Review of the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II - Tactical crossbow

In this blog, we will be reviewing in detail the repeating pistol crossbow by the Austrian brand Steambow. This special model of pistol crossbow is a sequel to its predecessor called the AR-6 Stinger. The name implies that it is a stinger. And it can do much more than just sting! The second model is called AR-6 Stinger II - Tactical which we will talk more about in this article.

WHY IS THE STEAMBOW AR-6 STINGER II - TACTICAL CROSSBOW SO POPULAR?

The Austrian manufacturer Steambow came out with it in the middle of 2021. It immediately sold out the first larger shipments and the crossbow has won over enthusiasts all over the world. No wonder. With its design and fast firing cycle thanks to the magazine, its popularity grew rapidly. It is already clear from the name that the magazine has a capacity of 6 bolts. It is designed to accommodate a common size of pistol bolts with a length of 6.3". Such bolts are standardized for most pistol crossbows.  Steambow, however, uses bolts that are slightly heavier, with a bolt weight of about 12g.

Common duralumin bolts made by other manufacturers for pistol crossbows in the same length have a weight of about 7g. And this is because of the kinetic energy of the limbs, so that when, for example, a modified version is used, the bolt doesn't undershoot or dry fire. Of course, the intention of the manufacturer of the heavier bolt was also to increase the firepower and impact force of the shot. The heavier the bolt, the more effective the hit on the target and the better the ballistics of the shot (the bolt follows the flight path), depending on the power of the gun. Now we will take a closer look at the functional characteristics and technical parameters of the AR-6 Stinger II crossbow.

The whole weapon is extremely light; it weighs only 1.16 kg which makes it one of the lightest pistol crossbows. That weight is amazing and combined with the balanced controls you feel like it was made just for you. It is made of high quality, lightweight and impact resistant polymer. Plus, it's UV resistant. The ergonomics of the handle are precisely rubberized and contoured. It doesn't slip and that's where you get the feeling of perfect grip and security. This is also because its back part is made of polymer and effectively grooved. For an ideal grip on a weapon like this, the front grip that installs on the 21.2mm Picatinny rail is included.

If we look at the overall design of the AR-6 Stinger II, we can't bypass the rear stock. This stock has a cocking feature. Using the intuitively placed safety, you unlock it and snap it to cock the string. The rear stock uses a Mil-spec tube, and its support section is retractable as standard. The length of the crossbow in its basic state is 55.63 cm. With the stock extended to the maximum, it is 63.25 cm. The total height of the crossbow is 21.85 cm.

PERFORMANCE OF THE STEAMBOW AR-6 STINGER II - TACTICAL CROSSBOW

First of all, we must mention that the manufacturer used a completely different material for the production of the limbs, namely glass-carbon composite. The draw weight of the limbs is thus lower, but thanks to the material used, it puts out more kinetic energy, up to 18 J (13.5 ft-lbs). The velocity of the shot bolt is 190 fps - 58 m/s. However, you must note that the bolt used is almost 2x heavier than the conventional duralumin bolts claimed by other manufacturers' crossbows. Thus, using a commonly available duralumin bolt, the performance is much higher. The magazine is also made of polymer and additionally with a peephole for load indication. Through the side peephole you can see if there is still a bolt in the magazine. The crossbow is definitely dangerous at a min. distance of 30 meters. In addition, Steambow offers various hunting bolts with broadheads, suitable for shooting with the magazine.

Its aiming is specific and multifunctional. We have fixed sights that are mounted on the magazine. The front sight is fiber optic and concentrates the light from the surrounding area as if it was glowing. The rear sights are also the safety for the magazine opening window. The magazine has a slot in the front for Steambow's special laser sights. These sights were made for this series of crossbows directly by Steambow and have literally become popular. Adjustment is easy, by correcting the small screws on the top of the laser sight. The laser sighting is excellent and the original placement enhances the accuracy of the sighting. This is also the manufacturing slot used by Ek-Archery for their version of the ADDER 2.0 repeating crossbow magazine. A third sighting option of this crossbow is a red dot sight or scope that you can mount to the Picatinny mounting rail on top of the magazine.

GOOD GADGET IN FORM OF BOLT SPEED LOADER

A very good gadget introduced by Steambow is the bolt speed loader. The only minus is its capacity, which is not identical to the capacity of the magazine. The speed loader can hold 5 bolts. It's a simple bolt holder that you use to reload the magazine in a fraction of a second.

The crossbow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical does not have an anti-shot safety. The manufacturer's intention was to streamline the firing cycle and make the process as fast as possible. I think an experienced shooter doesn't need the safety that much and can get used to it. The bottom line is to really utilize the weapon quickly and efficiently. The trigger resistance is hard enough that you don't fire “accidentally”. What is a huge positive is the development of the Austrian brand. It offers the possibility to exchange the limb for a stronger one, for example with the Survival PRO marking, where the draw weight is up to 90 pounds. There is even a weaker CQ-compact limb available with a draw weight of 30 pounds.

The manufacturer also offers a mounting head for the quick-clamping of the limbs. Consequently, you don't need any tools for changing the limb, for example, somewhere in the field. What is also worth mentioning are further modifications to the overall design and the way of cocking. We have sets available with which you can completely change the model of the AR-6 Stinger crossbow. For example, from the tactical model of the AR-6 Stinger you can make a compact version and vice versa. There is also a folding stock version, metal magazine, even heavier duralumin bolts, mounts, original flashlights and more.

PERSONAL OPINION ON STEAMBOW AR-6 STINGER II - TACTICAL CROSSBOW

It's a hybrid weapon something between a pistol and a crossbow. The materials used are high quality and innovative. The total weight of the weapon is incredibly low, but still enough for solid maneuvering, I would write to the limit. The adjustable stock and its crossbow cocking function is a perfectly aligned developer's idea translated into an effective mechanism. The design overflows with functional tactical elements and at first, second and third glance you won't think it's a crossbow. After using it for a while, you'll say to yourself that this one probably isn't lacking anything anymore. I had that feeling too, but the manufacturer has come up with a new idea again. Something to look forward to!