Crossbows

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MCgunner

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I've been studying crossbows for next archery season and have a question of those that might know. I prefer the recurve bows, a lot lighter and simpler than compounds and I think 175 pound draw weight with 14.5 of stroke is more than enough. This one I'm looking at says it'll shoot a 350 grain bolt with 150 grain tip at 310 fps. What I really like is the fact that it's simple and it's light. The one I'm looking at is an Excalibur Axiom.

My question is, can I cock this thing in my stand and leave it cocked and ready for 4 or 5 hours in a morning or evening without worry of warpage of the limbs or some other damage?

Thanks.
 
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I have one too.

I don't see why you couldn't. I went out on stand on our pheasant opener at around 1pm and sat til 6:30pm. Several times it stayed in ready condition for three or four hours. Dry firing it would cause far more damage.
 
It wouldn't be much good if you couldn't leave it cocked while you're hunting. I'm planning on getting a crossbow this year to extend my season for Elk and Deer, and have been reading as much as I can find on them. I haven't seen anyone suggest that you can't leave a crossbow cocked for the duration of your hunting day. I'm really only looking at compounds though as they are apparently quieter, narrower and have a lower draw weight. Crossbow talk (part of Archery talk) has lots of good info, and Excalibur recurve crossbows are pretty popular over there.
 
I've been doing some google research and found a thread asking about leaving the bow strung after use, during storage. This is a big no-no with bows, but apparently won't hurt a recurve crossbow, at least the Excalibur. So, I'm less worried now about hunting with it cocked and locked.

I really want the recurve due to the fact that compound maintenance costs are higher and it's 50 miles to the nearest bow shop to get one restrung. I can just order bowstrings for the Excalibur online and cheap by comparison. Also, the compounds are heavy compared to the Excaliburs which run under 6 lbs most models. Hard to find a compound below about 7.5 lbs. I ain't worried about the width as I won't be hunting box blinds, mostly a ladder type tree stand. They do come with a clocking rope, too, which makes the 175 lb draw of the model I'm looking at manageable.
 
I have a Phoenix which is virtually identical to yours. I have hunted with it for 7 years with no problems. I also use it all season long. I have more fun not even using a gun in the woods I hunt. 40yds is about the limit for a shot anyway due to dense brush. I cock it in the AM and decock when I come out of the woods. Replace the string every year and you are good to go. I use the Excalibur varizone scope and 100gr mechanical Brodhead on 22" carbon shafts. I lose a little speed with this combo. Penetration is no problem. You will need the cocking rope if you plan on cocking it very much and can also use the rope to decock. You will be happy.
 
Yeah, I'll not have a shot possible over about 50 yards. My woods are that thick. But, I'll use my CVA inline for regular gun season as I COULD get a 100 yard shot from my box blind and when it gets cold, I have a heater in there. :D Main attraction to the crossbow for me is that I'll be able to shoot it with my dominant eye and doe are legal in bow season.
 
I haven't read much about noise, but power wise, they'll take anything that walks north America. The one I'm looking at is 175 pounds with a 14" stroke. They range up to 250 or there abouts pounds draw, but 175 oughta work. Excalibur seems to have a good rep, too.

Here's what I'm looking at. I have found it online for $475, retail is $550. This is a kit that includes 4 bolts, the cocking rope, bow quiver, scope and mount.

http://www.bestcrossbowsource.com/excalibur-axiom-smf-review/
 
Best is to check with the manufacturer. I called them about mine and they said it is okay to leave it over night once in a while. I bought a shooting block that is just slightly larger than 1 cubic foot to unload into it at the car when the ground is frozen. I also have one of those fiberglass unloading bolts in case I forget the block.

I use the ten point shadow ultralight since it is one of those skinny ones while cocked...only 13.5 inches wide. 350 FPS with the lightweight bolts but 329 FPS with the heavier ones I shoot. The scope is calibrated for 330 FPS so I am good.
 
