Testing the Excalibur Hybrid X

Nicely, fall is lastly right here, and there’s that crispness within the air that solely northern Michigan can ship. We’re up north engaged on the lease, getting all the pieces prepared for our conventional deer camp earlier than opening day. Bow season is in full swing, and the pre-rut is beginning to warmth up. We’re seeing extra exercise on the cameras daily, and between establishing stands and checking trails, I’ve been placing time in with a brand new piece of substances that deserves a more in-depth look the Excalibur Hybrid X crossbow.

If you understand Excalibur, you understand they’ve all the time stood by their recurve limb design. No cams, no cables, simply stable, easy, reliable efficiency. The type of setup you may service your self within the area and not using a journey to the store. The Hybrid X adjustments that playbook somewhat. It is a hybrid system that brings in a cam-assisted chassis whereas preserving that acquainted Excalibur recurve limb type. The cams are hard-mounted to the body itself, so you continue to get that simple upkeep and area serviceability that Excalibur shooters love, however now with a serious bump in pace and energy.

I’ve been capturing 150-grain heads, identical to Excalibur recommends, and I’m nonetheless getting over 400 toes per second. Out of the field, the bow was practically dead-on, and inside two photographs I spotted how a lot punch it has I blew proper by my goal at 20 yards. That’s how a lot kinetic power this factor is sending downrange. As soon as I moved again to 50 yards, the Hybrid X actually began to point out what it may do. Teams had been tight, and arrow flight was constant. I used to be holding MOA-level accuracy at 50 yards, which is saying one thing for a crossbow capturing broadheads.

At simply over eight kilos, it’s compact and straightforward to deal with. The Overwatch scope that comes with it’s a stable match, illuminated reticle with each crimson and inexperienced choices, and clear, easy drop markers for fast ranging. I desire the inexperienced illumination in low mild, particularly in these grey northern Michigan afternoons when the woods go dim. The anti-dry-fire system can be an awesome security contact. You possibly can’t ship a shot and not using a correctly seated arrow, and that peace of thoughts goes a great distance once you’re drained on the finish of a protracted sit.

Certainly one of my favourite components about this bow is how simple it’s to cock and decock. The built-in crank system slides proper into the inventory, and it solely takes a couple of kilos of stress to attract. You possibly can safely decock it with out capturing an arrow or worrying a couple of free-spinning crank deal with. It’s some of the user-friendly techniques I’ve ever used, easy, secure, and clean.

After spending time with the Hybrid X, it’s clear that Excalibur has stepped into the following chapter with out shedding what made their bows so trusted within the first place. You continue to get that rugged, self-serviceable design, however with trendy engineering that pushes efficiency into the 400+ FPS vary. Whether or not you’re sitting in a blind, climbing a stand, or mountain climbing in along with your setup, this crossbow is compact, highly effective, and constructed to final.

Excalibur Hybrid X Specs

• Velocity: As much as 435 toes per second; round 400+ FPS when capturing 150-grain heads

• Energy System: Hybrid cam-assisted recurve design (cams mounted to the chassis, conventional Excalibur limbs)

• Draw Weight: Roughly 325 kilos

• Cocking System: Built-in crank deal with constructed into the inventory; just a few kilos of stress wanted to attract

• Weight: Simply over 8 kilos total

• Scope: Overwatch illuminated scope with crimson and inexperienced reticle choices and pre-set drop markers

• Arrows: Consists of 4 18-inch VFlight Professional arrows (Excalibur recommends 150-grain heads for finest flight)

• Security Options: Anti-dry-fire system, mechanical security, and secure decocking functionality

• Decocking: Built-in system permits managed decocking with out capturing an arrow or decocking bolt

• Foot Brace: Adjustable mounting positions for entrance or backside placement (best for blind or bench relaxation capturing)

• Upkeep: Discipline-serviceable strings and cables; no bow press required

• Total Impression: Compact, quick, correct, and straightforward to keep up; a contemporary improve to Excalibur’s conventional design

I’ll be taking it into the woods this afternoon because the temps drop and the deer begin transferring. In case you’re curious to study extra or take a look at the total Excalibur lineup, head over to ExcaliburCrossbow.com.

Excalibur Hybrid X FAQ

Can I service the Hybrid X myself like different Excalibur bows?
Sure. Regardless that it makes use of a cam-assisted system, the cams are hard-mounted to the chassis and the recurve limbs nonetheless permit for self-service. You possibly can change strings and cables within the area with minimal instruments.

What sort of arrows ought to I shoot?
Excalibur recommends 150-grain broadheads or area factors for finest flight and correct tuning. I’ve been capturing the 18-inch VFlight Professional arrows that include it they usually’ve been constant and sturdy.

How laborious is it to cock and decock?
Not laborious in any respect. The built-in crank deal with shops within the inventory and takes just some kilos of stress to show. Decocking is simply as simple, no have to shoot into the bottom or use a decocking bolt. You merely reverse the crank, and the slide system handles the stress safely.

What scope comes with the Hybrid X?
The Overwatch scope. It’s an illuminated optic with each crimson and inexperienced reticle choices. I desire inexperienced on cloudy days or in low mild as a result of it stands out higher towards grey or shadowed backgrounds.

Is it good for searching from a blind?
Sure. The compact measurement and adjustable foot brace make it simple to shoot from a blind or relaxation on a capturing rail. You possibly can mount the foot brace on the underside as an alternative of the entrance if you wish to relaxation it extra like a bench rifle.

What sort of accuracy can I anticipate?
At 50 yards, I used to be holding tight teams round an inch to an inch and a half, which is spectacular for archery gear. That’s simply deadly and correct sufficient for searching out to typical crossbow distances.

Does it include security options?
Sure. It contains an anti-dry-fire system that bodily prevents the bow from firing except an arrow is correctly seated, plus a clean mechanical security and a dependable decocking system.

Andy Husek

Andy has been a lifelong Outdoorsman and has hunted and fished all around the world however his dwelling state of Michigan is close to and expensive to his coronary heart. He grew up fishing the Nice Lakes and largely hunted waterfowl and small sport till his teenage years when he rapidly turned an avid massive sport hunter. He has hunted North America from the northernmost components of Alaska to the southernmost components of Florida and all over the place in between. When he’s not searching or fishing he’s teaching journey softball and watching his two daughters play the sports activities they love.