Pros and cons of recurve vs compound

[blackplague14]

I am wanting to buy a crossbow, but am on a budget, so the entry level Barnett or Horton bows are what I have been looking at.

I used to hunt with a compound bow, but several years back I was blinded in my right eye in a work accident.  I gave up shooting bows, because I have a hard time pulling back a hunting weight bow left-handed.  I have never shot a crossbow, so forgive what may be a stupid question.

When comparing the same brand and draw weight bows, what are the disadvantages of the recurve and the compound design.  For example, Horton makes the Summit 150# compound and the SteelForce 150# recurve.  The recurve is less expensive, and from what I've read, vibrates less than a compound.  What advantages does the compound offer that would justify the cost difference.

Thanks in advance for your input and opinions,
Jon

[cynrays]

Every thing that I have read about the steel force is negative. The Horton 150 is the one that I will probably buy. Hope this helps..

[blackplague14]

I just found archerytalk.com and have read a ton of stuff over there in the last couple of hours.  The Horton Summit 150# is recommended as an entry level bow.  I'm still reading and trying to decide.  I may just start saving to get an Excalibur before the '08 season.

Jon

[jh45gun]

Stay away from the Barnett Rangers I had one as my first xbow and while I thought it was ok I never shot any others to compare it with. Now I have as I have shot Excalibers, Hortons and Ten Points.  Now that I have a Excaliber I have to say that they are the way to go and I would stay away from any cheaper recurve as they are not in the same league as a Excaliber is. I too have heard bad things about the Steel force too must be why Horton came out with a new recurve.  If it was me and I know all about being on a budget if you can buy the Horton Compound then your should be able to afford a Excaliber Vixen for maybe a few bucks more and I have heard of them being cheaper than the 350 you mormally see them for. Or look for a good buy on a used one. Nothing wrong with the Horton Compounds I have shot them and they are fine xbows but I still like the Excalibers better since you can change your own strings even in the field if need be and they are considered the most accurate xbows out there. If course the scope mount and scopes are extra but you can buy them piecemeal and if need be you can use a rifle scope until you can afford a good Excaliber Scope to go with your crossbow. So to sum it up yea if you buy the Horton you probably will get every thing in a package for 300 bucks which is what I have seen them sell for. The Excaliber Vixen 350 for a top price probably find it for less I heard last year they sold some on Ebay at some archery shop for 289. It pays to shop around. I would call Dan Miller and ask him what a Vixen cost and go from there. One way to look at it is the Horton is considered a entry level crossbow the Vixen is considered Excalibers lowest price hunting crossbow but is not considered entry level but a well made crossbow to last for years. Your decision. Yea you could get the Horton now and it would not be a bad xbow but if your thinking on an Excaliber why not just save a bit more and get the Vixen and be done with it. If you took a poll of the guys who used a other brand of xbow before becoming Excaliber owners you would see quite a few yet they all shoot Excalibers now which tells me a lot. Myself included. My Ranger I gave to a friend who does not hunt but wanted it to mess around with. I did not even keep it for a spare.

[jh45gun]

You want to go get some more input go to the Excaliber web page and join the forum there and ask questions those guys are really xbow savvy. Yea most will steer you to an Excaliber and for good reason they are just darn good extremely accurate and easy to use crossbows with some of the best Customer Service in the business too which does not hurt either.

[snicker]

First I don't know anything about the Horton's other than alot of people use them quite successfully and like them.  Now, when I was researching for an xbow for my wife to shoot I met Bill T., the owner of Excaliber, at a Trade Show and asked him about the Vixen.  What he told me was the Vixen may look plain to most people but he considered it an xbow's best kept secret.  Easy to maintain, light, and really accurate, and one heck of a good warranty.  So I bought one for her and she loves it.  I even take it out to shoot and it is really accurate like he said it was.  Their are those that would use nothing but a Vixen even though they can get the higher end Excalibur.  In the end, you need to be happy with what you choose so you might want to check them all out at a good shop and shoulder them to see what fits you best.  Hope that helps.

[jh45gun]

One thing about the Vixen is since it is Excalibers Lower Priced Hunting crossbow many folks would consider it a entry level crossbow and it really is not as it compares to the older Wolverine which at one time was THE Excaliber crossbow when it came out. The Wolverine was Excalibers hunting bow from 86 to 92. The nice thing about Excaliber is the limbs are interchangeable and the riser makes the difference on the poundage ect. So my Wolverine with the newer magtip limbs is basically a Vixen only being a Wolverine it has the older Wooden stock instead of the newer Compostite stocks the newer Excalibers use. Now my Carved tip limbs are still perfect and in a drawer for back up though I doubt I will ever need them again. But if a accident ever would happen I still could use them. Anyway my point is many folks think entry level as cheap or a beginners xbow  and for some companies that is true the Barnett Ranger I had really was entry level and a CHEAP crossbow in price and the way it was made. Yes it did work but it was far from the quality of the better made crossbows. Even the Lower Priced Horton compounds are way ahead of the cheaper Barnetts.  The Vixen is a quality crossbow that will last for years. How do I know this well my Wolveine was made from 86 to 92 so say it is a 92 model it is 15 years old and if it was made in 86 it is 21 years old. Lots of guys still use and shoot the Wolverines so they are made to last and perform so the Vixen and the other newer Ecaliber crossbows are made to the same specs only newer stocks and the mag tip limbs which are the same limbs only the tips are different.  The Vixen started in 94 so it has been going for 13 years with a flawless track record. Just like its predicessor the Wolverine and before that the Relayer. There are folks that still use and shoot them the first Excaliber crossbows that came out in 83/84 So if that is not an endorsement for quality I do not know what is. Lots of other older crossbow brands have to be retired as age has not been kind to them. Seems that does not apply to the Excalbers they just seem to keep on going. 

[awshucks]

jh45 pretty well nailed this one, I've a little to add.  Recurves are abit wider than compounds but are way lighter and imho, better balanced.  All of the newer Excals have: same limbs regardless if 150# or 225#, same triggers, same stocks.  The poundage differences come from different length rails, which give longer strokes.  Excals Vixen and Phoenix have dominated the 3-D shoots for years, Vixen more so as it's been around longer.  Two things you don't get w/ an Excal are a serial# on the bow or a warranty card to send in.  They will warranty stuff regardless of it's age, as hard as that is to believe.  I believe the reason they are so popular is that they are extremely reliable and simple.  I'd also like to say that to favor one brand of bow is not to say anything negative about any other brand.  I live 65 miles from a bow monkey and doing my own maintenance means more to me than someone who lives 1/2 mile from a shop.  Have fun!!

[blackplague14]

Thanks for all the input.

I've got a few guns up for sale on a local message board.  If everything sells, I'll have enough for the Vixen and some work that needs to be done on the 4wd.

Yall's responses mirror what I've been told on our hunting lease message board as well as what I've read over at archery talk.

thanks again,
Jon