Crossbow hunters have the best-ever selection of gear available to them in today’s market. The major manufacturers each make it their mission to better the competition. CAMX just introduced a crossbow with an MSRP of $750, putting it above the entry-level models and well below some of the premium brands. The question is: Can it perform with the big boys while saving hunters hundreds of dollars in the process?
Out of the Box
The bow arrived in a compact box, which means it can be disassembled for easy travel in a bow or gun case. This isn’t a prerequisite for a quality crossbow, yet it’s a benefit for folks who want to hunt out-of-state or in a foreign land.
The hardest part about receiving any mechanical device in a box is to resist reading the directions. The compulsion is incredible, yet I put on my big boy pants (and reading glasses) and read the manual as suggested by the manufacturer.
Last week I put together a $499 bow and had to take it to a local pro shop. I knew which part went where, yet when the process required prying, I left it up to a pro. Not so with the CAMX. It not only assembled properly and as directed, but provided an extra cable slide, one of the most critical moving parts on a crossbow.
From the very beginning, the bow felt sturdy and the special textured grip gave a feel of confidence. The scope came mounted and had been tested in the lab with the sight-in target included. I’ll certainly verify the zero on the scope, yet it’s reassuring to know that the bow had been assembled and fired accurately. A cocking rope came with the bow (unlike the $499 model) and the length was cut exactly right for storage and accurate cocking. The stock allows for significant adjustment in length of pull, yet I found the factory setting to be just right.
The kit came with a pre-assembled quiver which attached in seconds with the turn of a large bolt handle that lags to the bottom of the barrel. This quiver is quite different and an improvement over most bow quivers I’ve used. The bow shoots fairly standard arrows: 20 inches in length, 410 grains, flat nocks, and three-inch fletch.
To the Launch
With thunderstorms booming on the horizon, I chose to shoot at my traditional targets rather than set up a shooting bench. The first step was to verify that the scope was in the ballpark, so I stepped back eight steps from my main bag target, sighted and squeezed.
Wow, what a trigger! The trigger pull on most crossbows ranges from tolerable to terrible with creep, heavy poundage, and sometimes noise. The instant I squeezed the trigger, the arrow launched with what I perceived to be 2.5 pounds of pressure. Also, the arrow was exactly on target, evidence that someone really had shot the bow as advertised.
Stepping back to 20 yards, I found that the arrow was three inches low and 1½ inches to the left. Removing the scope caps, I moved the scope adjustments as prescribed and the next shot was dead on. Like triggers, most crossbow scopes rarely calibrate as indicated, but this standard model proved its precision.
Moving back to 30 yards, I noticed a rabbit feeding 10 yards away. I do my best to keep the marauding cats at bay and manage to have some wild critters live around my home. Seeing the furry bunny made me think about the sound of the bow. So far, it hadn’t caught my attention, so it must be moderate. Again shooting offhand, the arrow shot the heart of my deer-like bag target while the bunny kept on twitching its nose.
The safety is large and ergonomic so that it can be worked with gloves. When you cock the bow, it automatically moves to the “safe” position. You can’t switch the safety to “fire” unless an arrow is loaded, a unique pre-anti-dryfire setting.
True to Specs
Initial impressions were very positive and were categorically confirmed with just a brief shooting exercise. The bow has great balance and an excellent feel, and the trigger is magnificent. The specs listed on the bow show the speed to be 330, which delivers right at 100 foot-pounds of Kinetic energy. In Africa, that qualifies the bow sufficient to hunt Cape buffalo.
For the whitetail deer hunter or target shooter, the CAMX is an excellent choice. Decked out in Realtree camouflage, it’s everything a deer hunter can want and an excellent value. I’ve shot bows that cost twice as much to get this level of performance.
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