and/or repair.
• Apply a drop of lube through the trigger’s safety knob
window while it is in both the SAFE (white dot) and FIRE
(red dot) positions (photo 2). Also apply a drop inside the
closed end of the trigger’s string slot to lubricate the safety
slide and string latch (photo 3).
12
4. Storage :
Do not expose your crossbow to excessive heat such as
leaving it in an automobile trunk on a hot day, a hot attic or
storing it next to a furnace. Store it in a cool, dry place.
Storing your crossbow in an unheated garage or damp
basement may cause some of its parts to rust. Again, if you
get your crossbow wet, make certain you dry and lubricate it
before storing it.
5. Screws and Bolts:
To avoid stripping your main assembly bolt be certain to loosen
its locking set screw before tightening or loosening it
(photo 4). Note: Horton does not recommend loosening limb
bolts to relieve string pressure in the off-season.
6. Horton Crossbow Innovations is the only repair facility for
repairs/replacements on trigger boxes and limbs (with the
exception of locations outside of the continental U.S.).
Note: Unauthorized repairs may void your warranty.
If repairs are necessary, contact the Customer Service
Department at 330-628-9245 or email your request at
www.hortoncrossbows.com for a Return Authorization Number
and shipping and payment instructions.
2
Lubricate the trigger through the safety slide window.
3
Apply a drop just inside the closed end of the trigger’s string slot.
1
Lubricate your flight rail approximately every 75 to 100 shots with flight
rail lubricant.
4
Loosen locking setscrew before turning the main assembly bolt.
CROSSBOW TROUBLEShOOTING
Not all issues associated with your crossbow will require service.
This troubleshooting section addresses common problems
with your crossbow. If, after reviewing this section, you have
not solved your problem, contact the Horton Customer Service
Department at 330-628-9245 option #2, or email your Return
Authorization repair request at www.hortoncrossbows.com.
My crossbow will not cock.
• Before cocking your crossbow, the safety knob must
be in the FIRE position (forward, toward the red dot).
Otherwise, the string latch will not engage or hold the
bowstring. If you try to cock your crossbow with the safety in
the SAFE position (rearward, toward the white dot), the DFI
(Dry-Fire-Inhibitor) will catch and hold the string, making the
crossbow appear to be cocked. However, when the DFI instead of the string latch – holds the bow string, you cannot
fire the crossbow. When cocked correctly, the bowstring will
automatically set the safety and the string latch will grasp and
hold the string (see photos 1, 2 & 3).
1
Make sure the trigger’s safety is in the forward, FIRE position (forward, toward
the red dot) before cocking your crossbow.
2
If you try to cock the crossbow while the safety is in the rear, SAFE position
(rearward toward the white dot), the bowstring will be held by the DFI and only
appear to be cocked.
13
3
• The rail (barrel) may have been over-oiled. Over-oiling will
saturate the string serving and cause it to come off in chunks.
Contact Customer Service. The string will either need to be
replaced, or re-served.
• The main assembly bolt may not be tight enough. Refer to
your model-specific Assembly Instructions.
When you cock your crossbow correctly, the safety will automatically move to the
rear, SAFE position (rearward, toward the white dot), and the string latch will
engage the string.
Note: If the DFI is holding the bowstring, move the safety to the
FIRE position (forward, toward the red dot), and complete the
cocking motion. You will hear the string latch drop and see the
safety engage as the safety knob moves into the SAFE position
(rearward, toward the white dot).
• The moving parts inside the trigger housing may be too dry or
rusted. Add a small drop of light-weight oil in front of, and
behind the safety slide on each side of the trigger box.
Note: Use WD-40® to displace water/moisture only – do not
use it as a lubricant. Contact Customer Service if lubricating
the trigger does not solve the problem.
• You may have used a heavy grease, wax or a petroleum
jelly-type substance on the rail or in the trigger box.
If so, send the crossbow back to the factory for cleaning.
Contact Customer Service.
My string and /or cables are fuzzy, fraying or cut.
• Apply a thin coat of wax to the string (excluding the serving)
and/or cables and burnish it (rub the string/cables briskly
between your fingers, creating heat and melting the wax).
• Do not attempt to use your crossbow if the string and/or
cables are frayed or cut. Contact Customer Service if the
string and/or cables need replaced.
My string serving is separating or coming apart.
• If the crossbow string had been previously removed and/or
replaced, it may have been installed incorrectly. See the
section entitled “String & Cable Adjustment
& Specifications
”.
My shot groupings are erratic.
• Inaccurate cocking is the most frequent cause of inaccurate
shooting. With any crossbow, if the bowstring is not perfectly
centered on the string latch when cocked, the bow will not
shoot straight. To ensure a perfect draw, grab the string along
the sides of the barrel with all four fingers of each hand. Slide
the hands together so that the index fingers of both are clearly
against the sides of the barrel (the ACRA-ANGLE barrel allows
you to slide your index fingers along the barrel without
getting pinched).
• Make sure screws have not vibrated loose. Check tightness
of the foot stirrup setscrews, main assembly bolt and
setscrew (loosen the setscrew before trying to tighten the
main assembly bolt), stock screws, barrel screws, scope ring
screws, etc.
• The scope may be defective. Contact Customer Service.
• If your groupings are tight using eld points but erratic using
broadheads, you probably need to “tune” your arrows. If your
shaft wobbles when you spin it on the tip of its broadhead, that
is a sign your arrow/broadhead combination needs tuned.
