What Excalibur has to say about the Exocet 200 crossbow:
Our oldest model has just been revitalized with the addition of our new 200 lb. forward mounted limb system! The EXOCET 200 packs significantly more punch into the same power stroke, delivering up to 330 fps of velocity and 15% more energy than the original Exocet, for flatter trajectories and more bone crushing power than ever before! Its stock is virtually indestructible, its 3 lb. pull trigger unit is machined to last, and its accuracy is legendary. Each EXOCET 200 comes finished with "Realtree Hardwoods camouflage using the new "Kolorfusion" process for the most detailed and realistic camouflage ever. It also comes with an ambidextrous manual safety, quick detach sling studs, our fibre-optic sight, and is drilled and tapped to accept our optional scope and quiver mounts.
What we have found about the Excalibur Exocet 200 crossbow:
The Exocet 200 can be cocked in one of three ways, foot through the stirrup and the string pulled by muscle power only, a cocking strap which reduces the muscle power required by 50%, or Excaliburs crank-a-roo cocking aid which reduces the effort required to almost nothing. Our first session of shooting the Exocet 200 convinced us that a cocking aid of some type would be the only practicle way of cocking this crossbow. The long barrel and stock of the Exocet 200 means all but the tallest of archers have to either bury the stock painfully into their gut to reach the string when cocking or they must try to cock the bow with the stock held awkwardly to one side. In addition if one is not wearing gloves the 200 lb pull of the limbs digs the string painfully into your fingers. Even using the cocking strap, though much better then muscle only, was not an easy feat, after all half of 200 lbs is still 100 lbs that must be lifted.
Physicaly the crank-a-roo was very easy to use and would allow even a child to cock the bow. Older archers and those with physical handicaps will apreciate using this tool. Our only complaint about the crank-a-roo was the extra time it took to fasten it to the bow, cock the string, and then remove. It is possible to leave the crank-a-roo in place on the Exocet 200 stock which would greatly speed the time required but doing so makes it awkward to place your cheek against the stock for shooting.
Once cocked the exocet 200 crossbow is a pleasure to shoot. The trigger is comfortably light with little creep, the sights fit naturaly to your eye, the bolts are lightning fast and deadly accurate. We did notice a sharp "slap" noise when fired, a charactoristic of most crossbows and not out of line with noise from crossbows made by other manufacturers. Adding a set of limb savers reduced this noise enough to be noticed but not to whisper quiet levels.
Overall the Exocet 200 is a very impressive crossbow. When chronographed the carbon Excalibur bolts consistantly exceeded 320 fps which is close to the "up to 330 fps" speed given by the manufacturer. That makes the Exocet 200 one of the fastest crossbows we have tested. It is great to see a manufacturer give real world speed as another manufacturers bow for which speeds of 345 fps were claimed barely made 300 fps when tested.
Our conclusions:
If you are looking for a fast, rugged, excellant shooting crossbow you will want to consider the Excalibur Exocet 200 among your first choices.
