Inquiring about Barnett crossbows

wolf74 · Post by **wolf74** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 4:37 pm

A friend of mine is looking at buying a Barnett Rhino crossbow. Are they any good? I know they don't compare to excalibur!

chris4570 · Post by **chris4570** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 6:41 pm

I have no experience with the Rhino but did have a Demon and it wasn't very good. I sold it a long time ago.

I don't know what the price difference is between the Rhino and the Excalibur line but if it's comparable I think ultimately he would be happier with an Excalibur. I would say that an Excalibur is like a Ruger 1-B singleshot rifle; accurate, simple design (few moving parts), and very reliable.

Deevian · Post by **Deevian** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 7:43 pm

If the price is right buy it. I have one and will never part with it. the Trigger is less then 4lbs. and it shoots consistantly. I shot almost 5 years 3D and hunted with the same. It is much better in quality then the Demon or wildcats as the trigger is built with better quality asurred. I also shoot 18" arrows out of this unit with 100gr. points/broadheads.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 8:03 pm

A fiend of mine has the Commando II Compound. I think that it's not a bad bow, the cocking help works very nice and it's compact, too.
So for target shooting it's really ok.
But the Excalibur crossbows are much more accurate, their stronger and the quality of the parts is far better.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 8:31 pm

i don't know about the Rhino, but i have a Revolution (Barnett) and i don't like it at all...the strings wear prematurely and the accuracy isn't always there

PaJack · Post by **PaJack** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 9:48 am

Had one untill I shot an Excaliburcrossbow...

Stranger2 · Post by **Stranger2** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:52 pm

Gentlemen, I am new in this forum. I am Belgian.
I looked around to find some help too since I made the mistake buying a Barnett. About 20 years ago I bought myself the commando model (recurve) and at that time it was one of the most impressive crossbows. The quality was great. I thought Barnett would maintain the same quality standards till present time but I was wrong. I bought myself a Revolution XS one month ago because it's impressive looking, its power, speed and prod housing break-down feature. However, a manufacturing mistake made it impossible to lock the bow to the stock. I solved it by milling out the hooks myself for about 1mm more to allow fitting. In addition, the flight groove on the stock showes a small hump (which will most likely affect the accuracy in a negative way) and the bow is not fitting horizontaly with the stock (it slightly stands in an angle). The rubber grips peel off from the stock just like that (although, this was the least of my disappointments). I couldn't return the crossbow to Barnett since the sales of this model is not promoted in Europe so I bought it on Ebay from an archery dealer in the states. Now I am still trying to fix things by myself as well as possible. No doubt the power of the crossbow is impressive but what's the use of having power when your crossbow shows that many defects.
I am not familiar with the other Barnett models. Maybe they are better. However, the Rev XS should be Barnett's flagship model. One would expect the best quality on a flagship model. Now I have Barnett's topmodel which proves to have the worst quality I ever saw on a crossbow. In addition, Barnett's customer service in Europe is bad at best (I don't know how it is in the States). I now realise I should have used other criteria to decide which crossbow to buy.
I don't dare to tell you what you should buy. Maybe I just have bad luck. The only advise I can give you is.... take your time to look around ! Gain info from everywhere, and check owners reviews on their crossbows before buying anything. You will most likely end up with an Excalibur.

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 5:09 pm

Experience very well stated Stranger2, however a hard way to learn about something. Most of us have learned a number of things the hard way. Maybe your statement will surly help some one from making the same mistake. Thank You

Deevian · Post by **Deevian** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 5:50 pm

Anonymous wrote:i don't know about the Rhino, but i have a Revolution (Barnett) and i don't like it at all...the strings wear prematurely and the accuracy isn't always there

I also shoot the Revolution.!!!!!

:twisted

The string is very thin and the factory serving is crap, I took it off before i shot it and put on Braided Fast Flight serving double wrap it as well.

This model was made to shoot 20" arrows... If you shoot these so called 20" arrows You will be lucky to get a 2" dot at 20 yards. Those 20" arrows are aluminum too. Know I shoot 22" CrossBolts carbons with 125gr points I hit a 2" dot at 40 yards benched every time.

I still shoot the this crossbow today with no hassles at 3D shoots, the only problem I have is pulling my arrows out of those Makenzie targets.

If you don't want your Revolutions send them to me, I like them very much..

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 6:57 pm

I've got the Commando II. As Richard said, it's fine for 3D, but I wouldn't use it for the hunt.
What I like about it is the cocking mechanism, it works great!
In my opinion Barnett crossbows aren't as bad as some people say but you can't compare them with Excalibur crossbows.

JD Jones · Post by **JD Jones** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:22 pm

I'm a newby, here to learn about crossbows before I buy. Gotta say I think my hunting pard and I will be packing Excaliber when we horse in for elk next year.
Thanks for all the good info. I love this site.

JD

GREY OWL · Post by **GREY OWL** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 1:33 pm

My answer to you Wolf74, don't buy it. A friend of mine has one, and doesn't use it at all, he uses his Exocet. Only if your a collector.

Grey Owl

Sandman · Post by **Sandman** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 3:14 pm

Welcome JD Jones!!

Regards,
Robin

Benny · Post by **Benny** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 6:17 pm

About 20 years ago I owned a Commando. I bought it after I put my back out trying to cock and old Daco 150 lb x-bow which would have been an old Excaliber. I colud never shoot accurately with the Barnet since the short bolts were to short to be stabliized and would flutter as they were fired. I also had the same problem as another fellow that wrote, in that the string life was very short due to the wear of the string after firing. I think I got no more that 50 shots before string replacement. Now that I got my Vixen, my problems are over. Well, my x-bow problems. The problem I do have is getting the deer to come into range, but I'm dying to try out that scent shield recipe tomorrow morning. I'll let you know how it works. Good luck & good hunting

(THE BLUE STAR) · Post by **(THE BLUE STAR)** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 6:35 pm

I also own a Comando 175 lb crossbow, now a wall hanger !

Frederick

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