The wind was relentless and precluded any serious work at 70 yards or more, but subsequent testing at the range proved that the Assassin 400 was more than adequate for deer-sized targets at maximum range.Īs always, I suggest and recommend that hunters keep their shots within 40 yards regardless of any crossbow’s advertised capabilities. Three shots later, I was test-firing arrows out to 50 and 60 yards. The next morning, I headed straight for the range and was not surprised that the first arrow was only two inches off center at 20 yards. It happened that my test unit arrived during a certified Nor’easter, so I cleverly assembled the bow, cocked it, and left it on the back porch in a biting wind while a foot of snow piled up and temperatures dipped into the teens. The built-in hand charger is a blessing in itself, requiring only 14 pounds of effort to bring the Assassin 400 up to full power. That said, there no noticeable loss in arrow speed or accuracy when using recurve limbs. As is the case with all of Excalibur’s line of recurve-limbed crossbows, there is not much that can go wrong other than having to replace a damaged or worn string, which can be done rather easily even under field conditions. While some hunters may consider Excalibur’s trademark recurve-style limbs to be old-school, there is something to be said for their minimal technology, especially for those who hunt in areas where repairs and replacement parts are difficult or impossible to find. I have reviewed and hunted with several Excalibur crossbows over the years and have come to expect no less than stellar performance from them, especially at the range. The scope is designed specifically for crossbow shooting and is not just another after-market add-on. It’s more than worth noting that the Assassin 400 comes equipped with Excalibur’s compact Tact-100 multi-reticle, which features (red/green) illumination - calibrated in 10-yard increments from 20 to 100 yards. Not only that, but the Assassin 400’s glove-friendly, over-sized manual safety is whisper quiet, a feature that close-range whitetail hunters will appreciate.įinally, the Assassin’s new High-Output Express limbs with Armor Tips give the Assassin 400TD the narrowest profile of the entire Assassin family at 20 inches (cocked) while sending arrows downrange at speeds up to 400 fps. Sure to appeal to shooters, as well as hunters, the Excalibur’s Pro-Shot two-stage trigger, as advertised, breaks cleanly at 3 pounds every time. Unscrew the two large knobs at the rear of the stock, set the cheek piece for the desired length and secure the knobs. The Assassin will also accept arrows weighing at least 350 grains, which is good news for traveling hunters who may not be able to find Excalibur’s proprietary shafts in the boondocks where whitetail hunting is usually best.Īdditional notable, useful features of the Assassin 400TD include its quick-adjustable cheek piece, also requiring no tools or fiddling with loose parts. The cocking handle (with safety strap attached) is then engaged, and with a mere 14 pounds of cocking force, the “sled” is hauled up the rail and into place, ready to accept one of Excalibur’s patented 16.5-inch, flat-nocked carbon arrows. Disassembly for travel is just as quick, requiring no tools and no loose parts to manage.Įven better is the Assassin’s built-in cocking system, which features a trigger release mechanism that slides down the rail and captures the string with another hearty click. That’s it - the crossbow is assembled and ready to shoot. First, lift the stirrup to clear the connection channel, press the push-button release and then drop the limbs into place. With two decisive clicks, the Excalibur Assassin 400TD limbs are joined to the rail using no tools, no force and no heavy thinking. Other features: Quick-Loc, tool-less take-down design, adjustable cheek piece, integral cocking-decocking mechanism, string stops, sound suppressors, QD quiver, 16.5-inch carbon arrows and custom-fitted soft case.Axle-to-axle width: 25 inches uncocked 20 inches cocked.Cocking device: Integral cocking device w/handle and strap.Sights: Tact-100 illuminated, 100-yard multi-reticle scope provided.Trigger pull: 3 pounds includes dry-fire inhibitor and whisper-quiet safety.Arrows: 16.5 inches (carbon fiber, flat nocks).
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