Bulldog 400 Chronograph Results

[MTBighorn]

I have full understanding of the speed numbers of these bows. I know 15-20 fps won't make a huge difference in the scheme of things. However, if I'm buying a bow with an advertised speed I fully expect it to achieve that speed (or very close to it). I would be perfectly happy with a 'Bulldog 385' or a 'Bulldog 365'. I simply haven't heard of anyone having achieved the advertised speeds on the bulldog models. If I bought a V8 Mustang I wouldn't expect to get a V6 Mustang.....just saying.

Paul

Very true Paul... But I kinda feel the whole Bulldog line is the answer to a question that was never asked And from what I've read, it created new obstacles to overcome for anyone of "normal" body size.
Excalibur should just rename the BD's a BD355 and a BD380 and be done with it!

[Highcountry]

Matrix Bulldog 400
Matrix Bulldog 400
Excalibur Matrix Bulldog 400

EXCALIBUR MATRIX BULLDOG 400: SPEED AND POWER
MEET BALANCE AND COMFORT

The Matrix Bulldog 400 is the perfect combination of speed, power, and comfort. Producing arrow speeds exceeding 400 fps, the Bulldog 400 is equipped to handle any of the largest game on the planet. The Bulldog features the new Bullpup Ready Rest stock that incorporates a better balanced platform for extreme maneuverability. It comes outfitted with Powerload limbs, Quad-Loc riser, Guardian Anti-Dry Fire System, and R.E.D.S. suppressors.

Package Includes:

• Tact-Zone Illuminated Scope with 30mm rings
• Four-arrow quiver with bracket
• Four Diablo arrows with 150 grain field points
• Rope-cocking aid
• Ambidextrous cheekpiece
• R.E.D.S suppressors
• Guardian™ Anti-Dry-Fire system

MSRP - $1,299.99

Excalibur Crossbows feature our Limited Lifetime Warranty and come backed by our amazing Customer Service and Support Department. Rest assured if you own an Excalibur crossbow, we have you covered. For details visit our Warranty Information Page
Specifications

Velocity: 400 FPS
Draw Weight: 280 lbs.
Power Stroke: 14.0"
Mass Weight: 6.2 lbs.
Overall Length: 35.8"
Arrow Length: 18"
Arrow Weight: 350 Grains
Stock Type: Bullpup Ready Rest
Finish: Realtree Xtra
Arrow speeds obtained using arrows with a total weight of 350 grains (includes arrow and tip).
Download Crossbow Manual

Find an Excalibur Online Dealer
MTBIGHORN straight from the website you're wrong my friend it even says "producing speeds exceeding 400 FPS" So now you've made to worse LMAO

[MTBighorn]

EXCALIBUR MATRIX BULLDOG 400: SPEED AND POWER
MEET BALANCE AND COMFORT

The Matrix Bulldog 400 is the perfect combination of speed, power, and comfort. Producing arrow speeds exceeding 400 fps, the Bulldog 400 is equipped to handle any of the largest game on the planet.

MTBIGHORN straight from the website you're wrong my friend it even says "producing speeds exceeding 400 FPS" So now you've made to worse LMAO

You are sure right.... "Exceeding" 400FPS! Is what is says!. Too bad too, or you might be able to get past this and just go enjoy your bow. Seems Excalibur needs to fix the bow or the literature so they match.

The sticker that came on my M380 stock says "Up To" 380fps...

I think that I am just glad I never chronographed mine or I might be upset too...but since I didn't, my only judgement has been on its field and target performance...and that has been quite stellar!

100 yards! With a Slick Trick broadhead and a Riptrick roving point fired one after another..back to back. About 404grs. total weight

[Arrowflinger]

If it says 400 fps how can it be right , no ifs ands and buts if it's not ? High Country I feel for you bro. They need to make it right.

[Highcountry]

Look I'm not trying get attacked here if you're happy not getting what you pay for that's your business. It's the only bow that doesn't say "up to" but does say " exceeds" very deceptive that's all I'm saying. They sold the 400 on these statements. I wouldn't have bought it if I knew 400 fps was not attainable I probably would have bought the scorypd to get 400fps just because I like the speed doesn't make me wrong and just because you don't care doesn't make you right. My money my choice bottom line it doesn't do what they say it does period!

[robertyb]

HC are you shooting the stock arrows with the field points they supplied?

[one shot scott]

380ish with a 350g arrow. You did the right thing by contacting Peter. Personally I would not be satisfied with that either.

The nice thing about Peter is that he will try his best to make sure your happy in the end

[SEW]

Though I've only been in the Excalibur family for a little over 4 years, these years have included at least 3,000-4,000+ shots thru a M380,405, BD400 and a 200# Vortex.
I came to Excalibur fully recognizing Excalibur's reputation for legendary accuracy, always shooting the advertized speed or greater, and for unequaled reliability. Well, none of mine shot advertized speed. However the 380 & 405 were close with when using my high deflection limbs and the newest, BD string(99g). The BD 400 fell well short. Concerning the 350g arrow usage for speed, it just shows the integrity, or company confidence, in the integrity of the Excalibur xbows.
When Excalibur got into the speed business, a compromise involving reality occured. Virtually none reached their advertized speed. With the M330,355,350SE, 380, 405, the advertized speeds were relatively close. However, the BD400, the Xbow in question, falls well short, way short of advertized speed.
How many buyers of this crossbow actually chronograph their Xbow? Likely well less that 10%. How many buyers of this Xbow actually know that the speed rating is for a 350g arrow and understand that most other xbows are with 380,400 or a 425g arrow? Likely close to that 10% or less. How many buyers were swayed by that 400'/sec speed rating? Likely, the vast majority.
So, sales were likely enhanced but reputation amongst the devotees could be another thing.
Back to the subject Xbow, the BD400. I absolutely love it. Next year, it will likely replace my M405 for top spot or share the honor. The trigger linkage hasn't been any problem to me. The revised riser design and the slightly longer draw length cause a much gentler cocking, and it has a gentleness with its shot. I won't ask Peter to try to reach the rated 400'/sec. The lightest, fastest string, the highest deflection limbs still fell well short of advertized speed. To stay with the company's legendary reputation, it should have been called the BD385 or even 380. With the limbs that it came with are my lowest deflection limbs and produce closer to 380'/sec with a 351g arrow. I feel the greatly reduced stress on the limbs by the revised limb mounting geometry, will likely cause virtually no limb failures.
But the BD400's strengths are so strong that the shortcoming concerning speed, I'll just overlook. We're not going to change the speed significantly anyway, so let's just enjoy all these positives.
Just my take.

