Excalibur is known for high quality crossbows, and the new Excalibur Micro 355 is a top rated recurve crossbow (check Amazon.com for current discount promotions). It is one of the lightest crossbows on the market and has a fantastic power to weight ratio. Excalibur released the Micro 355 in early 2016 and it is a great improvement over the Micro 335. In this Excalibur Micro 355 review, I'll cover all the features, specs, what comes in the box, and recommend accessories for this crossbow. By the end of this review, you'll know why this is one of the top rated recurve crossbows that will be around for many years to come.
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Images courtesy of BowtechArchery.com
Excalibur Micro 355 Specs
- 355 FPS
- 98 pounds of kinetic energy
- 280 lbs draw weight
- 10" power stroke
- 33.5" long
- 24.75" uncocked width
- 21.5" cocked width
- Weighs 5.2 pounds
- Arrows are 16.5" long
- Arrows weigh 350 grains
The Micro 355 only weighs 5.2 lbs, yet can still shoot a 350 grain arrow at 355 FPS. This gives it one of the best power to weight ratios for any crossbow. This is especially surprising considering the 10" power stroke.
Because of the shorter power stroke and small size of the Excalibur Micro 355 (only 33.5 inches long), it has a high draw weight of 280 pounds.
The Micro 355 FPKE is not advertised, but using a kinetic energy calculator, the Micro 355 shoots about 98 foot pounds of kinetic energy.
Since this is an ultra compact crossbow, the recommended arrows 16.5" long, much shorter than many others, especially compound crossbows. To achieve the 355 FPS, Excalibur recommends an arrow of 350 grains.
Features
If you're looking for one of the best hunting experiences of your life, then you'll want to buy the Micro 355.
The most unique feature about Excalibur's Micro crossbows is just how light weight they are. The light weight is achieved by using feather-lite skelotonized stock. You can really get a good hold since there are several rubber grip inserts. Excalibur has their own anti-dry-fire system called the Guardian. This system is actually stored within the scope mount to save space. The Guardian anti-dry-fire system also makes it extremely easy to de-cock your crossbow. It has a built in release which allows you to de-cock without even having to use an arrow. Not many crossbows have this unique feature!
Other nice features of the Micro 355 are the short length and width. At only 33.5 inches long, you'll have no problem traveling with this crossbow. It is just under 25" in width while uncocked, and a cocked width of 21.5". Easy to squeeze into a blind or nice hiding spot.
A top of the line recurve crossbow wouldn't be complete without one of the best crossbow scopes, the Excalibur Tact-Zone. I will cover this scope more further down in this Excalibur Micro 355 review.
To round out the offering on this top of the line crossbow, the R.E.D.S string suppressors are included with the Micro 355 crossbow. This helps reduce the sound and vibrations typically associated with recurve crossbows.
If you're looking for more suppression, check out the Excalibur Micro Suppressor. It is built off of the Micro 355, but has more suppression technology for the ultimate silenced hunting experience.
What's In The Box
- Excalibur Micro 355 crossbow
- R.E.D.S string suppressors
- Tact-Zone Illuminated Scope
- 4 16.5" micro bolts
- 4 field points weighing 150 grains
- 4 arrow quiver
- Rope cocking aid
- Ambidextrous cheekpiece
- Product Manual
- DVD assembly instructions
Since the Micro 355 is one of Excalibur's top of the line crossbows, it comes packed with just about every accessory you need to start hunting.
You will get your crossbow (of course) along with the Tact-Zone scope and R.E.D.S string suppressors. They also supply 4 16.5" micro bolts, which are the best bolts for the Excalibur Micro 355 crossbow. They also include 4 field points weighing 150 grains, and an attached quiver.
A few nice to have accessories include an ambidextrous cheekpiece, making this a good crossbow for left handed hunters. A rope cocking aid is thankfully included too, since the draw weight is 280 pounds. Lastly, you will also get a product manual for your Micro 355 as well as the necessary tools to assemble your crossbow.
Excalibur Micro 355 Review VIdeo
Shooting The Excalibur Micro 355 Crossbow
Recurve crossbows tend to have more vibration and produce more shot noise than compound crossbows, especially when it has 280 pound draw weight. The R.E.D.S suppressors do a good job limiting these problems though. The trigger guard is larger to make it easier to use for cold weather hunting. Watch this quick video below of how accurate the Excalibur Micro 355 crossbow is at 30 yards.
