Crossbow at close range

That’s an interesting way to hunt. Update us after you’ve hunted a bit out of it. I am curious how the deer will react to the blind when the windows are down and you are in it.
 
I’ve used a similar setup years ago, though with an Excalibur and Rage broadheads. Shot placement remains critical.

I ended up hitting bone near the shoulder and had to finish the buck with a knife.
 
I once lost a nice 8 point buck due to a 4 blade broadhead about 25 years ago and have been using long (3:1) sharp single bevel 2-bades since then for that very reason...they will bust through scapulas or ribs for a complete pass through. The only times i haven't gotten a complete pass through using 2 blade are high hits into vertebrae (spine shots).
 
With a Ravin R10 at very close range using a Ravin expandable broad head, is it pretty reasonable to expect a pass through pretty much anywhere I hit that’s in the right neighborhood? (I mean maybe not going through both shoulders, but even if it hits one shoulder?) It just seems like it snacks targets with such authority…
 
Based on the way he said he's setting up, I am guessing this is a neighborhood (urban archery) type hunt, where he is literally hunting in someone's yard. The deer should be used to human activity, smells, and such. don't overthink it, I know a few buddies in virginia that do these type hunts and have alot of success etc.
 
I'm not 100% sure with that particular broadhead, however to be safe, if i were you, i would do my best to not hit the the equivalent of the human humerus (upper arm bone), or scapula (shoulder blade).

And if the deer is 5-10 yds away with an Xbow, waiting for a broadside shot hitting behind the shoulder or quartering away shot seems doable to me, especially if not spooked.

Be sure to watch the wind.
 
Absolutely—to be clear, I’d never aim for that kind of shot, and I pass on marginal shots, always. (Just not a point yet where I feel comfortable taking any shot I don’t have extremely high confidence in.) This is just an academic question—when I hear that bolt smack the target and see how far it penetrates, it just seems like it’s make short work of scapulae, but perhaps not.

Backyard is correct—in a completely legal scenario. The deer don’t seem to spook easily.
 
Just remember the larger the diameter of a broad head and more blades increases resistance in general, and especially when hitting bone.

The reason i've mostly used long sharp 2 blades for a long time to increase the margin for error and more reliable penetration across recurves, compounds, and Xbows .

Like you said, wait for good shot and you'll be fine...and the hardest part will probably be finding your bolt if you don't have a lighted nock.
 
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