Author Topic: Who makes the BEST Crossbow??? (Read 3676 times)

OrangeWing · « **on:** November 16, 2004, 10:03:18 AM »

I would like to know which crossbow you think is the very best? Also which is the fastest & most accurate?

Digger · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2004, 11:00:38 AM »

The best and fastest recurve hunting xbow in my opinion is the Ecalibur family of xbow the fastest being the Exomax, a 225 lb draw and a speed of 350 fps with a 350 gr bolt. All Excal are uncannily accurate, never aim for the same bull twice without taking your first bolt out. The Vixen 150 lb will take down any North America game the rest are just icing on the cake.

http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/

If you need wheels on your xbow Ten Point is the way to go

http://www.tenpointcrossbows.com/

I have owned 10 Excals in the last 13 years and own 3 of them now so I am a bit slanted to the Excalibur.

GaryL · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2004, 02:51:14 PM »

Ditto !!! Digger... :-D

BUCKeYeHunter · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2004, 03:28:56 PM »

i see yas dig and gary

wabi · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2004, 05:45:18 PM »

Another pleased Excalibur owner here

My Exocet gets 310 fps with a 350 grain bolt & is very accurate with field points & broadheads. With Wasp JakHammers (mechanicals), SlickTricks (replaceable fixed blade), or G-5 Montecs (fixed blade) there is no difference in point of aim from field points.

GaryL · « **Reply #5 on:** November 17, 2004, 04:29:24 AM »

Quote from: BUCKeYeHunter

i see yas dig and gary

Shucks and I thought we were hiding :-D

welcome BUCKeYeHunter.. :toast:

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #6 on:** November 26, 2004, 04:38:54 AM »

Well,I guess I'm the "black sheep" here,but I vote for Barnett.I have the Rhino Mag and chould not be happier.But as Will Rogers once said,That's one man's opion,anyway"................Happy T'Day everybody...Rick :lol:

poncaguy · « **Reply #7 on:** November 26, 2004, 07:19:18 AM »

Horton............ :-D

GaryL · « **Reply #8 on:** November 28, 2004, 10:59:46 AM »

Quote from: poncaguy

Horton............ :-D

TenPoint fer wheels :-D , Excalibur fer the best in recurve!!!! :-D

THE BLUE STAR · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2004, 10:30:39 AM »

Excalubur, can`t beat them. I have 3 wall hangers, Barnet Camando 175 lbs, Horten 150 lbs, Barnet Clone 150 lbs. I now hunt with 2 Excals, exocet 175 + exomag 200 ,every thing from deer to moose. :-) Frederick

Camper · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2004, 04:27:00 AM »

Excalibur all the way!!!!!!!

ogo · « **Reply #11 on:** December 24, 2004, 05:55:56 AM »

It's the one you are holding in the photo of whatever you just shot ''''''''' lol*************ogo

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #12 on:** December 24, 2004, 04:33:37 PM »

Well said ogo

................Rick

GaryL · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2005, 12:33:52 AM »

Quote from: ogo

It's the one you are holding in the photo of whatever you just shot ''''''''' lol*************ogo

Ayep ogo be true....However :twisted: I must say :-D Excalibur :-D

varmit_master · « **Reply #14 on:** May 19, 2005, 08:12:46 AM »

Hi i have a New Horton Legends XL 175 pds with Horton scope dont know if i am going to like the scope have always used a red dot and the red dot on my old PSE took down 11 deer and 9 turkeys it was a good shooting bow i just wanted a faster one i am now shooting carbon arrows Beman and Rocket heads cant wait until Oct 1 i have the week off VM

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #15 on:** May 19, 2005, 10:11:36 PM »

Congrads VM,darn why change from red dot with the results you've had?If it ain't broke,why fix it? :lol: ...............Rick

jh45gun · « **Reply #16 on:** June 05, 2005, 07:33:16 PM »

Some Day I hope to get a excaliber but for now my Barnett works well. It seems like Crossbow folks are like car fans some like Chevies others Fords and others Dodges it seems like crossbows the same way some like Excaliber others Horton others Barnett or 10 Point ect I guess it is what ever trips your trigger.

kjg · « **Reply #17 on:** June 10, 2005, 05:17:26 AM »

EXCALIBER ALL THE WAY, i HAVE THE VIXEN AND IT JUST DOES REAL NEAT PASS THROUGHS BUT i BUY HORTON BOLTS THEY ARE AT WALLYWORLD FAIRALLY CHEAP AFTER THE HUNTING SEASON MY VIXEN IS THE CAMO AND SCOPE PACKAGE i WON'T GET RID OF IT KILLED TWO DEER WITH MINE IN THE LAST 2 YEARS AND HAVE PASSED ON KMY OTHERS . BB75[/i]

msorenso · « **Reply #18 on:** June 19, 2005, 08:16:28 AM »

up to how far can you shoot these?

