Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

Hi, I am getting ready to upgrade to an Excal. I ampretty sure I am going with the Vortex. I like the thumbhole stocks. My question is: Which models have the auto safety and which have the manual. Some of the auctions I've been followingdon't say. I been looking at the 2007 model Vortex. I'm hoping the price will drop. I've been told they may drop ofter the big archery show in Jan. I don't want to get stuck with the auto safety if there's problems with it. Also that's more parts to go wrong. I realize Excal corrected this. I just want to make sure I get the right one first time around. Thanks for any info! Also I now have a Horton HD175 that I can cock fairly easy with the rope cocker. The Vortex is 200lb and not a compound. Will it be close to the same? I figure with a cocker it will 12.5lbs more to cock. Is this right? or does the compound CBhave a let-off like the vert bows?

chris

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

Chris I believe that the Excalibur Auto safety was built in the mid 90's. Actually I believe that it was in the 90-92 production years. If your buying new, the chances you are going to get a model with the Auto Safety is almost nill. I believe that this bow was the model after the woverine. About pricing dropping in or after the Jan bow show, I doubt that there will be much of a drop in price for "last years model" mostly because of the demand for the Excalibur bows. Just look up the price of used Excalibur bows, not much lower then the new unused bows. Also, last year was a major change in the model line, the thumb hole stock & lumizone scope, so there might not be much in changes this year.Even in saying that, 2008 will be the 25th year anversary and rummor has it that there might be a Special anversary model with a limited production.

Below I went to the Excalibur site and did a search for Bill's comments on the auto safety.....
I guess my memory is better then I thought . It was around 92 that it was made. I have used a compound twice (not sure what the poundage was) but the weight was generally the same, but I thought it was a little more different were the maxium power was needed. What I mean is I found that the compound was more difficult at the bigginning and the recurve more at the end. The recurve constantly gained in power needed. Either way, compound or crossbow, you will need equal power to cock (to put to full power) if the bows are equal power. I hope that I did not confuse you more. The rope cocker in the 175 power requires 85lbs and the 200 lb bow takes 100lbs (rope cocker reduces power needed by 50%)

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

Thanks, I understand that! When year did Excal switch back to the manual safety?? I will probably buy a 2007 model when the new ones come out to get it cheaper. Unless they have something new that I like better. I usually stay away from first year products as they sometimes have bugs to be worked out. I'm sure they do thorough at Excal though. The Vortex I understand is the same as the Exocet200. Except the Vortex has the new thumbhole stock design which I prefer. In my case with my back and neck issues it is easier to keep steady and shouldered longer. I like my TR HD175 as far as performance and the accuracy is good,but it is awful front heavy being a compound. I have lost alot of muscle mass in the last couple years and my core strength is down due to this damn disk disease and multiple surgeries. I am thinking the Vortex will be much easier to handle and service. Also I feel I will be happy for a long time with it and not have to upgrade again since the Excals are kicka$$ anyway!

chris

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

Chris, the reason Excalibur has such a great dependability record is that they build it for dependability and accuracy. They test their bows before they release a new model. I believe that Bill told us that he tested the Exomax for well over a year before they choose to release it. He also states that only one Excalibur model cannot withstand an odd dry fire, that is the exomax. All other models (except my Relayer) will not suffer dammage other then maybe string dammage. I would not hesitate to buy a new Excalibur model.

From reading that post from Bill, I think he stopped building the auto safety in 92, maybe 93 at the latest.

A good point that you made that with the recureve, it will be better ballanced and with the thumbhole stoick,, it would be easier for you to handle and hold to your shoulder. I think you are going ok and good luck.

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

Chris,

The only thing that I would add is that you should test the "feel" of the different stocks (standard, and thumb hole) by going to a local shop. I personally did not care fot the thumb hole stock. It just didn't feel right to me. BTW i have never owned a thumb hole stocked weapon. Excal makes a fantastic crossbow and really stands behind their product. You won't be dissapointed.

Bob

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

Ditto's on Bob's and G.Toms posts. No auto safety w/ new Excals. Having shot hammer guns all my life, this was no big deal w/ me. It's easy to get into the habit of flipping the rope cocker off and putting the safety on.
I've some experience w/ auto safety xbows. They are NOT the can of corn they appear to be. Sometimes a rope cocker can engage them prematurely, other times they get stuck half way betweeen on and off. never woory about a new model Excal, they reached perfection along time ago and new stuff today is just another version of past successes.....Imho.

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

I shoot a vortex with the thumbhole stock and absolutely LOVE it. Manual safety isn't an issue if you only shoot one bow and get used to the idea of putting it on EVERY time it's cocked, even if you are going to shoot it right away.
My other bow does have an automatic safety so I have to be ever watchful to follow that rule.

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

Sounds good! Thanks for the info. I just wanted to make sure. I'm going to start making up the Ebay auction for my Horton. I may put a link for it in the classifieds section on here. I'm not sure what I'm going to start the bid at yet. Probably will start for whatever the least I'll accept. Hell, it's like new. It's only been sighted, shot a few times, and killed a doe first of archery season. I'm also selling the extras including the cocker. I'll get a new Excal one later. Plus the scope, mounts, stringer, atc. I may not put a quiver on it. Haven't decided. I heard they get in the way of things. I may just get a nice hip quiver. Thanks

chris

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

Chris. I agree with Horizontal Hunter in trying the two different stocks for Excal. The thumbhole stock is an inch shorter and I didn't like the feel of it for that reason as it just didn't seem to fit right for me. I own their Vixen 150 & Exocet 200 and their stocks are the same as a rifle stock and they fit me a whole lot better.I'm not sure why they made the thumbhole stock shorter but I guess they had a reason for it.

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

My understanding is that many people were complaining that the regular stock did not fit their body size. Smaller hands and smaller arms were having difficulty with the fit of a bow, which turned people to other manufactures. Since, generally smaller arms and hands go together, they developed a bow stock (thumb hole stock) to acommidate these people.

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

I'm 6'2'' with a 37" sleeve. The Thumbhole stock fits me very well. I'm thinking it's a marketing issue. Excal info states that the Vortex is "shorter" overall; presumably to accommodate the folks that have an issue with Excal's size. But to find out that it's only 1" shorter one has to go to the comparison chart. On the other hand, that one inch does make it easier to cock.

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

That one inch shorter that we talk about with the thumb hole stock is in the stock, not in the power stroke. The distance youhave to pull back to cock the bow is the same as the regular stoick (Exomax/Equinox, & Exocet 200/Vortex) with comparable pouldage. If you shorten the power stroke, you lower the poundage of the bow. Now if you compare the max and the exocet, I think they are 0.5'' different in power stroke, same as the vortex and the equinox. The one inch shorter in the STOCK should not effect the cocking of the bow.

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

Yea I am not real big 5'8" 150lbs. I was having trouble shouldering some of my guns after surgeries. My Horton is a thumbhole, so is my new TC Omega. This style of stock drastically helps out where I lack in form. I was shoulder our old TC I think its a green mnt rifle or something. Big heavy sucker about 9-10 lbs!!! I could only hold it up for a few seconds!!! I was shocked. I was thinking about shooting it some but told dad there was no way I could lug that around, let alone keep it steady enough to get a good shot on a deer. I even used my Omega for gun season here.

chris

RE: Excal question about their auto/manual safety
 

For me the real "turn off" was the location of the safety. It felt very awkward to have to take your thumb out of the thumb hole to reach the safety lever. As I said I don't own anything else with a thumb hole and there are a lot of people out there that love them. Just try it before you buy it IMHO.

Bob