New axiom heading my way, i got some questions.

[Pasidewinder]

Hey guys, i have a axiom to pick up tomorrow eve and was wanting to get some info about it. I am sure that all of these have been answered here before, so i am very sorry for repeating any of them.

I am picking up my new axiom tomorrow eve, i am not new to crossbows, but i am definately not an "expert" either. I have been archery hunting (compund bow) for approx. 20 years, i have alot of knowlege when it comes to these kind of bows, but one thing i never really worried to much about was the numbers.

By this i mean- feet per second, as far as arrow speed, kinetic energy, knowing how many grains my whole arrow setup weighed. I always just found the "winning" combination for my specific needs/setup and went with that. Never really careing if i had the fastest or slowest setup compared to anyone else, as long as it worked for me.

Honestly i never had even the slightest interest in crossbows until about 5 years ago i won a ten point in a raffle at a charity event, once i started shooting it i was hooked! But after a while i started haveing issues with the cams not staying in time, and it was shooting terrible. After sending it back twice, i decided it was time to cut my losses and get rid of it and go back to my faithful compound bow.

But a couple weeks ago i shot my buddies excal and loved it, thats when i decided to get one for myself and see if the simplicity of the recurve design would better suit me than the compound desigh.

Ok, now that ive given you guys my life story, if there are any of you left that havent "changed the channel" here are my ?s

Im planning on useing the stock bolts that come with this package and am really not interested in shooting a 150grn broadhead, would a 125grn work ok for me?
Im also a huge fan of expandibles, notably the grim reaper brand, i have had amazing success with them over the years. I know these axioms are not the fastest out there, and dont have the kinetic energy of some, but would the reapers function ok off of it? If anyone uses them hows the penetration? Also, i saw the excalibur dampening bars for these bows, do they work decent for tameing the sound and vibration produced by these xbows? How about limb savers?

Sorry for the long winded first post but i am just looking for some pointers to shorten my learning curve a little with this xbow, thanks guys.

[xcaliber]

Yes on the 125 grain head weight, I'm sure about the broadheads, but probably be OK, the D-Bars, I'll would pass, but get the S5 kit, much better. For the limb savers, nope, get a Flemish string with whiskers, you loose about 5 FPS, but they absorb more of the vibration.
Good Luck, and congrats on the bow!
Remember, lots of animals have been taken with that stock bow, you really just need to shoot it!

[RexKay]

Congrats!..that Axiom will blow an expandable thru anything you plan on hunting. Enjoy!

[galamb]

Agree - I shoot Excalibur's slowest, lightest draw weight bow (in their current assortment), the Vixen II.

It blows expandables right through deer at least out to 27 yards (the farthest I have ever had to shoot).

At my "zero range", 25 yards I'm only making about 255 fps and about 57 foot pounds with a 100 grain expandable.

Your rig is "high powered and fast" compared to mine.

So don't worry - put the crosshairs on the target and pull the trigger - you will be more than fine...

[georgiaboy]

Welcome to the forum & congrats on your excal!!
Your set up with 125gr grim reaper's will be fine...i shot a doe three years ago with my axiom & a 125gr reaper, 30 yd shot and blew through her like a train!!
I'm shooting firebolts with 125gr heads, onestringer wraps & 2" blazer vanes with the excal flemish string on my axiom. Total weight is 393grs and chrony's at 298fps.
Good luck!

[Pasidewinder]

Thanks for the info fellas, these bows seem to be very well made. I am very information oriented when it comes to purchasing items like this.

I havent read many negative reports in this or any other excalibur xbow. Actially the only negative report i have read was something about a "stripped" out screw on the back of an axiom stock that allowed the smf rail to wobble? Not sure if this is common or not (guessing not) as i only seen one complaint of it happening.

Im glad to hear good reports about the reapers, i love these broadheads and was hopeing to be able to carry on useing them. I also like the G5 T3s, but they are only 100grn and i want to try and stay on the upper side of weight for this xbow.

How do you guys like the scope that comes on this bow? It looks pretty simple, i have read that you can use a quality shotgun scope also? I actually like this idea because i like the "cleaner" view in a scope without all the lines and marks. I also read several people will just the regular xbow scope and just shoot the cross hair in dead on a t 25 yds and that makes them good from 10 to 35 yds useing only the crosshair and not even worrying about the other marks in the scope, does this seem like something i could get away with? I know that there will be a couple inch variance between the different yardages, but all shots should still be in the "kill zone".

Once again sorry for all the ??s i just like to have all my bases/options on the table when i get this xbow in my hands. The way i see it, the more i can learn from the kindness of seasoned individuals, the better chance i have of also helping someone out one day! Thanks again guys.

[xcaliber]

Best advice I can give you is shoot it, try this, and that to get comfortable with it, know the limits of it, get your confidence up through practice. These are extremely accurate, and the time spent learning the bow is fun as well. The scope should work well enough to get you through the first season, then you can pick the weakest link, and change it. I know how pumped we get when we got new gear coming, and the season draws near, but you're going to be just fine!

