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Post by Ozarkwhittler on Jan 2, 2006 21:04:54 GMT -5
A few years ago I bought a Horton Dakota crossbow and soon learned that crossbows are not just a system that one can get accuracy using just any bolt/broadhead combination or especially a mixed batch of same. I am a accuracy nut and quickly became very frustrated because my accuracy was horrible. I was using a dukes mixture of bolts and broadheads. I mounted a good scope and took pains to insure the limbs were level and that I applied all the fundimentals of sighting, squeezing and holding. Still at 25 yards I could not be certain of getting the bolts to group into a 10 inch circle. Yes, that is a bit more than just terrible. Finally I learned that I had to insure that the bolt/broadhead combo had to be exactly the same and matched to the crossbow before accuracy could be found. I finally settled on a broadhead that opened on contact and a Horton lite bolt. I have yet to find a fixed blade broadhead that truly flies like a field point or groups well from my Dakotas. I have two now and have taken both deer and turkey with them. There can be accuracy but in my case I had to seek for it. I can now expect consistent two inch groups at 25 yards. That is acceptable for me.
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Post by Redclub on Jan 10, 2006 17:45:43 GMT -5
I got a ten point several years ago and it was very accurate right from the start, didn't even need to sight it in. It came with a red dot sight and was tuned to 20 ,30 and 40 yards. They told me to use mech.heads and they flew just great. I can only shoot one arrow at a target as the next one could hit it.
Redclub
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Post by Blue-Dot-37.5 on Jan 10, 2006 21:31:40 GMT -5
I joined the horizontal bow group too. I bought a 2005 Barnett Revolution. I haven't shot it yet, and I know that they aren't near the top for quality, etc. But, for the price, I couldn't go wrong. $200 & change got me the bow, 6 Beman carbon bolts, 3 Hypershok broadheads, 3 Barnett field tip bolts and a Simms crossbow quieting kit.
I weighed the Beman bolts, without the broadheads they weigh within .1 grain of each other!
I haven't shot it yet, I want to mount a regular rifle scope on it and need to order a longer weaver sight base.........
Any tips for tuning would be greatly appreciated! Would adding .005" thick adhesive backed teflon tape to the flight deck help or hinder?
Blue-Dot-37.5
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Post by Redclub on Jan 11, 2006 16:13:13 GMT -5
Blue
I am not familar with your brand If you use a scope get a crossbow scope as they are calibrated for 20,30 and 40 yards (3 crosshairs) or get a red dot for a crossbow, again 3 dots
I would use rail grease on the rails. My ten point is very noisy but I never had a deer jump the string. I really like rocky revolution broadheads they shoot great .Expensive though.
Ken
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Post by Blue-Dot-37.5 on Jan 11, 2006 19:57:58 GMT -5
I'd use the grease too. The serving is showing signs of slight wear and it didn't come with grease for the flight deck. I need to order an extra string. Rope cocking aid is on order. www.barnettcrossbows.com/ Go to 2005 Specifications look at the Revolution. Blue-Dot-37.5 |
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Post by rainwater on Jan 12, 2006 0:36:00 GMT -5
I had shot a horton for years using rail wax. The trigger sometimes gummed up and had to be cleaned regularly. I bought a new Ten Point last spring and was given a tube of heavy oil to use on the rail. The bow guy said to never use rail wax because of the gumming. I was hesitant but used the oil instead of the wax. The oil is working out great but tends to leave a burnt oil smell after shooting. I am a fanatic about staying as scent free as I can and don't like this. I guess it's just a trade off I had to make. Has anyone else noticed this when using grease?
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Rico
Six pointer
Posts: 59
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Post by Rico on Jan 13, 2006 14:18:52 GMT -5
Just got an Excalibur Exocet 200 this fall because I have arthritis and can't pull and shoot my bow any more. Such is life. This thing is deadly accurate out to 30 yards with my scope. I mean bolts touching accurate. I just use a little ramp wax but I keep my bow string very well waxed which helps a lot. I shot them all and liked the simplicity of the Excalibur and the accuracy of it the most. No wheels, no fuss. Great bow that has got me back in the bush hunting again.
