Welcome to TheOhioOutdoors
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Login or sign up today!
Sign up

Excaliber search and questions

giles

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
48,755
238
The real Amish country
I'd like to get away from the $300 specials I've been using. Had 2 fail on me last year. I've always been in the group of being able to buy 3-4 of the Killer Instinct bows for the price of a good one. They fail and I can pick up a new one just about anywhere and roll on. I'm thinking about changing that and going with an Excaliber. I like the narrowness of the micro. The simplicity of them really has my attention. I don't need 500 feet per second for how I hunt. I just need something that I can count on. Lots of people on here browse lots of places. Keep an eye out for sales please. I don't shop often enough to know a great deal. I also don't feel comfortable enough to buy used off ebay.

Everyone always seemed happy with this company. That still hold true?

Any pros or cons?

Anyone suggest one model over another?

What would you change that might be available in today's upgraded models?

Anyone talk me out of this?

Would this make me a trad guy?

#nosaddle #turkeyspecialist
 
  • Like
Reactions: Isaacorps and MoonLab
My Excalibur is a old Phoenix model. Would buy again. Uncock with the rope so no shooting to unload. Change the string in the field if you nick it with no press. I just don't like carrying it. Heavy and it's just a bitch to maneuver through thick cover with. It's slow so I would not shoot at a deer pass thirty yards. Accurate is a understatement. If you shoot twice you will hit the first bolt in the target. At fifty yards I still wouldn't shoot twice lol. I sighted it in when new back in 2010 and never had the scope turret covers off since. Ten years I finally changed the string and it still shot to the spot as the old one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Isaacorps, hickslawns and giles
Ask Brock. Years ago I bought one for my son based on his experience and opinion. Hasn't been shot a ton but you pull it out, shoot a few bolts, shoot.a few with broad heads, and go hunt. Probably jinxed myself now, but they are the 12v Cummins diesel of the crossbow world. Slow. Heavy. Loud. Probably even leak a little oil. But you jump in and drive it across country without thinking twice. Not the fastest or lightest. They just work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Isaacorps and giles
400 feet per second is cooking! I was under the impression that they were still around 340 and I was good with that. Maybe I should continue to be good with that and just buy one of the original micro 340 models.
 
I have a hybrid Excalibur/Stryker "Offspring" and love it. If I were in the market it would be Excalibur. 400 fps is smoking. You would need a lighted nock to be able to see the hit! de-cocking feature plus a hand crank option as well. Mine is rated at 360 but I shoot a little heavier set up. Quiet is an understatement!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Isaacorps and giles
@giles
I've been to Sportsman's Den, in Shelby, Ohio, many times and if I didn't already have a Ravin (waaay too expensive), I would definitely purchase one of their crossbows. Very affordable! (y) They have a sales flyer, online, but often don't advertise their in-store specials, due to how low they are and the manufactures' rules against it. :unsure:

Sportsman's Den |

www.sportsmansden.com www.sportsmansden.com

Personally, I would never purchase a 400 fps crossbow, again. 🚫 They're "hot rods" and don't have much life expectancy. Something in the 340 fps or 370 fps will get the job done and they tend to require less maintenance. Good luck with your choices! :cool:
 
wyverncreations.com

Excalibur Assassin 420TD Crossbow Package

Excalibur's Flagship Crossbow, the Assassin, takes recurve crossbows to another level. The 420TD is the way to go. Contact us: (603) 659-0575
wyverncreations.com wyverncreations.com

I worked some storm last weekend that was all double time. Sunday and a holiday. Reward myself? Or is this asking for trouble? I would imagine this would be a never return to normal kind of weapon.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MoonLab
I can not recommend any crossbow that's over $500, based off of my own experiences. (n)

Unless you're set on the Excaliber brand, I could easily walk out of Sportsman's Den with one of the Barnett models and be just as content. 💯:cool:
See what you think of their prices and models:
www.sportsmansden.com

