Help on a new crossbow ??

[SOUP]

Hi folks,
I'm not only the new guy on this forum , but I'm totally new ( & ignorant )
on crossbows & crossbow issues.
I've applied for & will probaly get my permit to use a crossbow in PA & NJ.
I've kind of narrowed the field down to 3 bow manufacturers; TEN -POINT / PARKER / EXCALLIBUR.
The differences I know are 2 are compounds & one is a recurve,2 fit in hard cases & 1 doesn't,2 are narrower & 1 is longer & 2are close in price & the 10 point is about $ 500.00 more. I'm speaking of TOTAL packages. I feel getting into crossbows nothing I have is compatable with crossbow hunting so I may as well buy the mfg. suggested accessories.
I have bought a lot of hunting gadjets over the last 40 years of hunting figuring that more was better & most of it is now gone & I try to carry as little in my pack as I can.
So what I need is some good, non predudical ,information from you folks who have already been into this aspect of our sport for a while.
I don't mind buying good quality items & spending the money for them...having equiptment failures in the field can ruin a great expierence & what did you do save .. a buck ?? On the other hand do you really need that extra bell or whistle ?
I apologise for this lenghtly post & promise brevity in the future , please don't run my aout of town , but I can use some help.
Thank you in advance for your time ,help & patience.
SOUP

[Tom]

...having equiptment failures in the field can ruin a great expierence & what did you do save .. a buck ?? On the other hand do you really need that extra bell or whistle ?
I.
SOUP

Soup first of all ... welcome.

Next is, your above quote can be taken alot of ways. The main difference between compounds and the recurve is the simplistic nature of the recurve. Less moving parts, less to chance to go wrong. Not saying that anything will ever go wrong in the field with the compounds, most users on here with compounds have not had anything happen, but what if. With a recurve, strings can be changed in the field real quickly and there are no pullies or cables to tinker with.

Now with the shorter nature of the compounds, it gives them an advantage in caring in the bush (small advantage), can fit into the bulky hard cases, but there are ways of putting the recurve into a hard case if that is what you want.

About accesseries, you will need arrows, a quiver of some sort, hunting heads, extra string. Things you might want would be a scope, stringer (to help install a string), string cocker (it lowers the strength needed in cocking the bow by 50%), portable target for tqarget practice.

Other than that most all other accesseries for the bows can be done without. Now you need to figure out if the compounds with the cables and pullies has more to give you than the slimplistic nature of the recurve. All are reasonably accurate and dependable but most on here would say that the Excalibure is most accurate.

Good luck. Hope this helps you.

[Sandman]

Welcome aboard~!

The only advice I can offer is that my first purchase of a crossbow was a Horton and I have said it many times before my Horton never let me down in the field and I still own it today. I can say that you are a smarter man than I as I did not find this forum and/or Excal until after I got my Horton. I purchased my first Excal approx 2 years ago and the difference is remarkable. I can also say that my Excals (3 now) are more dependable, accurate and an absolute treat to shoot~!

Just my opinion from up here in the cheap seats~!

No matter what your choice of crossbow let us know how you made out and I look forward to hearing of your first harvest~!

Regards,
Robin

[Buckstopshere]

Iwould never buy another compound crossbow , ihad two horton bows a legend 2 and a blackhawk 200#. had trouble with both the cable broke twice on the blackhawk and had a cracked limb on legend i had to send both back for warranty work. If you have to change a string you take it to a registered dealer if you can find one within 30 mliles that has a bow press that will work on crossbows. thank god i found this forum and bought excalibur bows , i have a vixen and just bought a new phoenix. I wouldnt trade either one for the best compound ever made.

[tkstae]

Welcome to the Forum. I have the Exocet from Excalibur and wouldn't have anything but an Excalibur. Kind of wish I would have listened to those who told me that a Vixen was more than enough for whitetails. Still thinking about buying one for next season. A friend of mine just bought a Parker. Its ok but the glue on rail covers are starting to peel off after two Months. I don't think its going to hold up for more than a few seasons. I know a few who use Ten Points and really like them, but man are they expensive. Best of luck to you. Tom

[hawg hunter]

you have do the right thing first . seeking knowledge and advice. ididnot know of this forum before i bought my exomag . after purchase it i found that ihad done the right purchase. horton and 10pt are to heavy and they have to be maintained by a pro shop . there are not many bow shops down in south texas. YOU DON't NEED WHEELS TO FLY! almost forgot welcome to this fine forum and hope to see you've made a decision you'll be happy with for many seasons.

[Tar Heel]

I started my first year with a compound crossbow and the limb split the first week I had to send it off for repairs and it was down for the season.
Now I carry a exomag and a spare string and don't worry.

