Observations on 07 crossbows seen at the Toronto show

[grandtrout]

So I couldn't resist & went down to the sportsman show to check out the new offerings, here's my first impresions on some of the crossbows on the market.

Middleton - not sure why you would go this way if you can compare side by side with excal. Cool loking limbs but the fit & finish isn't up to excal standards. I was realy disapointed, I've been looking at these on the web for a while & it just didn't seem as good as the others on the market.

10 point - held the new one with the narrow limbs - great idea but heavy & felt realy long. Looks like its well made.

Stryker - Mean looking machine, heavy & sort of feels over built. I like the fact that the fore stock flares out a bit to protect your fingers although I've yet to shoot the tips off my fingers with a crossbow so is it nessisary?

Excal - The new camo finish realy surprised me - big improvement. From the web page I didn't realy see much of a difference but in real life the new limb finish looks sweet. The new bows balence better than the old ones. I always thought the max was a bit front heavy but the Equinox feels as light in hand as the Phoenix. The new pistol grip feels a bit small in my hand but would be perfect in a glove. The range finder attachement just isn't for me - but I don't like bow quivers either so I guess its a matter of taste. The new scope has what seems to be a wider field of vision - I might just have to get one of these.

The people - I didn't talk to Bill or Kath but I did watch while they spoke to others. Say what you will about good customer service etc. to me that is just good business. What impressed me was that these two just like to talk about hunting & crossbows. Forget about the business these folks are realy good for the sport, hunting crosbows archery everthing. I met Fred Bear just before he passed away & I got the same vibe from him - he just want people to have fun in the bush. On Sunday afternoon having spent a week on a trade show floor Bill was taking the time to listen and answer the most basic questions from a rookie archer who may turn around & buy a compeditors bow. Impressive.

[Pydpiper]

It seemed everyone who sold bows carried the Excalibur line, very cool. I stood at a distance and listened to the middleton guy talk to a group of potential crossbow hunters, the things that came out of the guys mouth made my head spin.

[TYE]

I never did see the Stryker, must have passed by it. I saw the Tenpoint Phantom, it looked kinda neat, but not my cup of tea.

I saw a Middleton, kinda looked like crap to me. The camo on it was nice but that's about it.