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Mission Sub-1 XR Crossbow Review

September 9, 2024

Perhaps the most difficult part about crossbow hunting these days is … well … hunting for a crossbow. The Mission Sub-1 XR should make that hunt a little easier. This is a pro-grade, high performance hunting bow that’s handled everything I’ve thrown at during a year of hard hunting. The crossbow is accurate, fast, and it’s made in America. From the first time I shouldered the Mission Sub-1 XR, it just felt “right.” And there are plenty of additional reasons it has become one of my go-to crossbows.

Mission Sub-1 XR Specs

Length: 30.5 inches
Width: (axle-to-axle): 9.1 inches cocked, 12.5 inches uncocked
Arrow speed: (up to) 410 feet per second
Physical weight: 7.6 pounds
Trigger pull: 3 pounds
Powerstroke: 14.625 inches
Finish: black or Realtree Edge camo
MSRP: $1,699.99 (with Pro Kit: +$199.99; with RSD crank: +$189.99)

High-Performance Hunting Crossbows

Crossbow hunters continue to make up one of the fastest growing segments in the hunting community, due in large part to the expansion of crossbow hunting opportunities across the country. We’re far from the days of needing to be retirement age, injured or disabled in order to tote a crossbow for big-game hunting. Crossbows, like the Mission Sub-1, have been legalized for hunting on some level in all but one state—the stubborn outlier being Oregon, which continues to ban crossbows for all hunting. On the flipside, at least 25 states have loosened the reins to permit crossbow usage throughout the duration of regular archery seasons. The remaining states allow crossbows under special seasons or restrictions.

The increased opportunity has supercharged the crossbow market with new models and manufacturers during the past decade to meet the demand. Now you can find a reliable crossbow for virtually any budget, and features are seemingly infinite. But this becomes a double-edged sword.

With dozens of crossbow options—many of which are only slight variations of one another—how do you confidently choose the best crossbow for your needs? I get this question a lot, because my hunting buddies have recognized that I’ve leaned heavily into crossbows. My answer is simple: Get your hands on as many hunting crossbows as possible and shoot them. The horizontal design of crossbows is inherently awkward, especially if you’re transitioning to a wide crossbow from a sleek rifle. Ergonomics will be critical in your decision.

It seems most manufacturers feel the best marketing strategy is to release new crossbow models every year to continually renew the interests of prospective buyers, but this has resulted in incremental innovations, making it difficult for consumers to identify key differentiators. One “new” model might contain all the core features as a previous model, but it will be one inch shorter. Or maybe the stock will have a minor modification. It’s confusing. Clearly, this shock-and-awe marketing strategy hasn’t been adopted by Mission Crossbows.

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Foot on a Mission crossbow — The Mission Sub-1 XR crossbow is built for speed, accuracy, and durability. Samuel Moore/Moore Media

Mission Crossbows

Mission Archery lives in the same family as Mathews, its compound bow big brother. The father of these two companies, Matt McPherson, is owner, CEO and chief engineer. McPherson has always held a reputation as a leader in the stick-and-string industry. He and his team continue to earn praises with a great blend of meaningful ingenuity and practical performance—manufacturing philosophies that resonate in Mission bows.

There are only three crossbow models in Mission Archery’s current lineup. The Sub-1, released in 2018, is the foundation. The Sub-1 LITE is a lighter-weight model for hunters who count every ounce. At approximately 410 fps, the Sub-1 XR (Extended Range) serves those who demand the fastest crossbows and minimal arrow drop. These variations make sense, as weight and speed are among the top considerations of crossbow consumers.

Core features of the Mission Sub-1 crossbow include multiple proprietary technologies that are present in all models, all of which contribute to the platform’s remarkable accuracy and durable reliability.

Mission’s Benchmark Fire Control system is composed of a match-grade trigger set at 3 pounds. Squeeze this two-stage trigger and you’ll hit a noticeable wall, and then squeeze through to feel a surprisingly clean break. If you let off the trigger in the first stage, it will reset. No different than a rifle, a crisp, consistent trigger in a crossbow is essential for maximizing accuracy, and the Sub-1 trigger is impressively smooth.

