As far as reliability goes I am pleased with my Vortex. I really enjoy taking the string off myself and being able to change it with out a press. I was extremely happy with the fact that I did not have to go to the shop and have a serving put on like I did with my Horton. The more I use it the more I like having less moving parts. I read something funny on Horton's web site the other day, they have changed it since they are going to start going vertical now. But anyways they used to say in the facts page all the advantages of Compound over recurve and always gave a plus to the compound. Now that they are selling recurves they have switched there tune and offer the advantages of recurve over compound, I thought it was funny to read it, from them none the less. Your Excal will come with out a serial number on it. The reason is Bill T does not care when it was made, if he made it, he will fix it for free!! The no serial number thing on the Excal was another selling point for me.

You will do better with more pin's. But the first time you can not shoot a a nice buck because of peep sight issues you will regret it. One of the finest bucks I ever had walked in range I lost because of low light and a peep sight, still had eight minuets of light left, but the peep was to dark to see him. As far as sights go, the Lumizone is the finest CB specific scope ever made IMO. You can get some rifle scopes that are better yet for lower light and I think they work just fine on a CB, But the reverse recoil debate is one I am not interested in and has been beat to death as it is in here. To many guys have good quality rifle scopes on there CB's and not having problems IMO for this to be a issue.

I love my Gold Tip laser II's! They are top notch IMO. I was always bending aluminum arrows and did not have a straighting jig. Carbons last me a long time, but I like to retire my arrow after they pass through a deer, they make good trophy's for the wall to me.

As far as Mechs go on turkeys or hogs I can not help at all, never shot at either.

Maybe Randy could chime in and help you with your CB with the issues you are having with it, not sure.