[Highcountry]

Sew thanks for not beating me up on my post it wasn't my intention to irritate people. It was well written and I appreciate it. This was my first excalibur just disappointed with all the hype watched all the videos excalibur put out our bow are the only bow to shoot what we say even faster excalibur crossbow cross examination on YouTube . Never said I hated the bow shoots nice just disappointed should have waited and did more research instead of just believing the hype. Thanks SEW

[SEW]

Highcountry, your disappointment is valid, IMO . But what I was hinting at, possibly too subtly, is concentrate on all those positives. With an HHA Optimizer/ Duralyt 2-8 lighted (VXR 2-7 or 3-9), 20" Spynal Tapps, Lumenoks, 26g inserts, FOCs(170g), helical Blazers, ~420g arrow, I'm getting about 362'/sec. Quiet (Dr Stirrup, shrink wrapped arrow hold down spring - not in contact on launch with rail, polyethylene packed stock) and extremely accurate and repeatable: an actual <1 1/2" 3-shot group average at 100 yards. Never gets out of time, easy to replace strings, reliable, gentle, light, pretty: think long and hard before letting this Xbow go. You have a winner!

[Hunt it]

Will your car or truck go as fast as the speedometer says???? 99.9% don't you gonna take it back . Like mentioned, what you have is great, you push them to give you one that does over 400FPS next thing you know you will be complaining about your limbs failing.

[Excalibur Marketing Dude]

We totally agree that a crossbow should shoot close to what is advertised since that is what people are buying. Every new model goes through extensive testing which includes speed testing. I remember Bill and I spending an entire day a few years ago shooting different models with various arrow setups to determine the average speed using minimum arrow weight. It was never an exact science.

Every crossbow is a true individual and some will shoot faster than others. Since our limbs are essentially hand built to make every one to the exact same spec and shoot the exact same speed is difficult if not impossible. However, we do understand that the speed is important to many customers and we will always do our best to get the crossbow shooting as close to advertised as we can.

In this case your crossbow (Highcountry) is a little puzzling since the deflection number is high but he is showing a low arrow speed. I took a Bulldog right out of a box here and it was shooting about 397 fps through our chrono so I just need to check the limbs and compare to what his are. The problem with chronographs is they can have a 10 FPS error plus or minus. We get ours calibrated and they still note some error is normal.

Anyhow, we will get to the bottom of it and do our best to make you happy. We are not in any way intentionally trying to mislead anybody, its just all the variables we have to deal with.

Peter

[L. E. Carroll]

Let me put this a different way... When I bought my Rem M-700 BDL 300 Ultra Mag, topped it with a Leupold MX-3 3 1/2 x 10, and then purchased ammo for it at nearly $80 per box. ( luckily I do reload for it) .... I want the looks, and performance I paid for PERIOD ! (Actually I have improved on advertised specs with judicious and safe reloading practices, but that's irreverent )

Even though in many cases an 30-06 can come set up the same way and at nearly identicle cost, ( but usually somewhat lower due to it not being classed as a "Magnum" and then there is the lower ammo cost ) I would be Pi$$ed to find out my 300 Ultra Mag. was preforming only "near, or slightly above" 30-06 levels, even though they are both 700 BDL's with identicle scopes, and both being 30 calibur.

My 300 Ultra is advertised to have the same, or perhaps even a bit better, performance levels at 400 "yards" than the -06 does at the "Muzzle".

While I was willing to pay more for the higher performing calibur and ammo, and even though they are both 30 Cal. and both are capable of taking down a large game animal, I want to be able to take advantage of the superior performance and range it should allow, and that I paid for.

I hope this makes sence.

I will say that I had issues with the initial speed I was getting with my gen II Micro 335.... I discussed it with Mike in C/S. He suggested I send it back and he would check it all out and come up with a solution... He did, and it now shoots 335.4 and 335.6 with 350 grain arrows as advertised. I am very pleased !!

Gene

[Highcountry]

Thanks Peter I know you guys are doing your best. I'm waiting to get my limbs back and see where I'm at. The reason I first used the chronograph was to help set up the scope. The scope is dead nuts at 385 fps. I appreciate your help and patience with me. First time owner it was not my intention to insult you or anyone else on the forum. I just assumed I have a defective bow at 385fps but as I read more in this forum nobody really gets the advertised speed. I was going by what I read on excaliburs site exceeds 400 fps. I apologize for my confusion. My limbs are both 58 for deflection and that's the highest that there is for the BD400

[Normous]

In the end I'm sure you will be happy with your BD performance and support recieved here.
You really don't require a chronograph to set the scope. Look at the 3rd post in this thread to set up the scope more easily next time.
copy/paste:

http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/phpBB2 ... pe#p629375