Need an opinion
Moderator: Excalibur Marketing Dude
Need an opinion
Currently considering the exomax or the Barnett xs, which is a compound crossbow. New to crossbow hunting. Pleae indulge me on the advantages of the exomax RECURVE over a compound setup like the Barnett.Thanks, Joseph
Joseph
Let's say you just climbed into your favorite treestand and, while in the process of putting an arrow on the rail it slips from your gloved fingers and the razor sharp broadhead lightly touches the string cutting several strands............
With the Barnett, you get to climb down and head to the local archery shop to have the string replaced........with an Excalibur, you climb down to the base of the tree, reach into your fanny pack, take out your spare string and put it on the bow........climb back up and resume hunting.......
Make Mine Excalibur!!!
Let's say you just climbed into your favorite treestand and, while in the process of putting an arrow on the rail it slips from your gloved fingers and the razor sharp broadhead lightly touches the string cutting several strands............
With the Barnett, you get to climb down and head to the local archery shop to have the string replaced........with an Excalibur, you climb down to the base of the tree, reach into your fanny pack, take out your spare string and put it on the bow........climb back up and resume hunting.......
Make Mine Excalibur!!!
This is from our ggod friend Ten Ring.
From 1996 to 2003 I was heavily involved in 3D shooting and helping to run the events at our local club. 3D has "collapsed" in this end of the Niagara Region and I am back into trap shooting.
However, I did a lot of "high volume" shooting for a number of years where the number of bolts shot ranged in the 1,000's/year.
IMHO, folks can buy what they like but for my own use, I will only consider the Excalibur recurve. The reason is logical and experienced based, described in the lengthy narative that follows......
My bias towards Excalibur recurve crossbows has been documented in the past on the forum, a lot. This is based on what I describe as reliability. The reliability ensures that the accuracy will be retained and the point of impact will not shift due to some tuning problem related to cable, string and cam system issues.
The reliability issue is mainly one of string and cable wear on compounds, vert or crossbow. Shoot them just for hunting and occasional practice and they are just fine, they will last for years. Generally when they are shot through a full season of 3D shooting where with practice and the actual shoots, the archer may shoot hundreds of shots/week and the likelihood of problems increases. There are a number of highly stressed, small moving parts like cams, axles, bushings etc.
Some shooters will get a longer life out of their compound strings and cables and that?s great, but the trend in this volume of shooting is that there will likely be something that causes some grief. If you don't mind the occasional problem and are good at dealing with them then the compound could be just the ticket for you.
My personal 23 years of experience with compound verts and many observations of other problems at shoots indicate that a string, cable or serving failure that will put you out of action is very likely. At our February 2002 3D shoot we had three shooters who had to quit part way through the shoot due to string/cable failures they could not repair in the field. These were two vert compounds and an Excal. Paradox.
I am able to change a string, in the field in minutes and the recurve crossbow will retain the exact same point of impact, there is absolutely no need to sight in again. To me, this is very important for my enjoyment of shooting.
As for accuracy, they will shoot better than most of us can hold. On a day with no wind, when I am in my best form, I can hit a playing card at 50 yards offhand; I STRESS, this is strictly target shooting/3D/Practice type stuff, I do not advocate for one second shooting at live game at this range. Off the bench on a 20 yard indoor range you can shoot a bolt from my Vixen into a fresh target, go up pull the bolt, cock and load it again and shooting it into the same hole.
The advantages of the Excalibur, aside from the limb/string system and accuracy we like to expound on, are;
1. IMHO Best trigger in the business, all models share this trigger.
2. Top release latch mechanism which allows the use of flat base nocks, no cock fletch required, no special nocks. All models share this feature. The Horton doen't have this.
3. Aluminum deck on all models, not just the most expensive models.
4. Components are often improved but the critical dimensions match existing models, i.e. you could retrofit a 1994 manufacture Exocet with a machined riser and or limbs with Mag Tips. Some models in other brands become obsolete, i.e. steel cable assemblies can no longer be obtained for some models, you have to find a shop that can still make up steel cables.
5. Simple, solid scope mount system.
6. There are three separate scope models, you can chose one that works with your crossbow and it's velocity/trajectory.
7. They address any question very quickly, at least more quickly, thoroughly and accurately than any vert archer manufacturer I have delt with in the past 20 years.
8. Good line of simple, proven accessories that work well with the crossbow.
9. Repairs seldom required, if they are needed, Excal. works with the owner and makes sure it is made right.
_________________
10Ring
Crossbow, my choice of archery equipment;
From 1996 to 2003 I was heavily involved in 3D shooting and helping to run the events at our local club. 3D has "collapsed" in this end of the Niagara Region and I am back into trap shooting.
