Hi All,
I am afraid I have a few newbie questions for you- it's surprisingly hard to find good advice about xbows.
I am looking at getting an Excalibur crossbow for mainly wild boar and deer in Europe-Now that we are finally allowed to bowhunt. The Boar run on average 200-250 lbs with a big boar occasionally topping 350 lbs.
I know that most if not all of Excaliburs xbows are powerful enough to get the job done. But I have narrowed to choice down to Exocet, Exomag and Exomax. I am 5'8" and shoot an 85lb compound (vertical) bow so I think I should be ok with loading any of these. My questions are whats the difference in noise between these bows, also is there any difference in the accurancy between them. I know for vertical archery that normally faster means noiseier and hard to shoot well- I just want to know if the same is true in Xbows.
Regards MiB
Questions from another newbie (sorry!)
Moderator: Excalibur Marketing Dude
Your right abouyt speed verses sound ratio, but dissapator bars attached to limbs cuts the sound way down, but you'll never completelydo away with the sound. Also a wooden stock reduces sound even further.
All Excaliburs have the same limbs, stock and trigger, the hardest part is cocking the bow. I have 2 Vixens and Excal. Paradox, one shoots 285 fps the other at 340 fps, both are extremely accurate and easy to shoot.
Digger
http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/phpBB2 ... den+stocks
All Excaliburs have the same limbs, stock and trigger, the hardest part is cocking the bow. I have 2 Vixens and Excal. Paradox, one shoots 285 fps the other at 340 fps, both are extremely accurate and easy to shoot.
Digger
http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/phpBB2 ... den+stocks
Digger
2008 Y25 Relayer #593 Boo string, lumizone
2-1984 Relayer,
2-1992 Wolverine
Excal Phoenix, acudraw, VARizone
T.P. Titan TL4, acudraw 50, Varizone
Vixen, Steddy Eddy, Varizone
Martin Rage
Martin Jaguar
PSE Infinity
2008 Y25 Relayer #593 Boo string, lumizone
2-1984 Relayer,
2-1992 Wolverine
Excal Phoenix, acudraw, VARizone
T.P. Titan TL4, acudraw 50, Varizone
Vixen, Steddy Eddy, Varizone
Martin Rage
Martin Jaguar
PSE Infinity
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Woody Williams
- Posts: 6440
- Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2002 5:07 pm
No need to be "sorry". Most of us came here asking questions too.
These guys can help you a BUNCH..
Forget the noise.. You will never eliminate all of it anyway. Any noise can spook a deer.. Don't know about a hog.
Usually by the time the noise gets to them the arrow/bolt is close enough that they cant dodge it.
Most of the time "jumping the string" is an overused excuse for a miss.
If you can horse back 85# compound bow you will have no trouble with any Excalibur crossbow. You might have to shorten up the string cocking aid a tad because of your height. I know I did and it works great.
Curious - You say that you can now finally allowed to bowhunt. Is this something new? Is it just wild boar and deer in Europe or can you hunt in England too?
Please fill us in on the details..
These guys can help you a BUNCH..
Forget the noise.. You will never eliminate all of it anyway. Any noise can spook a deer.. Don't know about a hog.
Usually by the time the noise gets to them the arrow/bolt is close enough that they cant dodge it.
Most of the time "jumping the string" is an overused excuse for a miss.
If you can horse back 85# compound bow you will have no trouble with any Excalibur crossbow. You might have to shorten up the string cocking aid a tad because of your height. I know I did and it works great.
Curious - You say that you can now finally allowed to bowhunt. Is this something new? Is it just wild boar and deer in Europe or can you hunt in England too?
Please fill us in on the details..
