It’s a really tight match for these crossbows - both similar to each other (given that they’re both from the same manufacturer), these two options define how impressive compact crossbows are.
But when it comes to sheer power and flexibility, then the Micro 335 wins the match. Aside from having better accessories (granted that these are improvements and updates from those found on the Excalibur 308 Short), the Micro 335 also has excellent power to take down bigger prey.
Both crossbows show great promise as well as being stealth setups. The nice dampening systems found on both prove that this approach is excellent when it comes to hunting.
If anything, the Micro 335 has only one strangeness you should know about: it's manual safety feature, which is an upside for some shooters, but a downside for others. Other than that, this is a compact crossbow you can rely on.
A unique upside of these crossbows is their simplicity: while other manufacturers usually build compound crossbows to get this level of performance, Excalibur stays with the more robust recurve crossbow design.
Excalibur 308 Short vs Micro 335
Let us now list down both crossbow's pros and cons to get a clearer picture of this matchup.
Excalibur 308 Short Pros
- Variety of Special Editions to choose from
- Excellent accessories
- Functional compact design
- Camo finish is a nice and practical touch
- Silent hunter
Excalibur 308 Short Con
- Limited to smaller shooters
Micro 335 Pros
- Great firepower
- Excellent anti-dry-fire system
- Tough construction
- Nice choice of accessories
- Variants available
- Silent shooter
Micro 335 Cons
- Subjective manual safety issue
- Heavier draw weight
- Need to get used to the manual safety
- Heavy draw weight
- Limited to smaller shooters
- Excellent dampening
- Variants available
- Tough and compact
- Anti-dry-fire system
- Great scope
- Silent
- Variants available
- Compact, lightweight
- Great for tight corners
- Nice camo
- Need to get used to the manual safety
- Heavy draw weight
- Excellent dampening
- Variants available
- Tough and compact
- Anti-dry-fire system
- Great scope
- Limited to smaller shooters
- Silent
- Variants available
- Compact, lightweight
- Great for tight corners
- Nice camo
Excalibur 308 Short Review
The Excalibur 308 Short is a really deadly weapon in the right hands. With its tough-as-nails construction yet light as a feather build, this option makes hunting a breeze even when shooting in tree stands or behind blinds. With two Special Edition variants available, you’re also bound to have an excellent set of accessories depending on your choice.
The sound and vibration dampening features also make this a good stealth option when chasing prey. Power and accuracy are both excellent too, making this a prime consideration as a pocket rocket for hunts. However, larger hunters may actually find it difficult to use this compact crossbow - a shame, for the Excalibur 308 Short is packed with some of the best accessories and enhancements in the industry!
Excalibur 308 Short Technical Specifications and Features
- Draw Weight: 254 lbs.
- Power Stroke: 8.5"
- Speed: 308 fps
- Total Gear Weight: 5.6 lbs.
Excalibur 308 Short Crossbow Details
Compact crossbows offer tons of benefits. From being speedy and reliable in even tight spots, this type of crossbows do address specific hunting needs. Let us find out if the Excalibur 308 Short is an able consideration in this crossbow category.
Ease of Assembly
The Excalibur 308 actually does focus on an easy assembly process. Designed for shooters with a smaller frame, this crossbow is compact and easy to set up. The assembly can be done in less than 15 minutes - the most that one needs to pay attention to is attaching the crossbow's stock part to the limb assembly with an Allen screw. Additionally, this crossbow’s scope is pre-installed, saving time on actually setting up this integral piece onto the stock.
Checking the Crossbow Technology
Here’s a brief rundown on some of the Excalibur 308 Short’s archery enhancements:
Focusing on Safety
As with models from this brand, the Excalibur 308 Short uses innovative safety features. The trigger mechanism of this option allows for a crisp shooting motion and virtually no creep at all upon release. These subtle yet thoughtful enhancements make shooting a safe and effective experience.
