Review of the Ek-Archery VLAD repeating crossbow

The end of 2022 brought us again another interesting novelty from the workshop of the crossbow manufacturer Ek-Archery. It is a repeating crossbow called VLAD, which is loaded with tactical elements and has a strong construction base.

As we have already mentioned, the future belongs to multi-shot crossbows, i. e. repeating crossbows, where you have a magazine with several bolts, and thus the shooting speed increases several times. The magazine mechanism is very simple in principle. The essence is the component that feeds or pushes the bolts onto the rail. After the crossbow string is repeatedly cocked, the bolt is again pushed by the spring onto the rail and is ready for the next shot. This VLAD crossbow model has a magazine capacity of up to 8 bolts. For an even faster cocking and firing cycle, a speed loader is included - a gadget that loads the magazine to full capacity in a fraction of a second. This speed loader also has a capacity of 8 bolts and secondarily acts as a bolt holder.

The unique design of the VLAD crossbow

The VLAD crossbow has a Picatinny rail attachment that is on both sides of the front of the magazine. The frame of the weapon is metal, as is the solid rear stock. The stock is similar in design to the stock of a Stribog or CZ EVO submachine gun. Additionally, this stock folds to the side, shortening the length of the crossbow when needed. The crossbow is cocked by folding the stock vertically downwards. Before doing so, it needs to be intuitively unlocked by the stored safety using the index finger under the stock. The VLAD crossbow is a hybrid of a pistol crossbow and a smaller traditional recurve crossbow. It is larger and heavier than conventional pistol crossbows. Its total length with the stock open is 64.5 cm. The stock folds down on the principle of a knuckle lift, thus reducing the crossbow length to 38.5 cm. The crossbow handles very well, about as well as a tactical submachine gun. It also reminds it by its weight, namely 1.9 kg without accessories. The foregrip serves as a grip for the other hand and as a stand at the same time. The foregrip is open and you hold the weapon incredibly tightly.

A new trend in the disassembly of pistol crossbows

The bar has been set high with this figure and the crossbow has a quick disassembly like the breakthrough models of the Cobra system R9/ RX and ADDER series.

The limb has a special center with head and can be folded and disassembled in a few seconds using the integrated locking pin. Simply, for example with a bolt, push out the pin on the front under the magazine, lift the magazine and insert the limb into the slot. Slide the pin back in and the limb is securely and firmly ready to fire. This is the new trend of pistol crossbow disassembly that is becoming successful and functional. Besides the Cobra system R9/ RX/ ADDER series crossbows, the Austrian pistol crossbows Steambow AR-6 Stinger are also using it.

In the package you will find two fully prepared limbs, with a draw weight of 60 and 90 lbs. A bow with a 30 lbs. draw weight is also available.

With a 90lb limb, get ready for more resistance and a hefty load of kinetic force. The weapon's performance is not comparable to other crossbows because Ek-Archery has matched the weight of the bolt to the high limb force. Their VLAD bolts are much heavier and weigh about 11 grams.

The average weight of conventional duralumin bolt is 7 g. The manufacturer emphasizes the use of the VLAD crossbow exclusively with their VLAD bolt. Other pistol bolts may appear to be the same due to their 6.3" length, but they are certainly lighter, and when shot with a more powerful 90lb bow, the bolt will tear. You may damage your crossbow as a result. The velocity of the VLAD bolt with 90 lbs. limbs is 215 fps - 65.54 m/s. With 60 lbs. limbs the speed is 165 fps - 50.3 m/s.

Among the safety features, there is a safety lock that automatically locks after the string has been cocked. Very good is the indication of the empty magazine status. You simply do not cock the string after firing the last bolt. It is blocked by a retention spring that pushes the bolts in the magazine down. There is also indication of the magazine status or a peephole where the shooter can see the bolts. Another very important safety feature is the finger guard, which intuitively prevents your fingers from being placed in the path of the string, thus preventing possible injury.

As we mentioned, the frame of the gun and stock is all metal, the grips and magazine are made of durable polymer. There are four picatinny rails on the gun, two of which are for the bolt holder. We will add that because of this, up to 24 bolts can be carried on the crossbow at the same time. This is when the magazine is fully loaded with both speed loaders or bolt holders. When it comes to sights and to aiming the weapon at the target, the VLAD is loaded with options and so you can aim with fixed sights, a scope or the collimator that is included in the factory package.

The trend with sights is progressive and the Vlad has a slot for integrated laser sights just like the Steambow AR- 6 Stinger or ADDER 2.0 crossbows. Steambow's laser is fully compatible with the VLAD crossbow magazine, but is not included. Fixed sights are also integrated on the VLAD crossbow. You can even use the fixed sights at the same time as a red dot sight or scope. They are recessed in the mount and do not interfere with the red dot sight mount.

Personal opinion and review summary on this VLAD crossbow model is highly positive.

The weapon has a tactical design, compact size, and you can operate the crossbow as a short weapon due to the folding stock. With the stock open, you feel like you are holding a tactical submachine gun of compact dimensions. We must also mention the performance of the crossbow, which cannot be compared to other crossbows. This is due to the specific weight of the original VLAD bolt, which has a higher weight than ordinary duralumin bolts. This means that the VLAD crossbow has a higher kinetic energy than a crossbow with the same power that uses lighter bolts. If you want a supercharged and truly dangerous pistol crossbow with an extremely fast firing cycle, you have nothing to think about!