Well I have stayed away from these post for a while but will give it a try for ya. The first thing you need to come to terms with is the low "pop" or "nothing loud". That is something you will not find in any CB, FACT! Do a search on this forum for ear plugs, you find that alot of people that have been using CB's for a while recommend them when new people start talking about trying to quite their CB. My friend, it is not going to happen. A CB has alot of energy in those small limbs so that in it's self will make more sound then a normal long bow. Then you have the stock, in my opinion the stock is like a set of speakers and mic for the loud powerful limbs. If you ever find a CB that is half as quite as a regular bow, you let us know cause we would all like to know.

On your second part about the cranks, I can offer no help. I think all the CB makers offer some type of crank. Some are permanently mounted some slip on and such. A few offer a rope style cocker that have a pulley affect to greatly reduce pull weight and I think Excal has that and a few guys on here really like it. I say I can be of no help because I have never used one so my advise only comes from what I have read on here.

For a CB recommendation I can recommend my CB of choice which is Horton. You made a reference to nothing cheap, and I have realized in the last year that is a statement you need to use when buying a Horton. Horton has evolved into a huge CB maker that has been on the seen from the get go since Ohio and Arkansas first opened up the hunting world to CB hunting. Horton and Barnett were first on base to harvest the new market and in time that has proved to be a draw back. Horton has been sucked into the makem cheap WAL-MART game! I have always had a Horton, Dad gave me my first when I was sixteen I think and that bow after fourteen years is still busting knocks if you aim for the same spot. My new CB which was bought last year is the Horton supermax, another fine Horton product that will keep me happy and anyone else who lays hands on one. If you choose the Horton line you need to look for one thing in my opinion. It must have a machined aluminum barrel. The ones that they make for wal-mart and the other lower CB's they offer are a composite barrel of some sort. I think they are OK CB's but from what others say they lack in quality. But I also wonder when some only has a few bucks and make a last minute purchase from wal-mart with no knowledge is set to fail from the beginning IMO. SO in short get one of the higher end ones and you will be set, cut cost and you could be taking a risk.

Lastly I will offer support for the Excal crowd. It's re-curve design is what lures me into it's seduction as time goes on. There is three good guys on here that can offer hard facts about there products that I can say you can trust, two of them have already spoke, and the crazy Canadian will chime in soon. Robert is also good with them so maybe he too can help on this. I have never shot an Excal but them boys sure seem happy. They do not sell them and they have all killed deer with them so I think they are good sources. One thing I can add about the Excal that gets me is the independence you get with one. The re-curve design lets you do all your own work without a bow press. If you buy a wheel bow you will be at the mercy of a shop, which I deal with and dislike.

As for optics I like the Excal's custom adjustable speed scope called the V-ZONE. I have it on my Horton and love it. It has a adjustable speed ring on it that can be set to your CB's speed and then your 20, 30 and forty will be dead on. Some guys say the low light conditions are not the best with these, but I am happy with it. Sorry so long, but thats my scoop and good luck! Keep us posted!