I finally did the hunter's safety ed course.

[wuchikubo]

With all the hunting pics and posts a couple weeks ago, I finally registered myself for a course.

 

I finally did the hunter's safety education course yesterday. Since I'm not into rifle the HSE course was the one for me.

 

Now the question is which crossbow should I consider? As one who has never done any hunting and will be learning quite a bit, I was hoping to see if anyone here could pass me some of there experiences with crossbows. I'm not interested in the compound bow as I have one weaker should due to a sports injury in high school.

 

Looked at a couple of crossbows:

 

1) Excalibur Phoenix

2) Excalibur Vortex

3) Barnett Quad 400

4) Barnett Predator (a bit pricey though)

 

Any thoughts would be welcomed.

 

Stan

[bassjnkie]

You have some really nice choices . I love Excalibur and have used the Phoenix and Vortex, they are great bows, fast, reliable and really accurate with minimal noise when the trigger is pulled. Maintenance, string change and tuning is very easy since it has no cams, so no need for a bow press. I don't know where your located but Shooter's Choice and Wolf's Den have a great selection.

 

EDIT: Sorry, I have no experience with the Barnett line.

Edited November 2, 2009 by DanielM

[basketclam]

I agree. If you stick with an Excalibur bow, it's going to be hard to go wrong. They are really simple to maintain and operate, are tremendously accurate and are well made. Because they're a local company, they're easy to get ahold of if you have any issues, and their customer service has been really good to me so far (mind you, the only issue that I've had to deal with them for is a cracked scope cover).

 

I don't know much about Barnett, so can't help in that regard.

[Sinker]

You really can't go wrong with an excal. They are built to last, accurate, and easy to maintain. Being made in canada is also a bonus!!

 

S.

[misfish]

See, told ya.

 

I still like my PSE compound though.

Edited November 2, 2009 by misfish

[wuchikubo]

Alright, since I like the fact Excalibur is Canadian and there are so many good comments so far, I have one further question, the difference I see in fps is 25 more the Vortex, does that make any significant difference in the field? I've been told I would likely be looking at about 30 yards max for the distance from shooting point to target. For about $200 difference is it worth the higher speed?

[misfish]

IMO No.

[bassjnkie]

Alright, since I like the fact Excalibur is Canadian and there are so many good comments so far, I have one further question, the difference I see in fps is 25 more the Vortex, does that make any significant difference in the field? I've been told I would likely be looking at about 30 yards max for the distance from shooting point to target. For about $200 difference is it worth the higher speed?

 

Fps is funny, the higher it is the more cash you spend. the Phenox is 305fps and the Vortex is 330fps, the difference is the weight, stock, and limbs, but 25fps more will not make a difference for hunting purposes, for 3D target I like a little higher speed. For the $200 difference you can buy some great accessories for the crossbow, broadheads, string puller, string remover, quiver, extra arrows etc... My hunting compound is shooting 298fps and I have no problem getting good penetration at 40yrds. But I never had to flig an arrow that far on an animal.

Edited November 2, 2009 by DanielM

[misfish]

the Phenox is 305fps and the Vortex is 330fps

 

Mines 315 fps.Easy to pull and release when you have to uncock.

 

Leave no dings in the hard wood floor Danial.LOL

[Terry]

but will it take down a moose

[misfish]

but will it take down a moose

 

You bet.

[AzuluSpookd]

Nope, I have the pheonix. Awesome. Crossbows aren't very quiet, compared to compounds. 30 yards is a great shot. They are unbelievably accurate. I'd do 40 if I had too, but I wouldn't go any further than 40 with any crossbow. Probably would with a compound. You lose a lot of speed after 30 yards with the smaller bolts for xbows, as opposed to the longer compound bolts. IMO

 

Alright, since I like the fact Excalibur is Canadian and there are so many good comments so far, I have one further question, the difference I see in fps is 25 more the Vortex, does that make any significant difference in the field? I've been told I would likely be looking at about 30 yards max for the distance from shooting point to target. For about $200 difference is it worth the higher speed?

