Looks can be deceiving.underdog wrote:the Exomax is a nice bow but it just seems that recurve is old and outdated because of the recurve.
Any advice would be great!!!
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.
went with the BIG DADDY of all cross bows 
better be doing some push-up's and heavy arm lifts between now and when ya pick it up... 
