I am new to all this crossbow stuff
 

I am 38 years old and the old football and rugby injuries have caught up with me. I have arthritis in my drawing shoulder to a point that the doctor said I shouldn't bowhunt anymore. He has given me a permit to use a crossbow. I have been a bowhunter for 20 years and I don't want to give up the bowhunting seasons.

I am looking at the Barnett Quad 400 or the Excalibur. The problem is with the Excalibur I would have to spend a lot on extras without even knowing if I like crossbow hunting. Would the Barnett be a good entry level setup until I figure all this out?

Thanks in advance

RE: I am new to all this crossbow stuff
 

Welcome asttbe, ..........Apparently you are in the same boat as me. I can't decide between the Excal or Barnett either. It sounds like you don't have much of a choice about croosbow hunting, given your medical problem. I can tell you that it probably is more fun to harvest one with a compound versus a crossbow, but, its not enough to outweigh the damage its doing to your injury. Good Luck with whatever you choose!

RE: I am new to all this crossbow stuff
 

From what the guys on here say the Barnett would be OK. DO a search on it and you should get some hits. The Excal would be your "big" buy and the price is a bit on the higher side but not as bad as some out there. The Excal guys on here seem to really enjoy there bows. I myself have always been shooting Horton's and never had any problem with them. My old Supermag is fourteen years old and is still kicking just fine for dad. You can get some pretty cheap Horton packages and could use that as your "decision" bow before moving up the ladder. It seams as though alot of guys have been coming out of the wood work lately with Horton problems and it has me puzzled. I have never had any problems, and the three guys at work have never had problems with theres, I guess guys pulling there bows out of the closet after deer season starts should be my first sign!

RE: I am new to all this crossbow stuff
 

U will get just as much thrill of harvesting a deer with CB as with regular Bows. U still have to be close, and thats gives u the shakes to start with! CB's wheeled Ten pt. and Parkers, cost is abit high but they're worth it. Excals are the same way, u don't have pay big money fer one. Exocet 200 can be had fer about $370. Get a rope cocker and extra string half dz. arrows and a quiver and good target. U don't have to have a scope the first year, peep will work fine to 30 yds. Whats there not like! There r some Bows i won't even touch. The new Hortons and some Barnetts r falling apart just picking them up! U want a hunting CB with powergood speed great trigger,comfort good warranty and weight not pulling yer arms out of their sockets.

RE: I am new to all this crossbow stuff
 

Well boys ive give mattewsboy a helping had but all i can say is as long as it shoots fast and accuret go for it im not say exal or barnett i dont agree on these extras you got to pick up i myself shoot barnett for well over 10 yrs and love them i sure if i shot excal for a bit id like them but ive be loyal to barnett thus far so i say go for barnett i shoot the quad 300 and ive got the 400 quad limbs on and its fast but hey as long as it shoots good luck with what ever you get.

RE: I am new to all this crossbow stuff
 

Yup u r right those Barnetts r barn burners, fast, real quality. IMO i think every one should have at least one of them, to shoot at!:D

RE: I am new to all this crossbow stuff
 

Thanks for the replies.

It looks like everything else, Ford vs. Chevy, Dish vs. Cable, Bud vs. Miller I guess everyone has their preference.

Y'all did bring up something I hadn't thought about. Cocking the CB without messing with my shoulder. [:@] This is kind of like buying a computer when I knew nothing about them

RE: I am new to all this crossbow stuff
 

HEHEHE: It's a dirty job, but somebodys gotta do it. Comparing an Excal to a Barnett is not like the above comparisons!! More like night vs. day, black vs. white, Mo-ped vs. Harley ect. :D:D And before you Bnett guys get spun up, I had two of them and the best thing I can say about them is I got my money back.

Getting serious for a second, the use of a rope cocker cuts the draw weight in half due to mechanical leverage. Works kinda like a mini block and tackle.
You guys that can't make up your mind what bow to get would be well off to go to a Cabelas or Bass Pro and shoot a few. I wouldn't buy one there as there are cheaper sources.