[bassjnkie]

Mines 315 fps.Easy to pull and release when you have to uncock.

 

Leave no dings in the hard wood floor Danial.LOL

 

I still feel bad.

[bassjnkie]

Mines 315 fps.Easy to pull and release when you have to uncock.

 

Leave no dings in the hard wood floor Danial.LOL

 

You said it was a PSE, what model is it?

[ch312]

excalibur is the way to go. i have an exomax which shoots 346-348fps with my chrony. shooting a faster arrow allows for a tad bit more forgiveness in range estimation because of the faster arrow shooting flatter. whether there is any real difference between the 2 models and 25fps i couldnt tell you.

 

no the fastest bow isnt necessary, but i like to stack the odds in my favor any way possible

[misfish]

You said it was a PSE, what model is it?

 

 

 

•185 lb. draw weight

•New longer barrel for increased power stroke

•Film Dipped in Next Generation G-1 camo

•Anodized machined aluminum barrel

•Molded stock with comfortable thumbhole grip

•Aluminum trigger guard

•Ambidextrous safety lever

•Automatically engages safety when cocked

•7/8" Fixed Mount Metal Scope Rail

•Fully rubber coated foot stirrup

•Sturdy arrow hold down for added safety

 

Comes complete with:

•TruGlo Red Dot Scope

•Four 20 Inch Charger Crossbow bolts with half moon nocks (points not included)

•6 arrow Quick Detach Quiver

•Cocking Strap

 

 

 

 

Specifications

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mass Weight: 8 lbs

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Overall Length: 38"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Overall Width: 28.5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Power Strokes: 12.5"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Speed: 310 fps with Charger Bolt with 100 grain tip

 

 

310 not 315.

[misfish]

excalibur is the way to go. i have an exomax which shoots 346-348fps with my chrony. shooting a faster arrow allows for a tad bit more forgiveness in range estimation because of the faster arrow shooting flatter. whether there is any real difference between the 2 models and 25fps i couldnt tell you.

 

no the fastest bow isnt necessary, but i like to stack the odds in my favor any way possible

 

I have owned an excalibur aswell.

I have found no dif,except the speed.

Made in Canada.The only dif.

[bassjnkie]

That's some impressive spec. The Tru Glow scopes are really nice.

[Stern Rules]

With all the hunting pics and posts a couple weeks ago, I finally registered myself for a course.

 

I finally did the hunter's safety education course yesterday. Since I'm not into rifle the HSE course was the one for me.

 

Now the question is which crossbow should I consider? As one who has never done any hunting and will be learning quite a bit, I was hoping to see if anyone here could pass me some of there experiences with crossbows. I'm not interested in the compound bow as I have one weaker should due to a sports injury in high school.

 

Looked at a couple of crossbows:

 

1) Excalibur Phoenix

2) Excalibur Vortex

3) Barnett Quad 400

4) Barnett Predator (a bit pricey though)

 

Any thoughts would be welcomed.

 

Stan

 

Sorry I don't have a suggestion for you but I have a question about the safety course. Was it an easy course and how long was it? Did you take it at Bass Pro or elsewhere? I am thinking of getting into hunting and have to take those courses.

[Jonny]

A few fps will not make any appreciable difference. A long as it's rated for 150 lb or more it's fine for moose. I took a couple with my Browning Orion. (If you can get one of these 'used' it would be a great buy.)

 

Make sure that your practice arrows are identical to your hunting arrows and carry the same weight of head. Three or four layers of blue Styrofoam SM make a great target-shooting setup that will stop your practice arrows so you don't have to go searching for them or damage them. I would advise you practice @ 30 yards max.

 

The one thing I wish I had learned early on, and I'll pass it along to you, is that a red dot sight mounted on your x-bow is a LOT more useful than sight pins. I had to miss a good shot at a moose under low (but legal) light conditions to learn that. I couldn't see the sight pins clearly and shot under the moose's belly into swamp grass. If I had had a red dot, I would have nailed that shot. The moose was not unduly alarmed but by the time I reloaded it was too far away for a second shot. I mounted a red dot as soon as I could after that experience.

