What should I look for...........

[Michihunter]

..when shopping for an xbow? I've shot compounds the majority of my life (32 out of 42years) and was wondering if there are specific things I should be looking for when doing my homework for a new purchase.

[Sabre03]

Yes, Make sure it says EXCALIBUR :) http://excaliburcrossbow.com/demo/m/content/article.php?content_id=1
Me and a friend have had Excaliper Crossbows since 01, and the selling point for us was... We can do all the maintenance ourselves... Excaliburs have no cams or any of that crap, they are a recurve and are very fast ( some are shooting 350 FPS on a recurve). Out of the Hortons and others that I shoot, the Excalibur was by far the best in my opinion

[Michihunter]

Yes Make sure it says EXCALIBUR:) http://excaliburcrossbow.com/demo/m/content/article.php?content_id=1
Me and a friend have had Excaliper Crossbows since 01, and the selling point for us was... We can do all the maintenance ourselves... Excaliburs have no cams or any of that crap, they are a recurve and are very fast. Out of the Hortons and that I shoot the Excalibur was by far the best in my opinion
Considering that's the first (and only) response, I'll certainly look into them. Thanks.;)

[Sabre03]

Excalibur Also claims to have the most accurate shooting Crossbows. Def check them out, you wont be dissapointed

[swoosh]

One with an Accu Draw system. We got the ten point for gramps, works great

[TOW]

We can play Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota game all day long..

My best advice is find a pro shop that has multiple brands and hopefully will let you "test drive" them.

Only by handling them and shooting them can you tell if the bow fits you.

Personal opinion - stay away from cheap and Barnett..

[butter21]

Get the fastest one, then get the biggest scope there.

[Michihunter]

We can play Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota game all day long..

My best advice is find a pro shop that has multiple brands and hopefully will let you "test drive" them.

Only by handling them and shooting them can you tell if the bow fits you.

Personal opinion - stay away from cheap and Barnett..Standard response I normally give to compound bow shoppers. However, I normally put in some caveats such as AtA and BH and how they affect performance.;)

[Terry Williams]

..when shopping for an xbow? I've shot compounds the majority of my life (32 out of 42years) and was wondering if there are specific things I should be looking for when doing my homework for a new purchase.


Make sure the store has a good return policy:lol:

[Riva]

My criteria is not based on brand but on weight and size. I like small and light. I have owned several crossbows and my favorite, and the one I use the most, is the first crossbow I ever purchased in 1994, a Horton Super Sport.

Has a solid walnut stock, weighs about 6 pounds and is very small and nimble. Only 150 pound and shoots in the 240 Fps range. Good out to 25 yards. Still, I love the thing.

If I could replace it with something just a lightweight and compact that weighs in at less than 7 pounds with all the stuff and get up to say, 300 fps, i'd buy it yesterday. Haven't found it yet but, then again, I've been busy with some other stuff.:lol:

[Michihunter]

My criteria is not based on brand but on weight and size. I like small and light. I have owned several crossbows and my favorite, and the one I use the most, is the first crossbow I ever purchased in 1994, a Horton Super Sport.

Has a solid walnut stock, weighs about 6 pounds and is very small and nimble. Only 150 pound and shoots in the 240 Fps range. Good out to 25 yards. Still, I love the thing.

If I could replace it with something just a lightweight and compact that weighs in at less than 7 pounds with all the stuff and get up to say, 300 fps, i'd buy it yesterday. Haven't found it yet but, then again, I've been busy with some other stuff.:lol:Now that's something I can use. I never really gave the weight issue any thought. Thanks.

[DANIEL MARK ZAPOLSKI]

i have my late fathers HORTON LEGEND. first shot, first buck with it, i don,t think i'll ever get another one this one works just fine. i really don't know how fast it shoots and i really don't think the deer care either. this year i'll be shooting it with my camcorder on it.
the last picture is my dad and michigans largest buck shot with a bow in 1967 / 9 pointer /167 lbs dressed

[Michihunter]

i have my late fathers HORTON LEGEND. first shot, first buck with it, i don,t think i'll ever get another one this one works just fine. i really don't know how fast it shoots and i really don't think the deer care either. this year i'll be shooting it with my camcorder on it.
the last picture is my dad and michigans largest buck shot with a bow in 1967 / 9 pointer /167 lbs dressed
Congrats to Pops!! And good luck to you.;)

[butter21]

My criteria is not based on brand but on weight and size. I like small and light. I have owned several crossbows and my favorite, and the one I use the most, is the first crossbow I ever purchased in 1994, a Horton Super Sport.

Has a solid walnut stock, weighs about 6 pounds and is very small and nimble. Only 150 pound and shoots in the 240 Fps range. Good out to 25 yards. Still, I love the thing.

If I could replace it with something just a lightweight and compact that weighs in at less than 7 pounds with all the stuff and get up to say, 300 fps, i'd buy it yesterday. Haven't found it yet but, then again, I've been busy with some other stuff.:lol:
Crossbows can't be light, small and nimble, you guys said so. :lol:

[10PtCrossbow]

Crossbows can't be light, small and nimble, you guys said so. :lol:

Butter,
Crossbows are not light and nimble when you compare them to a compound bow that weighs 3-4 lbs, but when comparing crossbow tocrossbow, there are different weights, shapes and sizes that fit peoplebetter then others.

As for what to look for in a crossbow, l have several suggestions.

1. Figure out what is important to you. Some things to think abot are weight, size, shape, speed, accuracy, trigger, need of cocking aids, recurve vs compound, sighting options, warranty, country made, etc.

2. Stay with a company that has been making crossbows for a while so you kow what you are gettting and they most liekly stand behind their product and know what they are doing.

3. Find a shop that has a variety of bows on hand that you can handle and hopefully shoot.

4. Rate the bows based on your criteria from above and then shoot the top 2 or 3.

5 Don't be fooled by claims from the manufacturers, if weight is high on your list, weigh them. If speed is high on the list, chrono them. As with most things, claims may not always be the truth.

6. Take your time and handle as many as you can before you decide.

Hope this helps.

Randy

[srconnell22]

If you get an excalibur, talk to my brother...he has the hookup.

[Michihunter]

If you get an excalibur, talk to my brother...he has the hookup.Thanks .;)

[Michihunter]

Butter,
Crossbows are not light and nimble when you compare them to a compound bow that weighs 3-4 lbs, but when comparing crossbow tocrossbow, there are different weights, shapes and sizes that fit peoplebetter then others.

As for what to look for in a crossbow, l have several suggestions.

1. Figure out what is important to you. Some things to think abot are weight, size, shape, speed, accuracy, trigger, need of cocking aids, recurve vs compound, sighting options, warranty, country made, etc.

2. Stay with a company that has been making crossbows for a while so you kow what you are gettting and they most liekly stand behind their product and know what they are doing.

3. Find a shop that has a variety of bows on hand that you can handle and hopefully shoot.

4. Rate the bows based on your criteria from above and then shoot the top 2 or 3.

5 Don't be fooled by claims from the manufacturers, if weight is high on your list, weigh them. If speed is high on the list, chrono them. As with most things, claims may not always be the truth.

6. Take your time and handle as many as you can before you decide.

Hope this helps.

Randy

Great stuff. Thanks Randy.;)