A sure type of purchaser chooses an Excalibur crossbow. They’re often much less fussed about scorching arrow speeds and fancy-pants options; though, since Bowtech purchased Excalibur, the corporate has been engaged on updating its lineup. What most Excalibur consumers need is a straightforward, dependable crossbow that’s simple to repair themselves. For years, that meant fundamental recurve designs with aluminum risers. Except you had been unlucky sufficient to interrupt a limb, the one put on half was the string, and that was user-replaceable. Excalibur bought lots of crossbows with this configuration, however all of them had two fundamental issues: the aluminum riser drove up the price of the bow, and it additionally made it extra heavy. So, a few years again, Excalibur rolled out the brand new Magazine Air. As a part of Excalibur’s Magazine lineup, the Magazine Air is just like the Magazine 340, however with a plastic riser. This makes it lighter, and cheaper. The MSRP for the Magazine 340 with its aluminum riser is $799. The Magazine Air is $579.99, and gross sales push it beneath $500. It’s the lowest-priced Excalibur by far.
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Excalibur Magazine Air Crossbow – What Do You Give Up?
The plastic riser cuts the worth, and it cuts the Magazine Air’s weight to 4.9 kilos with out equipment. No person’s searching with no scope, although, so it’s extra sincere to listing the Magazine Air’s weight as 6.7 kilos when you connect all of the equipment within the field. Excalibur says the Magazine Air is at the very least a pound lighter than any competing crossbow, as soon as accessorized. For the sake of comparability, Excalibur’s personal Magazine 340 weighs 6 kilos with out equipment, and eight kilos when you’ve added the scope, quiver, and many others.
That weight distinction received’t imply a lot to a full-grown fudd sitting in a treestand, however if you happen to’re lugging the crossbow all day on foot, or if you happen to’re a youthful shooter with out the muscle of an grownup, you’ll admire the trimmed-down weight.
You’re additionally giving up a little bit of arrow velocity. Excalibur lists the Magazine Air at 305 FPS (with a 250-grain 16.5-inch Quill arrow, and a 100-grain broadhead). The Magazine 340 makes, as its identify implies 340 FPS.
The crossbow world is split on the problem of arrow velocity. Some wish to get as a lot velocity as potential, saying it helps them lengthen their efficient vary. Others, particularly those that have expertise with vertical bows or older crossbows, say 300 fps is greater than sufficient, presuming you’re a superb shot and also you’re utilizing high quality broadheads. That is my place whereas the 305 FPS velocity is unquestionably low for what some would think about a premium crossbow due to its model identify, I feel it’s greater than quick sufficient. It definitely had no hassle punching by means of a buck at 20 yards.
Excalibur Magazine Air Crossbow – Shopping for a Magazine Air
You’re best-off supporting an area bow store, however I’m virtually 90 minutes away from the native archery heart. So, I purchased my Magazine Air on-line by means of SAIL, a Canadian outdoor retailer. I took benefit of a seasonal markdown; my worth in fall of 2022 was about $400 USD, together with tax and delivery. About three days after my order, the bow confirmed up. Meeting was simple: bolt on the limbs and fasten the Useless Zone fixed-power scope to the Picatinny rail on high of the one-piece set off housing/sight bridge meeting. Then, it’s time to go sight it in.
Excalibur Magazine Air Crossbow – Capturing the Magazine Air
With a 12.4″ energy stroke and 136-pound draw weight, the Magazine Air isn’t as simple to cock as a compound crossbow, so smaller shooters would possibly want a hand. Most individuals should not have any downside, however if you happen to aren’t in a position to attract again the bow, Excalibur does promote cranks that match within the inventory, making the job simple.
Because of its gentle weight, the Magazine Air is comparatively simple to maintain on course, however once you pull the set off, you already know you’re taking pictures a light-weight plastic bow. There’s lots of vibration, which doesn’t instantly current an issue; it’s simply not as clean as an older, wide-limb Excalibur mannequin, or a brand new compound bow from one other producer.
