Killer Instinct archery
8 reports to CPSC, the latest made Oct 14, 2026. A report isn’t a recall.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.
At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Nov 5, 2026.
- 8reports to CPSC
- Oct 14, 2026the latest report was made
- Aug 28, 2023the earliest
- 0with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Killer Instinct
- Makers
- Killer Instinct Crossbows and MSCKI, LLCMakers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- ArcheryThe activity, its clothing or equipmentCPSC’s product type: Archery (Activity, Apparel or Equipment) (code 1235), in Sports and Recreation: Other
Other ways the reports write the brand (1)
“Killer Instinct Boss 405”
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | 1 |
| October 2025 | 1 |
| September 2025 | 2 |
| April 2025 | 1 |
| November 2023 | 2 |
| August 2023 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Emergency room 1 CPSC: Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
- First aid 3 CPSC: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
- No one hurt 2 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
- No incident, no one hurt 2 CPSC: No Incident, No Injury
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.
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First aid Made Oct 14, 2026, sent to the company Oct 21, 2026, published by CPSC Nov 4, 2026
The product, in the report: Killer Instinct VITAL-X crossbow, serial number 4233M00983, gray and black finish. Approximately 31.5 inches long and 6.4 pounds, with a 185 pound draw weight and advertised speed of 405 FPS. The incident also involved a Killer Instinct Compact Dead Silent Crank with Narrow Sled, Amazon ASIN B09DDJQ1DX, catalog model 2078-1. The crank attaches to the crossbow for cocking. The crossbow was fitted with a scope, and its rear glass broke during the incident.
CPSC SaferProducts.gov incident report
On October 14, 2026, while I was using a crank to cock my Killer Instinct VITAL-X crossbow, the crank came loose and fell away. During the incident, the rear glass of the scope broke, and the scope struck me above the eye, causing a laceration. I have photographs of the injury and damaged equipment.
The crank was the Killer Instinct Compact Dead Silent Crank with Narrow Sled, Amazon ASIN B09DDJQ1DX, manufacturer catalog model 2078-1. The crossbow is a Killer Instinct VITAL-X, serial number 4233M00983.
The crossbow was supplied to me without a cocking device I could use, so I purchased this manufacturer crank. It did not stay securely attached during use. I had intended for my 12-year-old daughter to use the crossbow for deer hunting, but she had not handled it.
I am reporting this incident for CPSC review of a potential product-safety concern. I have not determined what caused the crank to come loose.
Product: Killer Instinct VITAL-X crossbow Serial number: 4233M00983 Cocking device: Killer Instinct Compact Dead Silent Crank with Narrow Sled Crank ASIN: B09DDJQ1DX Crank catalog model: 2078-1 Incident date: October 14, 2026 Injury: Laceration above the eye
- Model
- VITAL-X crossbow 5030
- UPC
- 859826007799
- Serial number
- 4233M00983
- Bought from
- Bass Pro Shop
- Bought
- Sep 22, 2023, about then
- Where
- Prosper, Texas: Farm/
Ranch - Who was involved
- Age 49, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Killer Instinct, made or sold by Killer Instinct Crossbows
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
-
No incident, no one hurt Made Oct 7, 2025, sent to the company Nov 6, 2025, published by CPSC Nov 26, 2025
The product, in the report: Crossbow
I have a crossbow - Killer Instinct Fatal X Model #2087 - that I was using for hunting deer. While it was cocked and loaded, one of the limbs broke. The user of the crossbow was an experienced male deerhunter. The product was being used as intended. As it was under tension when it broke, it could of potential caused series injury at the time it broke, and as it was cocked when it was broken there was additional stress on the unbroken limb. We had to think through how to release the tension of the cocked and loaded crossbow so as not to cause personal injury. I covered the loaded and cocked bow in several thick blankets and tied an approximate 30 foot string to the trigger with the bow pointed at an archery target and pulled the string to fire the crossbow and release the tension. Thankfully there were no injuries.
- Model
- Fatal X 2087
- UPC
- N/
A - Serial number
- 20870003970
- Bought from
- Farm King in Monmouth, Illinois
- Bought
- Nov 10, 2024, about then
- Where
- St Albans, Vermont: Other
- Who was involved
- Age 54, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Killer Instinct, made or sold by Killer Instinct Crossbows
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- No Incident, No Injury
-
First aid Made Sep 30, 2025, sent to the company Oct 31, 2025, published by CPSC Nov 26, 2025
The product, in the report: Killer Instinct HD 415 crossbow
9/28/2025 I purchases a Killer Instinct BC415 from Dunhams in Bad Axe, MI. First the crank locked on to the bow and froze up, Dunhams had me cut the crank and they were going to replace it, then as I was sighting the crossbow in using the manual rope, when cocking the rope locked into position and the safety visibly engaged, however upon releasing tension on the rope the mechanism disengaged launching the rope from my hands and hitting the bow fragmenting parts of the hand rail cutting my leg, so Dunhams exchanged the bow on 9/29/2025 for a brand new Killer Instinct HD415, today 9/30/2025, as with the previous bow I read the manual and watched all videos provided in the QR code, assembled it, checked the cams, limbs, and cables and everything was good, I lubed the rail, and waxed the strings. I began sighting it in, using the build in rope crank I performed 3 shots with no issue, then I cocked it a 4th time, before taking the shot I noticed a crack appear in the left limb, I immediately removed the bolt, which was provided with the bow, and sat the bow down to go inside and get the manual with Killer instincts number. After a while on hold at about 3:30pm I spoke with [REDACTED], who informed me [REDACTED](the names may crossed), her manager would contact me back. Approximately 3:45-3:50pm the manager called me and said they could get me a ticket to send the bow in for inspection and a replacement out, I expressed that I didn’t feel safe using this product after back to back failures, and would like a refund, she told me I had to go back to Dunhams, even though the box has an insert that says “do not return to store”. I expressed my concern and said they should consider a recall given all the catastrophic failures with the 415 models that I’ve seen numerous reports of online including from my neighbor up the road from me. She became distraught and said they go through a QC check and their bows are safe and no recall would ever be needed I told her I would be making this report and that for the safety of their customers which they should care about they should do better about addressing these concerns. I contacted Dunhams and they might exchange the bow for another brand. There are numerous reports of similar issues and I feel this should be addressed before a serious injury or death occurs.
