Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

My boyfriend mentioned that he would LOVE to have a crossbow. I am sure he figures that I will not buy him something like that, also he thinks it would be too expensive. Of course, I think it would make a great surprise for Christmas, but I need advice.

Can I get some feedback on quality crossbows in the $350-$600 range? I know this is not top of the line money, but I am sure I could find one that he would enjoy in that range.

I have been looking at the Excalibur Pheonix or Equinox. Are these good names? I do not want to buy a piece of junk. Please advise!

Thank you in advance! :)

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Any of the Excalibur bows are a good quality bow. They are dependable, very accurate and have a great history behind them. The pheonix I think will run about $450 for a bare bow and the Equinox is about $600. Also the Exquinox is the most powerfull bow at 225lb pull.

There is something you should tell us about your boyfriends prefrences and stature. The two bows you described are slightly different in the stock design. One is a standard stock and the other is a Thumb hole stock, which is one inch shorter in lenght. If your boyfriend is shorter or has shorter arms then this might fit him better. Also the thumb hole design fits people better which have smaller hands (their hands can relax better). IF he is tall or has long arms, then the full or regular stock would probually fit him better.

The Pheonix is a 175lb bow. If it is for hunting, it is strong enough to harvest any animal in North America humanly. I will add another bow name to your choice, only because it has the thumb hole stock but is of the lighter poundage and lower costs. It is the Vortex and it is 200 lb and is about $550.

Hope this helps you some.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Thank you so much for the informative and thoughtful reply.

My boyfriend is 6' 3", (tall and skinny, but strong). This will be for hunting (next year) and probably just for play until then... Honestly the Phoenix for the price is more attractive to me, but, do you think it is man enough for him? I do not want to get him something wussy if you know what I mean. I really want to buy him a tool that will be a good investment for years.

Thanks again, super helpful comments.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

The two bow you mention are great. I have both and the Pheonix is already more bow than eanyone needs for whitetail. It is a recurve style without wheels like a compound bow so you should find out which he wants a recurve a compound type.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

How do you feel about buying on eBay from a highly rated seller? The bow would still be covered under Excalibur warranty... but should I not risk it and buy from a real store? Any suggestions on where to buy?

I have seen some good deals on eBay, just wondering.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

CrissyK I know what you mean about if the bow might be "wussy" or not:D but I have never really ever hear of any of the Excalibur models put into that class and they sell a 150lb model (about $400) but it is more a basic model with no camo colour on the bow (think it is a brown colour). The thing alot of people are finding out about the 225 lb bows is that they are too much bow for them. Remember that you have to put all the energy into the bow each time you shoot it. Even with the rope cocker, it can become too much work when practicing, makeing it not as much fun.

Another thing you should think about is where he will be hunting. Some States have a maxium poundage of 200lbs, so if he might get a chance to hunt in one of those States, you might want to limit the bow to the 200lb class.

About the investment part, I do not think you could go wrong with the Excalibur bows as they will hold their value. Just an example, try to purchase a used bow and they are not far off the price of a new bow.

By the way, I shoot an Excalibur Relayer, which was the first model they produced back in the mid 1980's and is in the 150lb class. Yes that is aprox 25 years old and I have not had anything major go wrong with it and is still as accurate today as when I got it.

Any more questions, feel free to ask.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

E-bay .............. I have heard some good things about it and some bad. Are you talking about a regular store (on e-bay) or a private seller. I think some people have used "bow supper store" or a name simular to that without any problems, but they will only give a store credit on returns if it ever came to that.

Local stores have some great features. They can set them up for you, you can go in at any time to ask questions and have them look over the bow (in case you have problems). I totally understand the money thing and how it is amost always needed to get the best price, but service, as in customer service is a major thing in my opinion ans is worth a little extra money.

Good luck.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

How come I've never had a wife or GF that would buy me anything near as cool as a pheonix!!! I'm lucky to get a high collered fishing sweater.

Crissy you do know that if you buy him an Xbow he's gonna want to marry you cause thats a sign of undying love. It's bringing tears to my eyes rightnow..

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

I do have one more question....I also noticed that the Phoenix at least does not come with the scope.. is that a "must" buy as well? Should I just assume that I need to add the scope to any of these?