Crossbows

Sportsman's Den |
www.sportsmansden.com www.sportsmansden.com
 
Last edited:
Bowhunter57 said:
I can not recommend any crossbow that's over $500, based off of my own experiences. (n) I paid $1300 and some change for a Ravin R10. It's fast, deadly accurate, but expensive. :rolleyes: If I had it to do all over again, I'd make my selections at Sportsman's Den, in Shelby....spend less money, get the same killing machine and be happy. :)

I can hit 2" target dots at 70 yards with this R10. To each their own, but I shot a doe with it and it felt so uneventful that I completely lost interest. :cautious: It's a meat getting machine, I'll give it that. It's also a "hot rod"....meaning that once it's sighted in, it's like a large bore rifle, you clean it and set it on the self until hunting season. It's not the type of weapon that I can shoot frequently and enjoy. These "hot rod" crossbows have a limited life span, then the cables and sometimes the limbs need to be replaced. 🚫

Unless you're set on the Excaliber brand, I could easily walk out of Sportsman's Den with one of the Barnett models and be just as content. 💯:cool:
See what you think of their prices and models:
www.sportsmansden.com

Crossbows

Sportsman's Den |
www.sportsmansden.com www.sportsmansden.com
Click to expand...
So sell it to me at a price I can't deny. Then go get you a cheaper one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bowhunter57
giles said:
So sell it to me at a price I can't deny. Then go get you a cheaper one.
Click to expand...
Since I already have it, I'll keep it, in case I get injured or just can't physically draw a vertical bow any more. :) I guess, what I'm saying is, if I didn't already have the money invested and was going to buy a crossbow, I feel like I couldn't go wrong with buying one of the Barnett models. :cool:

I was kinda in your situation at the time I purchased the Ravin. I had the money and figured "why not". :unsure: I had only been to 2 different archery shops and wasn't entirely aware of what was available. The old "hind sight being 20/20" thing. :sneaky:
 
Bowhunter57 said:
Since I already have it, I'll keep it, in case I get injured or just can't physically draw a vertical bow any more. :) I guess, what I'm saying is, if I didn't already have the money invested and was going to buy a crossbow, I feel like I couldn't go wrong with buying one of the Barnett models. :cool:

I was kinda in your situation at the time I purchased the Ravin. I had the money and figured "why not". :unsure: I had only been to 2 different archery shops and wasn't entirely aware of what was available. The old "hind sight being 20/20" thing. :sneaky:
Click to expand...
Ravin is also having a bunch of bows come apart. I was regretting even saying anything. Lol

I have always owned the lower end bows. Barnett is junk. Killer Instinct makes a good product for the price. They fail too, but it's the limbs and not the cams. So you know when it fails because it splinters. Barnett just go out of time. I'd rather see the fail and not injure an animal.

I also don't really have the money. I have just worked my ass off the last couple of years and I'm burnt out. I need a little reward for myself. Tired of fixing shit and struggling to get by at times. I need something that'll make me feel like the work was worth it. Hating this economy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tipmoose and Bowhunter57
@giles
I feel your pain, as far as working your ass off and not feeling like you're getting ahead of the game. :mad:
I don't know any history, etc. on Barnett. So, if you say they're junk, I believe you. (y)
I hate this economy too....along with it's politics. 🚫 It's an election year, so it's possible that we'll start seeing some breaks in the clouds, soon. 🤞 They're already dropping the gas prices, some. They don't want us thinking about that, when we're voting. :ROFLMAO:
Buy what you want, brother and be happy! 💯
 
XBowguy is the one to ask. I'd avoid Killer Instinct Barnett, and a couple others. Even some of the bigger names have problematic bows. I'd have to think there is something between the $400 and $2000 bows that would stand the test of time and big very effective. You can get some really nice XCaliber bows under $1200. Rick or the guy at Wyvern is who I'd trust pointing me in the right direction.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hedgelj and giles
You must log in or register to reply here.