A tuned arrow has a straight shaft with a broadhead point that
is perfectly centered at the end of the shaft. If you do not have
the equipment to straighten shafts and re-set inserts, have
your local pro shop tune your arrows.
My camo is coming off the crossbow.
Some surfaces of the crossbow will show signs of wear and
tear from normal use. If there is a question about wear and
tear, Horton must determine whether it is excessive or normal.
Contact Customer Service for assistance.
STRING & CABLE SPECIFICATIONS
CROSSBOW MODEL STRING PART # STRING LENGTH STRING MATERIAL
STORM RDX
LEGEND ULTRA LITE
CROSSBOW MODEL CABLE PART # CABLE LENGTH CABLE MATERIAL
STORM RDX
LEGEND ULTRA LITE
HCA-12215 40.875'' D97, 28 strands (Pre-twisted)
HCA-11915 34.0625'' D97, 28 strands (Pre-twisted)
HCA-13115 15.1875'' D97, 28 strands (Pre-twisted)
HCA-13015 23.0625'' (5'' hard yokes) D97, 28 strands (Pre-twisted)
14
RETURNING YOUR CROSSBOW FOR SERvICE
Before returning product to Horton Crossbow Innovations, you
must complete a Return Authorization request form at
www.hortoncrossbows.com > Support > Return Authorization
Form> or call the Customer Service Department for a Return
Authorization Number (RA Number) at 330-628-9245 and select
option #2.
Missing or incorrect information will result in a delay when
processing the RA number request. To complete the Return
Authorization request, you must provide a valid serial number,
crossbow model name and owner’s name, address and telephone
number. The crossbow serial number is located on a “Made in
U.S.A.” sticker that is located on the left side of the
crossbow barrel.
An RA Number is valid for 30 days. After 30 days you must call
and request another number.
All returns must have the RA Number boldly marked on the
outside of each box, be properly packaged to prevent damage
during shipment, and be shipped “freight prepaid” (freight collect
and COD returns will not be accepted).
Note: On forward draw crossbows, remove the bow assembly
from the stock assembly before shipping your crossbow back to
Horton Crossbow Innovations. Shipping an assembled crossbow
is expensive and Horton Crossbow Innovations will not assume/
reimburse freight charges to/from the Warranty Department
regardless of warranty determination.
Please include a description of the problem, your name, address,
and telephone number inside the box.
Ship to:
Horton Crossbow Innovations
1325 Waterloo Road
Mogadore, Ohio 44260
Horton Crossbow Innovations will not accept returns without an
RA Number on the outside of the box or refund freight charges.
The Customer Service Department will evaluate the product
under our warranty provisions. The Warranty Department will
determine if the product is covered under the warranty and will at its sole discretion - determine whether to repair or replace it.
The Customer Service Department will contact you if payment is
required. We will return the product when repairs are completed
and payment, if required, is made.
NOTES
15
hORTON LIMITED LIFETIME
OPERATIONAL WARRANTY
Subject to the terms, conditions and limitations outlined below, Horton Crossbow Innovations guarantees its crossbows against defects
in materials and workmanship that adversely affect the operation of the crossbow for the lifetime of the original owner, except for the
bow limbs and scope, which are warranted for five (5) years from the date of purchase, and strings and cables, which are not covered
by this warranty.
This warranty only becomes effective if activated by the purchaser within 30 days of the purchase date by completing the warranty card
included with the crossbow and mailing it to Horton Crossbow Innovations. Horton Crossbow Innovations reserves the right, at its sole
discretion, to accept proof of purchase in lieu of a completed warranty card.
All warranty/repair returns are to be coordinated directly between the consumer and Horton Crossbow Innovations. To make a claim
under this warranty, call our Customer Service Department at 330-628-9245 for a Return Authorization Number. Horton Crossbow
Innovations will not accept returned merchandise without a Return Authorization Number displayed on the outside of the shipping
container. Include your name, address, daytime phone number, and a brief description of the claim inside the package. Insure your
shipment and send it prepaid via the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, or UPS.
Limitations of Warranty
The warranty will be void if any of the following occur:
(1) the instructions in the owner’s manual are not followed;
(2) the crossbow or any of their parts are altered from their original state;
(3) damage is caused by abuse or neglect;
(4) damage is caused by dry-firing or by using underweight arrows (lighter than recommended in the Owner’s Manual); or
(5) the crossbow is rented or loaned for use by others by a retailer, wholesaler, or shooting range operator, or other commercial
business organization, whether or not a fee is charged for its use.
There are no warranties which extend beyond the description on the face hereof.
The sole and exclusive remedy pursuant to this warranty is the repair or replacement of the defective part(s) at the sole discretion of
Horton Crossbow Innovations. Parts determined to be unsafe will not be returned with the repaired crossbow.
The implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are expressly disclaimed.
All disclaimers and limitations of liability shall still apply even if the limited remedy of repair and replacement fails of its
essential purpose.
In states where permitted, we assume no liability for incidental or consequential damage or for incidental expenses.
Any action against Horton Crossbow Innovations based on an alleged breach of this warranty must be brought within one (1) year of the
claimed breach. Horton Crossbow Innovations’ liability for breach of warranty shall be limited to repair or replacement of the product at
the option of Horton Crossbow Innovations.
These products are covered by one or more of the patents found at www.tenpointcrossbows.com/pages/patent-technologies/.
HORTON CROSSBOW INNOVATIONS™
1325 Waterloo Road
Mogadore, OH 44260-9608
330-628-9245
www.hortoncrossbows.com
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