Special Edition Advantage
This crossbow model gives you the power to choose a variant that will best suit your needs. Two special edition types are available for you to select a setup that will address specific scenarios in the wild:
Serenity 308 Short variant:
This option comes with a Moonshine Muddy Girl Serenity camo hue
Banshee 308 Short variant:
This option comes with a Kryptek camo hue and signature bronze finish
The two Special Edition crossbow options come with their unique set of accessories. We will be discussing more on these below.
Excalibur 308 Short Firepower Check
For a compact crossbow, the Excalibur 308 Short doesn’t disappoint when it comes to power. At 308 fps, this does have the force to take down all sorts of prey in the wild. Given the mentioned shooting motion enhancements, the great firepower can be managed with ease by even small hunters.
Construction and Durability
The Excalibur 308’s compact design means it is built intentionally to be tough. Since it is designed with smaller framed shooters in mind, each part is made to function at its best. At just 24” wide and 30” long, this crossbow is essentially a pocket rocket.
This crossbow is lightweight as well, weighing only at 5.6 lbs. Also, the camo coating of the Special Edition variants offer a nice advantage when blending in the background. The stock portion of the crossbow is made out of the brand’s innovative SMF polycarbonate material, making it a tough option that’ll withstand all sorts of wear and tear.
Accuracy and Shooting Speed Checks
Given the way it's constructed, firing the Excalibur 308 Short makes it a nice and stable crossbow that'll result in more accurate shots. The scope that comes with the crossbow also delivers quite well - you'll be grouping and making tighter shots with this choice.
Speed, of course, is excellent. You wouldn't find any difficulty firing consecutive shots with this crossbow. However, larger hunters may find using this particular crossbow setup a hassle - it just may be too small for them!
Excalibur 308 Short Crossbow Cocking and Aiming Information
The Excalibur 308 Short comes with a rope cocking device. Given it's just a short pull of just 12.5", cocking this crossbow is really easy. The draw weight of only 257 lbs. makes it also a really manageable crossbow that almost anyone can safely and easily use.
AIming is also easy, given that both the construction and scope offer great marksmanship opportunities.
Practical Hunting Usage
Aside from being a great choice for smaller framed or young archers, the Excalibur 308 Short’s compact design also makes it an excellent choice for shooting in tight corners or behind blinds. Also, the tough construction of this small crossbow is excellent in facing all sorts of elements in the wild. The great combination of firepower, control, and accuracy also makes it a great consideration of being a premium crossbow during hunts. However, given the small build, this crossbow isn't really a great choice for larger archers.
Excalibur 308 Short Crossbow Accessory Check
We'll be quickly discussing both of the Special Edition variants' accessories below:
Serenity 308 Short Accessories:
- Dead Zone Scope (pre-installed)
- Owner's Manual
- 1″ rings
- Arrow X-Hanger Quiver (comes with bracket; able to hold up to three arrows)
- Three Arrows (quill type, comes with 100 gr field points)
- Rope-Cocking Aid
Banshee 308 Short Accessories:
- Dead Zone Scope (pre-installed)
- Owner's Manual
- 1″ rings
- Sound Deadening System
- R.E.D.S. (Recoil Energy Dissipation System) Vibration Dampeners
- Air Brakes Sound Dampener
- Arrow X-Hanger Quiver (comes with bracket; able to hold up to three arrows)
- Three Arrows (quill type, comes with 100 gr field points)
- Rope-Cocking Aid
Miscellaneous Information on the Excalibur 308 Short Crossbow
Here are various helpful information that you may want to know about this crossbow:
What Makes the Dead Zone Scope an Excellent Accessory?
Considered to be a premium enhancement, this scope helps improve marksmanship with its simple yet efficient functionality. Featuring multi-coated optics and a compact 1" tube frame, this scope will help you zoom into targets to get accurate shots needed during hunts.
How does the bronze coating of the Excalibur 308 Short Banshee Special Edition help during hunts?
It's actually more than a design element. The bronze coating will help prevent glare, allowing you to focus on your targets.