However, I did a lot of "high volume" shooting for a number of years where the number of bolts shot ranged in the 1,000's/year.
IMHO, folks can buy what they like but for my own use, I will only consider the Excalibur recurve. The reason is logical and experienced based, described in the lengthy narative that follows......
My bias towards Excalibur recurve crossbows has been documented in the past on the forum, a lot. This is based on what I describe as reliability. The reliability ensures that the accuracy will be retained and the point of impact will not shift due to some tuning problem related to cable, string and cam system issues.
The reliability issue is mainly one of string and cable wear on compounds, vert or crossbow. Shoot them just for hunting and occasional practice and they are just fine, they will last for years. Generally when they are shot through a full season of 3D shooting where with practice and the actual shoots, the archer may shoot hundreds of shots/week and the likelihood of problems increases. There are a number of highly stressed, small moving parts like cams, axles, bushings etc.
Some shooters will get a longer life out of their compound strings and cables and that?s great, but the trend in this volume of shooting is that there will likely be something that causes some grief. If you don't mind the occasional problem and are good at dealing with them then the compound could be just the ticket for you.
My personal 23 years of experience with compound verts and many observations of other problems at shoots indicate that a string, cable or serving failure that will put you out of action is very likely. At our February 2002 3D shoot we had three shooters who had to quit part way through the shoot due to string/cable failures they could not repair in the field. These were two vert compounds and an Excal. Paradox.
I am able to change a string, in the field in minutes and the recurve crossbow will retain the exact same point of impact, there is absolutely no need to sight in again. To me, this is very important for my enjoyment of shooting.
As for accuracy, they will shoot better than most of us can hold. On a day with no wind, when I am in my best form, I can hit a playing card at 50 yards offhand; I STRESS, this is strictly target shooting/3D/Practice type stuff, I do not advocate for one second shooting at live game at this range. Off the bench on a 20 yard indoor range you can shoot a bolt from my Vixen into a fresh target, go up pull the bolt, cock and load it again and shooting it into the same hole.
The advantages of the Excalibur, aside from the limb/string system and accuracy we like to expound on, are;
1. IMHO Best trigger in the business, all models share this trigger.
2. Top release latch mechanism which allows the use of flat base nocks, no cock fletch required, no special nocks. All models share this feature. The Horton doen't have this.
3. Aluminum deck on all models, not just the most expensive models.
4. Components are often improved but the critical dimensions match existing models, i.e. you could retrofit a 1994 manufacture Exocet with a machined riser and or limbs with Mag Tips. Some models in other brands become obsolete, i.e. steel cable assemblies can no longer be obtained for some models, you have to find a shop that can still make up steel cables.
5. Simple, solid scope mount system.
6. There are three separate scope models, you can chose one that works with your crossbow and it's velocity/trajectory.
7. They address any question very quickly, at least more quickly, thoroughly and accurately than any vert archer manufacturer I have delt with in the past 20 years.
8. Good line of simple, proven accessories that work well with the crossbow.
9. Repairs seldom required, if they are needed, Excal. works with the owner and makes sure it is made right.
_________________
10Ring
Crossbow, my choice of archery equipment;
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
Opinion???? 
OK, you did ask!
I've hunted for many years (since my father took me hunting back in the 1950's) and tried about every legal method. I love archery, and especially longbows and recurves. A shoulder condition caused by bone spurs pretty well ended my hunting with them a few years ago, though. I tried several crossbows, but they were just too complicated, cumbersome, and unreliable to seriously get enthused with for hunting. Then I saw a show with Bill & Cath hunting with excaliburs. I got online, found a dealer, and went to look at one. He let me shoot it, and I bought it that day! I've been bowhunting with Excalibur ever since.
If you offered me one choice for a hunting crossbow, and made that choice:
The highest priced, fanciest, fastest, with all the bells & whistles, compound crossbow on the market, or
The cheapest Excalibur..........
Well, I'd own a Vixen! (and never regret it!!!!!)
OK, you did ask!
I've hunted for many years (since my father took me hunting back in the 1950's) and tried about every legal method. I love archery, and especially longbows and recurves. A shoulder condition caused by bone spurs pretty well ended my hunting with them a few years ago, though. I tried several crossbows, but they were just too complicated, cumbersome, and unreliable to seriously get enthused with for hunting. Then I saw a show with Bill & Cath hunting with excaliburs. I got online, found a dealer, and went to look at one. He let me shoot it, and I bought it that day! I've been bowhunting with Excalibur ever since.