Micro 335 vs Micro 355
Excalibur released the Micro 355 crossbow to expand their lineup of micro crossbows, so how do the two compare to each other? First off, the Micro 335 crossbow is a lot cheaper, but naturally you don't get as many accessories. The FPS is in the name of each crossbow, so clearly the Micro 335 shoots 20 FPS slower than the Micro 355. The 335 draw weight is slightly less at only 270 pounds. The biggest difference between these two crossbows is the foot pounds of kinetic energy. The Micro 335 shoots about 87 FPKE, while the Micro 355 is about 98 FPKE. That's a big difference in power and worth the extra money if you prefer to hunt big game and want the confidence that you can take down any target you hit.
Tact-Zone Scope
The Excalibur Micro 355 ships with the Tact-Zone scope. This is a compact scope that delivers quality optics for hunters. It can be adjusted to match the speeds from 275 FPS to 410 FPS. This makes it a flexible option in case you ever want to change your arrow and broadhead setup. It has a 30mm tube which allows it to perform well in low light hunting situations. It is multi-reticled and you can choose from either green or red illuminated reticles.
Hunting WIth The Excalibur Micro 355 Crossbow
With about 98 pounds of kinetic energy, you shouldn't have any troubles hunting most big game. All of the features mentioned in this Excalibur Micro 355 review make it a great crossbow for turkey hunting. Its small size will allow you to fit into a small blind, or take cover in tight brush.
You'll be able to maneuver easily with this crossbow since it only weighs 5.2 pounds, easily one of the lightest crossbows you can buy that delivers this kind of power. Combining the 355 FPS, light weight, and high FPKE, you'll reach your bag limit extremely fast.
Pros
- Great accessories makes it ready to hunt
- Extremely light weight
- Small size makes hunting trips easier
- Limited Lifetime Warranty from Excalibur
Cons
- Louder than compound crossbows
- Not as powerful as many compound crossbows
- Arrows stick out past the stirrup
- Safety does not auto-engage while cocking
Best Bolts For Micro 355 Crossbow
Excalibur manufactures their own micro bolts which work well with the Micro 355, and any Excalibur Micro series crossbow. These are top rated arrows and shoot in tight groups. They're weighted well to get the max FPS and FPKE.
If you're looking for the best broadhead to match your Excalibur micro bolts, I'd suggest the Excalibur Boltcutter 150 grain broadhead. These come in a 3 pack and are 1-1/16" wide. Mix this broadhead with the Micro 355 crossbow, and you won't have to track your game very far before it bleeds out.
Recommended Excalibur Crossbow Case
If you're looking for the best Micro 355 crossbow case, Excalibur has you covered. They created the Octane Crypt crossbow case that is specifically designed to fit all the Excalibur Micro crossbows.
The case includes a tie down to avoid moving around, and also includes thick padding. Definitely worth the price to protect your crossbow effectively.
Excalibur Crossbow Maintenance
When you have a crossbow with 280 pounds of draw weight, it is vital to keep your Excalibur Micro 355 crossbow properly maintained. The biggest piece of advice I can offer that is unique to this crossbow is the serving should be waxed very well. Excalibur likes to offer a one stop shop and has their own line of serving wax. It is very easy to apply and is recommended to do every 5 or so shots. Read this guide for more crossbow maintenance tips.
Excalibur Warranty Information
Excalibur offers a generous limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. They will only provide this benefit to the original owner. You must not have altered your crossbow in any way to receive this benefit. For more information regarding Excalibur crossbow warranty information, visit ExcaliburCrossbow.com.
Manual and Assembly Instructions
To find an electronic version of the Excalibur Micro 355 manual, click here to download. If you need help assembling your Excalibur crossbow, they put together an easy to follow video guide.
Excalibur Micro 355 Review Conclusion
If you're in the market for a small yet powerful crossbow, and one with lots of accessories ready to go, the Micro 355 is a great recurve crossbow to buy. I think this is one of the best crossbows for turkey hunting due to its high FPS, decent kinetic energy, and extremely accurate shots. When you have the Tact-Zone scope sighted properly, you will hit clean and humane shots every time.