[georgiaboy]

Not sure which scope you have...i have the varizone on my axiom. A good basic scope for general hunting ranges ( 40yds ). If your scope doesn't have an adjustable speed ring then you have the one that comes with the axiom package. It's my understanding that the 20/30/40yd marks are pre set using the stock firebolt with 150 grn heads. If that's what you have you may be a tad off if you drop to 125's. That being said just sight in in at 25yds and then shoot 30 & 40 and use kentucky windage...KISS rule if you may.
There's a number of member's here that do just that.

[robertyb]

I shoot 100 grain broadheads problem free with my Vortex and my Matrix 330. They shoot great and blow right thru deer. Both fixed blade and expandables work fine.

[Waif]

Welcome Pasidewinder. Congrats on your Excalibur.
The Axiom comes with what is in the package for good reason. Use your reapers if they are your broadheads of faith by all means.. But the Axiom is ready to rock with what it comes with once you check all fasteners and preferably use a medium strength thread locker on them.Be gentle on the scope screws..To maintain it get a stringer so you can adjust your string allowing you to Keep your brace height where it needs to be to compensate as string stretches. String wax and how to when to. Boo, our resident near saint, (oh, hi Boo) has it down to an art, check him out at info.http://boocustomstrings.com/importantstuff.html
Maintain brace height just clear of your bumpers if you add them, an eighth to a quarter inch maybe. I went by the width of my thumb plus a scootch from end of frame till adding S5's.

[BrotherRon]

Welcome aboard and grats on your purchase.
I'm basically a noob as well, as I just got my first crossbow about a week ago.
I researched everything I could and decided Excalibur was the only way to go.
I was going to get a Vixen ll but finally settled on the new Matrix 310....perfect for an old geezer like me with a bad back. I plan on getting a used Vixen when the opportunity presents itself. (for a good backup)
I'm shooting my M 310 as much as I can to get used to it, and the more I shoot it the more I like it.

[Pintail]

Pasidewinder, I got my first crossbow a few months back. Like you I got a axiom and have had the time to work with arrows, strings, weight and speed. The firebolts that come with your rig work great. With 125 grain heads, total weight works out to 394 and a 13.9 FOC across my chronograph I got a solid 301.( this is with a FF string, the Dacron string that comes with the bow was giving me 284 fps) While the scope that comes with the rig is good ,I wanted something with a better coating for greater light gathering ability at last light. I replaced my scope with a Nikon bolt and find it much better for that half hour after sunset. My broad head of choice is the wasp Jakhammer in 125 grain. I took a doe Monday night and watched her pile up inside of 60+ yards. The bolt was buried 2/3rds the way in hard clay. For 175 pound rig these certainly have more then enough horsepower for whitetails.

[paulaboutform]

Welcome to the forum. I'll repeat some of the great advice that was already mentioned.
1.) Use a medium strength loktight on the fasteners to avoid them vibrating loose. Eg. Scope mount screws, stock screws, limb bolts, stirrup, etc...
2.) BUY A STRINGING AID. This is a must have as it's what will allow you to adjust your brace height and perform any work on your bow.
3.) Watch the instructional videos. They will help you.
4.) Practice with your setup and get familiar with how it performs. This is the fun part....more fun part that is.set your marks off a bench and use a solid rest to eliminate the human error factor. Once you have that practice free hand and/or how you will hunt.
5.) If you don't plan on setting up the yardage marks in the scope (and i recommend you do just to have them as an option should the need arise, ask if you don't know how to do this as they will probably not be correct as is) determine what your point of impact is at closer and further ranges from your zero. Eg. you may find that zeroing your scope at 28 yards will put you 2" high at 20yards and 2" low at 35 yards
Good luck with the new bow. You'll love it. Don't hesitate to ask questions here. There's a wealth of knowledge from many experienced shooters that can help you with any issues.

[Peacemaker]

Welcome to the forum. I too started with a compound crossbow and disliked the complexity. I switched to an Exocet 200 and loved it. So much that I also now have a Matrix 380, too.

That Exocet (slightly more speed than your axiom) passed firebolts with 100gr rage mechanicals right through deer no problem. Your axiom will do the same.

Experiment with your preferred weights, tips, and bolts....sight it in often...know your shooting distance....all the typical bowhunting rules apply...and go fill the freezer.

[kmaxwell5]

I got a used Axiom last year and will never go back to compound crossbows. I will how ever one day upgrade to the Matrix line. Any way I shoot Carbon Express "Devastators" with 100 grain 4 blade Muzzy and also I use Rage 100 grn 2 blade the weigh 349 grns total. They shoot the same out of my Axiom as far as accuracy. I got some Carbon Express "Pile drivers" also and they are very accurate as well with both already mentioned broad heads. The only difference I see between the two bolts I shot is that the "Pile Drivers" are about 447 grns total and the penetrate my target about 2 inches deeper than the lighter bolts. Good luck!!