Woody Williams
We have met the enemy and he is us - Pogo Possum
Hunting in Indiana at [size=84][color=Red][b][url=http://huntingindiana.proboards52.com]HUNT-INDIANA[/url][/b][/color][/size]
We have met the enemy and he is us - Pogo Possum
Hunting in Indiana at [size=84][color=Red][b][url=http://huntingindiana.proboards52.com]HUNT-INDIANA[/url][/b][/color][/size]
I have the Exomag 200 lb. and love it. If I would buy today, I may opt for the stronger Exomax, but I have some small reservations on the Exomax. The dissapator pads/bars really have to be tightened up properly or else the Exomax can be noisy and vibration could become an issue. Hand cocking it is a monster of a job and it is difficult to do repeatedly(the rope cocker is an absolute necessity). On the positive side, I do like the new stock on the Exomax with better camo and the deepened forearm that keep the fingers further away from the string...and the power and speed is amazing! 
As for accuracy, all three are great crossbows and they all all very accurate with no real noticable difference as power goes up.
As for accuracy, all three are great crossbows and they all all very accurate with no real noticable difference as power goes up.
Pete
The great outdoors is where I want to be.
The great outdoors is where I want to be.
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MiB
Hi Woody,
No bowhunting here in Britain, but France, Spain and Sweden have all opened up to bowhunting/Xbows. All game can be taken, but not much public land means hunting can get exspensive(depending on what you want to hunt). I love hunting Boar, they get alot of pressure from the gun hunters, but the gun hunters tend to be a little lazy. So with a bit of extra effort/time in the field some good trophies can be taken. Wild Boar are wary, have good senses and can if pushed too hard become agressive, so they make idea sporting animals to hunt. Also a 150lbs of first class meat does add to the enjoyment after a successful hunt.
"Jumped the string" In my experience this normally means the animal spotted the guy and was looking at him. And he just shot anyway. I have never had any animal "jump",although I have had one case where the point of impact was about two inches high of were I was aiming, the deer "heard" the bow as the shot was made.The deer crouched a little as it was about to move away.
Good tip about the rope cocking aid- thanks for that one I will keep it in mind.
So if money wasn't an issue which Xbow from Excalibur would you guys pick and why?
Thanks for the warm welcome-I mentioned Xbows on a archery forum, and just got a load of abuse- I thought we were all on the same side?
Regards MiB
No bowhunting here in Britain, but France, Spain and Sweden have all opened up to bowhunting/Xbows. All game can be taken, but not much public land means hunting can get exspensive(depending on what you want to hunt). I love hunting Boar, they get alot of pressure from the gun hunters, but the gun hunters tend to be a little lazy. So with a bit of extra effort/time in the field some good trophies can be taken. Wild Boar are wary, have good senses and can if pushed too hard become agressive, so they make idea sporting animals to hunt. Also a 150lbs of first class meat does add to the enjoyment after a successful hunt.
"Jumped the string" In my experience this normally means the animal spotted the guy and was looking at him. And he just shot anyway. I have never had any animal "jump",although I have had one case where the point of impact was about two inches high of were I was aiming, the deer "heard" the bow as the shot was made.The deer crouched a little as it was about to move away.
Good tip about the rope cocking aid- thanks for that one I will keep it in mind.
So if money wasn't an issue which Xbow from Excalibur would you guys pick and why?
Thanks for the warm welcome-I mentioned Xbows on a archery forum, and just got a load of abuse- I thought we were all on the same side?
Regards MiB
I would shoot the different crossbows and decide from there. All you listed will do the job. When I shot the Exomax I didn't like the feel of the bow. I found the trigger stiffer then my Vixen and I didn't like the balance of the bow. If it were me I'd go with the Exocet. The Exocet isn't a more accurate bow but I would be a better shot with it.
I shoot an Excoet for the simple reason that I can hand UNLOAD it after I get out of the tree. I have shot the Mag and the Max and I wouldn't want to unload them by hand. This is a small item but when I am getting out of a stand, last thing I want to do is announce it with a bow going off. Th Exocet is also a little shorter and feels more balanced to me.The mag tipped Exocets are doind 310 fps vs 350 with the Max. Just decide if you want speed or convenience. I myself would love to have the speed of the max but I can live with 310 of the Exocet.
