Is the Excalibur Micro Mag 340 Package Right for You?

What Comes Inside the Micro Mag 340 Box?

Opening this package reveals a complete hunting setup designed to get you shooting quickly. The bow arrives partially assembled, leaving you with simple mounting steps for the accessories. Every component in the box matches the needs of a hunter who wants a straightforward, durable rig without shopping for extra hardware.

• Main bow assembly: The stock, trigger housing, and recurve limbs come finished in Mossy Oak Overwatch camouflage. This pattern uses earthy browns and muted greens that break up your outline against tree bark and autumn leaves.
• Illuminated sighting scope: The included optic mounts directly to the top rail. It features multiple aiming crosshairs matched to specific shooting distances, along with red or green lighted dots to help you see clearly during dawn and dusk.
• Rope cocking aid: This tool is a heavy-duty pulling cord with two molded hooks and T-handles. It halves the muscular effort needed to pull the string back into the catch.
• Four-arrow quiver: An arrow holder attached to the frame that snaps securely beneath the stock. It keeps extra broadheads covered and out of the way while walking through brush.
• Carbon arrows and field points: The box includes balanced carbon shafts matched to the power of the bow, tipped with screw-in practice points for zeroing your sight.
• Anti-dry-fire safety mechanism: A built-in metal catch prevents the trigger from releasing the string unless an arrow is loaded firmly against the rear stop.

Before heading to the shooting range, inspect every item. Confirm that the scope mount screws are snug and that the quiver bracket does not rattle against the frame. Spending ten minutes checking these fittings at home prevents loose hardware in the woods.

Why Choose a Recurve Bow Over Compound Wheels?

Most modern crossbows use compound systems with wheels and pulleys at the limb tips. These wheels turn to create holding weight relief, which means the bow holds easily once pulled back. But those moving wheels also introduce small axles, bearing surfaces, and extra cables that require precise tuning. If a cable stretches unevenly or a wheel leans slightly, the arrow can fly off target.

Recurve limbs have curved ends with no wheels or moving parts. A single continuous string loops over the limb tips and connects straight to the trigger latch. Because there are no cams to synchronize, you never have to worry about wheel timing coming out of balance after a bumpy truck ride or a hard bump against a tree stand.

Simplicity also means superior reliability in extreme weather. Freezing rain, wet snow, and gritty dirt can clog compound wheels and freeze small bearings. A recurve setup has zero moving components at the limb tips, so there is nothing to freeze up or collect debris when winter hunting gets harsh.

The biggest practical benefit is self-reliance. When a compound bow string frays, you cannot fix it by hand. You must carry it to an archery pro shop bow press, where a specialist clamps the limbs under hundreds of pounds of pressure to swap the cables. With a recurve bow, you can change your own string on your truck tailgate in five minutes using a basic stringing cord.

How Hard Is This Bow to Pull Back?

Recurve bows demand real physical effort because of how their pull weight behaves. Pull weight is the muscular effort, measured in pounds, required to draw the bowstring back to the latch. On a compound bow, wheels take over near the end of the pull to reduce the strain. On a recurve, the resistance increases steadily as you pull, feeling heaviest right before the string clicks into the catch.

You should never try to draw this bow with your bare fingers. Pulling bare-handed can injure your back, and it almost always pulls the string unevenly, which ruins your shooting accuracy. Using the included rope cocking aid is mandatory. This cord acts like a simple pulley, cutting the physical strain roughly in half while keeping the string perfectly centered on the rail.

1. Place the front foot stirrup flat on firm, level ground and step through it with your boot to pin the bow down.
2. Slide the center rope cocker cord behind the scope mount or through the designated groove on the stock.
3. Attach the two hooks to the bowstring, pressing them tight against the sides of the flight track so the pull stays completely straight.
4. Bend your knees, keep your back straight, and grasp the T-handles firmly with both hands.
5. Stand up smoothly using your legs and hips rather than lifting solely with your arms and biceps.
6. Listen for the distinct click of the trigger latch, then verify that the safety switch automatically slides into the safe position.

If you have previous shoulder injuries or back trouble, drawing a heavy recurve repeatedly during practice sessions can become tiring. Hunters who want mechanical assistance often compare these traditional setups against a crossbow designed for safe de-cocking that uses built-in winding cranks to remove physical strain entirely.

