| Model | Draw Weight | Stroke | Velocity | Suggested Arrow Length | Crossbow Length / Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Excalibur Micro 335 Check price on Amazon.com | 270 lbs. | 10" | 335 FPS Crossbow Academy: ballistics, sighting, tuning | 16.5" | 32.5" / 5 lbs. 3 ozs. |
| Pros: - Simple - Narrow for a Recurve - Accurate - Ultra Light Cons: - Heavy Draw Weight - No Auto Safety | Small Game Hunting? |  |
| Deer, Elk Hunting? | |
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| Moose, Bear Hunting? | |
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| Target Shooting? | |
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| Today's Online Prices: | Compare Prices | |
| Also Recommended: | Best Excalibur Crossbows |
Pros:
Excalibur Micro 335 Package Contents
The Excalibur Micro 335 is offered as a complete kit. Included with our test crossbow was:
- A speed adjustable Dead Zone scope
- REDS suppressors
- A 4-arrow quiver and bracket
- 4 Quill arrows with 150-grain field points
- A rope cocking aid
All in all, you get a pretty complete package. You will need to find the proper broadheads in 150-grain weights (unless you opt to go down to 100 grains), but there are many quality ones out there.
Note: the Excalibur Micro 335 was ranked on our Best Crossbow list between November 2015 and September 2017.
First Impressions: Design, Safety, Comfort and Accuracy
Excalibur has long been known as a company that makes high-quality crossbows, and the Micro 335 is no exception. The 335 is truly designed as a light-weight, ultra-compact hunting crossbow. To help in the weight department, Excalibur utilizes the Feather-Lite skeletonized stock which really adds to the weight savings. Also on the stock is a cheek piece that can be placed on either side to allow for proper eye placement.
The fact that it is a recurve means less moving parts to potentially fail which can be a huge thing when miles from home. The limbs also employ the Excalibur REDS (Recoil Energy Dissipation System) which virtually eliminates vibration and greatly enhances the stealth of the crossbow. At 25” wide, this may not seem like a particularly narrow crossbow when compared to many compounds, but it is quite thin when compared to most recurves.
Excalibur has an excellent anti-dry-fire system, but we were disappointed that you have to manually engage the safety after cocking.
Kinetic Energy of the Micro 335
The Micro 335 was designed to offer a compact hunting platform for the hunter that wishes to enjoy the simplicity of a recurve crossbow over a compound. The Micro 335 is capable of slinging 350 grain arrows at speeds approaching 335 fps. That is going to translate to about 87 ft. lbs. of energy at the muzzle. This should be plenty for just about anything deer sized or smaller you want to chase.
Ballistic Data For The Excalibur Micro 335
- Speed Reduction
- Kinetic Energy
- Hunting Requirements
Your actual results will vary slightly depending on weather, and significantly with arrow weight change. See our Crossbow Ballistics Guides section for a complete understanding of how we conducted our tests and why this data matters.
Hunting with the Excalibur Micro 335
Taking the Micro 335 hunting is going to be a lot of fun given its excellent accuracy along with its ultra-light weight. At a mere 5.2 lbs., toting the Micro 335 even long distances isn’t going to tire you out, and once you get there, the compact design is going to allow you to hunt in a wider variety of locations. This is a truly quiet crossbow and has enough speed that you aren’t going to have deer jumping the string.
One thing to keep in mind when you are hunting is to be very aware of the muzzle of the 335. Even the short 16.5” Quill arrows stick way out off the end of the barrel, so there is the potential of getting your broadhead hung up if you aren’t paying close attention!
How Quiet is the Micro 335
The Micro 335 is a very quiet crossbow due in large part to the REDS. We were very impressed given the good speed and the high draw weight. Even as quiet as it is, the addition of some limbsavers strategically placed can go a long way to further quiet the Micro down.
Cocking the Micro 335
The Micro 335 is not going to be the easiest crossbow to cock just due to the super-high draw weight. Using a rope cocker, you are still going to be pulling almost 135 lbs. of draw weight. One saving grace is the very short power stroke which keeps you from having to lift too high. The best way we found was to have everything in place and to lift with a quick, meaningful cocking movement…you cannot stop halfway through on this one! Don’t forget you have to manually engage the safety after cocking.
Quality of the Optics
The included Dead Zone multiplex scope is one of the better scopes offered by Excalibur. The optics are clear and the multiple aim points are crisp and easy to see. We really like the fact that the Dead Zone scope actually has an adjustable speed dial. This takes virtually all of the guess work out of aiming as you can adjust the scope for the exact speed of your setup, as that speed will change as your arrow weight does.
What Arrows to use with the Micro 335
The Quill arrows included with the Micro 335 are up to the job for most hunting situations. Given the compact design of the 335, should you decide to go with an aftermarket arrow, you really do not want to go any longer than the 16.5” arrows it comes with. You could perhaps even go a bit shorter if weight is a big issue. The 335 fps rating was obtained with 350-grain total weight projectiles, so using a 150-grain tip is going to really up that weight. We recommend plenty of practice with a multitude of setups to find what works best for you.
You can also learn more about crossbow arrows and take a look at our broadhead recommendationsOverall Thoughts
The Excalibur Micro 335 is a truly superior offering in the world of recurve crossbows…and even in the world of compounds. Its compact size and ultra-light weight mean you are going to be able to carry it further without tiring. The lighter weight and smaller frame also mean you are going to have much more control when shouldering and when lifting into a tree stand.
It can be a little hard to cock, but the reliability of a recurve should offset some of the effort. It is accurate, quiet and hits with plenty of power. All in all, if you are looking for your next recurve, we would strongly recommend you give the Micro 335 a look. Take a look at today's amazon.com price on this crossbow.
I own a ten point cross bow but with age the heavy weight has gotten to be troublesome to me. I almost bought the Excaliber when I got the Ten point due to the weight but the name of Ten Point lured me in. In reading reveiws i did see a couple about guys having their limbs break on them in the cocked position. what can you tell me on this please.
My right limb broke on me. I had only put 3 bolts through it before mine snapped off. It was less than a year old. Excalibur replaced both limbs for free. Mine was cocked when it broke.
I own a Micro 335 but I did not have a problem with the limbs. The only problem I have with this crossbow is that the serving breaks quickly. Excalibur’s customer service told me to check and polish the place where the rope is held when the crossbow is armed and not to put too much wax on this portion of the rope. I’ll do it soon. There is a video on youtube that shows how to do it. This crossbow is handled very well when walking in the woods to get to our blind.