Best Excalibur Crossbow Reviews

1. OUR TOP PICK: Excalibur GRZ 2 Crossbow

Specifications

• Arrow Weight: 350 Gr.
• Arrow Length: 18”
• Draw Weight: 200lbs
• Arrow Speed: 305 FPS

Safety Features

The GRZ 2 features manual safety to help prevent accidental firing. You need to engage the safety lock yourself which makes this crossbow less suitable for young or inexperienced shooters.

There is also no dry fire protection. Again, this makes it less suitable for younger or inexperienced users. Of course, many seasoned hunters prefer the lack of dry fire protection because it simplifies the crossbow.

Durability

This crossbow is lightweight but fierce.  This feather weight’s difference in power between other brands isn’t something you will notice, but you’ll love how easy it is to carry while hunting.

The skeletonized stock helps keep the weight down but still provides a stable surface and balance to shoot from.

The synthetic body is rugged but feather-light. It can take a bashing but it won’t weigh you down which is always greatly appreciated.

Included Accessories

The crossbow comes with the following accessories:

• Fixed power scope.
• 1” rings.
• 4 arrow quiver with attachment bracket.
• 3x Diablo arrows.
• 3 x 150-grain field points.
• Rope cocking aid.

The quality and variety of the accessories is an awesome advantage over other brands. Customers are particularly pleased with the quiver and arrows supplied.

The scope is adequate and accurate though the installation and adjustment instructions could be clearer.  However, there are a number of great scope tuning videos on the web.

The cocking aid makes loading the crossbow relatively easy despite the 200lb draw weight. The aid allows beginners and younger users to cock the crossbow easily. For seasoned pros, it should be a breeze.

Oh, and don’t forget the camo details that runs the width of the limbs.

Ease of Use

Cocking, loading, and shooting are all fairly straightforward though the setup can be a bit of a hassle for newbies.

At only 5.5lbs, this crossbow is super easy to maneuver and carry.  It’s also fairly compact which makes it great for those who find themselves in small hides or tree stands.

Reloading is easy enough with the cocking aid and the conveniently placed quiver. The supplied arrows are good enough for most people. If you do want to buy more you should stick to 18” arrows.

2. EDITORS CHOICE: Excalibur Matrix Bulldog 440 Crossbow

The Bulldog 440 crossbow is the definition of silent but deadly. It uses Excalibur’s incredible reflex curve design and sound silencing kits to make it an incredible powerhouse.

Specifications

• Arrow Length: 18”
• Arrow Weight: 350 g
• Draw Weight: 300 lb
• Arrow Speed: 440 FPS

Safety Features

This beast of a crossbow includes the Guardian Anti-Dry Fire system which prevents the crossbow from firing without a bolt in place. This protects the bow construction as well as the user.

It also features a manual safety that operates silently, just like the rest of the crossbow. It’s a handy feature and in keeping with the overall design of the crossbow.

Durability

This is a strong and durable crossbow. It is made from high-quality synthetic materials that allow it to provide incredible power without weighing it down completely.

The rails of this crossbow are made from hardened aluminum. They are strong, sturdy but lightweight. The open stock also reduces the weight without making the crossbow weak or flimsy.

Included Accessories

The Bulldog 440 comes with the following accessories:

• Charger EXT Silent Crank system.
• Tact 100 Scope.
• 30mm scope rings.
• Pro-Shot ACP Trigger.
• 4 arrow quiver.
• 4x Pro-Flight arrows.
• 4x 100-grain field points.
• Ambidextrous cheekpieces.
• E.D.S suppressor.
• Guardian anti-dry fire system.

The provided scope is a Hawke XB30 which is an excellent scope. It beats some of the standard scopes provided by other crossbows. Adjusting and perfecting the scop doesn’t take too long which is great news.

The Charger EXT crank is an amazing bit of kit. It makes cocking the crossbow unbelievably easy. You only need about 15lbs of force to cock it with the crank.

The ACP trigger is a marvel. It lets you choose between 1 or 2 stage configurations and has a constant trigger pull which almost feels like shooting a gun.

Ease of Use

What Excalibur has done with the Bulldog, is create a brute of crossbow that operates with ease to make it as silent as possible.

The one cumbersome thing about this crossbow is the size of the limbs. As a recurve, you expect longer limbs than a compound so it’s not so much of a problem. It does mean that you’re going to have an easier time moving and using the crossbow in open areas.