Even the quietest crossbow will not be as quiet as a compound. The plastic stock is loud when the bow is fired. If you keep your shots within a reasonable range, it shouldn't be an issue.
Even the quietest crossbow will not be as quiet as a compound. The plastic stock is loud when the bow is fired. If you keep your shots within a reasonable range, it shouldn't be an issue.
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Got some news fer DesertRat their is a xbow out there now, that is as quite if not quiter then a Compound... Shoots @ 315fps with a 425GR bolt.DesertRat wrote:
Even the quietest crossbow will not be as quiet as a compound. The plastic stock is loud when the bow is fired. If you keep your shots within a reasonable range, it shouldn't be an issue.
Always learning!!
Home fer now!
Home fer now!
Witch xbow to get?
If you are going to be hunting wild boar with a xbow. I would get the Ecomax. Boars have what we call in Hawaii, armor plat right behind the shoulder, and its thick. Its there to pertext them when they fight. You well need that power of the Ecomax to penetrate that shoulder. That stuff can be any where from 3/4'' to 1'' thick. The Ecomax got a lot of power, and speed to do the job. Just something to think about..........
Axis
Axis
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Woody Williams
- Posts: 6440
- Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2002 5:07 pm
MiB,
I'm glad to hear that some of the European countries allow it.
If I were you I'd go big and take the Exomax.
I've never heard of too many folks on here "downgrading" to something less poundage , but a good percentage have "upgraded" to something more powerful.
There is no such thing as overkill. If you can cock it, shoot it..
I'm glad to hear that some of the European countries allow it.
If I were you I'd go big and take the Exomax.
I've never heard of too many folks on here "downgrading" to something less poundage , but a good percentage have "upgraded" to something more powerful.
There is no such thing as overkill. If you can cock it, shoot it..
Woody Williams
We have met the enemy and he is us - Pogo Possum
Hunting in Indiana at [size=84][color=Red][b][url=http://huntingindiana.proboards52.com]HUNT-INDIANA[/url][/b][/color][/size]
We have met the enemy and he is us - Pogo Possum
Hunting in Indiana at [size=84][color=Red][b][url=http://huntingindiana.proboards52.com]HUNT-INDIANA[/url][/b][/color][/size]
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MiB
Hi all,
Yeah I have to agree about bowhunting in European countries, shame Great Britain is too up tight, to even think about allowing bowhunting. Although anyone with a rifle can shoot pretty much all year long-as long as you have the money to pay for it.
I will be going to try a Exomax and an Exocet hopefully some time next week, That should be the final test. Good to hear that the increased power/speed of the Exomax was achieved without a loss of accuracy. I guess that one big improvement over vertical bows.
Axis, yeah the boar over here have the same toughened skin-especailly the big old males. But good shoot placement will allow penetration even with fairly light poundage. But I agree that extra speed and power are always worth having.
So GaryL, what is this quiet quick crossbow?, care to share? 315fps/425gr bolt sounds like a pretty handy combination in a quiet Xbow.
Regards MiB
Thanks again for all your help.
Yeah I have to agree about bowhunting in European countries, shame Great Britain is too up tight, to even think about allowing bowhunting. Although anyone with a rifle can shoot pretty much all year long-as long as you have the money to pay for it.
I will be going to try a Exomax and an Exocet hopefully some time next week, That should be the final test. Good to hear that the increased power/speed of the Exomax was achieved without a loss of accuracy. I guess that one big improvement over vertical bows.
Axis, yeah the boar over here have the same toughened skin-especailly the big old males. But good shoot placement will allow penetration even with fairly light poundage. But I agree that extra speed and power are always worth having.
So GaryL, what is this quiet quick crossbow?, care to share? 315fps/425gr bolt sounds like a pretty handy combination in a quiet Xbow.
Regards MiB
Thanks again for all your help.
