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Killer Instinct Lethal 405 Crossbow Review

Pros And Cons Of The Lethal 405 Crossbow Hunting Package

In this Killer Instinct Lethal 405 crossbow review we’re going to find out if this sub $400 hunting crossbow is really capable of speeds over 400 FPS and if it’s able to hit the broad side of a barn past 20 yards!

Let’s face it. Eclipsing the 400 FPS speed mark at such a low price point seems a bit far-fetched. Yet Killer Instinct has built quite a reputation of manufacturing very capable hunting crossbows that don’t cost an arm and a leg like many other models do.

The manufacture claims the Lethal 405 is lightweight yet tough and rugged enough to impress even the most seasoned of archery hunters.

Initially, we heard stories that the lethal 405 is a real brute to draw with the rope draw device. Given the fact that the crossbow lacks super hi-tech libs and cams, it should come to no surprise that drawing this crossbow is not for the faint of heart or weak of shoulders!

lethal 405 crossbow user ratingsBut do not fear! There is a rope cocking device that can be purchased and mounted to the rear of the stock. So don’t let news of the brutal draw weight scare you off just yet!

The Killer Instinct lethal 405 crossbow is capable of firing arrows at around the 405 feet per second mark. This seems insanely fast for an inexpensive crossbow but the testing we did that in fact it does come fairly close to the 405 FPS mark when chrono-graphed right at the end of the rail.

The frame of the crossbow is lightweight. It’s easy to shoulder quickly and efficiently even in tight hunting conditions like ground blinds, and box blinds where space can be at a minimum.

While the stock is indeed lightweight. It also feels quite cheap. Not nearly as robust as some of the more expensive models. But this is to be expected in this price class.

test fire lethal 405 crossbowsMost crossbow hunters are going to want the all-inclusive Pro package because it’s going to be the fastest and easiest means of getting out into the woods without a lot of tinkering around.

The Pro package includes 4 x 32 scope with multiple line reticles designed for precision shot placement at a variety of ranges.

Expecting Leupold crispness and light retention from this scope? Don’t fool yourself!

While the optics are not total garbage the low-light performance is certainly nothing to write home about. If you’re keeping your shots below 40 yards and hunting in bright conditions you’ll be fine. But a scope upgrade should definitely be on top of your list if you intend to hunt hard at dusk or dawn.

The Lethal 405 is perfectly suited for the Hyper-Light series crossbow bolts. These arrows are factory tuned for precision flight and extreme accuracy at a variety of shooting distances.

The Lethal 405 is equipped with two types of suppressors and string silencers to help achieve quieter shots. The combination of the rubber string stops and limb suppressors together can greatly reduce vibration. This is especially important for hunting animals like whitetail deer that are very prone to jumping the string if a crossbow makes too much noise when being shot.

The rubber dampeners reduce vibration to help improve accuracy as well. This is especially important at longer distances where vibration might cause the shooter to move just enough to negatively affect flight performance and possibly cause accuracy issues.

The crossbow package comes complete with a three arrow quiver for keeping the crossbow bolts snugly in place so they will not fall out or rattle when the crossbow is shot or moved around.

A rope cocking device is also included in the hunting package allowing the user to draw the crossbow safely and efficiently.testing lethal 405 crossbow

The Pro package also includes easy-to-apply shooting rail lubrication which greatly reduces friction caused by the spring contacting the shooting rail when the crossbow is shot.

One feature we really like is the X-Lok grip on the bottom of the crossbow. It is mounted on the bottom Picatinny rail and can be adjusted back and forth to accommodate different shooting styles and shooter arm lengths.

The grip incorporates with the safety protection system allowing the shooter to grab the crossbow from the bottom or from the side to leverage the grip for a steadier shot when in different shooting positions.

The grip is also removable and can be repositioned allowing the shooter to experiment with different grip and brace styles to optimize their shot target shooting in hunting scenarios.

The triggers pull breaks at about 3.5 lbs. While it’s certainly not the smoothest trigger on the market it does do the job and allow for accurate shots especially if the crossbow is being braced on the side of a blind or a tree limb or some other steady object.

The trigger is incorporated with an integrated anti-dry fire system that works very well at preventing the crossbow from being accidentally fired without an arrow loaded. This helps prevent a very dangerous scenario where the limbs and cause injury to the shooter or anyone nearby.

Easy-to-read red and green safety is also included on the crossbow and is a great safety feature allowing one to see if the crossbow is in fire mode or safe mode when viewed from a distance.

The lethal 405 is not an easy crossbow to draw. It can be a real bear pulling the string back to full draw Into the Fire position where an arrow can be loaded onto the rail.

lethal 405 crossbow specificationsFortunately, there is a spot on the rear of the stock designed to accept the Dead Silent Crank system. This crank to draw system mounts quickly and easily and is very simple to use.

The crank itself can be adjusted to the left or right. This allows for the crank to be operated by both right and left-handed shooters.

When we used the crank to draw the bow it did in fact operate very silently without any scraping or loud squeaking noises during the drawing process. The dead silent cranking device can easily and effectively be used when in hunting situations where excess noise may scare away your quarry.

the Killer Instinct 405 is covered by the company’s limited lifetime warranty. this warranty protects the consumer from all manufacturer defects on the crossbow. it does not protect standard wear items like cables and strings.

Killer Instinct Lethal 405 Crossbow SPECS

  • SPEED – 405 Feet Per Second
  • KINETIC ENERGY – 134-FT-LB
  • TRIGGER – 3.5-LB
  • WIDTH – 14.75″ Cocked//18.75″ Uncocked
  • LENGTH – 34.5″
  • WEIGHT – 7.2-LB
  • DRAW WT – 210-LB
  • POWER STROKE – 14.5″
  • CAMO – Brown Stock//True Timber Strata Camo Limbs
  • Killer Instinct Lethal 405 Instruction Manual

PROS

  • Economical
  • Good Safety Features
  • Fairly Quiet

CONS

  • Non-Adjustable Stock
  • So-So Build Quality

Killer Instinct Lethal 405 Crossbow Review Ratings

Mark Metzlov

Accuracy
Power
Safety Features
Design

Review Summary

At such a low price point for a hunting crossbow its tough to expect much more than this. The Lethal 405 is fast and accurate enough to tackle almost any game animal and it’s a great option for folks who want to get into crossbow hunting without damaging their wallets!

4.3

Killer Instinct Lethal 405 Crossbow Review Conclusion

While it doesn’t feel as solid or as well built as some of the more expensive crossbow models available at 3x the price. The Lethal 405 does offer a ton of value in a solid hunting package.

All of the necessary safety features are there, with the anti-dry fire device, finger guard, and arrow lock which prevents the arrow from falling off the rail when the crossbow is moved around.

While the forearm is unique and adjustable, the shoulder piece is not adjustable for length. This isn’t a huge deal for most shooters but some may miss this feature especially people with long or short arms.

As a low-cost hunting crossbow, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Lethal 405. While it’s no Ferrari, it’s built tough and provides plenty of accuracy and power for a wide variety of hunting situations.

Written by Mark Metzlov

A certified "Crossbow Guru," with over 35 years of bowhunting experience Mark loves to test new crossbow models at the range, and in the woods during hunting season. Mark is also a top-notch wild game chef who can cook up a wicked venison burger on a moment's notice!

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