The crank system is a marvel that makes cranking super easy. It’s a wonderful bit of technology really.

3. BEST VALUE: EXCALIBUR CROSSBOW Micro 335 Crossbow with APX Package/Scope

Specifications

• Arrow Length: 16.5”
• Arrow Weight: 150 gr
• Draw Weight: 270lbs
• Arrow Speed: 335FPS

The Micro 335 is a smaller, more dynamic crossbow from Excalibur. It is all about speed and power but in a small, easy to handle package.

Safety Features

The crossbow has an excellent anti-dry fire system that protects both you and the bow. It is a reliable system that won’t let you down.

The downside is that the safety lock is manually operated. This is fairly standard with Excalibur bows so we were expecting it. It is, however, disappointing.

Durability

This crossbow might be small but it is not weak or flimsy.

As a recurve bow it has fewer moving parts than a compound which always makes it more durable and less prone to breakages.

The Featherlite skeletonized stock helps keep the weight down but is strong and sturdy. Rubber grip inserts make the bow more comfortable to hold and provide a bit of sturdiness in the grip.

Overall, it is a tough little thing that is capable of so much more than you’d expect.

Included Accessories

The Micro 335 comes with:

• Dead-Zone scope.
• 1-inch rings.
• 4 arrow quiver.
• 4x Quill arrows.
• 4x 150-grain field points.
• E.D.S suppressors.
• Rope cocking aid.

The Dead-Zone scope is a pretty good offering from Excalibur. It has crystal clear optics and multiple aim points that are easy to use. The adjustable speed dial is a nifty feature that comes in handy when you change the weight of your arrows.

The R.E.D.S suppressors work admirably to make the Micro 335 a stealthy bow. It could do with some limb savers to really hush it up.

Ease of Use

This bow has a lot of power which naturally means that cocking is quite difficult. This is not the kind of bow you can cock halfway and take a breather. You need to do it in one fell swoop. The supplied cocking aid does make it much easier, but it’s still a fair old slog.

The great thing about the Micro 335 is that it is smaller than standard recurve bows. This makes it super easy to use in close quarters like tree stands and ground hides.

It’s a lightweight crossbow which means that you won’t get tired out carrying it. This is great news because you’ll need all your strength to cock the damn bow!

One of the best features is the fact that you can restring the micro 335 at camp with the restringing aid. Being able to change the string on the hunt is a wonderful thing. It means you don’t have to end your hunt early.

4. RUNNER UP: Excalibur Assassin 420 TD

Specifications

• Arrow Length: 18”
• Arrow Weight: 350 gr
• Draw Weight:290lbs
• Arrow Speed: 420fps

Safety Features

Like other Excalibur crossbows, this one comes with a Guardian Anti-Dry Fire system. It’s a robust system that keeps you and your bow safe.

The safety system is manual so you will need to engage it every time you cock the crossbow.

This bow is supplied with a fail-safe strap to help you hang on to your bow if it is knocked from your hands for whatever reason. This is greatly appreciated considering the cost of the bow!

Durability

As a recurve, it is already more durable than any compound on the market thanks to the reduced number of moving parts.

The Assassin 420 is a premium crossbow that has a premium finish. The materials used are strong, sturdy but not overly heavy. They provide a solid and substantial feel without weighing you down.

One of the great features of this crossbow is the Quick-loc push-button takedown system. Essentially, it allows you to break down your crossbow without needing any tools. It’s quick and easy and seems to hold up to use really well.

There’s always a concern with push-button takedowns that the button will give out or the system will lose some grip and functionality. This doesn’t seem to be the case with the Assassin.

Included Accessories

The Assassin 420 includes:

• Tact-100 illuminated scope.
• Pro-shot trigger.
• 4 arrow quiver.
• 4x Premium Pro-shot arrows.
• 4x 100gr field points.
• 30mm scope rings.
• Fail-safe strap.
• Ambidextrous cheek piece.
• E.D.S suppressors.
• Charger Crank System.

The Tact-100 scope is the same one used for the Assassin 400. It is a great scope that offers superb levels of accuracy over substantial distances. Even beginners should be able to hit targets at over 60 feet with this scope.

The R.E.D.S suppressors are wonderful as always. This bow is remarkably quiet considering its size and shooting power.