The Benchmark system also incorporates a push-button decoking mechanism, making it quiet and painless to disarm the crossbow. Many crossbows still require you to shoot your arrow into a target to unload it, or shoot an eco-friendly disposable arrow into the ground. Mission has eliminated these hassles.

The third component in this system is the easy-load arrow retention arm—it allows the shooter to easily slide the arrow into battery while applying the perfect amount of downward pressure to maintain a secure position and guide the arrow when it’s released.

Speaking of controlled arrow release, the Mission Sub-1 is designed from front to back to launch arrows with minimal friction or interruption from the string or flight deck. This slow-motion video is a great demonstration. Once again, this contributes to the extended-range accuracy found throughout the Sub-1 platform.

Hunter holding up mule deer shot with Mission Sub-1 crossbow — Author with a mule deer he took with the Mission Sub-1 XR . Samuel Moore/Moore Media

Field Testing the Mission Sub-1 XR

My first introduction to the Mission Sub-1 XR crossbow was at the 2019 SHOT Show at a noisy, windy shooting range in the Nevada desert. With a cacophony of gunfire reporting in the background, I was waved over to the Mission crossbows booth to shoot the XR. Small balloons were inflated and pinned to a hay bale 100 yards downrange. A stiff 30 mph January breeze made it difficult to hold a conversation—let alone, shoot a crossbow. Or so I thought. I popped a balloon on my first shot.

See also A Beginner’s Guide to Rabbit Hunting Without Dogs Blog 17 Nov, 2018 Posted By: Bill Bernhardt Hunting Cottontail Rabbits has long been a tradition here in the South and many a father has introduced his son or daughter to the sport of hunting by teaching them to hunt rabbits. In fact, although hunting small game is often the best choice when introducing children to the sport of hunting, rabbit hunting is perhaps the best choice of all because it enables children to remain active throughout the day rather than forcing them to sit still and quiet in a tree stand or ground blind while waiting for game to approach. In addition, rather than the seemingly endless hours of preseason scouting and then, the additional hours of waiting for a single deer to approach within shooting range, rabbit hunting actually takes advantage of the inexhaustible energy and enthusiasm of youth to locate and flush the target and, it provides multiple targets throughout the day; thus keeping active children both engaged and safely occupied. But, rabbit hunting is not just for children since many adult hunters also enjoy the fast paced action as well as the challenge presented by attempting to hit a high speed, erratically moving, target. Plus, rabbit hunting is a relatively simple pursuit since all a hunter needs to become a successful rabbit hunter is a shotgun, appropriate ammunition and, good rabbit habitat. So, first let’s address the issue of where to find rabbits. Naturally, in order to find viable populations of rabbits to hunt, you first need to locate good rabbit habitat and, good rabbit habitat consists of small to large stands of thick ground cover adjacent to favored food sources. Thus, the first aspect of rabbit hunting that you need to be aware of is that rabbits depend on the color of their fur to enable them to easily blend in with their environment and therefore, good places to look for rabbits are in the dense patches of cover along fence rows and creeks in agricultural fields as well as anywhere else the cover is thick enough to provide a cottontail with sufficient concealment. Consequently, hunters should look for dense tangles of such plants as briars, thorns, honeysuckle, grasses and, weeds where it is difficult for their predators such as foxes, coyotes and, hawks to penetrate. However, hunters should also be aware that such locations cause rabbits feel far more secure than when they are holding in sparse cover and thus, they may not flush easily. Therefore, the truly successful rabbit hunters are ones that make the effort to wade deep into such cover and take the time to cause the rabbits to flush for a shot. But, rabbit hunters should also be aware that Cottontails have a relatively small home range which they do not like to leave and thus, once flushed, they often circle back to the location where they were jumped. Consequently, once a rabbit bolts from cover, its initial goal is to place as much distance between it and its predator as quickly as possible and then dart into back into dense cover as soon as possible in order to minimize its exposure. Thus, if pursued, a rabbit will often work its way back to its original location and thus, a pair of rabbit hunters can take advantage of this behavior by using one hunter to pursue the rabbit while the other waits in ambush in the original location. Last, it should also be noted that rabbits tend to be very comfortable dwelling in close proximity to humans and thus, houses, barns, oil rigs, and other such human constructions where humans frequent often attracts rabbits because the presence of humans tends to discourage the presence of other predators. Therefore, areas where humans are active adjacent to sufficient cover and favored food sources are also prime rabbit hunting locations. Of course, due to the often explosive nature of a flush and the erratic path a rabbit generally takes after being flushed from hiding, rabbit hunting is best pursued with a shotgun rather than a small caliber rifle. However, while literally any working shotgun ranging from a single-shot to a tactical shotgun will work for hunting rabbits, some shotgun designs are a far better choice than others. For instance, although semi-automatic shotguns with 28 inch or 30 inch barrels are by far the most popular type of shotgun in use by avid bird hunters, they tend to be significantly heavier than their single or double barrel counterparts. Thus, because hunting rabbits often requires a hunter to cover a significant amount of ground during a day, hauling a heavy shotgun along is not necessarily the best choice. Instead, experienced rabbit hunters choose a lightweight shotgun such as a single shot, double barrel or, over/under with an aluminum receiver and a shorter barrel or barrels because this type of shotgun is significantly lighter, and thus, less burdensome to carry. Plus, a short, light, shotgun is far easier to shoulder and aim quickly. In addition, while most any shotgun ranging from .410 to 10 gauge will work for hunting rabbits, rabbits are not particularly difficult animals to kill and thus, most hunters prefer shotguns with 20 gauge, 16 gauge or, 12 gauge bores. Furthermore, most experienced rabbit hunters also choose 2 ¾ inch, low brass, field loads containing either number 6 or number 4 lead shot instead of 2 ¾ or 3 inch, high brass, field loads because the more the powerful loads simply are not necessary to humanely harvest rabbits. Plus, the lighter loads generate significantly less recoil and thus, they are far easier on a hunter’s shoulder; especially after taking multiple shots throughout the day! So, if you own a shotgun but are not yet an experienced rabbit hunter, then you owe it to yourself to give it a try since rabbits are a far more abundant game species than large game animals such as deer and, hunting them is both far more casual and far more exciting than a spending a day in a tree stand or ground blind! Plus, if you have a son or daughter that you would like to introduce to the sport of hunting but, you fear that that they may lack the interest or patience to spend an entire day sitting still and not talking, then rabbit hunting is the perfect choice since it requires a hunter to be mobile and to communicate with their fellow hunters. Written by, Bill BernhardtOutdoor ProfessionalFoundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. Leave a commentComments have to be approved before showing up Your Name * Your Email * Your Comment * Post Comment

