How fast really?

[edge]

Looking at the X-Bows, and checking out the draw weights and the velocities the Stryker seems to be head and shoulders above the rest....unless it it is hype!

strykerxbow.com/stryker.php

I see most bows are in the 200 - 225 draw weight and get about 325 fps.
The Stykeforce with a fairly normal axle to axle of 18 1/4 inches boasts 385 fps, and the larger Stryker shows 405 fps!!
They do this with draw weights of 190 and 175 respectively!

Now IMO, to gain 60 fps, or 80 with the Stryker is very significant if adding range is important.
My rule of thumb is that you zero your bow at fps/10 = yards.
So a standard xbow at 325 would be zeroed at about 32 yards, but the Stryker would be zeroed at 40 yards!

My question is have any of you guys actually chronograpghed your bows to see what velocity you are really getting, and if so, how close do they come to the advertised ratings by the manufacturers?

Thanks for your input.

edge.

I meant to say that with a standard type bow your First pin would be at fps/10 = yards.
A crossbow may be different, so I would also like to know where you set your scope zero

[joe21a]

I have shot many compound bows past the chrono. On a bow they claim will go 315FPS you have to work hard to get 280 to 290 fps with a hunting weight arrow. I would think it is the same with a x bow. I have an x bow and will try to get some chrono readings but it does not seem any faster than my HCA compound bow. I keep the + on the scope set at 20 yards and the rest of the ticks seem real close out to 50 yards on targets

[joe21a]

Shot x-bow over chrono today Barnett claims 345 FPS chrono showed 315 FPS with a total arrow/pointweight of 453 grains. It was higher than I thought it would be as it is only 150 pd draw.

[Dave W]

Mine is a Buckmaster Maxpoint, no longer available, the speed was advertised as 335 fps, surprisingly it shot 334fps out of the box with a 2219 bolt and a 100gr broadhead. Once I got done adding silencers to the limbs, cables, and string it timed 305fps at 175 lb. pull.

I use a 4X shotgun scope with a diamond reticle on mine. The center of the crosshair is dead on at 30yds, at 20yds I aim with the top of the diamond where it meets the heavy duplex part of the reticle, just the opposite for 40yds, aim with the bottom of the diamond.

I don't know if other Xbow companies inflate their numbers like the compound guys have done for years with their IBO speeds, I was very surprised mine was as advertised after chasing IBO inflated numbers for years with compounds.

That long powerstroke on the Styker helps it get those speeds.

[edge]

Those numbers seem pretty good.
joe21a, I think that most manufacturers claim their velocity with a 425 grain bolt and yours are a bit heavier so I think that your velocities are within the margin of error.

I don't know if the Stryker, with the added width would be a detriment in a tree stand...but probably.

edge.

[joe21a]

The X-bow should be a little better in a tree stand then a reg bow, but you still have to be aware of were every thing is located as you shot.

[huntingmike]

Edge,
I don't have a chronograph but the scope made by excalibur has a speed ring on the scope.
My scope is set at the 350' mark and the + is set at 20 yards and the 30,40, and 50 yard dots all are all dead on. The scope can be used with slower bows by dialing down the scope to the correct speed say 320' and have the + on 20 and the 30,40, and 50 dots will be dead on compensating for the speed. Having a range finder makes it a deadly weapon.

[killahog]

I chronographed my ten point stealth x2 and it is shooting 317 with a 100G field point. At 20 yards the deer dont seem to have much of a chance of getting out of the way, however beyond 30 yards the deer are in motion before the bolt gets to them. In my opinion a 40 yard shot is at best a low percentage shot.

[sw]

Edge,
I have found that Parker and Bowteck are right on with their speeds. I have shot 3 Strykers with a 425g bolt 406,405, and an early model at 403. The Parker Saf Mag #175 shot exactly 341 as advertized. I have found some 10-pts to be optimistic. Hortons and Barnetts seem overly optimistic.
The x-bows that do not have string drag usually have an ES of zero.
The Stryker is smooth, quiet, and accurate. I shot an early model that didn't impress me but all since have. It is huge and ungainly to me. A great beanfield x-bow though and easy to shoot accurately. The DS and Strykeforce are much more user-friendly. The latter only gives up 20'/sec. I have one on order.
The x-bows I have shot that impressed me with significant accuracy are Excalibre(not a real long range x-bow, IMO), Parker, Hunter/10-pt(many models are fairly slow), and Swiss x-bow(not long range either). I have not acheived acceptable accuracy with Hortons nor especially Barnetts. PSEs were ok but noisy and some were unreliable. The new PSE looks very unattractive to me. I chose the Strykeforce due to a very usable size, speed, accuracy, a good company to stand by it's equipment,etc. I do use my x-bows at longer ranges and routinely practice "way out there".
I use a mil-dot scope and will have the 3rd dot up to be 30 yds likely (with the SF), the bottom dot should be appx 100yds and the top of the post nearer 120yds. This is with Sightron 2 42 mm mildot scope set on 4X. A lazer rangefinder is a must.
A quality rifle scope is impt for long range work. Ideally a 50mm MD scope that will go to appx 10X. Need a different sight chart for each Pwr you might use. I will have a chart for 4 and 10 pwr. I have used this scope on my Parker Saf mag. It groups <2" at 80 yds with a good rest. The SF should be a little more accurate.
Don't sell the x-bow's accuracy short. 3" at 40 yds is good for Hortons I've shot. With the barnetts I've shot/owned, if you sit in the center of a room, you should be able to hit one of the walls - you just won't know which one.

[bob64]

My Darton Lightning chronographed 365 fps with 460 grain bolt.

[jims]

That is moving.

[sw]

That is very fast!

[dougedwards]

speaking of bean fields here is a video of a long field shot
www.backwoodstv.com/play.php?vid=125

[jims]

I live in Ohio, I would like to see one like that.

[sw]

:)Bowteck continues to perform just as advertized. I shot my Strykeforce this evening for the 1st time. The advertized speed is 385'/sec/425g bolt. I shot a 440g bolt and the speed was 383'/sec each shot - no variance. Loss of 2'/sec is about right for 15gs extra wt.
We have 2 Parker Saf Mags(#175 and #150). They each have shot exactly as advertized with a 425g bolt. Apparently the Strykeforce does also as do 2 Strykers(406 and 405) I've shot.
You can take Parker and Bowteck at their word for x-bow speeds.

[jims]

I can't believe the speed increases over the years. A great deal of technology has been applied in these bows it appears.