380 or 405

[hunter01]

I am new to site
Looking to purchase Excalibur, its between the Matrix 380 or the 405. I am not the biggest guy, and not small either, guy at local shop is suggesting the 380 because the takes easier to cock.
Can I just get a bare bow and buy the scope I want?

Should I get the Excalibur arrows and broad heads? Or are there better out there? Of course want something that fly's good out to 50 yards.

I have seen Danny Miller mentioned on a few posts, does he have a better set up for arrows and broad heads.

I want a fixed blade, I shoot slick trick in my compound bow, and they fly good in that.



Thanks for any and all commits.

[paulaboutform]

If you want to do a lot of target shooting or 3D get the 380. If you mostly just hunt and want a mega heavy hitter get the 405. Both are equally accurate. Black Eagle arrows are the best in my opinion. Slick Tricks are great. If you shoot 100gr I suggest heavier brass inserts. I prefer plastic nocks and 2" blazer veins. Whichever bow you buy be sure to also buy the stringing aid, it's a must have. Yes, you can buy either bow as a bare bones. Good luck....oh yeah, yes, call Danny Miller and he can make sure you're set up properly.

[Peacemaker]

try to find a way to cock them both before you choose. I went to the Harrisburg show and did just that....and decided on the 380 (I had an Exocet 200 so I knew that the 380 would be plenty fast; exocet is nominally 320 or 330 fps with Flemish string, mine chronied at 310 with standard string).

No regrets whatsoever with the 380.

[8ptbuk]

If you want to do a lot of target shooting or 3D get the 380. If you mostly just hunt and want a mega heavy hitter get the 405. Both are equally accurate. Black Eagle arrows are the best in my opinion. Slick Tricks are great. If you shoot 100gr I suggest heavier brass inserts. I prefer plastic nocks and 2" blazer veins. Whichever bow you buy be sure to also buy the stringing aid, it's a must have. Yes, you can buy either bow as a bare bones. Good luck....oh yeah, yes, call Danny Miller and he can make sure you're set up properly.

Rock solid advice ! As always !

[jparchery]

Slick trick broadheads , boo string, and a Trigger tech is a must. If the biggest animal you are going to hunt is deer, I think the matrix 380 is more than enough. let us know what you decide.

[884savage]

I bought the 380 over the summer, and I've not really ever wondered if I should have gone with the 405. The 380 is lightning fast. Inside of 40 yards you'll never see your arrows flying, you'll just hear them thump the target. I shoot Zombie Slayer arrows with brass inserts in the front and lumenoks in the back. In my opinion, lumenoks for hunting are a necessity or you'll never, ever see your arrow's point of impact. You won't regret either bow unless you just can't pull one or the other back. I will say that the 405 intimidated me when deciding because the first time I drew the 380 it seemed ridiculous. After a few hundred shots, it's no longer an issue at all. I'd imagine the 405 would be the same. I've heard great things about the trigger tech trigger, but mine trigger broke in nicely after 100 shots or so. Up until then howver, it was pretty awful if you're comparing it to a nice crisp rifle trigger. Excalibur is the way to go though. I can't imagine anyone regretting that choice.

[amythntr]

....What everyone said is right on the money:

Bullet points for me:

-I'm 5'4" but don't P&#S ME OFF (just kidding ),

-I have bad shoulders and bad back,

-No trouble cocking the M380 but clearly I cannot pull anything with a longer pull,

-Decocking, not an issue at all,

-Must have stringing aid,

-Shoot a Boo Flemish Creation with whiskers,

-Use Danny Miller's (DM) "Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers"...love em,

-use a plastic, self adhering bubble level on riser...more helpful than you'd think,

-over the top DM post quiver holder,

- Shoot (self designed) 18", 415gn Zombie Slayers w/92g brass inserts, 100g Spitfires, 2" Blazers, custom wraps, Lumenoks,

-You MUST HAVE a lighted nock- I prefer Lumenoks especially if you shoot on the ground,

-and if you shoot Lumenoks you must have DM's "arra" puller....

-Oh yes one more...you have to have Pink and White fletching...IF YOU HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH THIS refer to first bullet point

Anthony

[RidgeReaperZ13]

Kinda reminds me of the 460 s&w vs the 500 s&w magnums revolver debate!! I was also looking at them just this week when shopping for my new Excalibur. For me I think I would have went with the 380. Easier to cock, longer limb life and still tons of velocity especially for hunting deer almost overkill.. 405 reminds me of something you would take to Africa and use on rough skin dangerous game. Cock it once to bag a big tough animal shoot it bag the animal and be done. Not something you would want to have fun with in the back yard shooting targets constantly and trying to pull the bolts out of them unless its a tough bag style. I think for deer the 380 is the highest I would go... my pick if the litter was the Micro 335.. to me the regular matrix models werent that much smaller then my Vortex and that was the main reason I was even shopping for a new crossbow. The Micro was alot smaller.. but my second choice was the 380..

[galamb]

What are you going to use the bow for? (nobody seemed to ask).

If you are hunting Bambi at 30 yards or less the 310 is already more bow than you will ever need.

If you are shooting target at 25 yards, again the 310 is more than enough, you can pull it all day without getting sore arms and the string will last longer than the heavier bows which are harder on all of the components.

Just saying....

[cdwester]

I just upgraded my Vortex to a 405 and I love it. I got the package so the better scope made the upgrade from a 380 to the 405 an easy choice. I'm a bigger guy but I was suprised the 405 wasn't harder to draw back considering it's listed at 290 lb. That being said the 380 would be that much easier, especially if your not tall or have back issues. So far I can say the 405 is a complete and utter beast of a crossbow. It's designed for one thing, hunting large game. Even then it overkill, but I love. If Tim the Tool Man Allen soupped up a X-bow that would be it. I don't think your gonna to loose much with the 380. In fact, if your shooting 3d or foam targets I might even recommend it as the 405 buries them deep (use arrow lubricant). For myself, I'm gonna use heavier bolts and higher grain broadheads. So after all is said and done I'll be shooting around 380-370 fps.

[OhioXBowhunter]

Go with the 405 you will love it. I bought mine about a month ago and its great. I was going to wait and look at the micro but at 405 fps I could not resist. However I do recommend the C2 crank if your going to shoot alot much easier and less wear and tear on your back. Also stay tuned to this forum these guys have helped me out alot and really know their stuff. Who knows there may be micro 405 lurking next season