So I decided I wanted to be able to get in the woods during bow season here in Virginia. So, I found myself in need with the lack of a compound bow or crossbow.
I figured by the beginning of September I really did not have a lot of time to become proficient with a compound, or learn enough about the equipment to make sound decisions, so I opted for a crossbow.
I wanted something flat shooting and cheap (which really don't go together), but I heard a lot of good reviews on the Barnett Predator.... Some have mixed feelings on the customer service, and some complain their crossbows are garbage, but by and large the owners seem impressed.
To make a long story short I ordered the Barnett Predator online at dickssportinggoods.com (big mistake). The crossbow was literally lost in the mail. The box ended up beieng empty in Richmond Virginia according to the tracking info. Anyways, Dick's online has horrible customer service... they are nice and helpful, but produced terrible results. It took me over 2 weeks to find out they had no more in stock, and 5 more days to get my refund. Now, the only decent crossbows left at the major stores are display models.
So I looked on craigslist.com to see if anyone had anything for sale for a decent price. Mostly people wanted way too much money for their used equipment, but one add had an older Browning Mirage, and an Excalibur Exomax for $500. I thought their was no way in the world that this deal was still around, but sure enough it was.
The Browning Mirage is older, but it is in great shape, and decked out. It shoots well, and is great for a starter bow.
The Exomax is unreal. It shoots pretty flat. The THWAK it makes on impact is loud. Can't wait to see what it does to a deer. Oh yeah, and this crossbow came with the case, 7 bolts, broadheads, 2 rope cockers, an extra string, and the scope pacakge (not mounted). MSRP is $960.00 for all of that.
It was probably worth it just for the crossbow, but my buddy who shoots a Mathews, and has several other bows, said that he thinks the Browning Mirage would have been worth it for $250.00. So I feel like a got a pretty good deal.
I figured by the beginning of September I really did not have a lot of time to become proficient with a compound, or learn enough about the equipment to make sound decisions, so I opted for a crossbow.
I wanted something flat shooting and cheap (which really don't go together), but I heard a lot of good reviews on the Barnett Predator.... Some have mixed feelings on the customer service, and some complain their crossbows are garbage, but by and large the owners seem impressed.
To make a long story short I ordered the Barnett Predator online at dickssportinggoods.com (big mistake). The crossbow was literally lost in the mail. The box ended up beieng empty in Richmond Virginia according to the tracking info. Anyways, Dick's online has horrible customer service... they are nice and helpful, but produced terrible results. It took me over 2 weeks to find out they had no more in stock, and 5 more days to get my refund. Now, the only decent crossbows left at the major stores are display models.
So I looked on craigslist.com to see if anyone had anything for sale for a decent price. Mostly people wanted way too much money for their used equipment, but one add had an older Browning Mirage, and an Excalibur Exomax for $500. I thought their was no way in the world that this deal was still around, but sure enough it was.
The Browning Mirage is older, but it is in great shape, and decked out. It shoots well, and is great for a starter bow.
The Exomax is unreal. It shoots pretty flat. The THWAK it makes on impact is loud. Can't wait to see what it does to a deer. Oh yeah, and this crossbow came with the case, 7 bolts, broadheads, 2 rope cockers, an extra string, and the scope pacakge (not mounted). MSRP is $960.00 for all of that.
It was probably worth it just for the crossbow, but my buddy who shoots a Mathews, and has several other bows, said that he thinks the Browning Mirage would have been worth it for $250.00. So I feel like a got a pretty good deal.
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