Excalibur is the brand most hunters link with recurves. While most rivals moved to cams, Excalibur kept building crossbows around simple limbs and a plain string. Its upper models then added two features of its own: CeaseFire, a system designed to stop the crossbow firing without an arrow loaded, and ChargerX, a crank built into the crossbow that both cocks and de-cocks. If you are trying to pick the best Excalibur crossbow, those features matter more than the logo.
We review three Excaliburs: the Excalibur Hybrid X, the Excalibur REV X and a lighter recurve.
That third model, the Excalibur Mag Air, is the entry point. The three range from $599.99 to $2,199.99, and their cocking effort runs from 14 lb to 136 lb. All speeds, weights, lengths and prices on this page are Excalibur's published specifications. Scores match our individual reviews.
This page is for hunters who have settled on Excalibur and want the right model, upgraders weighing a flagship recurve against a compound, and anyone who needs to know how hard each one is to cock. If you are still comparing brands, our best TenPoint crossbows ranking covers crank-standard compounds, and our best Barnett crossbows ranking covers lower-priced deer packages.
How We Ranked the Excalibur Lineup
We do not test crossbows in-house. The ranking uses Excalibur's published specifications and the scores in our reviews, weighed against price. Our how we review page explains how each score is built from specs and price.
- Rated speed. Excalibur's published figures, from 305 to 435 FPS.
- Draw effort and cocking system. How many pounds it takes to cock, and whether the crossbow uses a rope aid or a built-in crank that can also unload it.
- Safety features. CeaseFire and controlled de-cocking.
- Weight and length. Bare weight, weight with accessories and overall length, which shape how each one carries.
- Package. Scope, arrows, points and quiver in the box.
- Price and score. What each step up the line adds for the money.
Excalibur also sells the Mag MAX, Suppressor CRT, Suppressor Extreme, RevX TD and TwinStrike TAC2. We have not reviewed those, so they are not ranked here.
The Excalibur Lineup at a Glance
This table uses Excalibur's published figures for all three crossbows. Excalibur does not publish a width for any of them, so width is left out.
| Crossbow | Type | Rated speed | Draw effort / cocking | Weight (bare / with accessories) | Length | Price | Score | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excalibur Hybrid X crossbow | Hybrid (recurve limbs with cams) | 435 FPS | 14 lb, ChargerX crank | 8.3 / 10.3 lb | 29.6" | From $2,199.99 | 4.2/5 | Check price on Amazon |
| Excalibur REV X crossbow | Recurve | 400 FPS | 16 lb, ChargerX crank | 7 / 9 lb | 33" | $1,649.99 | 4.1/5 | Check price on Amazon |
| Excalibur Mag Air crossbow | Recurve | 305 FPS | 136 lb, rope aid | 4.9 / 6.7 lb | 31" | $599.99 | 3.4/5 | Check price on Amazon |
Best Excalibur Overall: Hybrid X
The Hybrid X is the fastest Excalibur we review. Excalibur rates it at 435 FPS, which places it among the faster crossbows sold today; our fastest crossbows ranking shows where that figure sits across brands.
Excalibur does not publish an energy figure. Calculated for a 400-grain arrow, 435 FPS works out to about 168 ft-lbs of kinetic energy. That is our calculation, not Excalibur's, and you can run your own arrow weight through our kinetic energy calculator.
Speed is only part of the case. The ChargerX integrated crank brings draw effort down to 14 lb, the lowest in the line, and it both cocks and de-cocks. CeaseFire is fitted, as on the REV X.
The package is the most complete of the three. It includes the Overwatch illuminated scope, a ReBolt quiver, six 18-inch V-Flight Pro arrows, four 100-grain and four 150-grain points, and Excalibur's premium trigger. Overall length is 29.6 inches, the shortest of the three. Excalibur lists it from $2,199.99, with some versions at $2,299.99, and it scores 4.2/5.
The trade-off is weight. At 8.3 lb bare and 10.3 lb with accessories, it is the heaviest Excalibur here, more than twice the bare weight of the Mag Air.
Skip it if you want a crossbow under 7 lb for long walks in, or your budget stops below $2,000.
- Excalibur rates it at 435 FPS, which works out to about 168 ft-lbs of kinetic energy if you calculate it for a 400-grain arrow
- The CeaseFire anti-dry-fire system is designed so the crossbow will not fire unless properly loaded
- The integrated ChargerX crank is rated at 14 lbs of draw effort and is also used to unload
- At $2,199.99, it sits in the premium tier, well above packages like the Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410
- At 8.3 lbs bare and 10.3 lbs with accessories, it is heavier than lighter reverse draw designs such as the TenPoint Phantom De-Cock
- One published review noted the crossbow is bulky and that some arrow nocks needed careful seating because of the CeaseFire system
Best Crank-Cocked Recurve: REV X
The REV X (Excalibur styles it "RevX") is the recurve to buy if you want Excalibur's modern features without paying flagship money. Excalibur rates it at 400 FPS, 35 FPS behind the Hybrid X, and it costs $1,649.99, which is $550 less.