 

Save your money on extra fps and get a red dot. You'll never regret it.

Edited November 3, 2009 by Jocko

[Big Cliff]

Before you buy one, I would really suggest you take a look at the Middleton Crossbows. They are the hardest hitting, fastest crossbow I could find (rated for 375fps) but when we tested mine we were getting 383 consistantly, made in Canada.

 

I have had one for 3 years now and love it. The limbs aren't affected by normal heat, ie, you leave it in your car strung and the sun is shining in and it gets hot in the car, no problem, it won't affect the limbs. Their customer service is second to none and they come with a lifetime warranty which they stand behind.

 

Price worked out to about the same or a little less than Excaliber.

[wuchikubo]

Sorry I don't have a suggestion for you but I have a question about the safety course. Was it an easy course and how long was it? Did you take it at Bass Pro or elsewhere? I am thinking of getting into hunting and have to take those courses.

 

The course was an one day course at an instructor's house. The OFAH website has many courses posted for different areas.

 

My course was 8am to 7pm with the exam. I would say it's not really hard unless you have the mentality that you are thinking to shoot everything in sight or anything out of sight that moves. It did go over some firearm safety items which I didn't really find any interest in but it was good to know just in case.

 

PM me if you want my instructor's info (located in Stouffville).

 

Stan

[wuchikubo]

A few fps will not make any appreciable difference. A long as it's rated for 150 lb or more it's fine for moose. I took a couple with my Browning Orion. (If you can get one of these 'used' it would be a great buy.)

 

Make sure that your practice arrows are identical to your hunting arrows and carry the same weight of head. Three or four layers of blue Styrofoam SM make a great target-shooting setup that will stop your practice arrows so you don't have to go searching for them or damage them. I would advise you practice @ 30 yards max.

 

The one thing I wish I had learned early on, and I'll pass it along to you, is that a red dot sight mounted on your x-bow is a LOT more useful than sight pins. I had to miss a good shot at a moose under low (but legal) light conditions to learn that. I couldn't see the sight pins clearly and shot under the moose's belly into swamp grass. If I had had a red dot, I would have nailed that shot. The moose was not unduly alarmed but by the time I reloaded it was too far away for a second shot. I mounted a red dot as soon as I could after that experience.

 

Save your money on extra fps and get a red dot. You'll never regret it.

 

Thanks, that's great info that I will definitely apply.

 

Stan

[wuchikubo]

Before you buy one, I would really suggest you take a look at the Middleton Crossbows. They are the hardest hitting, fastest crossbow I could find (rated for 375fps) but when we tested mine we were getting 383 consistantly, made in Canada.

 

I have had one for 3 years now and love it. The limbs aren't affected by normal heat, ie, you leave it in your car strung and the sun is shining in and it gets hot in the car, no problem, it won't affect the limbs. Their customer service is second to none and they come with a lifetime warranty which they stand behind.

 

Price worked out to about the same or a little less than Excaliber.

 

Thanks Cliff, but the first thing that comes to mind is how are you and your wife doing? I was meaning to get up there to pay you a surprise visit but a lot of other things have come up and gotten in the way of that plan. I trust you and your wife are doing well and apologize for not asking you in person as I had initially planned to.

 

I will also look into the Middleton Crossbows. Please take care of you and your wife. I hope we'll meet up soon.

 

Stan

[Big Cliff]

Thanks for asking Stan. I'm doing fine, Sue has some issues we have to deal with but we have an appointment with a specialist next Monday and I am going with her. I'll be asking some questions and expect some answers. Every day is a blessing!

 

Anytime you want to pay a surprise visit, I'd be happy to see you again; might be a good idea to phone ahead though, I'm currently going to school five days a week, working three evenings and most Saturdays.

 

If you do come up, I'd be happy to let you try my Middleton and see what you think of it.

 

Let me know!