Holding the XR for the first time, the first thing I noticed was its professional appearance and rock-solid feel in my hand. Unlike many other crossbows, it didn’t feel like a plastic toy. No parts were loose or rattling, and the aluminum stock resembled more of a refined tactical crossbow style than a deer hunter’s arrow-slinger. The pistol grip is compatible with any AR-style grip, so you can customize the XR to match the feel of your favorite black gun. Oh, and length of pull and comb height are adjustable with a turn of some Allen screws. A proper-fitting crossbow is an important step toward achieving maximum accuracy, and it also makes it much easier to mount your optic of choice.

Fast-forward nine months and I found myself en route to Kansas for an early-season muzzleloader whitetail hunt. I planned to shoot a big buck with my smokepole and then make some meat with the Mission Sub-1 crossbow if the opportunity presented itself. My high hopes came to fruition.

After lucking into a 150-class September buck in a 90-degree heat wave, I had plenty of time to tinker with my new crossbow before attempting to shoot a doe in the short window of cool air the following morning. In no time, I was dialed-in and deadly comfortable shooting out to 60 yards. I was reminded of a valuable lesson during this sight-in session: Fixed-blade broadheads can plane at extended distances. My fixed blades were steering off target beyond 40 yards, so I went with mechanical heads. Always test your broadheads on target at all planned hunting distances to verify point of impact.

While shooting dozens of arrows on the range, I noticed two other attributes of the XR that tripped my trigger. First, it has very little recoil. For those of you new to crossbows, yes, indeed, they do have enough energy to create recoil. The XR is slightly heavier than the plain Mission Sub-1, so that definitely aids in thwarting recoil. Second, it’s quiet. I haven’t tested it with a decibel meter, but anecdotally I can say it’s on the quite side of all the crossbows I’ve shot.

