A Word of Warning - Beware

[ComfyBear]

Just want to make the forum aware of a potential safety hazard that might occur with the higher poundage Matrix crossbows.

Earlier today, my son-in-law was over and I had him take a few shots, in my basement, with my Matrix 405. Well he took several shots and was doing good, hitting the bullseye or close to it . On one particular shot, he took aim and squeezed the trigger, but forgot to take off the safety. Well of course it didn't fire, however as soon as he removed the safety, the trigger released and the arrow was launched.

He was still pointed downrange towards the target, but he just missed the target bag, and the arrow broke in two, fortunately no one was hurt.

I asked him if he accidentally might have touched the trigger as he removed the safety, since I knew from the previous day that once the trigger was squeezed with the safety on, that the trigger pull became so light that it became a "hair trigger". He said, he didn't touch the trigger.

So I tried to see if it would happen again. I reloaded, aimed at the target, squeezed the trigger with the safety on, then removed the safety with a flick of my thumb, there was a fraction of a second pause and then the trigger released.

I repeated it again, always making sure the bow was on target. This time, I released the safety slowly, waited a few seconds, nothing happened. I reapplied the safety, squeezed the trigger, released the safety slowly, again it did not fire.
However as soon as I barely touched the trigger, it released. Not something one would anticipate.

So a word of caution: IF YOU HAPPEN TO SQUEEZE TRIGGER, WITH THE SAFETY STILL ON, BEFORE YOU REMOVE THE SAFETY MAKE SURE YOU'RE ON TARGET.

[wabi]

I'd notify Excalibur about it!
Could be something they would want to take a look at.

How does the trigger pull on that bow compare to other Excaliburs?

[georgiaboy]

I agree...call excalibur.

[ninepointer]

As Wabi said, contact Excal. I think the Wolverines had a similar issue.

[colouredchameleon]

After careful review and consideration of the explanation given leading up to this Warning of a Potential Unsafe situation with the higher poundage Matrix Models I am withdrawing all of my previous comments.
Clearly a disturbing development however without being witness to all the shooting sessions prior it would only be a speculation on my part as to whether this is an isolated situation with this 405 resulting from a particular questionable shooting technique or has the potential to be more wide spread.
However I do agree it is safer to error on the side of caution until more is known.

What it does emphasis however is the need for without exception the adherence to the Rules of Safe Shooting.

I will however look forward to updates on the matter.

[racking up points]

FWIW, my stock 380 trigger doesn't do that and neither does my TT. Hopefully an isolated incident. Glad nobody was hurt.

[one shot scott]

I know that I have squeezed the trigger on my 380 with the safety on an did not have this happen to me. I wonder if its just your bow Lou?

[colouredchameleon]

withdrawn

[8ptbuk]

I think the post was meant to warn people of the POTENTIAL dangers that might occur ! I don't think comfybear has any doubt excal will take care of him . Someone getting shot accidentally is a lot more important !

[agingcrossbower]

Glad to hear that everyone is safe. I'd make call to Excalibur and make them aware of the problem. Dangerous indeed.

[paulaboutform]

I think the post was meant to warn people of the POTENTIAL dangers that might occur ! I don't think comfybear has any doubt excal will take care of him . Someone getting shot accidentally is a lot more important !

X2! Thanks Comfybear for the heads up. The potential consequences couple have indeed been dire! I'll be checking my M380.

[NEPAbowhunter]

I used to do that with my Vortex all the time, every time. I would cock the bow, apply the safety, take out the slack in the trigger by squeezing it until it stopped. I would then load an arrow and when ready flick off the safety and shot the bow. I did not know I was playing with fire! Boo replied in a post how bad of a habit this was. I do not do this with my Matrix 355. Thank you for the post and the heads up! I am planning on getting a Triggertech trigger by the summer time.

[Boo]

I used to do that with my Vortex all the time, every time. I would cock the bow, apply the safety, take out the slack in the trigger by squeezing it until it stopped. I would then load an arrow and when ready flick off the safety and shot the bow. I did not know I was playing with fire! Boo replied in a post how bad of a habit this was. I do not do this with my Matrix 355. Thank you for the post and the heads up! I am planning on getting a Triggertech trigger by the summer time.

Thank you for taking me seriously Robert!

[ComfyBear]

I think the post was meant to warn people of the POTENTIAL dangers that might occur ! I don't think comfybear has any doubt excal will take care of him . Someone getting shot accidentally is a lot more important !

X2! Thanks Comfybear for the heads up. The potential consequences couple have indeed been dire! I'll be checking my M380.

The purpose of this post wasn't to "bitch and complain." I've owned many Excaliburs over 24 years, and I've rarely had any issues. The few times that I've had, they were minor, and I was well taken care of.

So, I have no doubt that Excalibur will resolve this issue and it was my intention to inform Excalibur first thing Monday morning. However I thought it imperative to warn forum members of the potential danger immediately, just in case my 405 isn't the only one affected.

[Kegbelly]

I've done the same thing with my 380 more than once by accident, forgetting to let off the safety is such an easy thing to do. Mine did not fire, thank goodness. My brother had something like that happen with a 7mm magnum rifle, he flipped the safety off to unload and the gun fired, and the bullet went thru his tailgate, the front of the bed, the back of the cab, and exited the rear door. He sent it back to the manufacturer, turned out to be a little piece of plastic shavings from the stock that had got lodged in the trigger group.
Comfy you need to send it back to excalibur and let them disassemble and inspect it, could be a faulty trigger or a piece of debris from the manufacturing process stuck in the trigger area. The fact that you were able to repeat it makes me think it's the trigger itself. That is not supposed to happen, it's downright scary.