Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Crossbow Hunting

Moderator: Excalibur Marketing Dude

User avatar
bigrak
Posts: 242
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:19 am
Location: S.E. Ma./ zone 17 Maine / N.E. PA.

Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by bigrak »

Is there any info. on this scope here? Could not find anything.
Is it any good?
thanks.
Matrix 405 Mega, Hawke XB30 SR Pro
trigger tech, Dr Stirrup ' Tac Pac
BEE 20" 429gr. NAP spitfires 100gr. Ignitors
BD400 XB30 SR PRO DR. Stirrup.
New 420TD Assassin
L. E. Carroll
Posts: 1258
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2015 5:32 pm
Location: VANCOUVER, WA

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by L. E. Carroll »

I have had experience with only 3 models of Excal scopes and the Dead Zone is my favorite... Very similar to the Vari-zone but more compact... The glass is decent all the way out to the edge. I find they gather light well at dawn and dusk, and other than the lack of a lighted recticle, I feel it's a fine scope as "package scopes" from Excal go.

There are up-grades available if you feel the desire for one... I went to Leupold Crossbones and 2 Hawke 1x5 XP30 SR Pros and am very satiaified.

I suggest you look thru a few and see which meets your needs. Keep in mind, crossbows are pretty short range, so I don't feel the need for the same class of glass as I have in the Leupods I have on my Varmint rifles, and the 300 Ultra Mag.

Gene
Camo Micro 355 w/ XB30 SR Pro & TT trigger
Camo Matrix 380 W/ XB 30SR Pro & a Boo trigger
Very Nice 98 Jeep Tj
Sweet old 73 Bronco ( 2nd Owner)
Scamp tralier
Arrowflinger
Posts: 373
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:51 pm
Location: China Spring, Tx

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by Arrowflinger »

My 350 LE came with the DeadZone. I think it is OK and serves its purpose as Gene replied. It has a main crosshair for your 20 yd.marker and under it is 4 chevrons representing 30,40,50,and 60yds. It seems to hold zero fairly well. My biggest issue with it I can't seem to get the crosshair and the target completely focused at the same time ,but I guess that could be a magnification issue or my bad eyes.You can definitely hit your target with it . I will use it for now. I've never looked through the upgrade scopes so I can't really compare it to one.
Matrix 350 LE 18 in. Diablos 150 gr. Boltcutters Zombie Slayers 150 gr. Slick Tricks C2 crank Hawkke XB 30 Pro SR
L. E. Carroll
Posts: 1258
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2015 5:32 pm
Location: VANCOUVER, WA

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by L. E. Carroll »

Try holding the bow with the scope pointed up to the sky or at a light colored wall.... slowly turn the focus ring at the back of the scope until the crosshairs are as sharp as you can make them ...At this piont, with the limited distance the parralax is adjusted too for short range crossbow scopes both the target and the crosshairs shoud be clear out prehaps as far as 100 yards..

I hope that helps.
Gene
Camo Micro 355 w/ XB30 SR Pro & TT trigger
Camo Matrix 380 W/ XB 30SR Pro & a Boo trigger
Very Nice 98 Jeep Tj
Sweet old 73 Bronco ( 2nd Owner)
Scamp tralier
User avatar
Carnivorous
Posts: 3740
Joined: Sun Dec 25, 2005 12:56 pm
Location: Belleriver Ontario

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by Carnivorous »

If you have low or average optics expectations Chinese scopes will do the job.

If you have high expectations and demand flawless optics move up to a Leupold..
A touch of frost has heightened your awareness and your heart steadily beats in anticipation. Your senses are suddenly alert to the movement on the forest floor and you realize that the moment of truth is at hand.
Arrowflinger
Posts: 373
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:51 pm
Location: China Spring, Tx

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by Arrowflinger »

Thanks for trying to help again Gene as I recently posted my scope clarity issues. I can look up at the sky and get , adjust the eyepiece and get the crosshair as bold and crisp but when I look at the target say 30 or 40yds away it will be slightly fuzzy.but likewise while still looking at that same target I can adjust the eyepiece and get the target so clear I can read from it but now the crosshair will be fuzzy. I can't have the crosshair and the target focused crystal clear at the same time .hope all that rambling made sense :(
Matrix 350 LE 18 in. Diablos 150 gr. Boltcutters Zombie Slayers 150 gr. Slick Tricks C2 crank Hawkke XB 30 Pro SR
L. E. Carroll
Posts: 1258
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2015 5:32 pm
Location: VANCOUVER, WA