- Model
- 500001
- Serial number
- 500001-00027
- Bought from
- Dunhams
- Bought
- Sep 30, 2025
- Where
- Bay Port, Michigan: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 35, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Killer Instinct, made or sold by Killer Instinct Crossbows
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
-
No incident, no one hurt Made Sep 29, 2025, sent to the company Oct 24, 2025, published by CPSC Nov 26, 2025
The product, in the report: Killer Instinct Boss 405 Crossbow
Bought a new crossbow from killer instinct crossbow. The fiberglass limb cracked while in the locked position. The crossbow had been shot only 6 times. If i had shot the crossbow without noticing the crack, serios injuries could have resulted. After contacting customer service, they offered nothing to resolve the issue and showed no concern.
- Model
- Boss 405
- Serial number
- 1104-62818
- Bought from
- Amazon
- Bought
- Oct 20, 2024, about then
- Where
- Lima, Ohio: Farm/
Ranch - Who was involved
- Age 56, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Killer Instinct Boss 405, made or sold by Killer Instinct Crossbows
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- No Incident, No Injury
-
First aid Made Apr 19, 2025, sent to the company Apr 23, 2025, published by CPSC May 7, 2025
The product, in the report: Bc 415 crossbow
I was sold a crossbow that broke when I fired it due to a missing screw. It came preassembled by Dunhams out of the box. I feel that this is an unsafe practice that needs to be stopped. When I contacted Dunhams they told me to contact the crossbows company and get it fixed. But this does not fix the problem of unsafe business practice. The store itself is located in aberdeen South Dakota. The regional manager [REDACTED] has a service number which is [REDACTED].
- Model
- Bc 415
- UPC
- Na
- Serial number
- Na
- Bought from
- Dunhams sports
- Bought
- Apr 18, 2025
- Where
- Ellendale, United States: Industrial
- Who was involved
- Age 26, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Killer instinct, made or sold by Killer Instinct Crossbows
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
-
Emergency room Made Nov 29, 2023, sent to the company Dec 4, 2023, published by CPSC Dec 18, 2023
The product, in the report: Killer instinct crossbow, it’s camo and black in color. It’s a 405 fps
My son went hunting with his grandfather and brother. He was using a killer instinct crossbow. He went to set the crossbow bow when it fired off without the trigger being touched and it blew off his big toe. It was only hanging on by a piece of skin. He had to undergo surgery that night. We are unsure if the surgery is going to work and he might have to get his toe amputated. He is unable to work right now due to this. He can’t walk on his toe for at least 6 to 8 weeks if this surgery works. I think killer instinct needs to be responsible for this situation! My son had the safety on and it still discharged without the trigger being touched!
- Model
- 1103 405+fps
- Serial number
- 11030027558
- Bought from
- Walmart, Arkansas
- Bought
- Nov 8, 2023
- Where
- Cash, Arkansas: Other
- Who was involved
- Age 19, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Child
- As this report names them
- Brand Killer instinct, made or sold by MSCKI, LLC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
-
No one hurt Made Nov 6, 2023, sent to the company Nov 17, 2023, published by CPSC Dec 4, 2023
The product, in the report: Killer instinct 415 crossbow camo color hunting crossbow
Defective limb on crossbow hundreds of people have same issue as you go to draw the crossbow back the limb breaks
- Model
- Killer Instinct model 415 burner
- Serial number
- 110600206
- Bought from
- Rural king Evansville indiana, Indiana
- Bought
- Nov 30, 2022, about then
- Where
- Unspecified: Unspecified
- Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Killer Instinct, made or sold by MSCKI, LLC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
No one hurt Made Aug 28, 2023, sent to the company Sep 6, 2023, published by CPSC Sep 20, 2023
The product, in the report: Killer instinct Boss 405 Cross bow. Model number 1104
Bought a Killer Instinct crossbow 22 days ago and fired it for the 3rd time today.
I was cocking my crossbow. When the metallic click happened to indicate the weapon was cocked and put on safe, I began to unhook the cocking rope. When I did that, the crossbow dry fired. Pieces of the trigger mechanism and the safety mechanism broke off and went flying. Upon inspection after the fact, I discovered the metal hooks that hold the string back actually snapped off and appeared to be made of very low quality, porous looking metal. Had this happened while deer hunting with a bolt in the bow, that could have easily killed someone. Luckily, I had my hands clear, there was no bolt in the bow, and I was alone. Since then, I have spoke to another killer instinct customer who had similar trigger issues, resulting in an accidental discharge. Both I and that person were offered to have the bow “fixed”, but not to have the underlying issue of a faulty trigger/safety mechanism redesigned and replaced.
- Model
- 1104
- Serial number
- 1104-48307
- Bought from
- Fleet farm
- Bought
- Aug 5, 2023
- Where
- Milaca, Minnesota: Farm/
Ranch - Who was involved
- Age 34, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Killer instinct, made or sold by MSCKI, LLC
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.