Rico
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Post by Douglas Blair on Jan 15, 2006 18:12:30 GMT -5
I got a Horton Explorer XL 150 this past fall with the talon trigger and the accuracy has been great. The Horton rail lube is not a wax but more like a heavy oil. I have no complaints with the bow accuracy or the lube.  |
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Post by canadoug on Jan 23, 2006 6:51:45 GMT -5
I have been shooting Excalibur xbows for 15 years and found their accuracy one of the best. Low maintenece and lack of wheelsis a plus. My target Vixen  |
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Post by dougedwards on Aug 3, 2007 10:15:39 GMT -5
Gorgeous crossbow Canadoug! I shoot a Horton Supermax with a scope, Horton carbon bolts with Magnus Stinger broadheads. I consistently shoot 3" groups of three at 45 yards but that is about the limit I can try in my back yard. Just wondering........is something like 60 yards attainable with this weapon?.........Doug
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Post by cityboy on Aug 9, 2007 7:17:04 GMT -5
I purchased a Ten Point Phantom CLS about two months ago with their Pro-40 scope. As with shooting any weapon matching the projectile, i.e. arrow, is very important for accuracy. The accuracy of the Phantom is very good. Two days ago at 30 yards I put three arrows in the same hole. As the shots were about an inch high I adjusted the scope an put the next two in the same spot. I have done about the same at 40 yards with five shots inside of a quarter. It's best to only shoot one arrow at a time.
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Post by SW on Sept 3, 2007 12:41:20 GMT -5
A few years ago I shot/and owned for 3 years a Hunter Magnum Extreme(now Ten Point) and could get 2" or better at 60 yds. After my shoulder got better, I sold it and went back to compound and recurve - now shoulder acts up frequently(normally after practicing with bow) so I have another x-bow to use in addition to my bows. The best I can get, using benchrest techniques - Hart rest, Protector bag, solid table, etc - is 3" @ 50 yds. The bow is a 175# thumbhole stocked Parker - very light, very fast(335 with 125g and 340 with 100g)easy to shoot and fair accuracy. The Ten Point certainly set the std for accuracy in my book. I couldn't bring myself to pay for one of the upper speed range TPs. The Stryker is just so big and heavy, and expensive I didn't consider it. Maybe Rambo could even shoot down a helicopter with it.
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Post by hunterdave on Aug 12, 2008 0:41:36 GMT -5
I got hold of a tenpoint blazer a year ago the phantom is not legal in il. for any person when the DNR wrote up the rules they also placed a limit on the width 24 in. length and 24 in axel to axel width. I think the phantom is in the 19 in range. First season three deer down 2 in wis. and one in il. I also had problems wrecking arrows and nocks at 40 yds and under accuracy is phenominal shoot at a different bull each shot ,very comfortable at 50 yards if the right shot presents itself.
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Post by huntingmike on Aug 25, 2008 8:12:45 GMT -5
Doug Edwards,
I have a friend who took a doe at 83 yards last season with his exomax. I shoot 60 yards at different spots to not ruin arrows with my exomax by using the 50 yard dot about 12" over the spot. I would shoot farther but I don't have the distance here to practice longer shots.
I use wax on the serving by rubbing it in deep. I clean all excess wax off the rail as a build up will affect accuracy. I will be moving soon and I will practice longer shots then.
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Post by runningdog on Aug 25, 2008 12:52:04 GMT -5
I shoot a Ten point and ran out of the rail oil that came with the bow. I called Ten Point to order more and one of their guys told me to buy
Remington gun oil with Teflon-same thing but much cheaper. He also said to put a slight amount on both rails about every 50 shots and to keep the sting (not serving) waxed well.