The following morning, after watching a pile of deer moving back to bed at dawn, a mature doe finally came close enough. At 40 yards, I loosed an arrow from the XR and the doe wheeled into a brushy field edge. She didn’t go far. I was filming this hunt, and in reviewing the footage to see the arrow impact before trailing the doe, I thought I had missed. I couldn’t see the arrow in flight. I couldn’t see the impact either. Later, I learned that’s standard when you’re shooting a screaming-fast crossbow without a lighted nock.

See also .22-250 Remington vs .243 Winchester Ammo Comparison - Ballistics Info & Chart Caliber Ballistics Comparison 07 Dec, 2018 Posted By: Foundry Outdoors The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare .22-250 Remington vs .243 Winchester ammo rounds. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, or jacketing type. As such, the following is for comparative information purposes only and should not be used to make precise predictions of the trajectory, performance, or true ballistics of any particular .22-250 Remington or .243 Winchester rounds for hunting, target shooting, plinking, or any other usage. The decision for which round is better for a given application should be made with complete information, and this article simply serves as a comparative guide, not the final say. For more detailed ballistics information please refer to the exact round in question or contact the manufacturer for the pertinent information. True .22-250 Remington and .243 Winchester ballistics information can vary widely from the displayed information, and it is important to understand that the particular characteristics of a given round can make a substantive difference in its true performance. Caliber Type Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) .22-250 Remington Rifle 3790 1620 .243 Winchester Rifle 3180 1950 [Click Here to Shop .22-250 Remington Ammo] [Click Here to Shop .243 Winchester Ammo] VelocityAs illustrated in the chart, .22-250 Remington rounds - on average - achieve a velocity of about 3790 feet per second (fps) while .243 Winchester rounds travel at a velocity of 3180 fps. To put this into perspective, a Boeing 737 commercial airliner travels at a cruising speed of 600 mph, or 880 fps. That is to say, .22-250 Remington bullets travel 4.3 times the speed of a 737 airplane at cruising speed, while .243 Winchester bullets travel 3.6 times that same speed.Various calibersEnergyFurthermore, the muzzle energy of a .22-250 Remington round averages out to 1620 ft-lb, while a .243 Winchester round averages out to about 1950 ft-lb. One way to think about this is as such: a foot-pound is a unit of energy equal to the amount of energy required to raise a weight of one pound a distance of one foot. So a .22-250 Remington round exits the barrel with kinetic energy equal to the energy required for linear vertical displacement of 1620 pounds through a one foot distance, while a .243 Winchester round exiting the barrel has energy equal to the amount required to displace 1950 pounds over the same one foot distance. As a rule of thumb, when it comes to hunting, muzzle energy is what many hunters look at when deciding on what caliber of firearm / ammunition to select. Generally speaking, the higher the muzzle energy, the higher the stopping power. Again, the above is for comparative information purposes only, and you should consult the exact ballistics for the particular .22-250 Remington or .243 Winchester cartridge you're looking at purchasing. [Buy .22-250 Remington Ammo] [Buy .243 Winchester Ammo] Please click the above links to take a look at all of the .22-250 Remington and .243 Winchester ammo we have in stock and ready to ship, and let us know any parting thoughts in the comment section below.Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. 6 Comments Justin - May 08, 2020You guys are full of crap. This is misleading Bologna, you know the 45 -70 grain .243 Win destroy the 22 250 in velocity and distance. The range of the 243 also defiles the 22-250 . I wish I could sue you for misleading crap like this. Tyson - May 09, 2020@Justin – i think they are right, what is your source? everything I’m seeing agrees with the above info 22-250 is faster, 243 has more energy. compare PP22250 vs PP2432 for examplePP22250 – 1655 ft lbs, 3680 fps PP243 – 1945 ft lbs, 2960 fps Paul Nelson - Dec 06, 2021Tyson is correct. I shoot a Tikka T3 22-250. Although I load my own for long distance shooting, I trade kinetic energy, stopping power for muzzle velocity. I would not shoot a large game animal at the distance I shoot, although my round is very fast and accurate beyond belief, at distance beyond 500 yards my 85 gr.Nosler round lacks the punch to pierce beyond the shoulder blade. The rounds small weight and lose of it’s kenetic energy just doesn’t hold together upon bone contact. Soft targets see the perform at it best. Paul Nelson - Dec 06, 2021Justin, meant no disrespect. For anyone who takes thier shooting very personal, I have the ultimate book for you. It’s called, Game loads and practical ballistics for the American hunter. Covers all basic civilian calibers from .17 varsity to .375 H&H. Cover drop at 100 yard intervals, temperature effect on performance, which powders and primers are best for your caliber and more. Took the author 25 yrs to compile the data. Excellent book for any shooters library. The author is Bob Hagel, writer for many outdoors and firearm publications. Also gives you creditable facts when challenged by another shooter. Bradley - Nov 16, 2022@Paul Nelson What’s the barrel twist rate in your Tikka T3 22-250? I’ve been checking some ballistic value data and the info would suggest that a long bullet like the 85 gr Nosler you use would require 1:9 or faster. But the experiment always outweighs the theory! That’s why I’m looking at a Browning X-Bolt with 22 in barrel and 1:9 twist rate. It’s possibly on the high side for smaller and lighter projectiles but perfect for the longer heavier ones. Greg - May 23, 2024I agree with the first guy to comment…while if what you shoot is what you can find at the store, yeah, the 22-250 is way faster….If you handload….well, my 243 will be right with the 250 in terms of velocity with a bigger heavier bullet. Want a good comparison, 22-250 with a 40 gr. Around 4000-4100, 243 with a 55-58gr at around 3900-4000. 22-250 with a 55gr at around 3600-3700 vs my go to varmint load in my 243 with a 70 gr at a little under 3600. Yeah, the 243 wins Leave a commentComments have to be approved before showing up Your Name * Your Email * Your Comment * Post Comment