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

I just bought the Excalibur Pheonix package deal from Bowhunters Superstore. This Xbow package comes with the xbow, scope, quiver, bolts and field tips and a string. Everything to get him started. I'm very happy with the xbow and the deal I got. Excalibur's a known for their accuracy and reliablity. I upgraded from an older Barnett compound x-bow. I'm lovin this recurve. Concider some accessories, as well as the package deal. Rope cocking aid, Xbow stringer, Boss Wasp 100gr broadheads, wax, Xcal carbon gold tip bolts.

Your boyfriend should love you long time for a X-mas present like this. Happy Holidays.

Get out in the woods with him.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Planter, I'm going to print this for him after I give him the gift..haha.

I do pretty good with gifts.. I usually buy him power tools. :)

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Thanks so much for recommending that package from bowhunter's superstore, that looks like a great price with all the accessories included!!! I'm psyched now, seriously, thanks everyone so much this has been so helpful.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

CrissyK the prices were just a ball park pricing for bare bows. That is not any accessories. When you start to talk about accessories you can start to add up more money. As for a Christmas gift, I would honestly just go with a bare bow, and add the accessories later. This way he would have an honest choice in what he gets for accessories. There are different scopes that Excalibur puts out and he might like one better then another. He might like the Peep site that comes with the bow.

The most important part is cost, it would be cheaper with just a bare bow. If you want to add more oney, include a note with the bow, that you will help him with accessories later after he decides what he wants.

Good luck.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Remember that when purchasing from the internet ......... some places hide or add SHIPPING COSTS on at the end, just remember it will be there ;)

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Good idea about letting him pick his own accessories...

I found a place to buy with free shipping!

One last time... do you think the Phoenix would be too small to fit someone tall with long arms comfortably?

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Nope

This is the longest stock bow they produce. THey went to the shorter stock (thumb hole) because some were having dificulty fitting into thie standard stock. Now they offer both styles so there is a choice.

I find the thumb hole to be too short for me, but the other is just right and I am about 6 foot.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Ok wait, I am confused.. I thought the Phoenix was for a smaller framed person?

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

No ........... the Pheonix (175 lb) has the standard stock. The Equinox (225 lb) and the Vortex (200 lb) have the thumb hole stock which is shorter by 1 inch in length. The thumb hole design is also about $60 (I think) more in price for it.

For taller or larger people I would recomend the standard stock. FOr shorter arms and smaller hands, the thumb hole would be better (more comfortable).

Here is the home page for the Excalibur site

http://excaliburcrossbow.com/demo/m/content/article.php?content_id=1

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Hmm, I guess this is throwing me off, per their description: The Phoenix is ideal for smaller stature hunters

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Ok ........... that is an older discription some retailers used for the smaller poundage models. I will give you a little education on the bows.

With Excalibur, the bows are almost all the exact same, except for some small changes. Most all parts are interchangable with other models. For a bow, the poundage is determined by the shooting rail lenght. The longer the more poundage, the shorter, less poundage. Now this difference is not very much at all, I believe that from the 150lb to the 225 lb model, the shooting rail is only 1 inch longer (aprox). Now the shooting rail is the part of the bow that the arrow actually rides on or sits on when the bow is cocked and ready to fire. This distance does not effect the fit of the bow for shooting, only when cocking.

It was just this year that the new thumb hole stocks were produced. These new models are more adept for the shorter people.

Again I do not think that your boyfriend would mind this bow and that it would fit him well.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

THANKS EVERYONE for the help.

I bought the Excalibur Phoenix (just the bow, no extras). I also bought him some kind of deer call that he drooled over on a commercial yesterday (knightandhale.com) and some kind of e-chips that he can put on his fishing lures that attract fish.

Haha, am I the best girlfriend ever or what? He is going to be so impressed.

Thanks again for the education and advice.

Oh and I got the bow for $399.95 with free shipping from bowhuntersuperstore.com! They said it is shipping TODAY!!!!

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Congrats on the purchase.