Does the Wide Limb Width Get in Your Way?

Recurve bows must use longer, wider limbs than compound bows to generate arrow speed without wheels. When uncocked, the limb tips flare outward across a relatively broad span. Once you cock the bow, the limbs flex backward, narrowing the profile noticeably, but they still remain wider than most modern wheel-driven designs.

This width becomes an important factor depending on where you hunt. In an open ladder stand or a spacious climbing stand, limb width rarely causes an issue. You have plenty of open air on either side of the shooting rail to line up your shot without touching branches or metal bars.

In dense brush or tight ground blinds, wide limbs require extra caution. If you hunt from a compact fabric blind, you must confirm that the limb tips have several inches of clear space away from the side walls. When you pull the trigger, the limbs instantly snap forward and outward to their full uncocked width. If a limb tip slaps a fabric blind wall or a wooden support post upon release, the impact can deflect your arrow and damage the bow limb.

Before season opener, practice sitting in your blind with the bow resting on your knee or shooting stick. Check both sides of the window opening to make sure you have room to swing on an animal. If you exclusively hunt from narrow box blinds with tight shooting ports, looking at a narrow compound hunting crossbow can give you the extra elbow room needed to maneuver quietly.

How Do You Maintain the String and Limbs?

Taking care of a recurve bow is simple, but neglecting basic maintenance will shorten the life of your string and reduce arrow accuracy. Because the string pushes hard against the center barrel, routine lubrication and regular checks protect your investment season after season.

• Apply rail lube regularly: Rail lube is a slick fluid rubbed on the arrow track to reduce friction. Place a single drop on each side of the barrel every 15 to 20 shots and smooth it out with your fingertip. Avoid over-lubricating, which can collect dust and gunk inside the trigger housing.
• Wax the main string strands: Rub quality bowstring wax into the exposed fibers every few shooting sessions. Use your thumb and index finger to rub the string briskly until the heat of your skin melts the wax deep into the strands. Keep wax away from the center serving where the string touches the arrow nock.
• Inspect your carbon arrows: Before sliding an arrow down the rail, practice flex-testing carbon arrows by gently bending the shaft between your hands while rotating it. If you hear any cracking or feel soft spots, discard that arrow immediately to avoid splintering during release.
• Never dry fire the bow: A dry fire means firing the bow without an arrow loaded. When an arrow is present, it absorbs the tremendous energy released by the limbs. Without an arrow, that violent energy slams directly back into the fiberglass limbs, which can crack the tips or fling sharp debris.
• Store the bow in moderate temperatures: Never leave your bow inside a hot car trunk or direct sunlight during midsummer. Intense heat can weaken the limb resins and stretch the synthetic fibers of your bowstring.

FAQs

Is 340 feet per second fast enough for deer?

Yes, 340 feet per second delivers more than enough kinetic energy to harvest whitetail deer and black bear cleanly. At standard archery hunting ranges between 20 and 40 yards, an arrow traveling at this speed produces flat flight paths and deep penetration. Accurate shot placement through the vital organs matters far more than extreme arrow speed.

Can you change a broken string in the woods?

Yes, you can swap the bowstring entirely by yourself without visiting a repair shop. By using a basic recurve stringing aid, you can flex the limbs enough to slip the old loops off and seat a fresh string in minutes. Keeping a spare, pre-stretched string in your hunting pack ensures you never lose a morning hunt to a frayed cord.

How loud is a recurve shot compared to compounds?

Recurve bows tend to make a louder, sharper slap upon release than compound bows. Because they lack rubber-cushioned wheels to absorb residual vibrations, the energy snaps straight through the limbs and string. You can quiet the shot noticeably by installing stick-on rubber limb dampeners and small string silencers.

What happens if you accidentally dry fire the bow?

The built-in anti-dry-fire catch catches the string if you squeeze the trigger without an arrow, preventing damage in most cases. If the bow ever does release fully without an arrow nocked, stop shooting immediately. Run a soft cotton ball over both limbs to feel for snags that reveal hidden cracks, and have an archery technician inspect the limbs if you suspect internal damage.