Tar Heel

[blackdi]

HI SOUP. I got 5 cross bows. Proline, Tenpoint, barrnet, Bear Max Point, and the new Excallibur Exocet 200. Yes I do shoot alot. My best arrow is a ICS BEMAN THUNDER BOLT 22INCH. I fletch it with a Quick Spin vane. 125 gr the same a my broadheads. In order, I think that the Excallibur Exocet 200 is the best and finest crossbow there is. The bear max Point is the second best.(175lb. pull). These 2 are the fastest and most accurate bows I have ever seen. Ten Point makes Proline. Pro Lines cross bow is the ten Points titan.(cheapest one) Ten Point is way to pricey, Not a good value for the money. My View, The barrnet, (well) the one I have is not even worth the powder to blow it up with. I hope this helps. This is only one man's voice.
TERRY COVER

[BUCKSHOT]

There are a lot of good points which have been raised here!
Some additional things to consider!

Maintenance in general of a recurve can be done at home or in the field!

Compound in general requires a pro shop for maintenance which will cost dollars on a seasonal basis!

A recurve can be stored and transported in a double gun case as per Diggers idea!

The compound bows are more narrow!

The compound bows are more smooth and quiet, IMO, which doesn't matter!

With the proper compound bow you could attach the limb and riser assembly from an excalibur and have the best of both worlds!

There are all kinds of pro's and cons for each, I would say that if you maintain all of your equipment efficiently, the choice could easily be narrowed down to your prefference and not necessarily by simplicity!

Just a thought!

[wabi]

A lot of fair unbiased opinions so far, but I'll have to admit - I'm biased, very biased! Own an Excalibur recurve for a season and you will be, too! You just can't beat the Excalibur's combination of simplicity and reliability if you want an accurate and dependable crossbow.

[Deer Dave]

Soup

I recently purchased a Parker terminator crossbow..320 fps. and 150 lbs.
My intentions were to look and shoot the ten point...excalibur...and the parker...at Cabelas in Pa. I went to a local dealer instead, and walked out with the parker. I never shot the ten point ...because the dealer didn,t have any, and stated they were too heavy...he had an excalibur phoenix, and I picked it up and he said that he couldn't pull it back...I did like the feel of the Excal. But I have sore shoulders. So I checked out the parker. He seemed to be pushing the parker. It does have a lifetime warranty, and I got both the rope and the crank cocking aids. It has a single red dot scope.

Upon shooting it 150-200 times..the serving went...and a few strands of the string was frayed/cut. Originally the dealer told me to use rail lube on those teflon strips...so I did. I later found out upon my "close" inspection that the right side teflon rail is a little higher than the left side...it is even about half way down the rail.......then it rises a little to the nock end where it gets highest. I would say it is a 32nd. of an inch or a slight bit more. I called parker and was told that they all are molded type stocks and there is not one perfect, and the height difference means nothing as far as accuracy. I am getting some nock wear at 7 oclock. Is this normal? Parkers rep also told me to NOT use the rail lube, as the teflon strips eliminate serving wear. HMMMMM what to do???

I am now waiting for a new string and won't have my xbow back till Thur. this week. When I noticed the serving frayed, I stopped shooting it. The dealer thinks that the orig. serving was faulty and loose from the factory. So we will wait and see. So my question is do I use the rail lube or not...since I have 2 different storys. And how many shots should I get between servings?

To answer "your" questions, I would highly recommend that you shoot all brands that you are considering, and take it from there. Cost, comfort, feel, noise, and shootability.

I am still thinking of going to Cabelas and checking out the Excals. and the ten points.


My overall opinion of my 3 week old parker is still in question, as I will see how many shots I get with the new string. I plan on shooting this xbow a lot. And despite what the dealer said ........that most guys only shoot their xbows 25 shots a year....sheeessss...cut me a break...I am not going to be like most guys. And he also said that most guys don't keep shooting when the serving frays...that was an insult to my intelligence and I took it with a grain. Maybe he was having a bad day.

Sorry for the lone winded post...but I thought I would tell it like I it is.

Best of luck!

PS...I am considering shooting an Excalibur...and or at least going to Cabelas as I stated above..And I wouldn't be surprised if I came home with one!!! or the tenpoint.


Best, Dave

[TYE]

I will only ever buy Excalibur, or Horton's. Right now I own an Excalibur.

[GaryL]

Excalibur is BEST if you want something fast and easy to keep up. They have cranking aid, rope cocker and stringer, and Excalibur is one of the BEST in standing behind their product.

For compound xbow I only have experience with a few and would have to recommend a top of the line TenPoint....

[Sako]

I am certainly not an expert since I have only owned a crossbow for six months but I can say the following.

I am very particular about the equipment I have and do not mind spending money on the best. I am absolutely an accuracy nut... I also love guns...

I almost bought a Ten point but went with the Exocet200. All I can say is AWESOME. And I am very hard to please.

I have never regretted it one minute and do not think you would either if you got an Excalibur.

[Tar Heel]

Deer Dave, you were telling about your serving being frayed so i thought I would share this with you, I carry a roll of teflon tape with me
when i hunt or shoot if I notice any fraying I wrap the serving and keep
shooting till I can get it fixed, you can twist it and fill in the low spots then wrap it. It works for me.

Tar Heel