But do you realize that you have have just made many many other females upset. :D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Now how can they live up to what you just did :D:D:D:D:D


I bet there have already been many males who have shown this post to their wives or girlfriends and said ........ see what a good wife/girlfriend will buy for the other half

Again congrats, he will be more then happy.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Hi Chrissy! welcome to the forum! Echoing Grumpy Tom, the only difference in Excals [until they brought out thumbhole stocks this year] is the length of the rail. To get from 150# pull bow to 225# pull bow, they just make the rails a bit longer to get the poundage [and price,lol] up. I have both the Phoenix and Emax. The Emax [same bow as Equinox but old style rifle stock] is a real bruiser and not a pleasure to shoot like the Phoenix. BHSS has had them best prices on the net, but has a credit only policy on returns, so if you use them, be aware you can't get a cash refund. Another word of caution, Excal offers two packages. One is called the "Right Stuff" and has every thing a new xbower will need. The other is called "Just enough Stuff" or something like that and is for folks that already have some of the gizmo's you need to string and shoot a xbow. the two new models this year are : Vortex [same as Exocet] and Equinox [same as Exomax] but both have the heretofore unavailable thumbhole stocks. Have fun!

Edited to add: W/ Excals, the taller you are, the easier it is to cock the higher poundage [longer pull/stroke] bows.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

I think you made the right choice with excalibur too, I have a phoenix and love it, in fact you'd be hard pressed to get me to trade it for any other crossbow
it was my wife who talked me into getting it actually, I was undecided between the phoenix and vixen and she made my mind up for me, and I'm gladshe did now...



the only problem I'd see is that MAY come up is thatmost people who arent very knowledgeable about crossbows tend to see the compound style as superior, a recurve is kind of looked at down on as not being as good when in fact the recurve is superior in alot of ways(if not most ways), if he falls into that catagory you may have to explain that to him...
excalibur crossbows arent cheap junk, they'rehigh quality, top of the line crossbows



I also agree with letting him get what he wants for accessories, for a guy picking and choosing what you wantfor it ishalf the fun and comes from personal prefference thats hard for anyone else to judge

the only thing I'd suggest is that you could pick up a scope mount for it, thats something thats a pretty standard accessory and unless he choses the stock pins for sights(which is pretty unlikely) its something that will be needed and usually has to be ordered so getting one ahead of time would probably be a good idea, then he can play around with different scopes without having to wait for the needed mount to arrive

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

You made a great buy with the Phoenix. You got really good advice from the members here, and he should really love the gift. I have a Vixen and love it. I don't want to be a wet blanket, but before the bow gets in, check your local laws to make sure crossbows are legal hunting gear where you live. There's some strange restrictions out there. If it's not, then you should have no trouble returning the bow still in the box.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Heck any Ecal is a good buy....I also feel the same way with 10point.....

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

You are going to have a happy Man on Christmas!! How familiar is he to CB's and deer hunting in general? Also, do you plan on getting him other stuff. The reason I ask is since you bought him the bare bow it will be like giving someone a car with no gas and oil, he will not be able to "play" on Christmas day with it. If he is totally new to the CB world then you should get him the right stuff pack also. Alot of things in there that a well experience Excal guy can do with out, but will be like gold to him being a new guy to the Excal line. The stringing aid is one of them things that I think is a must have. If you get this you will still be under your original budget and he will have all he needs to go out and shoot the same day! When he opens the gift, send him our way and we will help him out with whatever he needs! This is from the BHSS web site.



Excalibur 2007 Right Stuff Standard Crossbow Acces., Realtree AP.
[EX6660]




$159.95
Excalibur 2007 Right Stuff Standard Crossbow Acces., Realtree AP.

Accessory packages are a must for the hunter who wants it all. The "Standard Package" comes with Quiver Bracket, Excalibur 4-Arrow "Realtree Hardwoods" Quiver, Deck Wax, Excel String, Rope Cocking Aid, Crossbow Stringer, 6-Arrows w/Vanes and 6-100 gr.Target Points and 6-100 gr. Broadheads.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Just maybe she does not want him to be playing with the BOW on christmas day or the evening



I think it would be best for him to choose his own accessories. Just too many personal choices that could be messed up on from scopes to arrows, and other things. I bet he will be here to the forum after christmas.

RE: Want to buy crossbow for boyfriend...help me?
 

Guy must be related to dennis rodman;)