I’ve been testing crossbows for Field & Stream for more than a decade, and I’ve always been fascinated by the changing design trends from one year to the next. Blistering speed and boasts of 100-yard accuracy were the primary trends a few short years ago, but that’s moderated some now, at least on the speed front. I’ve tested and hunted with several of the 500 fps+ crossbows, and have really liked certain aspects of them. But they’re not without faults. Broadhead accuracy becomes tricky at those extreme speeds, and some of those bows—at least in my experience—have been prone to some malfunctions.
These days, crossbow companies seem to be trying to strike a balance between power, compact handling, ergonomics, and long-term durability. When you’re investing as much in a crossbow as you would in a custom rifle, you’d like for the thing to last a few seasons.
When it comes to durability, few crossbow have enjoyed a better reputation than Excalibur’s recurves. I can confidently say that in all of my years of crossbow testing—thousands of arrows through close to 100 different models—I’ve experienced fewer issues with Excalibur recurves than any other (only one that I can recall, and it was related to the cocking device). Yet, an Excalibur recurve has never won the F&S Crossbow Test, simply because the recurve design has numerous performance disadvantages when compared to a compound. They’re bulkier, louder, and slower. All of the ones I’ve tested have been quite accurate, but rarely as accurate as a top-end compound.
Knowing all of that is exactly what makes me think the Excalibur Hybrid-X is so cool. It’s definitely different, and in some ways, you need to have had years of crossbow testing experience to truly appreciate what this crossbow brings to the table. Here’s a deep look at how the Hybrid-X was tested, where it stood out, what could be improved, and why it was chosen as our Best New Crossbow of 2025.
Excalibur Hybrid-X Specs
Speed: 431 fps
KE: 165 foot-pounds
Arrow weight: 400 grains
Average 50-Yard Group: 1.75 in
Trigger: 1 lb, 10 oz
Overall weight: 9 lbs, 13 oz
Price: $2,200
Related: Best Crossbows of 2025, Tested and Reviewed
How We Tested the Excalibur Hybrid-X
I tested the Hybrid-X with the manufacturer-provided accessories, which a 30mm OverWatch crossbow scope with lighted reticle and 18-inch V-Flight Pro crossbow arrows, which weighed 400 grains with a 100-grain field point. Excalibur also provided 150-grain points for those looking to increase front of center and go with a heavier broadhead. I shot and measure arrow velocity and kinetic energy with a Garmin Xero chronograph.
I initially sighted the Hybrid X in at 20 yards, and then did the field-point accuracy testing at 50 yards, taking an average of three, three-arrow groups. I did all of the accuracy testing from a seated position with a BOG DeathGrip tripod. In addition, I tested broadhead performance 30 yards with both fixed (100-grain Wasp Drone) and mechanical (100-grain Tenpoint EVO-X Centerpunch) broadheads. I didn’t measure broadhead group size, but instead evaluated consistency of flight, and measured how far “off” from the field point zero the broadheads landed on target. As an avid crossbow hunter myself, if a broadhead hits within an inch or so of my field points and only requires a minor scope adjustment, I’m very happy.
I evaluated the quality of the trigger pull subjectively and measured trigger weight with a Lyman trigger scale. I used the same scale to weigh each crossbow, with its respective scope mounted. During the testing, I also evaluated the quality of the accessories, fit and finish, handling, and cocking effort.
Excalibur Hybrid-X Test Results
Hits
Rugged, innovative design
Extremely accurate
Plenty fast
Misses
Bulky and heavy
Arrows can be a little tough to fully seat into place
The Hybrid-X is one of the most interesting new crossbows I’ve tested in years, blending some of the best attributes of Excalibur’s signature recurve design with many of a compound crossbow’s advantages. The Hybrid-X places the cams in a beefy aluminum bracket alongside the riser and slaves them to a pair of reverse-facing recurve limbs with cables. The result is a pair of cams that are protected from hitting brush, ground blind frames, and the like, blended with the proven strength and durability of Excalibur’s compression-molded recurve limbs. With the use of a special stringing tool (sold separately) the crossbow can also be restrung without a bow press.
The bow is cocked with the ChargerX Integrated Crank cocking system. If you’ve used the cocking systems on many Ravin and TenPoint bows, this one will be familiar. Releasing tension on the trigger box by backwinding the cocking handle allows you to slide the trigger system down the rail and connect to the string. Then you engage the safety, wind it up with the cocking handle until it clicks into place, and backwind the handle three times to relieve the tension on the cocking mechanism. At that point, you can store the handle in the stock, load an arrow, and fire away. All of these systems, regardless of brand, have proven reliable for me, and they allow for easy cocking and decocking. This one is no different, except that I would say this bow is particularly easy to cock, requiring only 14 pounds of effort.
The Hybrid-X also has a CeaseFire anti dry-fire device that will only allow it to fire if an arrow with Excalibur’s Rhino Nock is loaded perfectly into place. That’s where I ran into my only hiccup with this bow. Some of the nocks were apparently slightly out of alignment on the included arrows. Early in my testing, I ran into issues of the bow not firing, even though I thought I’d done everything correctly. I assumed it was related to the CeaseFire device. A trouble-shooting call to Excalibur, and trying the bow with several different arrows, revealed the nock issue. My advice before hunting (with this crossbow or any other one) is to shoot every arrow that you have, and to be sure to seat the arrows firmly when loading so that you hear them click slightly into place.
The Hybrid-X had a light, crisp trigger and was exceptionally accurate, turning in sub-2-inch groups at 50 yards. It shot well with broadheads, too, with both fixed and mechanical heads hitting within an inch of the field points. Fit and finish were exceptional. The bow’s stock and limbs are camo-finished, while the barrel and hardware are smooth black, providing for a nice, two-tone look. The crossbow isn’t as lightweight as some, but it is lighter than many, and also well-balanced. I’ve done a lot of crossbow hunting, and how they handle up in a tree is a pretty important consideration. I think I’d enjoy hunting with this one, and I plan to try it this fall. Altogether, this crossbow left little to complain about, and was easily my favorite new model of the year.