The supplied arrows are quite light so to truly get that velocity you’re after you might want to switch them out for weighter bolts. That being said, they are quality arrows that will serve you well.

Ease of Use

The best thing about this crossbow is the Charger Crank System. It allows you to get high speed, high-velocity shots with only 14lbs of force needed to cock the bow.

It’s fully integrated and dead silent. There’s no clicking as you crank so you won’t scare off any targets.

The crank system also means that you have a higher degree of accuracy because it always cocks back evenly.

As for the maneuverability of the bow, it’s quite large and you might struggle to move it around in cramped ground blinds or treestands. However, the bow features a customizable stock which lets you adjust the length and height of the stock to fit you and the conditions.

The Tru-fit stock is wonderful and can make shooting in cramped conditions much easier.

5. RUNNER UP: Excalibur Suppressor 400 TD Crossbow

Specifications

• Arrow length: 16.5”
• Arrow weight: 100 gr
• Draw weight: 325 lbs
• Arrow speed: 400 fps

Safety Features

The Suppressor 400 has Excalibur’s Guardian Anti-dry fire system installed to protect you and your bow.

It also has the standard manual safety. You need to engage this every time you cock the bow.

Supplied with this bow is an ACP Pro trigger. This trigger has frictionless-roller technology that prevents dirt from clogging it up. It also allows you to choose between 1 or 2 stage pull depending on your preference.

Durability

It’s a sturdy little set up that can take a lot of use and abuse. Excalibur seems to have gone out of its way to make sure that weaknesses are sealed and prevented.

We see this in the frictionless roller technology in the trigger and the sturdy but light aluminum mainframe constriction.

This is a bow that can really take the rough and tumble of a good long hunt.

Included Accessories

The Suppressor 400 TD is sold with the following:

• Tact-100 illuminated scope.
• 30mm scope rings.
• Pro-Shot ACP trigger.
• E.D.S suppressor.
• Sound deadening system.
• Air brakes.
• Ambidextrous cheek piece.
• 4 arrow quiver.
• 4 x Proflight Premium arrows.
• 4 x 100gr field points.
• Charger EXT crank system.

You get a lot of bang for your buck with this crossbow!

The major focus of this bow is on stealth which is why you get the R.E.D.S suppressor system, the air brakes, and the sound deadening system. They all come together to create a near-silent operation.

The scope is a great quality scope. It’s crisp and bright and has a great wide range of vision. You shouldn’t have trouble picking out targets even in low light conditions.

Ease of Use

One of the best features is the Quick- Loc takedown system. It makes assembly and disassembly an absolute breeze.

With a click of a button, you can take the bow apart to store or carry it safely. The system is robust and sturdy. You won’t see wiggle or lose connections no matter how often you take it apart.

The Charger EXT Crank system makes cocking the bow relatively easy. You only need about 12lb of force to draw the string back. The system also makes sure that the bow is always cocked evenly giving you greater accuracy.

6. RUNNER UP: Excalibur Assassin 360 Crossbow

Specifications

• Arrow length: 16.5lbs
• Arrow weight: 150 gr
• Draw Weight: 285 lbs
• Arrow Speed: 360 fps

Safety Features

The crossbow uses Excalibur’s anti-dry fire technology. This prevents you from firing the bow without a bolt loaded.

The Assassin 360 also features a silent manual safety feature. It’s nice to see that Excalibur has considered the little things like the safety switch when developing their stealth bow.

Durability

The Assassin 360 has a simplified design which helps it remain functional and operational for longer than more complex compound bows.

Excalibur claims to have done torture testing on their crossbows which makes them ‘bomb-proof.’ For sure, the brand is known for its reliable and dependable bows. The Assassin 360 is no different.

Included Accessories

Packaged with the Assassin 360 is:

• Tact-Zone scope.
• 30mm scope rings.
• Sound deadening system.
• E.D.S Suppressor.
• Charger Integrated Crank System.
• Air brakes.
• 4 arrow quiver.
• 4 x Quill arrows.
• 4 x 150 gr field points.

Ease of Use

The crank cocking system is one of the best we’ve seen. It is silent and efficient. You only need a few pounds of force to get that bowstring back meaning anyone can use this bow.

It is reasonably lightweight which makes it easier on the hands and wrists when you’re waiting out a game. At 7.7lbs it’s not the lightest bow we’ve seen, but it’s light enough.

Overall, the design and assembly make this crossbow super easy for all users.