It is also lighter: 7 lb bare and 9 lb with accessories, against 8.3 and 10.3 lb for the Hybrid X. The cost of that is length. At 33 inches overall it is the longest of the three, which matters in a tight blind or treestand.
The ChargerX crank is rated at 16 lb of draw effort and de-cocks as well as cocks. CeaseFire is fitted, and Excalibur says it works with the Rhino Nock. Excalibur also fits R.E.D.S. suppressors and a Sound Deadening System to cut shock, vibration and noise. It does not publish a decibel figure, so no quietness claim can be made beyond that.
In the box: the Overwatch illuminated scope, a ReBolt quiver, four ProFlight 16.5-inch arrows, four 100-grain points and the premium trigger. It scores 4.1/5, just behind the Hybrid X.
Skip it if you want the most speed for your money. A compound at this price can be rated faster, and the Hybrid X adds 35 FPS for $550 more.
- Excalibur rates it at 400 FPS, compound-class speed from a no-cam recurve
- The integrated ChargerX crank brings draw effort down to 16 lbs and also de-cocks the crossbow without firing
- CeaseFire is designed so the crossbow cannot fire unless an arrow is loaded, the safety is off and the trigger is pulled
- At $1,580–$1,650 it costs more than three times the price of the Barnett Hyper Whitetail 410, a faster mid-range compound
- A recurve stores its energy in the limbs alone, so expect a sharper report than a cam-driven compound even with the suppressors
- At 7 lbs bare and 9 lbs with accessories, it is not a light carry
Lightest and Lowest-Priced: Mag Air
The Mag Air is the light, low-cost way into Excalibur. At 4.9 lb bare and 6.7 lb with accessories, it weighs less than the bare REV X even when fully loaded. It is 31 inches long and costs $599.99.
The catch is effort and speed. Excalibur lists 136 lb of draw effort, and the Mag Air comes with a rope cocking aid, not a crank. That is a real pull for anyone with a sore shoulder or back. Our cocking effort estimator helps you check whether you can manage it before you buy.
At a rated 305 FPS it is the slowest Excalibur here and well behind most compounds. That is enough for deer at normal ranges, but a slower arrow drops more, so range estimation matters more past 40 yards.
The package is basic: a fixed-power scope with 1-inch rings, three Quill 16.5-inch arrows, three 100-grain points and a 4-arrow quiver. Excalibur lists no CeaseFire or ChargerX for this model. It scores 3.4/5, the lowest here, mainly for cocking effort and speed.
Skip it if shoulder or back limits make a 136 lb rope-assisted pull hard, or you plan regular shots past 40 yards.
- Excalibur rates it at 305 FPS, quick for a recurve platform
- Excalibur backs it with a limited lifetime warranty
- At 4.9 lbs bare (6.7 lbs fully accessorized), the Gen2 Synthetic mainframe makes this one of the lightest crossbows in our review library, recurve or compound
- At $599.99, it costs more than budget recurve options that share the same fewer-moving-parts design
- 305 FPS trails every compound crossbow in my review library, some by well over 100 FPS
- A 305 FPS bolt drops more at 60 yards than one from a 400+ FPS compound, so long shots need more precise range estimation
Hybrid X vs REV X: Is the Extra $550 Worth It?
This is the decision most upgraders face. Both have ChargerX, CeaseFire and the Overwatch scope, so the difference comes down to speed, weight, length and price.
| Item | Excalibur Hybrid X | Excalibur REV X |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Type | Hybrid (recurve limbs with cams) | Recurve |
| Rated speed | 435 FPS | 400 FPS |
| Draw effort | 14 lb (ChargerX) | 16 lb (ChargerX) |
| Weight | 8.3 lb bare, 10.3 lb with accessories | 7 lb bare, 9 lb with accessories |
| Length | 29.6" | 33" |
| Arrows included | 6 V-Flight Pro, 18" | 4 ProFlight, 16.5" |
| Points included | 4 × 100 gr, 4 × 150 gr | 4 × 100 gr |
| Price | From $2,199.99 | $1,649.99 |
Choose the Hybrid X if:
- You want the most speed Excalibur offers, and the extra margin for longer shots.
- You hunt from a treestand or ground blind, where 29.6 inches swings more easily than 33.
- You want two point weights and six arrows in the box.
Choose the REV X if:
- You carry your crossbow a long way, where 1.3 lb less weight adds up.
- You want a true recurve design.
- 400 FPS is enough for your ranges and you would rather keep the $550.
What Sets Excalibur Apart
Excalibur's identity is the recurve. Our guide to compound vs recurve crossbows covers the full trade-off. The short version: a recurve crossbow stores energy in its limbs alone, with no cams, so there are fewer parts to adjust or wear.
Recurve simplicity and home string service
Without cams there is no timing to maintain. On a recurve you can usually change the string at home with a stringing cord, without the bow press that a compound crossbow normally needs.
Our guide on how to string a recurve crossbow walks through the job, and the recurve crossbows page lists the other recurves we cover. Always check Excalibur's manual for your model first.