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by L. E. Carroll »

It makes sence and perhaps there is an issue with your particular scope... That being a possibility ? I would advise you contact Danny Miller.... He will get you up and going in warranting your Dead-Zone or offering other Excal models as replacements or up-grades.
In the past he has offered the cost of of the questionable Exlcalibur scope towards the up-grade to a Leupold... Which I would reccomend. I have the Crossbones model and it's a great one. ( I don't think Danny has the Hawke series as possible up-grades ? But, if so ? I'm sure happy with the XB30 SR Pro's I have on my Micro and 380. :wink:

Let us know how this all works out for you.

Gene
Camo Micro 355 w/ XB30 SR Pro & TT trigger
Camo Matrix 380 W/ XB 30SR Pro & a Boo trigger
Very Nice 98 Jeep Tj
Sweet old 73 Bronco ( 2nd Owner)
Scamp tralier
User avatar
amythntr
Posts: 6994
Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2013 12:26 pm
Location: T.P.R.N.J.

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by amythntr »

bellerivercrossbowhunter wrote:If you have low or average optics expectations Chinese scopes will do the job.

If you have high expectations and demand flawless optics move up to a Leupold..

.....and the Congregation stood and shouted AMEN! :D

Anthony :)

PS: I would like to add, "If you like the excitement of playing Russian Roulette on and expensive hunt or on any hunt....by all means stay with the original equipment!"
In a tough situation and wonder where God is; ...the Teacher is always quiet during the test.

Anthony :D

A360 (l'Assassino)
AXE 340
Scorpyd DS (w/AeroCrank AD)
GRZ2
G1-NM335(On loan)
ZS,Ex
Spits
Vixenmaster Strings
paulaboutform
Posts: 4970
Joined: Sun Nov 24, 2013 11:32 pm
Location: Coquitlam, British Columbia

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by paulaboutform »

Arrowflinger wrote:Thanks for trying to help again Gene as I recently posted my scope clarity issues. I can look up at the sky and get , adjust the eyepiece and get the crosshair as bold and crisp but when I look at the target say 30 or 40yds away it will be slightly fuzzy.but likewise while still looking at that same target I can adjust the eyepiece and get the target so clear I can read from it but now the crosshair will be fuzzy. I can't have the crosshair and the target focused crystal clear at the same time .hope all that rambling made sense :(
Do you have any other scopes on rifles or shotguns? Before swapping out anything, do your due diligence and look through other scopes and see if you have this happen with them. If you do, it's not your scope.

Paul
You're only paranoid if everyone isn't out to get you.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
My enemy's friend is also my enemy.
sproulman
Posts: 1688
Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:10 pm
Location: PA WILDS AREA

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by sproulman »

Arrowflinger wrote:Thanks for trying to help again Gene as I recently posted my scope clarity issues. I can look up at the sky and get , adjust the eyepiece and get the crosshair as bold and crisp but when I look at the target say 30 or 40yds away it will be slightly fuzzy.but likewise while still looking at that same target I can adjust the eyepiece and get the target so clear I can read from it but now the crosshair will be fuzzy. I can't have the crosshair and the target focused crystal clear at the same time .hope all that rambling made sense :(
Normal what you are seeing..To adjust scope in my opinion you have to do it say at 30 yds..Turn rear eye piece until target is clear and if you have trees behind target even better and crosshairs clear....I played with mine and after 3rd session shooting I found things clear ..Keep playing with it ....
User avatar
bigrak
Posts: 242
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:19 am
Location: S.E. Ma./ zone 17 Maine / N.E. PA.

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by bigrak »

L. E. Carroll wrote:
There are up-grades available if you feel the desire for one... I went to Leupold Crossbones and 2 Hawke 1x5 XP30 SR Pros and am very satiaified.