Nice, how do you like your TP Shadow Ultralight? I pretty much have my selection narrowed down to a TP Shadow, a TP Stealth, a Stryker Solution 350, a Mission MBX 360 or the new reverse draw Horton Storm coming out this spring.

MCgunner, The Excalibur's I've held and looked at were all really nice, If I were going to go recurve they would be at the top of my list too. The classifieds at Crossbow Talk have a bunch of Excaliburs listed, you might be able to get a sweet deal if you don't mind used.
 
Crossbow uncocking...

To uncock a crossbow, you DO NOT dry-fire it. I have one crossbow arrow, the point of which struck a rock and got driven into the shaft. Arrow is now useless, and can't be repaired. At the end of the hunting day I load that arrow into the X-bow and shoot it into the ground. Voila! Bow uncocked, no arrow lost, no danger, no damage to the Xbow.

No one has ever explained to me, exactly why it is such a no-no to dry-fire a crossbow, but it is one of the few things about which opinion seems to be unanimous.

Thank goodness, that X-bows don't mind staying cocked all day long. It would be a real drag to uncock them safely, and have to re-cock them, 2-3 times during the hunting day. Be like having to unload the charge in a BP rifle several times daily...
 
Hi Gtscotty,
I was one of the last in the group to get a crossbow so I got to try Excalibur, Barnett and others. I liked the feel of the TP and a big plus is the ease of handling in a ground blind due to compact size, for example. The cocking is much easier than others and the cords wind up and stay in place so you can't lose them. I didn't go crazy with speed since a lot of the crossbows pushing more than 400 FPS might have limb life issues. 350 FPS is plenty, gives a moderate draw weight and will whistle through anything anyway. More FPS or kinetic energy just means more effort pulling the bolt out of the dirt or a tree after the shot.
I like mine but I would recommend trying a few out for fit and finish so you have something that fits you well. TP is definitely one of the top brands and they have lots of models.
One piece of advice....when target practicing, don't shoot the same target twice in a row unless you have a different point of aim. While it is cool to 'robin hood' your bolt the first time, you quickly realize that is money out of your pocket.
 
I figured to just decock it with the cocking rope, but I've seen "unloading bolts" for sale, guess they're strong fiberglass or something.

As I understand it, even dry firing standard compound bows will shatter things. Dry firing is a no no with bows, too.

Lately I'm lookin' at this bow as an alternative. ...... http://www.walmart.com/ip/Arrow-Precision-Inferno-Fury-Crossbow-Kit-175-lb/20999188

The Excalibur has a good rep, but I've not found a lot negative on this one, supposed to be very accurate and it's a might more affordable.
 
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I got a Barnett crossbow when they were made legal here for hunting and its a lot of new fun!

I can shoot it in our large basement into a target I got for it.

It makes no noise! :cool:
 
A lot of the compound bows have the anti-Dry fire safety devices. They are to prevent dry firing and breaking limbs. Those are tricky to try and decock manually and pose a safety issue if you try. They aren't designed to be decocked.
The only safe way to easily decock your crossbow is to fire it. A fiberglass decocking bolt has a sort of shock absorber near the front so you can reuse it over and over.
The excalibers can commonly be decocked with the rope since they have no dry fire.
 
Smokey Joe said:
No one has ever explained to me, exactly why it is such a no-no to dry-fire a crossbow, but it is one of the few things about which opinion seems to be unanimous.
Click to expand...
I can't really explain the physics but I can tell you it'll completely toast the limbs. My younger brother dry fired mine once a number of years ago and both limbs cracked.
 
The bow limbs are designed to accelerate and stop with a certain amount of resistance (weight). When you don't have it the limbs go faster than designed and over extend when stopping. The Excalibur is one of a few that you won't destroy if you accidentally dry fire it. Recommended... no. You are correct about using the cocking rope to decock it. You should also get the rope device for restringing.
 
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