Where do I start?

[nixsrs93]

All,

Been away from the US for 2.5 years and just realized that Alabama is now allowing Crossbows during Archery season.  I like the idea of being able to hunt in the many shooting houses we already have on our club, and you cannot do that with a horizontal bow.  

Here is my question how do I get started?  A name that comes up over and over is the Excalibur X-bows.  I am 6' tall and 30 years old and in decent shape.  I have had my compound on 76 lbs pull for several years now.  What weight crossbow could I pull back with a T-handle string cocking device?  I don't want to go the crank route, as it looks very bulky on the bows I have seen.  

Please feel free to educate a dumb newbie!

Thanks in advance for your help,
Nixsrs93

[Digger]

An Excalibur reachs to 225 lb draw, with the use of a string cocker most able bodied persons can cock this 350 fps beast. Excalibur xbows are recurve bows that range from the 150 lb Vixen, the 175 lb Pheonix, the Exocet 200 and the Exomax at 225lb. the Pheonix or Exocet 200 woud be your best hunting bow . they all share the same 3 lb trigger the same stock and limbs, the only difference in an Excalibur is the length  of the draw. you'll get a lot of info there.

  http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/

or visit the excalibur forum

http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1

Digger

[jh45gun]

Just bought a Barnett rope cocker for my xbows they sure work nice. A definate accessory that you should have.  :grin:

[Mike357mag]

Ten point crossbows are great also.  I have on with a hand crank.  The hand crank is a nice feature.

Excaliber and ten point are the prefered brands in my are.

Mike H

[ihuntbucks]

First off.....Welcome back home!!! Any of the above will do fine.It's just whatever you prefer.I have a Branett Rhino Mag,150# pull and I cock it by hand with no problem.BTW,I'm 52 years old,6'2" at 260#.It's just whatever you like,they all work good.Good Hunting.............Rick

[jh45gun]

First off.....Welcome back home!!! Any of the above will do fine.It's just whatever you prefer.I have a Branett Rhino Mag,150# pull and I cock it by hand with no problem.BTW,I'm 52 years old,6'2" at 260#.It's just whatever you like,they all work good.Good Hunting.............Rick

I could cock mine too Rick easy as I am 6' 1" but a bit heavier than you.  :roll:   but the stock would bruise the heck out of my gut reaching down to cock it. The main reason I bought the Rope Cocker is that it always lines up the string in the same place every time for more consistant shooting. Yea I know get rid of the gut but that is easier said than done.  :grin:  :grin:  :grin: The rope cocker really does work nice on cocking the xbow too for the money I think it is really worth it.

[ihuntbucks]

Jim,I marked my string with white epoxy paint along the bar so when I cock xbow I line up the string.GUT....you're suppose to cock it against your shoulder :lol: ...althought I could see where a "belly" could get in the way .............Rick

[jh45gun]

Yea my strings are marked too but the cocker really does make cocking and aligning easy  :grin: