Best Crossbow For the Beginner

[mots]

What would be one of the best cross bows for the beginner i have been looking at the a barnett any thoughts????

http://www.wholesalesports.com/storefront/hunting/archery/crossbows/revolution-x-bow-pkg-camo/prod67318.html

[mikeinajeep]

Looks good. Make sure you check out the Excalibors, I put a ton of time into buying mine and excalibor seemed the best. One big reason is it comes apart with two bolts and them fits in a rifle case, makes life alot easier to store and ship. The smaller excalibors are about the same money I think. Good luck!!

[M@B]

I've heard alot of good things about the Barrnett wildcat C5 as far as entry level Xbows go. I believe they're 350 fully kitted out too.

[plumbcrazy]

Go with the top of the line Excaliber. I did and coudn't be happier. Do it once and do it right!

[Bow Walker]

I'd go with a recurve crossbow, and a Canadian company.

Recurve for simplicity and ease of operation. A Canadian company for ease of warranty work (if necessary).

[mikeinajeep]

Plumbcrazy and Bowwalker are right buy an excalibor!!!

[358win]

Pro slider by 6 point is worth checking out.
It's a re-curve that has 3 limb positions, and the finest scope I've seen yet.

[dave_fras]

i got a horton... only used it once... then i figured out i wanted a compound!... have u thought about compounds?... i would just hate to see u do the same thing i did haha... now it sits in my garage and collects dust

[Bowzone_Mikey]

Bowtech !!!! Stryker

a great begginer Crossbow .. that you would never have to upgrade

might be pricey to start ..but you would spend more upgrading every couple of years

[Bow Walker]

Yeah, but which "beginner" has a spare $1,500.00 sitting around to "invest"?

[CanadanHirvi]

I would get an Excalibur. Maybe will, when I want a bit more speed than my recurve. If I was getting a compund, what do you guys recommend?

[Bowzone_Mikey]

a PSE Rattler is a great entry level crossbow

[hardnocks]

I think the best crossbows are tenpoints but they are also the most expensive ...... A pse sidewinder i think is the best bang for the buck . 185 lbs... 310 fps scope quiver for under 600 clams

[DTH]

You can't go wrong with an Excalibur, they flat out rock.

[Big jer]

Excalibur all the way! it has done me good over the years. Make sure you use the excalibur bolts though! Never had consistent arrow placment with others. here is a couple of pics of success.
http://i446.photobucket.com/albums/qq183/Badgleys/2008/bowbuck08006.jpg
http://i446.photobucket.com/albums/qq183/Badgleys/1stmuliewithcrossbow07006_exposure.jpg

[cariboobill]

Hello:

I took some time, about a year, before I settled on a crossbow. I shot a few and had the opportunity to take a deer with a buddies before I made the decision. I ended up with an Excalibur for many reasons.

It is is Canadian made, built and machine parts are very good quality. scope and trigger were top notch and was simple recurve and not a compound bow style.

Also I bought the Pheonix as I thought they all shoot similar at close range (25-30 yards) and past 25 yards the sound passes the arrow. So buying a faster Crossbow would do nothing to deal with the sound beyond 25-30 yards, but the Pheonix would kill all game I hunt. I shot two deer with the crossbow. One I shot 30 yards and the other 35 yards. The 35 yard deer moved before the arrow arrived as the sound spooked him, while the 30 yard deer had no time to react to the sound.

Some things to consider when thinking you may make "long" shots and need a faster model.

CB

[greybark]

:mrgreen: Hey Big jer , Quit pointing that loaded thing at me !!!!! :mrgreen:

[Surrey Boy]

A year after this thread started, anything to add?

Just gathering info, you know, for a friend of mine.:rolleyes:

[rocksteady]

Horton makes a very good product as well, but go with top end rather than low....Single piece machined billet aluminum versus superhard plastic for the top rail...

I use the Horton Hunter Elite 175 lb and it shoots well, no issues with it...

Have killed a bull elk and several deer with it in the last 10 years...

