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Crossbow recommendation #7618991
07/04/22 10:00 AM
07/04/22 10:00 AM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,852
meadowview, Virginia
E
EdP Offline OP
trapper
EdP  Offline OP
trapper
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,852
meadowview, Virginia
I've been thinking about getting a crossbow for whitetail hunting. We are allowed to take 3 does in addition to 2 either sex here but the either sex days for firearm and ML are very restricted. Every day of deer season is either sex for archery so I am looking to expand my options, but have no experience with crossbows. The Ravin 10x and Excalibur Assassin 400 TD are two I am considering. I don't want something that I have to take to someone else to get tuned or that is fickle and easily put out of good working order. Something that is pretty quiet at the shot is important too. Recommendations would be appreciated.

Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619012
07/04/22 10:37 AM
07/04/22 10:37 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
Of the crossbows ive had, horton and tenpoint, ive never had them tuned. Just need to lube the rails and wax the strings. If they look dodgey at all replace them. Had one blow up before on once.

Definitely get one with the crank draw because trying load one the old fashioned way when you're in a tree doesnt work so well.

Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619017
07/04/22 10:54 AM
07/04/22 10:54 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
Excalibur

And go to a Sportshop that sells them. Try them out or at least use a string Setter and pull a few.

The one I thought I wanted Online, wasn't the one I liked at the Store.


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619056
07/04/22 11:43 AM
07/04/22 11:43 AM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,860
Indiana
P
Providence Farm Offline
trapper
Providence Farm  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,860
Indiana
Whatever you decide on get one that has as short as limbs as you can. When that deer is on the back side of the tree you are in one with wide limbs will be harder to get around the tree to shoot and you may think your clear tell you shoot and the limbs straightened out hit the tree or part of your stand and you miss or wound one. Mor compact is also easier to get through the woods and brush.

Get one that will make it hard for you to get your thumb in the path of the string. If you get you thumb in the way of the string it will nearly cut it off.

Last edited by Providence Farm; 07/04/22 11:45 AM.
Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619096
07/04/22 12:37 PM
07/04/22 12:37 PM
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,740
Wisconsin
B
Bear Tracker Offline
trapper
Bear Tracker  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,740
Wisconsin
My wife had dbl. rotator cuff surgery so she can no longer draw a bow. We bought her a Horton 6 years ago. She is happy with it killed several deer. Now we are looking to upgrade but at an affordable price for us. We both just retired. We have tried several, settled on a ten point with the easy cocking and decocking method. I encourage you to consider the ones with the decocking so as not having to mess with discharging all the time and finding your discharge bolt. Wicked ridge was next in line for us. Ravin's she just did not care for and of course the price on some of the different brands and models are crazy. We settled on a $1399.00 model of Ten Point. Similar weight for carry, speed 410ft per, cocking and decocking method are easy, narrow as well. Go try them out shoot them and figure out what is best for your and you can afford. Lot of good equiptment that does not need to break the bank.

Last edited by Bear Tracker; 07/04/22 12:39 PM.
Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: Providence Farm] #7619129
07/04/22 01:25 PM
07/04/22 01:25 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,057
midland, michigan
M
midlander Offline
trapper
midlander  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,057
midland, michigan
Originally Posted by Providence Farm
Whatever you decide on get one that has as short as limbs as you can. When that deer is on the back side of the tree you are in one with wide limbs will be harder to get around the tree to shoot and you may think your clear tell you shoot and the limbs straightened out hit the tree or part of your stand and you miss or wound one. Mor compact is also easier to get through the woods and brush.

Get one that will make it hard for you to get your thumb in the path of the string. If you get you thumb in the way of the string it will nearly cut it off.


^^^^^this is good advice, and the very reason i would stay away from Excaliber crossbows. They are accurate and reliable, but unfortunately , they are also wide as a bus compared to the competition. TenPoints are pricey, but they are every bit as reliable and accurate as Excaliber with the benefit of being narrow. Customer service is also second to none.....pay once, cry once. Having said that, get in to a sporting goods store and get your hands on some different models and see what works for you....

Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619135
07/04/22 01:38 PM
07/04/22 01:38 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,063
Marion Kansas
Y
Yes sir Online content
"Callie's little brother"
Yes sir  Online Content
"Callie's little brother"
Y

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10,063
Marion Kansas
I went with Wicked Ridge. Made buy Ten Point.

Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619145
07/04/22 01:55 PM
07/04/22 01:55 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,860
Indiana
P
Providence Farm Offline
trapper
Providence Farm  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,860
Indiana
Forgot to add mine is a mission made by Matthew's. Had it about 10 years so there are a lot faster and more narrow now. It's 18" axle to axle and 320 fps. My daughter and boys do very well with it. The boys are getting close to pull a deer legal poundage bow so the x bow may hav its days # but I don't think so when bothe my 9 and 12 year old can shoot 4" or less groups at 50 yards with it off a bipod.

