With a price under $700, CenterPoint’s Wrath 430X is designed to give customers a big bang for their buck. Notable options include a telescoping stock for a custom fit and a foot stirrup that also can be folded for use as a built-in bipod shooting rest.
March 06, 2023
By Jon E. Silks
CenterPoint Archery has experienced success since the company jumped into the crossbow arena in 2016. The secret to that success is found in the company’s willingness to listen to and act on feedback from its customers, a continuous improvement mentality and a never-ending desire to learn.
The Wrath 430X is an upgrade of the original 430 and features the addition of a telescoping, fold-away butt stock. Other highlights include a pistol grip, webbed foregrip and three-position, fold-away foot stirrup that pulls double duty as both a bipod and cocking anchor. The bow portion of the unit is centered on a stout riser with broadhead scoop, built-in string stops and integrated limb pockets. Inverted Wrath Cams work in tandem with the 200-pound draw weight limbs to launch bolts downrange at an advertised 430 fps with 400-grain bolts.
Versatile Stock CenterPoint upgraded the 430X with an all-new rear stock that mounts to the bow assembly just behind the trigger housing. A spring-loaded finger lever under the stock activates the telescoping feature, extending the stock to one of six locking positions covering a total range spanning approximately 2.75 inches. This, of course, customizes the crossbow’s length of pull and makes it possible to achieve a personalized fit. Additionally, a pressure-activated feature allows the stock to be completely folded out of the way for compact transport. A piece I call the middle stock, where the rear stock attaches, is made of a molded composite material and includes the pistol grip mount and trigger housing while also cradling the rear portion of the rail. A rubber-wrapped pistol grip is added for comfort and control. Directly in front of the trigger housing, you will find CenterPoint’s pass-through foregrip, a separate component that can be adjusted along a Picatinny rail based on personal preference. Finger guards designed to keep the shooter’s fingers below the flight deck and out of harm’s way are anchored between the foregrip and rail.
Rail/Trigger Housing The 430X features a machined aluminum rail that bridges the bow up front to the stock/trigger housing in the back. The rail is black anodized for a durable finish, while multiple cutouts reduce overall weight. A groove on the upper side allows the cock vane to move along the flight deck with minimal friction. CenterPoint’s trigger housing is mounted to the rear of the rail and is home to a scope-mounting rail complete with a ball bearing bolt-retention device that applies consistent pressure to the bolt for a secure and repeatable release. Further trigger housing features include an auto-engaging trigger safety and Anti-Dry Fire (ADF) mechanism.
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The Bow A compact riser serves as the core of the 430X’s bow assembly. The cast aluminum base features a large, dished-out area to allow broadhead clearance. CenterPoint also outfits the riser with two, built-in string stops and limb pockets. A unique, three-position foot stirrup is mounted on the underside of the riser and serves several purposes. First, as expected, it can be used as an anchor when manually cocking the bow. Second, when rotated 90 degrees, it makes an excellent bipod. Finally, it can be completely rotated underneath and out of the way. A set of 200-pound draw weight split limbs work with the inverted Wrath Cams and a 15-inch power stroke to generate advertised speeds reaching 430 fps with a 400-grain bolt. A silent crank cocking device is included.
What’s in the Box? The Wrath 430X crossbow comes with a 4x32 illuminated scope; three, 20-inch, ±.003-inch carbon bolts; parallel 4-bolt quiver; silent cranking device; cocking sled; and rail lube.
At the Range CenterPoint’s Wrath 430X is a whole lotta bow for the $699 price tag. Other than the bolt speeds being a little slower than expected and the folding stock being somewhat difficult to engage, the 430X hit most of the checkmarks in our testing.
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I found the quick-adjust of the telescoping stock useful, while the pistol grip and adjustable foregrip allowed full, positive control. And the adjustable foot stirrup makes for a great shooting rest when folded into the bipod position.
The Wrath 430X is one of the quietest crossbows we have tested this year, and its compact size makes the rig very maneuverable. While not built into the stock, the included silent cranking device is easy to mount and operate.
The Specs Manufacturer: CenterPoint Archery, 866-726-1122; centerpointarchery.com Model: Wrath 430XSafety Features: Anti-Dry Fire, trigger safety, finger guards, webbed foregripCam System: Inverted, full bearing Wrath CamRiser: Compact, cast aluminumOverall Length: 32 inchesAxle-to-Axle Width: 13 inches (at rest); 9 inches (cocked)Advertised Weight: 8.3 poundsString: BCY, 33.78 inchesCables (x2): BCY, 14.96 inchesLimbs: Quad Split LimbsDraw Weight: 200 poundsPower Stroke: 15 inchesStock: Folding, with pistol gripForearm: Ergonomic webbedFinish: BlackAdvertised Speed: 430 fps with 400-grain boltsMSRP: $699.99Comments: Compact, customizable and feature rich.Speed & Energy 420-Grain Bolt: 404 fps, 152.5 ft./lbs. of kinetic energy500-Grain Bolt: 375 fps, 156.2 ft./lbs. of kinetic energy400-Grain Mfr. Bolt: 413 fps, 151.8 ft./lbs. of kinetic energyTest Measurements Maximum Width: 18.63 inches (at rest); 13.69 inches (cocked)Overall Length: 31.75 inches, adjustableMass Weight: 8.34 pounds (bow only); 10.18 pounds (with accessories)Average Trigger Pull: 2.54 poundsLength of Pull: 14.25 inches, adjustableAverage Shot Noise: 102.1 dBA with 420-grain bolt; 101.5 dBA with 500-grain boltMaximum Shot Deviation at 35 Yards: .63 inch