Runningdog
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Post by dougedwards on Aug 25, 2008 14:27:37 GMT -5
Doug Edwards, I have a friend who took a doe at 83 yards last season with his exomax. I shoot 60 yards at different spots to not ruin arrows with my exomax by using the 50 yard dot about 12" over the spot. I would shoot farther but I don't have the distance here to practice longer shots. I use wax on the serving by rubbing it in deep. I clean all excess wax off the rail as a build up will affect accuracy. I will be moving soon and I will practice longer shots then. I sold my Horton Supermax and purchased an Exomax and I can tell you there is no comparison. These recurves are super smooth. So little vibration that I can visually follow the arrow all the way to the target using both eyes open. 50 yard shots are no problem. My back yard won't allow me to shoot further than that but I will soon take my targets to a neighbors house and shoot at longer distances for the fun of it. I use the Excalibur string wax on the string but use a product called Jigaloo, which is a scentless silicon based lubricant, on the rail. I also spray this on the arrow for much easier withdrawal from the tough foam broadhead target. These fast shooting crossbows seem to like front weighted arrows alot. As much as 20% FOC or more. Still shooting 125 gr Magnus Stinger broadheads and can't shoot more than one arrow at a time for fear of cutting the vanes of the previously shot arrow. The downside to the Exomax is that it is much wider than most of the newer compound crossbows and might be some problem in tight areas while hunting. Doug |
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Post by SW on Aug 31, 2008 13:55:50 GMT -5
These fast shooting crossbows seem to like front weighted arrows alot. As much as 20% FOC or more. Doug Doug, A year or two ago you mentioned 8-12% FOC, and I didn't challenge the post; but, my understanding was/is that the shorter, stiffer bolts do better with more FOC such as you just mentioned. 125g is certainly more accurate for me with my Parker. With field points, 145g is more accurate than 125 which is more accurate than 100. I understand that NAP was or has come out with a 175g just for x-bows. I would like to shoot the Rage broadheads but they only come in 100g. This year, I will likely stay with the 125 Spitfires(336'/sec vs 341'/sec with the 100g Spitfires). |
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riddleofsteel
Six pointer
Kilt me a bar when I was only three
Posts: 63
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Post by riddleofsteel on Oct 26, 2008 22:20:08 GMT -5
I just got my Ten Point Titan last week. Due to shoulder injury I am unable to draw and hold my compound. So my doctor signed off on a crossbow permit and here I am.
I got the TL-7 kit with a scope, quiver, bolts ect. Kinda got a great deal. The salesman misquoted the price until we were reday to ring it up. I ended up getting over $100.00 off. The I also signed up for a Gander Mountain credit card and saved another 10%. I ended up saving around $200.00 on the entire deal.
When I got the cross bow home I set up the shooting table and sand bags we use to sight in rifles. I set my distances using a Leupold RX rangefinder. The amazing thing was that the bow came 100% sighted in. 20, 30, and 40 yard lines in the scope work perfectly. It is so accurate that if you aim at the same point every time you WILL hit your other bolts. I picked up one of the THE CUBE targets this summer for bow practice and it has a series of black dots the size of the top of a coffee cup. We just shoot the clock, putting one bolt in each circle. Accuracy at 40 yards is so consistent it is almost boring.
Shooting off hand is the new challenge. Yesterday I discovered I can hit one of the black dots at 40 t0 45 yards "almost" every time from a standing or sitting position. When I miss one it is still minute of deer kill zone. I am having real good luck using a shooting stick to steady the bow.
I am hoping to bloody the Ten Point this Saturday. One of my favorite hunting spots is a saddle back ridge between two hills with acorn flats on both sides. It is a natural travel way and no shot is futher than 50 yards.