Since then, I’ve taken several more whitetails, a turkey, and a velvet mule deer with my Mission Sub-1 XR, and its retirement is nowhere in sight. I’ve hunted with this crossbow in temperatures ranging from the mid-90s to well below zero, in rain and snow, and I’ve never encountered performance issues.

What this Mission Crossbow Does Best

I’m a minimalist. Now, that doesn’t mean I’m a Luddite—I openly accept new tech and designs if they’re functional and not simply eye candy. For example, lately I’ve been topping my crossbows with a Burris Oracle X rangefinding scope, which is more akin to the Death Star than the deer stand. Mission Archery has done an excellent job of packing the Mission Sub-1 XR full of meaningful ingenuity without any clumsiness or overkill.

The draw cycle in the XR, whether cocking or decocking, is very smooth. You’ll certainly notice the 80-percent letoff when you’re pulling it into action. This is wonderful for any shooters who haven’t eaten enough spinach, and for anyone when it comes to loading and unloading the crossbow in treestands or tight quarters. If you need even more draw support, look to Mission’s Removable Silent Draw (RSD) cocking device. The decocking system is fast and simple (just watch this video).

Person aiming Mission Sub-1 crossbow — The Mission Sub-1 XR is a smooth crossbow that preforms well in the field. Samuel Moore/Moore Media

What this Mission Crossbow Does Worst

Relative to other hunting crossbows with similar specs, the Mission Sub-1 XR leans just slightly on the pricier side. However, it’s important to remember that the MSRP is an unfair gauge of true market price. At the time of this crossbow review, several online retailers offer the Sub-1 XR with the Pro Kit (Hawke XB-1 illuminated scope, three arrows, quiver, rope cocker, rail lube, and soft case) for $1,799, which is $100 less than MSRP. Uncocked, the profile of this crossbow is a hair bulkier than competing models in a similar price range, but in my experience hunting from a variety of stands and blinds, and spotting and stalking, the difference is negligible.

Does the Mission Sub-1 XR Accomplish Its Mission?

For a compact, speedy crossbow with a look and feel that reflects its made-in-America quality, the Mission Sub-1 XR is a damned fine specimen. The build of this hunting bow is what I would classify as “pro-grade.” It will handle the whitetail woods and take on prairie beasts with ease, but I also wouldn’t hesitate to haul the Sub-1 XR into the mountains for the most rugged big-game hunts imaginable.