What Crossbow???

payj · 11-04-2008, 05:06 PM

I am completely new to this sport. I have read through a few threads and it sounds like good brands include Excalibur, Horton, and Tenpoint. If there are more feel free to list them. The problem I have is deciding which model from which brand is best.

What I'm looking for is a xbow that can take down deer or elk, has a high fps, extremely reliable, exceptional quality, and while not obviously the most important thing, it wouldn't hurt if it looked real bad ass.

So, if you could list some of the brands and MODELS that would fit the above I would appreciate it.

Price- No more that $800 done deal.

Thank you in advance

smokepolehall · 11-04-2008, 05:22 PM

i recommend the Excal vortex if interested in a recurve. never owned a compound style.

Buckhunter46755 · 11-04-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: smokepolehall

i recommend the Excal vortex if interested in a recurve. never owned a compound style.

Ditto.... I love my Vortex!!!

smokepolehall · 11-04-2008, 05:39 PM

reason i picked vortex over the equinox is its more user friendly and less string serving wear. for a recurve style you won't find a better CB. Don't own a compound style so can't tell which is a better model or brand

Horizontal Hunter · 11-04-2008, 05:55 PM

Another Excal shooter here as well. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to shoot some and decide what "feels" right to you. I just got my dad back into archery after many years with an xbow and we took a trip to Cabelas. Turns out that he liked the Parker Terminator HP the best once he had a chance to shoot a few different brands. He also got an excellent deal from Wyvern. Well under your $800.00 requirement.

I can't say enough about Excalibers customer service. It is truly top notch and they will go out of their way to help you out if you have a problem. I had a stringer let go and I called their customer service rep in the US (Dan Miller) and I had a replacement in my hands in two days at no cost. You can't beat that kind of service.

Bob

Dnk · 11-04-2008, 06:05 PM

I own 9 or 10 Excals and I would have to say that the Vortex is the most efficient killing machine. It's the M16 of the crossbow world.

payj · 11-04-2008, 07:11 PM

-please excuse the ignorance but could one of you explain the difference between a compound and recurve. They all seem to look the same to me, at least the ones I have checked out.

-Back to the topic at hand, so excalibur sounds like the ferrari of the xbows. Then it comes down to model, which seems to be the vortex. Anything else????

thanks for the help.....

smokepolehall · 11-04-2008, 07:27 PM

compounds have wheels and cams. actually the Excals are more of the tuff work horse day in day out CB's. very easy to maintain.

payj · 11-04-2008, 07:45 PM

oh ok. With ferrari I meant quality.... Whats with the wheels and cams? What are the benefits or disadvantages? ....

Any other cb's I should look into? Way over my price but the phantom cls looks killer with similar stats, why so much more? That one looks to be a compound.

Thanks

Horizontal Hunter · 11-05-2008, 06:26 AM

In my experience with Excals and Parker crossbows:

Recurve:
Ease of Maintenance. You can change and adjust your own string our own string.
You can also unstring the xbow at the end of the season relaxing the limbs if you don't shoot off
season
Recurves are wider
Generally require a higher poundage to get the same speed as a compound

Compound:
String and cable changes need to be done by the manufacturer or a bow shop on the right press.
Narrower than the recurve
Are more "efficient" than a recurve. IE: a lower poundage will generate higher arrow speeds.

There are others that I am sure tat can add to this but I will say what I said in my earlier post. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to go shoot some and decide what "feels" right to you.

Bob