If you offered me one choice for a hunting crossbow, and made that choice:
The highest priced, fanciest, fastest, with all the bells & whistles, compound crossbow on the market, or
The cheapest Excalibur..........
Well, I'd own a Vixen! (and never regret it!!!!!)
wabi
.......Welcome to the forum where do you hail from~?Digger definitly said it pretty CLEAR!
I rebuild my compound crossbows at least twice a year, to reduce possible feild problems. I rebuild my recurve crossbows maybe once every 2 years.................you choose
Like many other guys on this site, I ONLY own Excalibur! Pick any EXACLIBUR xbow and mount a vari-zone scope on it, it will BLOW YOU away!
I rebuild my compound crossbows at least twice a year, to reduce possible feild problems. I rebuild my recurve crossbows maybe once every 2 years.................you choose
Like many other guys on this site, I ONLY own Excalibur! Pick any EXACLIBUR xbow and mount a vari-zone scope on it, it will BLOW YOU away!
cbows
After I had a injury I went to the local pro shop and bought a name brand crossbow to try that season. I killed a few deer but it did not shoot well with broadheads I was lucky to hit 6" at 25 yards after trying alot of differnet heads. The string also need to be replaced twice from praticeing and hunting in less than 6 months plus a set of cables. I talked to the proshop guy and he stated crossbows are ment to be sighted in and left alone not shoot to much or they wear out fast. So much for that if I can't pratice I will not hunt I feel I aleast owe that to the deer I hunt. I tried to go back to a 40lb compound bow but ended up hurting myself and was down for two weeks and my doctor said no bows!! I got online and found the excalibur web sight and after a few weeks of reading I took a chance and orderd a 175lb exocet . That was 5 seasons ago I am still shooting the same crossbow and all I have down is replaced a few strings and it still shoots as new. I will never buy another brand crossbow this one just rocks and has no short comings in accuracy,power,speed, or service life.
Joseph, I know the Barnetts look awsome and star wars like and to be honest with you they would probably be ok for you for a year or two. But that sci-fi look does not equal strength, reliabilty or accuracy. I know, I shot a lot of different make crossbows for 22 years including Barnetts and have spent in the nieghbor hood of $600.00 over the first 12 years when I was shooting compound crossbows for cable jobs, new strings, new eccentrics and triggers. I have owned and shot Excaliburs now for 10 years and have spent around $16.00 a year or $160.00 over the last 10 years on strings only. That is the only thing I ever had to replace on an Excalibur. Strings. Bottom line is if you want a bow that will give you years of trouble free enjoyment and the most accurate bow made today than there is only one answer, EXCALIBUR!
BUCKEYE
A man who makes no mistakes usually doesn't make anything at all.
A man who makes no mistakes usually doesn't make anything at all.
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Woody Williams
- Posts: 6440
- Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2002 5:07 pm
Put it this way..
Of all the people that came on here asking for similar advice that went out and bought an Excalibur every one that came back on here said they were glad that they did. 100% satisfaction...
The ones that didn't take that advice and bought a Barnett or a Horton there is a fair number that has come back and said - "I wish a I had listened and bought an Excalibur".
Do it right the first time and you wont be back here saying "I wish a I had listened and bought an Excalibur".
Of all the people that came on here asking for similar advice that went out and bought an Excalibur every one that came back on here said they were glad that they did. 100% satisfaction...
The ones that didn't take that advice and bought a Barnett or a Horton there is a fair number that has come back and said - "I wish a I had listened and bought an Excalibur".
Do it right the first time and you wont be back here saying "I wish a I had listened and bought an Excalibur".
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]
EX vs BAR
I have purchased four Excalibur bows and convinced two of my buddies to do the same and none of us has any regrets. I have shot Barnetts and Hortons and they are simply not as consistant day in and day out as the Excaliber. I saw Kathy T. drop one of their xbows on a concrete floor at the deer and turky expo in Ohio with no adverse effects on the bow. My buddeis and I hunt hard and we don't baby our equip. One guy says he rebuilds his recurves every couple of years. Well my first Ex was a vixen that was 10 years ago and all I have ever done is change the string. I site it in once a year and that's it. Several times over the years it needed no adjustment. It has never let me down and is just as accurate as the day I bought it. By the way, the way I convinced my buddies to by Exs was I always out shot them and could do so at 10 to 15 yards further out than they were shooting.