Excalibur crossbow

[oldfarmsblueman]

I picked one up hoping we will be able to us it in Oct. this
season.I shot it today with a field point and a 150 gr.Bolt-
cutter broadhead for the first time today.I shot 3 F/P and
3 B/h at 20 yds just to see what I would get!

[BT]

Looks like the bolts may be a tad stiff. Whats the total area where the shots impacted?. I am guessing a 3" diameter area. Pretty wide for a bench rested crossbow.

[horizontalhunter]

I am shooting the Exocet. Which one did you get Pete?

My Exocet can put them in the same hole at 40 yards from a rest using GT arrows tipped with Slick Tricks. I make my own arrows and when I make a dozen they are all within +/- .5g. I always shoot off of a shooting stick or the bar on my treestand as crossbows are so front heavy. Try to keep the limbs level for the best accuracy at longer distances.

The best arrow combination I have found for mine is GT Laser II arrows, 110 g "brass" front insert, aluminum flat nock, fletched with 2" blazers using a 4 degree right offset. The finished arrow is 300g so with a 100g broadhead you are at 400g.

The heavy brass insert allows you to use standard weight broadheads while you still maintain the heavy FOC that crossbow arrows require. Just stick with lower profile broadheads like the Slick Trick if you are going to stay with a fixed broadhead.

I stopped using Slick Tricks years ago and the NAP Spitfire is what I use for the most part now.

Crossbows are a blast. Enjoy.

Bob

[oldfarmsblueman]

Thanks Bob I have only fired one of my 4 arrows so far.I think
I will add some weaight to the front end and also play around
out past 20 yds.Do you have a differant color fletching so you
always load the bolt the same each time?Mine are all yellow
and I think I will mark one with a marker.I might see if they
make a 150 gr.broadhead.
Pete

[cthunt]

.Do you have a differant color fletching so you
always load the bolt the same each time?Mine are all yellow

It does not matter which way you load a bolt they are all the same.
Which Excalibur did you buy ?
I bought a matrix its a tack driver out to 50 yards..

[oldfarmsblueman]

I picked up the Axiom at a good price not knowing if I
would ever use it!(Still not sure if the law changes Oct.1?)
Brand new with scope and 4 bolts for $430.00.I'm not
going crazy yet.Just picked up a Z7 two years ago so will
just work with what I have.It is 175# 305 fps with no
wheels,I can let it down if I don't fire it and has a no noise
safty.The trigger pull seems ok also.Should be a great starter
crossbow for cold weather.At 67 years old my cold weather
treestand hunts are getting harder with a regular bow.

[horizontalhunter]

Jul 1, 2013 7:47:44 GMT -5 oldfarmsblueman said:

Thanks Bob I have only fired one of my 4 arrows so far.I think
I will add some weaight to the front end and also play around
out past 20 yds.Do you have a differant color fletching so you
always load the bolt the same each time?Mine are all yellow
and I think I will mark one with a marker.I might see if they
make a 150 gr.broadhead.
Pete

You shouldn't need to add anymore weight to the front of the arrow if you are using the 150g bolt cutter. The factory arrows come with an aluminum insert and that is why they recommend the 150g bolt cutter.

When I make my own arrows I use the 110g "brass" insert instead of the aluminum insert. This allows me to use a "standard" weight broadhead (read 100g, 125g). This gives me a large choice in broadheads to choose from. There are only about 1/2 a dozen broadheads in the 150g range.

The factory Firebolts have little or no offset. I would try each vane in the rail and see which shoots best. Then mark it with a permanent marker. Your arrows have a flat nock so it doesn't matter which one is in the rail.

I fletch all of my arrows with Blazers using a 4 degree right offset. That made a huge difference for me over the factory fletching. Crossbow arrows are much shorter and harder to stabilize. IMO they need to spin. THere are folks on the Excal site that fletch them with a helical jig. You can get away with it if you are using something short like the 2" Blazer.

Bob