Gene
Which one do you like better and why?
Matrix 405 Mega, Hawke XB30 SR Pro
trigger tech, Dr Stirrup ' Tac Pac
BEE 20" 429gr. NAP spitfires 100gr. Ignitors
BD400 XB30 SR PRO DR. Stirrup.
New 420TD Assassin
Boomer81
Posts: 78
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2016 9:09 pm
Location: Ottawa/Gatineau

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by Boomer81 »

I currently use the dead zone that came with my 350le. Once zerod at 20yrds it shot great at 30 and 40yrds ith the respective chevrons.

I find the scope to be good quality and easy to zero. At 40yrds hitting 2inch group with stock diablos and 150gr field points i see no reason to change my setup. But i am going to be using this for deer hunting first and some targets in the back forty so if you plan on competing in 3d comps then i would suspect youd need to upgrade.

But for deer size kill zone i have no doubt this is not going to be the reason you miss lol
"Rumble"
Matrix 350LE Treestand Camo

"Ravage"
Micro Mag 340 Mossy Oak Camo
L. E. Carroll
Posts: 1258
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2015 5:32 pm
Location: VANCOUVER, WA

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by L. E. Carroll »

Bigrak..
Choosing between the Leupold Crossbones and Hawke XB 30 SR Pro is a somewhat hard choice.... Both are close weight wise however the Crossbones seems a bit bigger physically. The Crossbones, as in any Leupold model, have excellent optics with very good clairity and crispness even though no illumination of the crosshairs is possible.
The ability to use lighted crosshairs very can be nice in the sometimes wet and dismal coastal areas of WA. where I hunt Elk and Blacktail. Thus the 380 and Micro wear the lighted Hawke XP's and the work exceptionally well under these conditions. ( being this is the area I hunt the most in a given season due to it's being my home region ) :roll: Can you tell I'm tired of the "Wet" ?

In Eastern and Central WA. while hunting Mule Deer every November.... it's pretty wide open and mostly dry :D :lol: ..... Under those conditions I prefer the Leupoold for it's clairty and sharpness :wink: .. Possibility it's a bit larger physically, but for me as I "still hunt" while traveling thru large areas of sagebrush and broken lava with pines and some brush intersperced, I prefer the the Crossbones, as it provides a bit more magnification at any given speed setting with it's 2x7 vrs. Hawke's 1x5 .... at 330 fps with the 355 the crossbones, I'm actually setting about 4x.

The Hawke's at the same speed are right at 2 1/8 -2 1/4x which I feel is ideal for woods hunting, but could be a bit higher for wide open spaces.

While hunting the units East of the Cascade Mountains we have to confirm the deer has 3 points on at least 1 side to be legal... They allow counting eye guards if they are at least 1" long. With my old eyes, that slight increase in the magnification provided by the Leupold helps determine between being legal or even having an "Eye Guard " point that meets the " requirement (as some areas I hunt, due to genetics, very seldom even have those "eye guard" points).

Those are my choices for the areas and conditions I hunt in. You will need to define what your looking for in a scope for the areas you hunt.... before buying, check out several models and features...

Gene
Camo Micro 355 w/ XB30 SR Pro & TT trigger
Camo Matrix 380 W/ XB 30SR Pro & a Boo trigger
Very Nice 98 Jeep Tj
Sweet old 73 Bronco ( 2nd Owner)
Scamp tralier
User avatar
bigrak
Posts: 242
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:19 am
Location: S.E. Ma./ zone 17 Maine / N.E. PA.

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by bigrak »

I'm using the XB30 sr pro on my 405 and am happy with it. I was wondering about the Leupold possibly for my 350LE.

Thanks Gene for your helpful info.!
Matrix 405 Mega, Hawke XB30 SR Pro
trigger tech, Dr Stirrup ' Tac Pac
BEE 20" 429gr. NAP spitfires 100gr. Ignitors
BD400 XB30 SR PRO DR. Stirrup.
New 420TD Assassin
User avatar
robertyb
Posts: 2845
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:35 pm
Location: Georgia

Re: Excalibur Dead Zone scope.

Post by robertyb »

bigrak wrote:I'm using the XB30 sr pro on my 405 and am happy with it. I was wondering about the Leupold possibly for my 350LE.

Thanks Gene for your helpful info.!
I have the Crossbones on my Matrix 330 and the Zeiss XB75 on my Matrix 350 LE. I prefer the XB75 for hunting. Both are very good scopes for the $$$ spent.
Wildlife Population Control Specialist
Post Reply