CeaseFire anti-dry-fire
Firing a crossbow with no arrow loaded is called a dry fire. It can crack limbs and damage the string. CeaseFire, on the REV X and Hybrid X, is designed so the crossbow will not fire unless an arrow is properly loaded.
The flip side is that CeaseFire depends on the right nock being seated correctly, so use the arrows Excalibur specifies.
If the trigger will not release, check the arrow first. Our guide to crossbow won't fire fixes covers the usual causes.
ChargerX crank and de-cocking
ChargerX is built into the stock rather than clamped on. Excalibur rates it at 16 lb of effort on the REV X and 14 lb on the Hybrid X. It also does the reverse, letting the string down under control for de-cocking without firing an arrow.
On a rope-cocked crossbow such as the Mag Air, the usual way to unload is to shoot a field-point arrow into a target. Our guide on how to de-cock a crossbow safely covers both methods.
Excalibur Buying Checklist
- Check that you can cock it. The gap between a 14–16 lb crank and a 136 lb rope pull is the biggest difference in the line. Excalibur lists draw effort with the cocking system, not the true draw weight. Our guide to crossbow draw weight by body size is a sensible fit check.
- Use the arrows Excalibur specifies. CeaseFire needs the correct nock, and each model comes with its own arrow length: 18 inches on the Hybrid X and 16.5 inches on the REV X and Mag Air. Check the manual before buying spares.
- Match the scope to the speed. The Overwatch scope comes with the REV X and Hybrid X. If you change optics, our scope speed matcher pairs an optic to speeds from 305 to 435 FPS.
- Weigh the carry. Use the with-accessories figure, since that is what you carry. It runs from 6.7 lb on the Mag Air to 10.3 lb on the Hybrid X.
- Check your state's rules. Our page on crossbow hunting laws by state summarises seasons and equipment rules. Verify with your state agency; this is not legal advice.
- Register the warranty. Excalibur lists a limited lifetime warranty on all three. It sells an extended warranty separately for the Hybrid X.
Never shoot any crossbow without an arrow loaded, even one with CeaseFire, and never let anyone else do it.
Who Should Look at Another Brand
Excalibur suits hunters who value a simple design and an easy crank. It is not the best fit for everyone:
- If you want a narrow, lighter flagship, our best Ravin crossbows ranking covers models that cock to about 6 inches wide.
- If you want the most speed per dollar or a crank on every model, look at the TenPoint ranking linked above.
- If you want a budget deer package below the REV X price, the Barnett ranking linked above has lower-priced compound options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Excalibur crossbows good?
Yes, for hunters who want a simple design and safety features. The Hybrid X scores 4.2/5 and the REV X 4.1/5. The Mag Air scores 3.4/5 because of its 136 lb draw effort and 305 FPS rating. All three carry a limited lifetime warranty from Excalibur.
Which Excalibur is the fastest?
Of the Excaliburs we have reviewed, the Hybrid X is the fastest, rated at 435 FPS. The REV X is rated at 400 FPS and the Mag Air at 305 FPS.
Is the Hybrid X a recurve?
Not a pure one. Excalibur describes it as a hybrid recurve-compound system that pairs recurve limbs with cams, so it behaves more like a compound. The REV X and Mag Air are true recurves.
Which Excalibur has a crank?
The REV X and Hybrid X both have the ChargerX integrated crank, rated at 16 lb and 14 lb of draw effort. The Mag Air uses a rope cocking aid instead.
Can you de-cock an Excalibur without shooting?
On the REV X and Hybrid X, yes. The ChargerX crank de-cocks as well as cocks. The Mag Air has no crank, so follow the manual, which usually means shooting a field-point arrow into a target.
What warranty does Excalibur give?
Excalibur lists a limited lifetime warranty on the Mag Air, REV X and Hybrid X, and sells an extended warranty separately for the Hybrid X. Register the crossbow after purchase.
Do I need special arrows for CeaseFire?
CeaseFire needs the correct nock to be seated properly before the crossbow will fire. Excalibur says the REV X system works with the Rhino Nock. Use the arrows Excalibur specifies for your model, and check the manual before buying spares.
What is the best Excalibur crossbow for deer?
For most deer hunters, the REV X or Hybrid X. Both cock easily with the crank and have CeaseFire. The Mag Air will take deer at normal ranges, but only if you can manage a 136 lb rope-assisted pull.
Final Recommendation
If you are upgrading and want the best Excalibur, buy the Hybrid X. It is the fastest, the shortest and the easiest to cock in the line. If cocking effort is your main concern, either crank model works, and the REV X saves $550 and 1.3 lb.
If you are new and on a budget, the Mag Air makes sense only if you can manage 136 lb with a rope. Otherwise, our best crossbows for beginners roundup lists easier first crossbows. To compare Excalibur with every brand, start with our best crossbows roundup.
| Pick | Skip it if | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Excalibur Hybrid X crossbow | You need a sub-7 lb carry or a budget under $2,000 | Check price on Amazon |
| Excalibur REV X crossbow | You want the most speed per dollar, or a short frame for tight blinds | Check price on Amazon |
| Excalibur Mag Air crossbow | Shoulder or back limits, or regular shots past 40 yards | Check price on Amazon |
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