Really Confused

I have shot Excalibur xbows exclusively for the last 14 years and found that the quality and workmanship is second to none. Here is a post from a friend from the Excal forum:


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.

All good advice Doug..


My best advice to you is IF you are really serious about crossbowing is to buy the very best crossbow that you can afford.

I have seen some folks go real cheap and then didn't like it because the bow would break or not shoot well. They then give up on crossbowing.

As far as I am concerned it boils down to two crossbows ..

Recurve - No doubt about it that would be Excalibur. Any model that you choose in the Excalibur line up will be quality and very capable of killing those big old Virginia bucks.

Compound - I highly favor the TenPoint brand. I own a TenPoint QX4 and it a sweet and accurate shooter. TenPoint is also quality from the top to the bottom.

For any new crossbower I would suggest buying the package deal on either bow. That will be everything that you need to set it up, shoot and go hunting.

Hey guys,

Doug has an excellent hunting board at..

dougva.proboards34.com/index.cgi

Check it out too..

OOPS! It isn't a RC-400 but rather a Barnett Quad-400

I couldn't get the link to work but it is at www.cabelas.com

I deer hunt in Ohio where crossbows have been legal for archery season for years. I tried many brands & types of crossbows and had given up on the crossbow as an option for serious hunting. Then I happened to see a TV show featuring Bill & Cathy T. (owners of Excalibur) hunting with their Excalibur recurve crossbows. A web search found a dealer within a mile of me, so I went for a look. He let me shoot a Vixen, and I bought it on the spot!!!!!!! It was in a league all it's own for accuracy, reliability, and simplicity.
I highly recommend Excalibur as the only choice for a serious hunting crossbow!

Woody I never shot a Barnett Compound I prefer recurves for the simplicity of them. Now I know the Barnett Recurves are not that expensive and there are better bows but they do work and shoot quite well at least mine does. Yea the triggers are not as good as they could be but I suppose that is a trade off on getting a cheaper xbow. Funny that Barnett is not that respected here or in Canada but it seems to be very well recieved in England and is the crossbow of choice over there if all I read on the net is true?? Some day I will hope for a Excaliber but for now my Barnett Recurves will have to suffice. Jim

kansas, up until the other day I figured Barnett made a good crossbow and I liked the looks of the quad not to mention it's speed.

I am as green as you can get when it comes to crossbows since they have been almost taboo in Virginia.....until now.

I live in the extreme South-west part of Virginia (Scott county) next to Tennessee and Kentucky.

I really thank you guys for all the advice and information. I will have to stay in the $350 to $375 dollar range however.

Doug/Va :

I'm new to crossbows too . I bought one when Kentucky passed their expansion and now have postponed . I was in the same boat ... I started out thinking I could get set-up for about $400.00 ... after doing a little research I found I really needed to add a little more money to get the features I was looking for . Most of the Hortons were in my price range for a package deal . So were the Parkers . I wanted a complete set-up so I would not have to spend any more except for broadheads . I ended up with a Parker Terminator for $499.00 . Fully rigged all I had to do is get my broadheads flying right and I was set . The Horton Legend was the other one I was looking at and it was about the same price .

You get what you pay for . I'm pleased with my set-up and plan on using it for many years . I will probably up-grade to Excalibur or Ten Point in time but the Parkers and Hortons will fill the gap for now . Parkers are made in Virginia .... you should check them out .