Matrix 380

[sw]

sew
Registered User
Join Date
Dec 2009
Location
NE AR
Posts
288
Originally Posted by Moon
I have a friend that's shooting 100'yard groups that are phenomenal with his Matrix 380 recurve. I hope he will eventually post his equipment setup here. BTW.......his bow is factory stock.....just so you know.
Ok, Tom. Hello gang, as I've told Tom, I'm technically challenged when it comes to computers. I'll try to get some pictures transferred to Photo Bucket then downloaded. Anyway, I'm shooting a stock Matrix 380 with a few mods so far, more coming. It has a TT 2.5# 2-stage trigger, HHA Optimizer/ Zeiss Duralyt 2-8, Danny Flemish string 1/2" off bumpers, modified string bumpers, very thin rubber gaskets between most metal-metal contact places on xbow. Yet to come, Boo string/silencers, agingcrossboyer wooden stock, Big John Zombies. Background: I'm an extreme accuracy shooter(Hart Windage adjustable rest, #13 Protector rear bag, 8-10 wind flags, slightly wind protected range behind my house). I use benchrest techniques to set up my equipment, then and only then do I practice under field conditions. Arrows used and tried were Diablos/100,125,150g FPs, Red Hots/175g FPs, Gold Tip L-3 Pros with AL inserts and moon nocks with 150g FPs. Shooting was done in low, steady wind so no hold off was used but shots were taken when the wind flags were consistent with starting wind of close to zero and finishing at 5-7 mph steady state 40-50 degrees quartering.
The Lazer 3 Pros are my SZ 380 arrows that I cut down to 20"(18" would be more towards ideal) and only shot with 150g fp(19.7g insert). One arrow weighed 400.2g, the other 400.8g. Speed of this arrow - 359'/sec. I only used these 2 arrows as I didn't want to cut up my other 22" arrows.
I shot 10 yard increments from 20-100 yds. The Diablos consistently shot 1"- 1 1/2" gps out to 60 yds with all 3 point weights. At 80 yds, 1 arrow shot 3x, the grouping was 2 1/2" appx regardless of point weight(the 100g was as accurate as the 150g). I used 1 arrow each with the different weight points-3 arrows in all.
Then I shot the L-3 Pros(which I already knew were the most accurate from previous shooting in this bow). All gps are with these 2 arrows. WOW!! I hadn't dreamed at what would happen over the next 30+ shots. 20 yds -1" gp. Disappointed. Tried again, 3/4". Disappointed . Scope on 2x. 30 yds, 40 yds, 50 yds were all slightly under 1". Scope on 4-5x. 60 yds (6x on scope) 1 1/2", followed by another 1 1/2". Yuk!! Scope on 8x and really waiting on wind flags to settle. Now 2 consecutive 1" groups, same with 70 then 1 1/2" 80 yd gp, followed by a barely over 1" gp. 90 yards would be in the spillway of my pond (shooting down the levy ) so no 90 yd shot. 100 yds-1" group, again 1" group. Stopped.
Wind flags, excellent rest, good trigger(next one I'll get will be 1.5# single stage), very good arrows, all helped this Matrix 380 shoot this well.
I'll try to get the video uploaded somehow.
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Today, 01:39 PM #3585 Moon
Huntin Fool
Join Date
Jul 2006
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Southeastern Virginia
Posts
16,644
Here is a photo SEW sent me.

We read lots about crossbow accuracy on forums, some really good shooting by some folks with compound crossbows but I've been convinced for a few years now that nothing will consistently shoot more accurately than a recurve with the right arrows.
Attached Thumbnails
Whe

[sw]

I don't know why the pictures didn't come through. However, this is what I've been doing. My Matrix 380 is grouping 1" (2 shot gps) out to 100 yds consistently!

[03mossy]

I am very much out of the loop on bow hunting. I have one and pull it out once a year for fun then it goes back in storage. But am I reading this right a 1" group at 100 yards??? That's incredible!

[sw]

Will this always happen? Of course not! But today, 20-80 yds and 100 yds, 1" gps except for the 2 60 yd gps which ended up with a 60 yd 1" gp, then 70,80,and 2 100 yd 1" gps. Today it did. This xbow is bring slowly upgraded, accuratized and has shown phenomenal accuracy since the beginning. I've yet to find a compound xbow that can come close. I have 2 SZ 380s which occasionally can get 2-3" gps at the longer ranges but in a month, they may have their points of impact shift 4-5". The Excalibur is the same month after month. I've already thrown a lot of money towards this xbow, with more to go. This will be my long term keeper. Who'd get rid of a MOA crossbow??

[jims]

There would be many rifle shooters that would be happy with groups like that. Incredible. Thanks for the info and I hope the pictures can follow later.