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #19 on:** June 19, 2005, 05:51:59 PM »

I wouldn't try any shot over about 45 yrds......of course if he had a VERY BIG rack I might have to press that :lol: ......Rick

FirstFreedom · « **Reply #20 on:** July 26, 2005, 04:10:01 PM »

Question: I know nothing about crossbows....wouldn't the recurve crossbows like the Excalibur get fatigued/damaged from being held in the 'cocked' position for long periods while hunting? Can they be held cocked just as long as compound crossbows? How long can you hold them open - all day hunting, for 10 hours?

And how difficult, in general, are they to cock? And how much MORE difficult are they to cock than compounds? And what other comparisons/advantages/disadvantages might one consider between the two types if choosing a first crossbow?

Thanks.

jh45gun · « **Reply #21 on:** July 26, 2005, 06:02:09 PM »

I do not know what Excaliber reccomends for their xbows but Barnett reccomends that you uncock it after 4 hours and then you can recock it again. Easiest way to uncock a xbow is to shoot it. I have a bolt with a judo point on it to shoot it so I do not lose the bolt. Recurves have less to go wrong with them and you can restring them in the field if need be you cannot do that with a compound yet lots of guys like them too. Cocking all depends on how heavy a pull the xbow has I can arm my Barnett 150# Pull easy with out no aids. They make a rope cocking device that is supposed to cut the effort in half and for those who are handicapped you can buy a crank device that takes all the effort out of it. I have seen xbows are like Cars every one has a favorite. I think for the most part most of the brands are good but if you can afford to get a better model it will serve you better I would guess with less problems. I have a bottom of the line Barnett Recurve it is nothing fancy but I have killed two deer with it sofar and while some day I would like a more expensive xbow if I can afford it them I have no issues with my Barnett it works and shoots well. Others claim that Barnett is not that good of a xbow. Well I consider them ok mine works well. I guess the issue is you get what you pay for but in the case of the lower end recurve Barnetts they do work but there may be better choices out there for you it all depends on what you like or in my case what you can afford. Jim

Basel · « **Reply #22 on:** August 12, 2005, 06:18:49 AM »

Quote from: FirstFreedom

Question: I know nothing about crossbows....wouldn't the recurve crossbows like the Excalibur get fatigued/damaged from being held in the 'cocked' position for long periods while hunting? Can they be held cocked just as long as compound crossbows? How long can you hold them open - all day hunting, for 10 hours?

And how difficult, in general, are they to cock? And how much MORE difficult are they to cock than compounds? And what other comparisons/advantages/disadvantages might one consider between the two types if choosing a first crossbow?

Thanks.

I have an Excalibur Emag that I leave cocked all day while I am hunting. Excaliburs are extremely well designed bows and most of the models will withstand a dry fire without damage. Excaliburs are a top notch bow. You would not regret purchasing an Excalibur.
Basel

Digger · « **Reply #23 on:** August 12, 2005, 07:32:37 AM »

Quote from: FirstFreedom

Question: I know nothing about crossbows....wouldn't the recurve crossbows like the Excalibur get fatigued/damaged from being held in the 'cocked' position for long periods while hunting? Can they be held cocked just as long as compound crossbows? How long can you hold them open - all day hunting, for 10 hours?

And how difficult, in general, are they to cock? And how much MORE difficult are they to cock than compounds? And what other comparisons/advantages/disadvantages might one consider between the two types if choosing a first crossbow?

Thanks.