[OOBuck]

I see Ten Point is making a line for under 500 bucks..

http://www.wickedridgecrossbows.com/

[Onesock]

Cariboobill- no x-bow is faster than the speed of sound. And any animal can move even at 10 yards. You may still hit the animal at 10 yds but maybe not where you where aiming. Wounded critter. Shoot when the animal is relaxed.

[Bow Walker]

Simple answer to the OPer's question would be a crossbow like the one pictured in post #15 (Big jer). Not a lot can go wrong with one like that. Plus, it'll last you a lifetime, if you take care of it.

[Ron.C]

Cariboobill- no x-bow is faster than the speed of sound. And any animal can move even at 10 yards. You may still hit the animal at 10 yds but maybe not where you where aiming. Wounded critter. Shoot when the animal is relaxed.


not being a Xbow expert, but I've heard great stuff about Excaliber bows. As far as model, look at what makes the more inexpensive versions cheaper then the top of the line model. If what seperates a $1200 bow from a $750 bow is 30 or 40 FPS, forget it, get the cheaper bow.

And to comment on a couple posts above, listen to Onesock, he is 100% correct. I have it on video of a friend shooting at a whitetail with a compound bow at around 12-15 yards. It nearly turns end for end in a few camera frames. That incident totally schooled me on what a deer is capable of and how quick it can react. Key point, no bow is 100% quiet, no arrow travels faster then the speed of sound, and under the some circumstances, deer will react to the shot of a bow.

[Surrey Boy]

I'm leaning towards Excalibur, maybe the Ibex. I'll have to see.

[The Hermit]

I see you are in Chemanius... next time you are down to Vicotira come on over and shoot the Maximus Bonesplitter! Excellent value for money, fast, accurate, and very nicely equipped with scope, rail, bolts, quiver, the whole nine yards and less than an Excaliber bare bow! Oh yeah... FIVE YEAR WARRANTY.

[J_T]

not being a Xbow expert, but I've heard great stuff about Excaliber bows. As far as model, look at what makes the more inexpensive versions cheaper then the top of the line model. If what seperates a $1200 bow from a $750 bow is 30 or 40 FPS, forget it, get the cheaper bow.

And to comment on a couple posts above, listen to Onesock, he is 100% correct. I have it on video of a friend shooting at a whitetail with a compound bow at around 12-15 yards. It nearly turns end for end in a few camera frames. That incident totally schooled me on what a deer is capable of and how quick it can react. Key point, no bow is 100% quiet, no arrow travels faster then the speed of sound, and under the some circumstances, deer will react to the shot of a bow. Well, don't listen to Onesock all the time...(his nicname should be squirrel, he's always chirpin...Sorry Kirk, just had to say it.) But the lesson learned watching how fast an animal can turn is exactly the reason so many real bowhunters on here are not a fan of long shots. So much can happen between the moment of release and the moment of impact.

[Onesock]

JT...........up yours.

[J_T]

JT...........up yours.
I didn't want you to forget about me while you're away for a month.

[The Hermit]

Oh yeah he is giving us a break for a month this year !! Now if he would only take 00Buck with him the rest us us could make peace and solve all the problems in the world!!! LOL

[Bow Walker]

Well, don't listen to Onesock all the time...(his nicname should be squirrel, he's always chirpin...Sorry Kirk, just had to say it.) But the lesson learned watching how fast an animal can turn is exactly the reason so many real bowhunters on here are not a fan of long shots. So much can happen between the moment of release and the moment of impact.
Until a deer/bear/elk or any big game animal actually 'flinches' enough to cause a miss (or a poor hit = wounded animal) the newer bow hunters just will not truly believe the speed with which these animals can move and/or react. :eek:

Unfortunately, they've got to experience it first hand to willfully limit themselves in range regarding shots attempted or taken.

[OOBuck]

Oh yeah he is giving us a break for a month this year !! Now if he would only take 00Buck with him the rest us us could make peace and solve all the problems in the world!!! LOL


I'm surprised you can remember to breath without some reminding you let alone solving the worlds problems & make peace. :twisted: