Scope Recomendations For Crossbow

maple leaf

maple leaf

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I purchased my first crossbow yesterday (Excalibur Wolverine - 175lb draw) and it came with a Tasco 2.5-32 scope. It's as basic as they come. My question is, what recommendations does everyone have for a better scope? I am going to be using my crossbow for hunting turkey, deer and moose. Thanks for the help!
 
I use an Excalibur Vari-Zone scope on my Exomag bow. It's an older model...I don't know what they call the current version. It's designed for crossbow use, adjusts easily to give you exact aiming points for 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards, and it works like a charm. Follow the instructions and you will be all set within a half hour. It hasn't fogged on me and holds zero perfectly. Not exactly Nightforce optics, but very usable and not expensive. I'd buy another one without hesitation.
 
I was interested in the same thing. I just got my first crossbow and don't really intend to use it much. I want to sight it in for about 25 yards and was thinking of just sticking a bushnell TRS25 Red Dot on it. Is there any reason why I might be doing the wrong thing here?
 
jjohnwm said:
I use an Excalibur Vari-Zone scope on my Exomag bow. It's an older model...I don't know what they call the current version. It's designed for crossbow use, adjusts easily to give you exact aiming points for 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards, and it works like a charm. Follow the instructions and you will be all set within a half hour. It hasn't fogged on me and holds zero perfectly. Not exactly Nightforce optics, but very usable and not expensive. I'd buy another one without hesitation.
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This is what I have on my ExoMax as well. The Excalibur scopes are awesome because you can set your crosshairs at 20, 30, 40 & 50...

How do you do this? Simple! Sight in at 20 meters with your main cross hair. Once you are dead on at 20, move your target to 40 meters & using the 40 meter chevron, shoot at the target. You will be high or low. Now use the speed ring on the scope to adjust the setting, "usually" to a lower speed... Shoot again. Continue to adjust the speed ring until you are hitting dead on.

Now you are sighted in for 20, 30, 40 & 50 meters.

Cheers
Jay
 
AWOL said:
I was interested in the same thing. I just got my first crossbow and don't really intend to use it much. I want to sight it in for about 25 yards and was thinking of just sticking a bushnell TRS25 Red Dot on it. Is there any reason why I might be doing the wrong thing here?
Click to expand...

Awol, if you are just target shooting at one constant distance I'm sure that would work fine for you. However, if you are hunting, having the ability to have exact sighting marks for several different distances is a huge advantage. This isn't a rifle...the trajectory is extreme, with as much drop at 40 yards as you would have at several hundred yards with most rifles. The purpose-built crossbow scope is the way to go.
 
I have the Excalibur Vari-zone and it works just fine. It has the yardage points, so no guessing at hold-over. I've tried the Shadow Zone and being partially colour blind (red/green deficient) I "lost" the cross hairs when looking in the woods (I get the same thing on most red dot sights).

Excal scopes have a decent reputation--(biggest complaint was seal failures, aka moisture); unlike their crossbows, which has an awesome reputation. But from what I've read on crossbow forums (and one experience from a friend), one call to Excal in Kitchener and they will replace it, pretty much no questions asked.

Other crossbow specific scope options are

Hawke XB30 (there are others in the XB line). I find the lines to be distracting and make the reticle look "busy"--but I could see the red/green "+"
Nikon Bolt XR--Same reason I didn't buy a Nikon Slug Hunter, I can't stand the little circles, they are not distracting or busy like the Hawke, but annoying to look through.
Leupold Crossbones-- I like them, the price not so much.

If I had to buy another scope "right now". I would go back to Excalibur; their factory is 30 min away and I know they do a straight swap at the door (so long as you call them first). Until they change their exchange policy, that is what I recommend.
 
As others have said..go with the Excalibur scope.
I have the one with the lighted reticle pattern, very easy to get zeroed and has held up very well.
 
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