Camryn Stillman with her new Covert 3.4 Crossbow from Carbon Express.
by Chad Stillman
I have to preface this review with a confession. As an avid bowhunter, I have never been interested in or ever really even looked at a crossbow. I also thought they were for old guys with bad shoulders and little kids. I’ll be the first to admit, I stand corrected.
My daughter Camryn has really taken a liking to shooting archery. This past spring Camryn shot archery in a local 4-H league, and she also harvested her first animal during the Wisconsin Spring Turkey youth season using a shotgun. Needless to say, she’s hooked, which as an excited dad, got me looking for ways to spend more quality time afield with her for the upcoming 2016 Fall archery season.
I started looking at crossbows and we ended up purchasing the Carbon Express Covert 3.4. After a couple days of waiting at the front door, Wally, our UPS driver, arrived with the package. She was beyond excited, and so was I.
Unpacking the Covert 3.4
The set up of the 3.4 was very simple, especially for a guy who knows absolutely nothing about crossbows. Upon opening the box we were both in awe of the digital camo pattern that adorned this beautiful piece of weaponry. The directions were very easy to follow, and after a few minutes I had it set up. I had to install the cable slide and bolt the riser and foot stirrup to the fore stock of the crossbow. After that I installed the 4×32 scope that was included. It was now time to sight the rig in.
Setup of the Covert 3.4 is very simple. Even for a rookie crossbow shooter.
First Shot
The first shot was at 20 yards with assistance from a Caldwell Deadshot field rest. The shot was nearly perfectly zeroed using the top reticle of the scope. I prefer to have the top reticle zeroed at 25 yards, so after 5 shots and minor adjustments to the elevation and windage, we were zeroed in.
We were excited with the accuracy of the Covert 3.4 right out of the box.
After it was sighted in, Camryn continued to punch bullseye after bullseye on our 18-1 Rinehart target at 25 yards. I was astonished at the speed and the force the bolt struck the target with. The Covert 3.4 consistently buries the bolts, vane deep, into the Rinehart target.
I’ll admit, I was actually ready to take a turn on the trigger after watching my daughter shoot so well with this crossbow.
First Impressions
The fit and finish of this bow are very nice. As mentioned before, the digital camo pattern suits this bow well. My eyes went immediately to the picatinny rail system for any tactical additions. The well-priced Ready To Hunt package came with the crossbow, 4×32 multi-reticle scope, 3-arrow quiver, 3 Carbon Express Pile Driver Bolts, three field tips, cocking rope, and rail lubricant.
The finish on the Covert 3.4 is really sharp.
The bow is very easy to handle as it weighs in under 7 pounds. Camryn and I were shooting this bow accurately within one hour of receiving the package. As Camryn has gained confidence behind this bow, we’ve moved out to 50 yard shots, where she consistently sends bullseye after bullseye. She is gaining confidence daily and we are beyond excited to get her in front of her first deer this fall.
The size and fit of the Covert 3.4 make it the perfect option for kids of any age.
Well Built
As a SWAT operator/sniper I spend my fair share of time behind very high quality optics, and I was impressed by the provided scope. I found the adjustments to be simple and true and the glass to be more than suitable for the crossbow application. I also noticed a very consistent and clear trigger pull, which Camryn and I both appreciated.
The back end of the Covert 3.4 features a unique design that fits nice and snug to the shoulder.
As the season nears and shooter bucks start to show themselves on our Stealth Cams, I can already see the excitement starting to build as Camryn confidently calls dibs on certain deer. We’re hoping for a great 2016 archery season, blessed with time together and, Lord willing, a deer on the ground for my first-time bowhunter. We’re more than confident that the Carbon Express Covert 3.4 will do its job in the moment of truth.
Don’t be fooled. This bow is no lightweight. It’s built to be deadly. We can’t wait to try it out in the deer woods this fall.
Warranty
Carbon Express has you covered with a 5-year warranty on their crossbows. I’ve had the pleasure to deal with their customer service staff in the past and found them to be knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. Rest assured, Carbon Express takes care of their customers.
See more from them at http://carbonexpresscrossbow.com
Tech Specs
345 FPS
- 114 ft-lb of Kinetic Energy
- 175 lbs Draw Weight
- 13.5” Power Stroke
- 7.01 lbs
- 30 ¾” Length
- 13.5” (Cocked) 16.25” (Uncocked)
- 14.5” Length of Pull
- 4 x 32 Multi-Reticle Scope
- Next FLX Digital™ Camouflage Pattern
- MSRP: $599.99