[Deleted]

I recently got a Matrix 380... My first crossbow... I'am amazed at the accuracy and consistency of my new hunting rig...I've upgraded mine also with a custom string,a HHA Optimizer,Triggertech single stage.trigger,2x7 Bushnell Elite.. Like yours Steve it shoots 2" @ 100yds with 100gn field points.I'm shooting 20" custom built Black Eagle spined indexed arrows from Southshore Archery and also some of the same from Wyverns... Both shoot equally well... I went out Friday and shot 4 different broadheads from 30-100yds... 100gn Slicktricks, G5 Strykers,Cabelas Copperheads and Muzzy Trocars...All of them shot to the same group out to 50yds... From 60 on the Strykers and Copperhead started to drift.. The Trocars stayed right.in the groove to 100yds with the.Slick Tricks close behind.. I'm not planning on hunting too 100yds but I wanted to know how they shot... The Trocars shot into 4" @ 100yds a couple times..The total weight on these arrows was 433gns and chronoed @ 360fps... I used to hunt with a Bear Kodiak recurve when I was a kid but had to quit because of shoulder injury..I'll be chasing these Sandhill Mulies and maybe an Antelope and Elk this year... Handed over my centerfires to my grandsons...I've killed more than my share in the.last 50 years... Sept 15th with the new bow... Then on with the RemPac in December...I'm loving my new crossbow
Zen

[sw]

Panhandle, your first crossbow is as good as you can get, at least in the areas of reliability, ease of maintance, accuracy, simplicity,etc...
I've decided to go all out with mine since bow/ crossbow is almost all I can use where I live. What I've done is TT 2.5 double stage, Big John Arrows should arrive today, Boo string/silencers on order, Optimizer/2-8 Zeiss Duralyt, agingcrossboyer black walnut, thumb hole stock being made, and trying to get Excal's limb tip silencers. Matrix 380 is original camo.
The arrows will have plastic moon nocks, Blazers, AL inserts for using FOCs(170g overgrown Spitfites), 18" Zombies. The wooden stock provides the warmth of wood, beauty, very light weight, and serious sound deadening. The Boo string/silencers should actually add 2-3 '/sec even with the silencers, last 3-4x factory serving life, have little to no stretch, be significantly quieter, and be more consistent than factory string. The Optimizer will allow "to the yard" ranging, while the 2-8 Zeiss Duralyt/lighted reticle will provide about as optimum optics as is possible. Big John Arrows(with Zombie shafts) are considered by many Excal users as the most accurate possible. FOCs - virtually silent compared to inflight noise of even Spitfires or a Grim Reapers and a whole lot quiter than vented, fixed vanes. They have the least steering of any broadhead I've tested. Terminally, they are devastating. Most of my appx 10 kills have been DRT while the others fell w/I 10-20 yds.
Will I have a lot in this xbow? Absolutely, but a virtually MOA xbow to 100+ yards! that is reliable, needing no dealer support! quieter than virtually all compound xbows(as set up, not as stock), life time warranty ..... A crossbow to keep. Actual speed before Boo string is 359'/sec with 401g arrows. The B J arrows/FOCs will weigh 390gs so with Boo string appx 365'/sec.
After more than 30 years of xbow hunting, I think this will possibly be the final xbow.

[jims]

In the most recent Field and Stream magazine I thought the Matrix came out on top as compared to other new models but there were several also that were near that. An interesting read.

[sw]

Jim,
I have 2 Strikezone 380s which are very nice xbows in virtually every regard. The new Solution 350 & 390 are supposed to be significant upgrades to the SZ 350/380. From what I'm reading, this is the case. There seems to some migration of compound xbow users to the simplier, and more accurate recurve xbows. I'm one who has made that move. I didn't care for Excals until the Matrix series came out. The main sellers to me were: extreme accuracy and consistency. Always hits the same place regardless of how long since last shot. Total freedom from needing dealer support isn't bad either. They can be modified to where they are as quiet as the quietest compound xbows. The SZ350 with string stops is extremely quiet . I think the Sol 350/390s are actually quieter than the SZs.

[jims]

Good information, thanks.

[sw]

Here's a photo of a typical 80 yd group. Aimed at each of the 3 horizontal dots.


40 yd group

[rambler]

Awesome display of Archery. Just 5 and a wake up Steve

[sw]

It's my understanding that the M405, though actually about 30'/sec faster than the M380, is reported to be as accurate if not more than the M380. I should know in about 6 days. The accuracy of the Excalibur Matrix 380 with outstanding arrows(18" Zombies, AL inserts, plastic moon nocks, Blazers/helical, 170g field points) is almost unbelievable.
Unfortunately, the actual FOCs didn't fly as well as the field points, but the Xbow Tricks(175g) almost did. 100 yd groups were about 2".

NAP needs to learn how to make proper FOC practice points. There are none! The enclosed field points fly differently than the actual FOCs. Same with the Spitfires with their practice points(though close).

[deadon]

Steve, I rapped dental floss around the spitfires to keep them from opening and they worked perfectly. This is a great read Rusty

[sw]

Sept 22, 2014 13:25:27 GMT -5 deadon said:

Steve, I rapped dental floss around the spitfires to keep them from opening and they worked perfectly. This is a great read Rusty

Thanks, I'll try to find some dental floss. Just kidding of course. For actual use, I've used size "c" purple orthodontic elastics. Can get these from an orthodontist. Also, the rubber ring style of ortho tooth separators makes great rubber washers for broadheads (for indexing). Also dip the threads in string wax.