The Magazine Air teams pretty nicely out to 25 yards. I’ve pushed it farther, and the arrows nonetheless had first rate teams, however since I hunt from stands with photographs at 20 yards or much less, I spent 95 p.c of my observe time in that vary. Whereas I needed to be cautious to not Robin-Hood my arrows at first, I began noticing the odd flier… and the issue began to worsen. It acquired unhealthy sufficient that within the first fall I had the bow, I didn’t hunt with it.
After fastidiously going over the bow, I narrowed down the issue. The set off group/scope bridge meeting was free. Not solely was this ruining my accuracy, it additionally introduced a possible failure level; if the claw, which holds the bowstring in place, was to wiggle misplaced one way or the other, there can be potential for a dry-fire. I shrugged, assumed the manufacturing facility had merely mis-assembled the bow, and tightened all the pieces down with some Loctite utilized for good measure. As soon as searching season was over, I didn’t assume a lot of it till the subsequent September, after I began goal taking pictures once more.
I observed an analogous downside; my older Excalibur Exocet 200 was grouping nicely for me, even with beat-up aluminum arrows, so I knew the issue wasn’t poor marksmanship. I checked the Magazine Air as fastidiously as I may, and ultimately realized the screws within the manufacturing facility scope rings had been free.
I took all the pieces aside once more, and this time I used high-strength Loctite to safe all of the machine screws on the rear of the bow. After doing a little digging on-line, I spotted I wasn’t the one one with this downside. The consensus I discovered was: shooters assumed the bow’s vibration was rattling its plastic chassis sufficient to again off factory-tight screws, even after a comparatively low variety of photographs. Now that I’ve used the high-strength Loctite, the issue appears to have gone away for now, however I shall be triple-checking the bow earlier than taking it afield this 12 months, because it virtually value me a buck in 2023.
Apart from the self-loosening screws, I additionally had a difficulty with the loop on the left finish of the bowstring slipping open whereas taking pictures. I purchased this bow due to its lifetime guarantee, and Excalibur was pretty much as good as its phrase, delivery me a brand new string and limbs which I simply put in myself. The outdated limbs had no seen harm, however they had been definitely suspect and I used to be joyful to get a brand new set totally free.
Excalibur Magazine Air Crossbow – Searching with the Magazine Air
Within the discipline, I feel the Magazine Air has benefits over Excalibur’s older, larger bows. The burden financial savings are noticeable if you happen to’re on foot. For those who’re in a field blind or pop-up, the all-black end (which retains the worth down) really helps you mix into the darkness extra simply than a lighter-colored camo bow. The slim limbs (25.5″ at their widest) are simple to maneuver round inside a blind, and even an open-air treestand.
The 305 FPS arrow velocity limits you, however what issues is accuracy on the ranges you shoot at, not theoretical vary. Spend your time working towards and it is best to be capable of lengthen your vary previous the close-up photographs I take within the thick woods and orchards of jap Canada. If I used to be the sort to take prolonged photographs with a crossbow (I’m not), I might purchase one thing with a magnesium or aluminum riser. I feel the added rigidity would enhance long-range photographs, and longer arrows would seemingly additionally profit right here. For the common hunter, particularly the rising variety of hunters taking whitetails in city areas, the Magazine Air will do properly for the 15 – 30 yard photographs that almost all anticipate for archery season.
Closing Ideas – Excalibur Magazine Air Crossbow from Bowtech
I’ve heard of different house owners having each the self-loosening screw downside, in addition to the string loop slipping free. Regardless of this, I feel the Magazine Air is well-built and I imagine I acquired my cash’s value, however house owners should pay extra consideration to their gear if they’re taking pictures this bow. Do this, and it’ll get the job performed – I’ve the venison in my freezer to show it.
For extra particulars, try Excalibur’s web site HERE.