I live in VA, and with crossbows now being legal this Fall, I am trying to find out all I can. I visited a local bow shop recently, and the dealer only carried Horton and Parker crossbows. When I asked about Excalibur, the dealer said he could order one, but the biggest complaints he had received about Excalibur was the width of the crossbow and also the noise when you shoot it, which he compared to two 2x4's slapping together. I did like the Horton Explorer models, but still want to gather more info. Also hope to visit another bow shop soon that carries Excalibur crossbows.
This forum is great, and any advice or information is appreciated.
newbie with questions
Moderator: Excalibur Marketing Dude
There are a number of very experienced members on here whom I'm sure would share their knowledge as I am a newbie too.
1st... while I gather it is true that the excalibur is a bit wider, it is because it has recurve limbs and not pulleys and wheels. KISS... keep it simple stupid being the motto... this means less room for error from all the moving parts... this also means that if you break a string in the field, your hunt is not over... simply restring with a new string... can't do that with a compound.
2nd... my Exomag is very quiet... I have the dissipator bars and pads installed and I'm quite satisfied... it certainly doesn't sound like two 2x4's slapping together... I'd suggest the store you've been checking out is not an Excalibur dealer and will tell you what they can to sell their product.
3rd... the members on here own not just Excaliburs but Horton and other types of crossbows so keep asking.
The overall concensus I've seen in here is that while Horton and other bows are good, Excalibur is tops!
Just my two cents...
1st... while I gather it is true that the excalibur is a bit wider, it is because it has recurve limbs and not pulleys and wheels. KISS... keep it simple stupid being the motto... this means less room for error from all the moving parts... this also means that if you break a string in the field, your hunt is not over... simply restring with a new string... can't do that with a compound.
2nd... my Exomag is very quiet... I have the dissipator bars and pads installed and I'm quite satisfied... it certainly doesn't sound like two 2x4's slapping together... I'd suggest the store you've been checking out is not an Excalibur dealer and will tell you what they can to sell their product.
3rd... the members on here own not just Excaliburs but Horton and other types of crossbows so keep asking.
The overall concensus I've seen in here is that while Horton and other bows are good, Excalibur is tops!
Just my two cents...
Give a kid a fish and they'll eat for a day, teach a kid to fish and they'll eat for a lifetime!
A reprint of a post from Ten Ring that answers most of your questions on Excalibur.
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;
Excalibur, my choice of crossbow!
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;
Excalibur, my choice of crossbow!
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
Firstly welcome to the forum~!
I can tell you that my first x-bow was a Horton prior to investing in Excalibur (I now have a Exomax, Exocet, and Vixen Deluxe).
I cant sit here and tell you that Horton is a piece of crap yada yada...Because my Horton never let me down in the field.
What I can tell you is that from MY EXPERIENCE the difference between the two is unbelievable~! I shoot alot and when I used my Horton (which I still own) I was okay with 3 inch groups at 30 yards. When I bought my first Excal I learned that the following is not a fluke it is a given unless you remove your bolts before the next shot;
I have not looked back since my buddy RJ hooked me up with my first Excal three years ago.
Excals are wider than most but I will gladly carry a few extra inches in width for the dependability and accuracy of Excalibur~!
Just my opinion from up here in the cheap seats~!
Regards,
Robin
I can tell you that my first x-bow was a Horton prior to investing in Excalibur (I now have a Exomax, Exocet, and Vixen Deluxe).
I cant sit here and tell you that Horton is a piece of crap yada yada...Because my Horton never let me down in the field.
What I can tell you is that from MY EXPERIENCE the difference between the two is unbelievable~! I shoot alot and when I used my Horton (which I still own) I was okay with 3 inch groups at 30 yards. When I bought my first Excal I learned that the following is not a fluke it is a given unless you remove your bolts before the next shot;
I have not looked back since my buddy RJ hooked me up with my first Excal three years ago.
Excals are wider than most but I will gladly carry a few extra inches in width for the dependability and accuracy of Excalibur~!Just my opinion from up here in the cheap seats~!
Regards,
Robin
Wildlife Management & Reduction Specialist