brushbustin

I just ordered on of these scopes and wondered what everyone thought of them.I had to scrap my Horton 3 red dot scope that came on my Horton.It was crap.I like the fact that you can adjust the scope to your own crossbow based on your bows speed.Anybody use this scope?

Cossack

I use two of them both on my hunting bows. They are great albeit a bit heavy.

saxman1

I use the Lumi-Zone
It is heavy but I like it.

Please read this bout sighting it in.Worked for me in about 20 min.

http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17037&highlight=black+line

Arthur P

Those are good instructions. I wish I'd read that before sighting in my varizone. It would have saved me an arrow setting the speed dial at 40 instead of going all the way to 50, the way the scope instructions said to do it.[&:]

awshucks

AP, you lost me w/ this one. Generally I've found if you are on at 40, the 30 and 50 will be close enough for deer hunting, w/ the 'Zones. I won't go over 30 - 35 yds on deer, but a yote gets an arrow at 50 if i get a shot, lol.

Arthur P

I'll try and explain, awshucks.

The instructions with the scope say to get on paper at 10, sight in at 20, check other ranges (rechecked at 10 and then hit 30) then set your compensator ring to your estimated speed and then dial in the comp ring at 50, so that's what I did.

I had already preset the ring midway between 250 and 275 fps. Based on my estimated arrow weight (some day, I gotta finally break down and buy a grain scale) and the arrow weight/speed table in the manual, I figured that would be slightly on the slow side. So, I shot for the center of a Morrell Outdoor Range bag at 50 yards and watched through the scope as I missed the whole darn thing low. Never did find that arrow. I was absolutely shocked because I'd actually expected POI to be a bit high. Even cranked all the way down to 250, POI was just barely on the bottom of the target butt.

I have a couple of things I need to check out. Either I've got to be way off on my estimated arrow weight or the arrow weight/speed tables in Excalibur's manual aren't very accurate. According to the manual, the Vixen should be putting out 261 fps even with 2219's, and I can't imagine the Cabela's X-Bolt carbons are THAT heavy.

Still, if I'd not skipped taking a shot at the 40 yarder, I'd probably still have 6 arrows instead of 5.

I won't go over 30 on a deer but, like you say, there are times to stretch it out a bit. I'll be looking at going somewhat lighter with the next arrows I buy.

Cossack

Are you using your lowest aimpoint (the bottom 'arrowhead' in the reticule) when you shoot at 50 or the crosshair? 50 yards is a poke with a Vix, I'd expect some 30 inches of drop. I'm using the bottom 'head to hit 50 with my Vortex!
So either aim higher or turn you speed ring down (doing so increases the distance between aimpoints).
BTW, the numbers on the speed ring are just guides, don't take them at face value. Keep lowering your speed until you hit at 50; although 35 yards may be more practical distance with this bow.

Arthur P

Of course I'm using the bottom aim point. I've still got enough functional brain cells to generate at least that much spark.[8D] And, as I said, I've already got the speed dial all the way to it's slowest setting. All I can figure is the arrows are much heavier than I thought they were.

awshucks

Lol, AP, don't buy a scale, make one. take a yard stick or similar sized lath, drill a small hole at 1" and 35" on a yard stick, hang two alligator clips w/ string. Find the balance center w/ straight pin and thread [not necc. the measured center] and then drill small hole there to hang the dang thing. Use 100 gr points for major weights and US currency for finer weights. A dollar bill weighs a gram, a nickel 5 grams. A gram is 15.34 gr. Use the same make baggie on each side, one to hold your spare change, lol, and the other along w/ arrow. They are amazingly accurate. Once you have weight on/in it, a 2" Blazer vane will throw the thing totally cock-eyed. [6 gr btw]

I've dialed in numerous V-L-zones, you must be launching logs for the problem you describe. I have a leupold VX II [2x-7x]set up w/ xbow reticules from 20-60 yds. tried Moon's killer 484 gr arrows and they are as accurate as he says, but out of my adj range for mutiple aim points. I did find 400 gr GT's total weight w/ brass inserts, 2" Blazers gave me 1-1.5" groups at 50 yds and were spot on at 20-60 w/ a lot of tinkering on magnification dial. Needless to tell you, but for others, a slight change in brace height and it's back to the bench rest, lol.

Cossack

Arthur,
Sorry if I insulted your intelligence, not my intention. It's just that being in the fix and repair business, I've seen all sorts of 'wonders'. Like the guy who stooped by with a pellet gun the other day. Said he bought one with two barrels one a .17 the other a .22. He couldn't make the 22 work....using RIMFIRE ammo. Or the red dot scope that was on BACKWARDS. etc, etc. I no longer take common sense as being all that common.
Recently saw an electronic scale advertised for less than $30 just can't remember where. (could have been at Cheaper Than Dirt?)