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Post by SW on Oct 27, 2008 6:55:32 GMT -5
ROS,
You got an excellent x-bow. I have mounted a 42MM 3X12 mildot Sitetron 11 scope. Use (on 4X) 1 md hi for 20,x-hair as 30, 1 1/2 md lo for 40,3 md low for 50 and just where the x-hair enlargens for 60. This isn't the "ideal" x-bow scope but is a great improvement over what I had or have seen. I may eventually go to an European 3X10ish MD scope so the mds stay the same thru various powers. Using good gun rests really help bring out what the true accuracy of the x-bow can be. I've even found that indexing expandible points helps tighten groupsJust like it does on recurves/compounds - I shoot Rage BHs with my recurve).
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Post by dougedwards on Oct 27, 2008 14:09:25 GMT -5
These fast shooting crossbows seem to like front weighted arrows alot. As much as 20% FOC or more. Doug Doug, A year or two ago you mentioned 8-12% FOC, and I didn't challenge the post; but, my understanding was/is that the shorter, stiffer bolts do better with more FOC such as you just mentioned. Yeah I was new to the crossbow features last year and was going by the old compound bow arrows FOC. These type of forums sure are good for reliable information as I was very suprised when some of the guys in the crossbow forums were balancing their arrows in excess of 20% forward of center. When I went to brass inserts and 125 grain broadheads I was able to hit a one inch circle at 40 yards almost every time. I did aim at the head of a wild turkey but he moved slightly when I shot. I watched the lumenok just miss his head to the right. This sure is fun Doug |
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Post by ozark on Oct 27, 2008 16:26:31 GMT -5
It is now my guess that my balance point is wrong and that it should be around 20 percent forward of center. I am shooting 100 grain Horton open on contact two blade broadheads. Where should I go? Up to 125 grain something? These broadheads ar expensive to just experiment with and toss away. Any help would be appreciated. Right now I would say my groups average about 4 inches at 25 yards. Not real rewarding. Also, I think that the crossbow should be held firm into the follow through. Is that correct? Thanks, Ozark
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Post by dougedwards on Oct 27, 2008 18:40:43 GMT -5
It is now my guess that my balance point is wrong and that it should be around 20 percent forward of center. I am shooting 100 grain Horton open on contact two blade broadheads. Where should I go? Up to 125 grain something? These broadheads ar expensive to just experiment with and toss away. Any help would be appreciated. Right now I would say my groups average about 4 inches at 25 yards. Not real rewarding. Also, I think that the crossbow should be held firm into the follow through. Is that correct? Thanks, Ozark Ozark,.....I would agree that the firm hold on the crossbow will render more consistent performance but I think if I were to start from scratch with store bought arrows I would opt for 150 grain broadheads. The increased forward weight does cause more dramatic arrow drop but it also causes the arrow to fly more true even in windy conditions. Here is some interesting reading concerning arrow flight. www.cacciaebalestra.altervista.org/INGLESE/testsfrecce.html |
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Post by ozark on Oct 27, 2008 20:21:44 GMT -5
Unless other posters discourage me, I will buy three 150 grain broadheads and try them out. Any particular brand reccommended? Ben
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Post by SW on Oct 27, 2008 22:15:03 GMT -5
Ben
Get some 145g field pts and see how they shoot 1st. This will be low cost. For what its worth, appx 6-7 years ago I tried my best to get a top of the line Horton to shoot accurately but couldn't. I am impressed with the accuracy of the Parker and 10-pts. Horton may be much better now and possibly that Horton had a problem. I think the Excalibur x-bow company has a 150ish g broadhead. Good luck.
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Post by ozark on Oct 28, 2008 12:16:29 GMT -5
Been looking at catalogs for 150 grain broadheads to use. 100 and 125 grain are pleantiful but I haven't found any 150 grain yet. Maybe there are weigh collars of something or perhaps 125 would be a big improvement over the 100s I am using. My hope is that moving the balance point more forward will improve accuracy extending my effective range out to 40 yards. If I can't stay within a four inch circle at a given range I will not chance butchering a job at harvesting. Ben
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Post by dougedwards on Oct 28, 2008 13:25:05 GMT -5
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rons
Spike
Posts: 11
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Post by rons on Oct 28, 2008 14:07:53 GMT -5
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