Why the Excalibur 308 Short Crossbow is Recommended
Check out some reasons why this is a great compact crossbow:
Silent Shooting
The vibration and sound dampening systems installed within the crossbow helps in safely stalking your prey.
Tough Construction
Just because it's small does not mean it's strong. The choice of using premium materials give this crossbow some really nice shielding protective elements. Additionally, the coating is more than just for aesthetic purposes - it takes the glare away during shots!
An Issue that May Need to be Addressed in the Excalibur 308 Short Crossbow
Know more about a potential shortcoming in this crossbow:
Limited to a Specific Set of Users
This isn't really a big issue, but it's good to know about it nonetheless. As much as this is an excellent crossbow, larger hunters have the shorter end of the stick when using this setup. The Excalibur 308 Short is truly a great crossbow - only if you're a small shooter!
Micro 335 Review
The Micro 335 is the definite example of what a great compact crossbow should be. Balancing power and control, hunters can zero in on targets with ease using this crossbow. The compact setup without sacrificing power is excellent in the right hands.
The great accessories that come in the two variants of the Micro 335 help in addressing different hunting scenarios. Also, the stealth properties of this crossbow can help shooters chase down prey with ease.
Do take note that the subjective issue of the Manual Safety may be something you’d like to strongly think about first. It may take some time getting used to, especially if you’ve been using automatic controls. Additionally, the heavy draw weight can be cumbersome for smaller shooters.
Micro 335 Technical Specifications and Features
- Draw Weight: 270 lbs.
- Power Stroke: 10"
- Speed: 335 fps
- Total Gear Weight: 5.3 lbs.
Micro 335 Crossbow Details
Let's compare the first crossbow with another compact choice from Excalibur. Aside from the advertised firepower of 335 fps, let us find out what else the Micro 335 has to offer:
Ease of Assembly
Similar to the Excalibur 308 Short, the Micro 335 also focuses on an easy and modular assembly process. Excellent for small shooters, this crossbow is designed with each part thoughtfully selected for its excellent functionality. Also, the crossbow's limb assembly is pre-installed - saving you time in stringing the crossbow.
Checking the Crossbow Technology
Let's discover how the Micro 335's archery enhancements fare against the Excalibur 308 Short:
Focusing on Safety
The Micro 335 has two standout safety features:
Guardian Anti-Dry-Fire System
This simple spring system helps prevent dry fire from occurring. This tab safely disengages when an arrow is found on the chamber.
Manual Safety
Standing out from the rest of the pack is Excalibur's decision to have the Micro 335 equipped with a Manual Safety feature. Most crossbow models in the market opt to go for the automatic feature. Now, it's subjective, but there is an advantage for a shooter to try out a manual control. Of course, the convenience of an automatic control is lost - but who's to say that it's actually better to consider safety as a priority, right?
Other Variants Available
Matching up against the Excalibur 308 Short’s Special Edition types are the Micro 335’s very own variants:
- Micro 335 Black
- Micro 335 Raid
We'll be discussing more of each type's accessories below.
Micro 335 Short Firepower Check
The Micro 335 edges out its competition with the Excalibur 308 Short with some excellent and additional firepower. The 335 fps rating is quite impressive for a crossbow its size, making it an even better consideration as being a pocket rocket for hunting. With this amount of firepower in this crossbow, even larger targets can fall prey from the Micro 335.
Construction and Durability
One of the main aesthetic differences that the Micro 335 has from the Excalibur 308 Short is that it has no camo finish. And yet, this crossbow still has a tough shell, with the machined aluminum construction integrated on the riser. Also, rubber panels are strategically placed on the crossbow's stock portion, to both offer a great grip and as an additional layer of protection against moisture.
That said, this crossbow is made tough, able to withstand wear and tear in the wild. It's expected from a manufacturer such as Excalibur, that can dish out compact yet durable crossbow models.
Accuracy and Shooting Speed Checks
Just like other compact crossbow models, the lightweight property of the Micro 335 makes it a really accurate crossbow. Also, this crossbow has the Dead Zone scope, a premium enhancement that boosts marksmanship. The Micro 335 Raid also has another ace up its sleeve when it comes to accuracy - its Tact Zone scope assures even better sights when aiming at far targets.
