[luvslabfishin]

I,m planning on purchasing my first crossbow sometime this year before archery season and i,m needing advice on buying a good crossbow that isnt too expensive and is a good all around bow for hunting deer.

Thinking about going with a Horten crossbow as of now,any suggestion on a good crossbow Horten makes?

 

[dennishoddy]

Well, I can't say I went for the inexpensive, but I got the Excaliber Equinox. 350 FPS.
with the scope, it shoots out to 50 yds dead on. I elected to go with the recurve style as if the bow string breaks in the field, I can change it right there with a spare that I carry in my back pack. The compound styles require leaving the field and finding a bow shop that is open during bow season.
My buddy got a Barnette that is 325FPS that shoots great if he would practice with it. He's ate up with the casino, so I'm sure it will end up in the pawn shop.
My bow is two years old and some of the newer ones are a lot cheaper and probably just as good. I got mine before Ok said that anybody over 60 doesn't have to have a disability.
Its all about supply and demand. Now that lots of states are passing regs that allow crossbows during bow season without a disibility, the prices are going to come down in my opinion. Maybe not but thats what I'm thinking. ;D

 

[luvslabfishin]

Nice buck,one to be proud of , I will check out the Excaliber crossbows next time I go to B.P.S.
I can spend up to $600.00 for a crossbow package,hoping this is enough money to get a good crossbow.

I had back Surgery last October and the Doctor recommended I stay away from compound bows for life.

Looking forward to hunting with a crossbow,they look like a toy a hunter could fall in love with.

 

[Gauge]

Excaliber-crossbows are the only way to go.
No pulley's or cams to ever worry about.

PSE- Has a new crossbow out & looks great.

Hortons are over rated & I never heard good word from anyone who has own one.

 

[dennishoddy]

I had back Surgery last October and the Doctor recommended I stay away from compound bows for life.

Looking forward to hunting with a crossbow,they look like a toy a hunter could fall in love with.

They are no better than a compound as far as speed or accuracy, but for those of us that can no longer bow hunt with conventional bows, its a way to spend more time in the field.
I had lots of BP bonus points, and Toyota was putting on a demo that gave a $15 gift certificate to drive one around the building, so the wife and I both got one, and there was a 15% off special going on. Made a heck of a difference.

If you go to the Excaliber site, (if its still there) they have a video of a lady with the excaliber shooting an elephant. Didn't go too far before expiring. Convinced me.

 

[luvslabfishin]

Sure glad I didn,t rush into buying a Horten crossbow during Christmas and i,m thankfull for the info on which crossbows would be good for hunting from you all.

I decided i,m going to buy the Excalibur Exocet Crossbow,the Crossbow sells for $528.00 at Bass Pro,didn,t see a package deal for at bass Pro,just the crossbow by itself.

 

[dennishoddy]

I'll bet you will be happy with it

 

[Smokewagon]

Im looking to get another one. I used to have a Barnett Quad 400 and sold it. Been looking at the Barnett Predator and Buck Commander. Waiting on Bass Pro to have another 6 pay so I can get one.

 

[Bullbuster]

I've thought about getting one so i can have my wife and kids along for a bow hunt. None of them can draw a bow back so its perfect.

 

[dennishoddy]

I've thought about getting one so i can have my wife and kids along for a bow hunt. None of them can draw a bow back so its perfect.

Thats the entire reason they passed this reg.
Get more people into the field.
I'm all for it ;D

 

[Smokewagon]

I broke down and sold one of my pistols and ordered a Barnett Predator. 375fps. Getting the package with the red dot, only because they were out of the scope package. I figured Ill give the red dot a go, I can always get the scope if I dont like it. Naturally, as soon as I got it, Bass Pro started the 6 pay Ive been waiting on. Oh well, now it will be paid for in full. Im probably going to have to get a new target that will stop these fast bolts. Dont think my bow one will. I wil try first. Looking at getting some lumenocks for it also. Anyone ever used them? Input?????

 

[dennishoddy]

The bolts for my Excaliber do not have nocks. Its just an insert that is threaded with a 10-32 thread.
My buddy has a Barnette and it has shallow nocks, not the deep ones that clip on the string like a vertical bow, but just a shallow depression.
I've never used a luminox but with the xbow I'm thinking it might be wasted money. With the speed one can get from them, complete pass thru's are the norm, and you'd be looking at a red dot on the ground while the deer ran off.
For the life of me I don't understand how these TV hunters shoot a deer with a bow, and half of the shaft with the luminox hasn't penetrated the entry side of the deer??? My first bow kill was with a 45lb bow and it got full penetration through the deer.

As far as a target to shoot. Mine is 350fps, and I refuse to pay $130 for a block target at BP.

I bought the $40 yellowjacket from wallyworld. It stops the bolt, but most of the time it buries the fletchings in the block.
Now, the threaded insert that Excaliber comes into play. I built a T handle, and welded a 10-32 bolt to it.
Now I can screw it into the insert and pull the bolt from the target with no damage to the fletchings.

 

[Bird (this time)]

Y'all hush up about those cross bows...I'm seriously thinking about getting one myself but hanging on to the hope that I can still draw my bow just one more time.

 

[Smokewagon]

Mine got here the other day. It's smoking fast. I can't draw it back with out the rope cocker. I also have some bolts with lumenoks on the way. Gonna do some longer range shooting later.

 

[dennishoddy]

Sweet! Hows it working with your archery target?

 

[Bullbuster]

I was watching a show the other day and they was talking about X-bows and such. One of the Pro's was say'n that if you don't pull up on the rope cockers evenly every time your string won't seat straight and depending on which side is pulled harder will kick your arrow left or right. They even showed how it looked when pulled corrctly and the arrow hit dead on. Then when pulled harder on the right and again the left pulled harder and the arrow hit right and left opposite to the side pulled harder. At 50y the arrows hit as much as 18" left or right.

 

[Smokewagon]

Turns out my el-cheapo target must be better than i thought cause it stopped em good. Mine came with the red dot with the 3 aim points. I've got it shooting bullseyes out to 60 yards(bottom dot). 2nd dot dead on at 40. 3rd at 60. Aimed in-between for 30 and 50.

 

[Smokewagon]

U are and they are absolutely correct on the string needing to be centered. Since I'm hitting bullseyes at 60 I guess I'm doing it right.

 

[Smokewagon]

Here is my 60 yard target.

 

[Smokewagon]

40 yards