Last edited by Providence Farm; 07/04/22 01:56 PM.
Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619160
07/04/22 02:13 PM
07/04/22 02:13 PM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
W
Willy Firewood Offline
trapper
Willy Firewood  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
Excalibur


FRAC LIVES MATTER
Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619176
07/04/22 02:32 PM
07/04/22 02:32 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
You can also damage the xbow if the bow limbs smack the trunk whe you fire.

Side note... I would suggest hunting out of a saddle if you go up a tree. Crossbows can give you a lot of awkward shots you cant take with a bow and the saddle makes those awkward shots a lot safer and stabler.

Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: Yes sir] #7619184
07/04/22 02:48 PM
07/04/22 02:48 PM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 591
kentucky
C
curtisd Offline
trapper
curtisd  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 591
kentucky
Originally Posted by Yes sir
I went with Wicked Ridge. Made buy Ten Point.



exactly what i have. very good crossbow.

Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619353
07/04/22 07:07 PM
07/04/22 07:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,606
Pa
C
coalminer Offline
trapper
coalminer  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,606
Pa
Excalibur, I bought 2 used ones, limbs little wider than most but dead nuts accurate. I gout mine off Craigslist for bout $ 300.00 complete. You don’t need to spend over $500.00 for a good set up.


My heart belongs to my family.
My body belongs to my work.
My soul belongs to the woods.
Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619368
07/04/22 07:46 PM
07/04/22 07:46 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,293
venango county,pennslyvania
minklessinpa Offline
trapper
minklessinpa  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,293
venango county,pennslyvania
Excalibur. simple.easy to set up.
.


life member Pennsylvania trappers
life member vfw
member fta
Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619443
07/04/22 09:39 PM
07/04/22 09:39 PM
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,099
KY
I
ILcooner Offline
trapper
ILcooner  Offline
trapper
I

Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,099
KY
excalibur grizzly

Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619445
07/04/22 09:41 PM
07/04/22 09:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,066
Missouri
M
mississippiposse Offline
trapper
mississippiposse  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,066
Missouri
Excalibur

Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619464
07/04/22 10:01 PM
07/04/22 10:01 PM
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,482
Ne pa
J
Jerry Jr. Offline
trapper
Jerry Jr.  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,482
Ne pa
I have an Excalibur assassin and a ten point nitro xrt 470. Personally I like the ten point better for the speed. With my setup it is going 425 fps. I can keep my shots within a beer can at 100 yards with it. The assassin is great but the speed, with my set up, is only a touch over 300 fps. At 60 yards it will keep them close enough you wont shoot at the same dot. The report for both of them is about the same (yes, I checked it).

If you are only looking to shoot 30-40 yards then I would go with excaliber. If you want to extend your range go with the tenpoint. My boy shot a buck at 81 yards last year.


Time is more precious than gold if you know how to spend it
.... but what do I know, I'm just a dumb farmer.~My Dad
NRA LIFE MEMBER, Endowment Member
Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619613
07/05/22 07:05 AM
07/05/22 07:05 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,801
Mn
W
Whopper Stopper Offline
trapper
Whopper Stopper  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,801
Mn
My first one was Excalibur, at the time it was their top model. Not sure why some like them, I hated it and dumped it within a short time. It was like sitting in a stand with an 4' 2"x2". By far the clumsiest x-bow that I ever tried to use out of a stand or blind.

I went with a ten point offering, again at the time, one of their upper end offerings, the "Carbon Elite" with acudraw. For the last almost 10 years it has been a machine. I did change the string and cables twice, but both times it was a 20 minute wait, hardly a hardship. I have taken 1-2 deer with it yearly along with 2 bear. Both my brother and sister each bought one after using mine and again never a problem as each have gathered a list of game taken with theirs.

These days many of the mid range Ten Point and wicked ridge crossbows are probably on par with my old bow. Have fun shooting as many as you can, good times for x-bow hunters.

WS

Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619653
07/05/22 08:12 AM
07/05/22 08:12 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 533
MI
S
Supergoose Offline
trapper
Supergoose  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 533
MI
I also went with the Wicked Ridge by Ten Point….. shot several at the sport shop. As soon as it hit my shoulder I knew I was buying it. Feels good, fits good and importantly-shoots good.


A goose may honk....but he won't wave
Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619660
07/05/22 08:24 AM
07/05/22 08:24 AM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,860
Indiana
P
Providence Farm Offline
trapper
Providence Farm  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,860
Indiana
Whopper stopper. They like the Excalibur probably becuse they haven't experienced anything else. Excalibur look cool with the recurve limbs.

Re: Crossbow recommendation [Re: EdP] #7619741
07/05/22 10:20 AM
07/05/22 10:20 AM
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,099
KY
I
ILcooner Offline
trapper
ILcooner  Offline
trapper
I

Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,099
KY
I can repair my Excalibur and change strings in the field in <5 min. Try that with a compound crossbow

The matrix series excals are the most reliable. Mine is only 305fps but shoots right thru any deer

this vid goes thru alot of what separates them from the compounds


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