Help choosing the right crossbow for my needs

[Tom]

Haha the decision is defiantly the hard part as of right now. I'm definatly leaning towards the Ibex if i get a SMF model and if i decide aluminum probably the Phoenix since its a little more in price range.

Then best advice is for you to get the bow you like best. Both rails will preform expertly. Remember when choosing the poundage for the bow is that the more poundage in the bow, the more work it will be in shooting it. Even the 150lb bow is more then enough for Moose, so for you it sounds like any model will work that way.

If you will be shooting it a lot (practice or 3D shoots) then you might want to not get the higher poundage bows. After a while shooting, it will become more like work cocking it then fun.

Since the newer rails are a little lighter, you might find one model a better fit for balance. But since you are coming from the compound side of things, any of the Excaliburs will have a better balance.

Again the rails will not be any problem, if you like the looks of one over the other, then choose it.

Hope this helps. Tom

[Snowywolf822]

I love all this vast amounts of information thank you everyone for the responses now if i were to go to cabelas i defiantly will consider shooting the SMF models knowing that it will do just as good when hunting in the snow at 20 degrees sometimes colder here from you guys are telling me. I'm all about the reliability. I just wanted to get it right this time and not get the wrong crossbow again .. Now lets see what kind of deals i can find at cabelas when i go down to try the different models

[Big58cal]

Call Danny Miller (Excalibur US Warranty Rep) and see what kind of deal he can give you. I don't have his number, but I'm sure someone can post it up for you. Since Danny is the Warranty Rep, he has quite a stock of different Excaliburs and accessories. He can mix and match stuff to get you exactly what you want, and usually his prices are comperable with about everyone else (excluding sales of course). Not to mention, you couldn't ask for a better feller to do business with.

[frisky]

Danny Miller
Phone 1-740-483-2312
Fax 1-740-483-2030

Horizontal Archery,
37432 Fifth Avenue,
Sardis, Ohio,
43946-9601, USA

[Snowywolf822]

Sounds good to me i'm gonna probably go down to cabelas this saturday to test all the different models out and guess what got 5 inches of snow today out here and my Horton crossbow gave out while i was at the range again sad day lol... Thats why i'm asking so many questions so i get the best bang for my buck right ... if i'm buying a new crossbow might as well do it right this time

[strum]

I was in a store yesterday that had some excals so of course i picked some of em up and felt em over good..
i have an exomax and love it ..but every time i pick up one of those axioms i want one..
i just like the weight of it and its an bit more compact than my max..
i think its like 2 inches shorter than the big boys which doesnt sound like much. but when you get it in your hands you can realy feel it..
dont let me push you in any way into somthing you dont want but my opinion is the axiom is the perfect hunting bow. and added bonus is it may be just a tad bit faster than the phoenix due to the fact that the rail is (i think) 1/4" longer..

[Big58cal]

Go handle all of the different bows and see which type you like best..... traditional vs. thumbhole stock, aluminum rail vs. SMF, etc. After you've figured out what you want, start looking and calling around. Danny may have exactly what you want and be pretty cheap. Or you may find a better deal at Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops, Ebay, etc. When you're dealing with something $400-$700, every little bit you save adds up.

[vixenmaster]

We all have our favorite model or models. Mine is the Vixen, older ones are great. Newer ones hang in with the best of them! I like being able to shoot it 100 times in a day if'en i want to. No worry of pulled back-arms or shoulders! Getting old just makes you think of better n easier ways to get it done! Yup the big pounders will put an arrow on target a 1/10 of a sec faster but no better on accuracy

[Big58cal]

We all have our favorite model or models. Mine is the Vixen, older ones are great. Newer ones hang in with the best of them! I like being able to shoot it 100 times in a day if'en i want to. No worry of pulled back-arms or shoulders! Getting old just makes you think of better n easier ways to get it done! Yup the big pounders will put an arrow on target a 1/10 of a sec faster but no better on accuracy

But you just don't look as cool shooting a little "chick bow" Vixen as you do a beast Equinox.

[vixenmaster]

We all have our favorite model or models. Mine is the Vixen, older ones are great. Newer ones hang in with the best of them! I like being able to shoot it 100 times in a day if'en i want to. No worry of pulled back-arms or shoulders! Getting old just makes you think of better n easier ways to get it done! Yup the big pounders will put an arrow on target a 1/10 of a sec faster but no better on accuracy

But you just don't look as cool shooting a little "chick bow" Vixen as you do a beast Equinox.

Really how cool is this!

[Big58cal]

The dead critter is cool, the live one holding the chick bow, not so much.





I'm just raggin' on ya' Mike! We all know you old guys have to be careful and take care of yourself.

[Snowywolf822]

Well i'm on Cabelas and found the Axiom for 489$ the vortex for $779 and the pheonix for $669 if i like shooting the vortex i'm gonna try and find the ibex aluminum rail model probably i dunno yet until i go down to shoot them its a 2 hour drive so i gotta go sat hopefully

[Ont_Excal]

The dead critter is cool, the live one holding the chick bow, not so much.





I'm just raggin' on ya' Mike! We all know you old guys have to be careful and take care of yourself.

OK 58, here's your chance.
Post a better pic with the beast!
We'll all have a chance to vote!

[robertyb]

Well i'm on Cabelas and found the Axiom for 489$ the vortex for $779 and the pheonix for $669 if i like shooting the vortex i'm gonna try and find the ibex aluminum rail model probably i dunno yet until i go down to shoot them its a 2 hour drive so i gotta go sat hopefully

The site I gave you raised the Vortex package price up but is still $100 cheaper than what you have listed here. The Pheonix is about $80.00 cheaper also.

Here is a killer deal on a aluminum rail ibex.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Excalibur-New-I ... 27c41c841f

[frisky]

We all have our favorite model or models. Mine is the Vixen, older ones are great. Newer ones hang in with the best of them! I like being able to shoot it 100 times in a day if'en i want to. No worry of pulled back-arms or shoulders! Getting old just makes you think of better n easier ways to get it done! Yup the big pounders will put an arrow on target a 1/10 of a sec faster but no better on accuracy

But you just don't look as cool shooting a little "chick bow" Vixen as you do a beast Equinox.

Really how cool is this!

ICE COLD