LAST UPDATED: May 8th, 2015
By the Crossbow Tramp
The Ibex SMF package comes complete with 2.5 power scope, side quiver, four arrows and cocking rope.
I have just completed another affair with a most desirable crossbow. Almost perfect in every way, she is well built, very attractive, a dependable and sturdy hunting partner and slips oh so beautifully into my arms. After a brief affair, I am so pleased to add her to my list of loves. The Excalibur Ibex SMF did everything I expected and not once, broke my heart.
Excalibur’s reputation for making high quality, durable and very accurate crossbows is second to none. Over the years, they have produced some of the most popular crossbows on the market and it is not without good reason that they remain an industry leader today.
The reticules on the Excalibur 2.5 power scope on my bow were exactly calibrated for 20,30,40 and 50 yards.
When the Ibex arrived at my door step, I hurried to my office with the box and began assembly anxious to head for the range to see what she could do. At first glance, I was treated to attractive bow and riser covered in a beautiful Realtree AP HD skin. A quick and simple connection of the bow and riser and the Ibex SMF was ready for action. This particular Ibex came complete with Excalibur 2.5 scope, side quiver, cocking rope and arrows; and it was strung with the optional Flemish Dyna Flight String for superior performance.
The lightweight, durable stock of the Ibex SMF is so well made and so beautiful that the Excalibur proudly puts its name right on the stock.
The Ibex SMF tips the scales at just a hair under 6 pounds which makes it easy to handle with little burden regardless of how long the trek. It has a 175 pound draw weight and a 14 ½ inch power stroke, which launches a 350 grain arrow at around 305 feet/second; a speed more than fast enough to bring down whatever you’re shooting at. When shouldered, it fits the contour of the body snuggly and comfortably made ever more so by the generous thumbhole stock, a feature that I have always favored in a crossbow.
Perry Mason’s range setup allows us to ideal conditions for sighting in and judging the performance of each crossbow tested.
Casing the bow and arrows, I headed for Perry’s Mason’s range with visions of Robin Hoods dancing in my head. Once the arrows began to fly, critical analysis began. As with every other Excalibur that I have ever shot, the consistent accuracy that is naturally expected of their bows was quickly confirmed. From the shooting bench equipped with sandbag rest, the twenty yard mark was quickly established with just a few minor adjustments of the dials. The targets were moved out to thirty yards for additional fine tuning and as I expected the second reticule was right on the money.
The Excalibur Cocking Rope reduces the draw weight of cocking the bow by 50%, ensures a more even draw and also works easily and effectively as a de-cocking tool.
The move to forty yards, interestingly enough, also delivered bullseyes, proving that the scope’s reticules were perfectly matched for this particular bow. Forty yards is usually when the distance starts to drift from the reticule with most crossbows, but Lady Ibex was right on the money.
The fifty yard marker was also right on, which was pleasing if not a little surprising. Generally I find that when the top reticule is zeroed in at twenty the further down the line, the more variance in the yardages. When that happens, I establish the true yardage of each reticule, then attach a piece of tape to the limb with the exact distances of each reticule clearly marked for reference. With the Ibex, this was not necessary.
Even at 50 yards the Ibex SMF deeply buried the arrows into the target.
The bow performed well. There was more creep in the trigger than I was first comfortable with, but over the relationship with the bow it lessened considerably. There are a couple of reasons for the creep, the first being, quite bluntly, that this is not one of Excalibur’s top-end bows. If you want their best trigger, buy one of their thousand dollar bows. The other reason is that with the thumbhole stock there is extra linkage in the trigger that minimally increases the creep. Once the bow has launched a hundred arrows or so you will discover that the creep has lessened considerably. In spite of the creep, I quickly adjusted to it and found that it had no adverse effect on being able to consistently perforate the bull’s-eye of the target. Adapt and overcome is always the plan and what at first was a noticeable concern quickly disappeared from notice after repeated launch of arrows.
Experience has taught many a hunter that if you are looking for a affordable, dependable and effective crossbow, just look for the word Excalibur somewhere on the bow.
In the field, the Ibex SMF was a wonderful companion, never a burden when moving and always a pleasure in the stand as it sat comfortably on my lap. It was quick to the shoulder, always properly aligned for immediate focus through the scope. Its light weight and even balance, made it easy to hold to the shoulder with little or no strain, even over long moments. And best of all, un-cocking the bow once back at the vehicle was made simple with the use of the cocking rope. No CO2 necessary or fear of losing arrows by hitting unseen hard objects just below the surface.
In the final analysis, The Ibex SMF is a wonderful bow and for under $600 it is a true value in today’s crossbow market. She was a good partner and I will always treasure the time we spent together, but now this Crossbow Tramp, dedicated to duty, must move on to find a new love for there are arrows to fly and things to die.
The already comfortable fit of the Ibex stock is even more enhanced by the thumbhole stock.
If it is Excalibur, it’s going to be good!