I own 5 Excalburs, and it is recommended tha if you are not going to use it for over 3 weeks or a month to unstring the bow and if you have dissapater bars on the limbs to remove the pads at the end of the bars.
I have an Excal Wolverine made in 1987 that spends about 2 months a year unstrung and i still shoots 270 fps.
Excaliburs have no let off so they are abit harder to cock than compounds, most Excal owners use a rope cocking aid that cuts the draw in half.
Advantages for recurves ( Excalibur ) less weight about 2 lbs, a trigger that is simular to a fine rifle 3 to 3 1/2 lb pull and ease of mantenence.

Advantages of compound xbow ( Ten Point ) Compact, dry fire inhibitor, a good trigger.

Disadvantages of compounds (TP) and others. Need a bow press to change string and cables. if you dry fire you could end up bending cams or wheels , braking strings and even splitting limbs.

Digger

varmit_master · « **Reply #24 on:** September 13, 2005, 01:14:27 AM »

Hi ihuntbucks i wanted a xbow that was faster. That PSE was a good xbow i had killed a few squirrels with it too and rabbits . It was a good one i sold it on ebay and got as much out of it as i paid for it. I wood like to try the NEW darton Xbow out it is fast. VM

Camper · « **Reply #25 on:** September 15, 2005, 08:02:31 AM »

KGJ Wrote,

Quote

EXCALIBER ALL THE WAY, i HAVE THE VIXEN AND IT JUST DOES REAL NEAT PASS THROUGHS BUT i BUY HORTON BOLTS THEY ARE AT WALLYWORLD FAIRALLY CHEAP AFTER THE HUNTING SEASON MY VIXEN IS THE CAMO AND SCOPE PACKAGE i WON'T GET RID OF IT KILLED TWO DEER WITH MINE IN THE LAST 2 YEARS AND HAVE PASSED ON KMY OTHERS . BB75[/i]

Make sure you are not shooting bolts with Moon nocks on them out of an Excalibur, thats a no no!!!

Excaliburs are made to use flat nocks only.
Just a heads up!
Camper

Laughing Crow · « **Reply #26 on:** September 15, 2005, 04:41:25 PM »

CHOOSING A CROSSBOW

Picking out a crossbow is just like picking out a vertical bow. If you can, go to a proshop or sporting goods store that has a wide variety of crossbow to choose from. Then start picking them up and bringing them to your shoulder. Find one that feels right! Next step is to take it to the range and shoot it. When you finally do choose one and buy it, take it home and practice often. This part of the process will help you become one with your bow and that is extremely important.

Just about any crossbow that you buy from any of the major manufacturers will be a quality choice. They vary according to price, which is dictated by poundage, components and accessories, but start out with one that feels comfortable to you. The more natural it feels the more confident you will feel and the better you will shoot with it.

As far as poundage is concerned, ask your self this: How far do I want to walk to pick up the arrow after it has passed through the deer? A 150 pound bow will easily do that. I have found that the heavier draw weights, as with vertical bows, are less forgiving and lead to higher wear and tear on your equipment. And for those longer practice sessions, cocking 150 pounds will go a lot easier on the shooter than a 175 or 200 pounder.

Bottom line is: Find the crossbow that feels the most natural in your hands and that has good balance for YOU. It is an investment that will last for many years so it pays to take the time to choose the right one for YOU! Of course, thats just my opinion. I could be wrong.

red_ford_truck · « **Reply #27 on:** September 21, 2005, 11:02:22 AM »

my horton yukon works for me.......have always had a peep sight, just put a red dot on it today...actually got it at Hortons factory ( i live close).

the 150# weight has been enough for me.......pass through nearly everytime, with mechanical broadheads and fixed broadheads.

the cost was a deal closer for me...paid about 2 bills and change for the 'combo' after deer season was over at Dicks a few years back...
cant see paying more than I need to....my walmart mossy 500 has planted EVERY deer I have ever put an ethical bead on....

rft

varmit_master · « **Reply #28 on:** September 22, 2005, 06:24:38 AM »

If i didnt have a new Horton i would like to try a Darton Crossbow.
They sound like a good Xbow and Fast.
475gr arrow @343 fps
525gr @331 fps
And the xbow is only a 165 pds. That is fast for 165 pds. The xbow has alot of good stuff down to it VM

mrlizzzard · « **Reply #29 on:** October 08, 2005, 09:38:12 AM »

Horton Legend SL kit with red dot.Can't beat it,6yrs old,shoots great,if I run over it with my truck it don't owe me.