Speed is excellent when it comes to shooting. If anything, the Manual Safety feature may take the speed down when it comes to firing - again, it's a subjective take among shooters.
Micro 335 Short Crossbow Cocking and Aiming Information
With the Micro 335’s draw weight heavier than the Excalibur 308 Short, you’re going to need to put in some muscle to get this crossbow to shoot. However, this crossbow does have a short power stroke of just 10”. Also, the Micro 335 also comes packed with a rope cocking device for an easier way to properly set the crossbow up.
Aiming is excellent, given the compact design and the scope enhancements that come with the crossbow. As expected, Excalibur knows how to maximize a crossbow’s efficiency, even with a small size such as the Micro 335.
Practical Hunting Usage
The Micro 335 is an excellent example of a compact crossbow that delivers massive firepower. The nice combination of size and power makes it a good choice for hunters shooting behind blinds and in tight spots. Also, the blend of accessories and actual crossbow functional design makes this a reliable crossbow when hunting against tougher targets.
Micro 335 Short Crossbow Accessory Check
Let us check out the different accessories available for both Micro 335 variants:
Micro 335 Black
- Dead Zone Scope (pre-installed)
- 1″ rings
- Cheekpiece (ambidextrous)
- Guardian Anti-Dry-Fire System
- R.E.D.S. (Recoil Energy Dissipation System) Vibration Dampeners
- Arrow Quiver (able to hold up to four arrows)
- Four Arrows (quill type, comes with 150 gr field points)
- Rope Cocking Aid
Micro 335 Raid
- Tact Zone scope
- 30mm rings
- Arrow Quiver (with bracket; able to hold up to four arrows)
- Four Arrows (quill type, comes with 150 gr field points)
- Rope Cocking Aid
- Cheekpiece (ambidextrous)
- R.E.D.S. (Recoil Energy Dissipation System) Vibration Dampeners
- Sound Deadening System
- Air Brakes
- Guardian Anti-Dry-Fire-System
Miscellaneous Information on the Micro 335 Short Crossbow
Learn more on what this crossbow has to offer.
What Makes the Tact Zone Scope an Excellent Accessory?
Essentially an upgrade of the excellent Dead Zone scope, the Tact Zone scope comes with an improved reticle design. This means that targets are viewed with extra clarity - a great enhancement for hunters aiming tough prey. This scope also comes with a speed adjustment dial for a better sighting experience.
What are the Air Brakes found on some Excalibur Crossbow Models?
Aside from reducing noise (up to an eight decibel rating), air brakes also significantly absorb recoil. A great accessory for stealth hunters.
Why the Micro 335 Short Crossbow is Recommended
Here are some factors that makes this crossbow a favorite among hunters:
Quiet Hunter
Just like the Excalibur 308 Short crossbow, the Micro 335 is packed with noise and vibration dampeners. This brings in an edge that most hunters are in need of when in the wild.
Powerful Variants
Essentially a step up from the Special Edition versions that the Excalibur 308 Short crossbow has to offer, the Micro 335 has a wide variety of better archery enhancements to try out during hunts.
Issues that May Need to be Addressed in the Micro 335 Crossbow
Here are some important considerations to ponder when going for this choice:
The Choice of Manual Safety
Some archers consider this as an issue. Should you? It does depend on one’s preference. Some say that an automatic option would be better in getting into the shooting motion. Others deem that a manual control allows better and safer shots.
Cocking Issue
Given the heavy draw weight, smaller archers may find it a struggle to cock this crossbow. The rope cocking device does help, but it can get pretty tiring when you’re out chasing prey.
Read More
Want to know more about these crossbows? Check out these links:
- Crossbow Experts test the Excalibur 308 Short Banshee in this video.
- Twig Archery gives a great review on the Micro 335.
- The Micro 335 is one of the considerations in this interesting Reddit thread.