I recently had the opportunity to shoot three of the 2011 line up of Horton crossbows. The new Bone Collector^TM, the TRT^TM, and their top-of-the-line crossbow, the Vision^{TM 175}. I’ll save the Vision^TM for last as it was probably the sweetest of the three. All, however, were remarkable to shoot, smooth, quiet, and full of features.

2011 Bone Collector^TM

The Bone Collector came in as the heaviest bow. It weighs a total of 8.6 lbs. But it also came in as the second fastest bow, at 325 fps. The grip and forearm on the Bone Collector were very comfortable and made stabilizing the heavier weight somewhat easy. The weight was still very noticeable on the front end of the bow, but was not overcoming. The adjustable forearm, as well as the incorporated interchangeable recoil pad, makes the Bone Collector able to be customized for almost anyone’s arm length and stature.

Cocking the 175 lbs draw weight on the Bone Collector is easy with the 55% high let off cams. Once cocked, the anti dry-fire mechanism takes the fear out of misfires. The Bone Collector also has an ambidextrous safety making it suitable for either left or right-handed shooters. Throw in the light 3 lbs trigger pull and enough kinetic energy to hunt almost any game animal worldwide (97 ft/lbs), and you have one of the best all-around crossbows on the market today!

Finally, the Bone Collector has an MSRP of around $499, making it a high quality crossbow at a mid-range price.

TRT (Team Realtree^R) Ultra-Lite Express^TM

The TRT weighs in at a mere 6.5 lbs making it the lightest bow in the Horton lineup. The split-limb design and aircraft-grade aluminum riser aid in the overall lightness of the bow. Like the Bone Collector, the TRT has a 175 lbs draw weight but screams into the first place for speed with a consistent speed of 330 fps! Folks, that’s FAST!

Also like the Bone Collector, the TRT has an adjustable forearm and interchangeable recoil pad. In addition though, the TRT has a T/C (Thompson Center Arms^TM) inspired pistol-style grip for added comfort and stability. All of these features, plus the SIMS Navcom^R sound stoppers, give you one quiet, comfortable, smooth-shooting crossbow, and what a joy to shoot! Not only was it all it claimed to be, but it just looks down-right cool too.

The TRT has the ambidextrous safety for left or right-handed shooters as well as the anti dry-fire mechanism also topping off its safety, comfort, and versatility in the high -performance crossbow market. Packages starting at $579.99 list price depending on accessories.

Vision^{TM 175}

The Vision caught my eye right away. It’s innovative. Period. Horton brought the riser to the rear of the barrel and gave it a reverse-draw limb design. Unlike traditional archery equipment where the string is drawn away from the body of the bow, the Vision bucks the norm and has a draw inward toward the body of the bow. This design gives the Vision an amazing 9 7/8” axle-to-axle length when cocked making it a perfect fit for close-quarters hunting. Carrying a crossbow through the brush has never been easier!

Though the Vision holds the same 175 lbs draw weight as the Bone Collector and TRT, it is the slowest of the three with a consistent speed of 300 fps. Still, that is nothing to turn your nose up in my book. When shooting it, I could hear the arrow hit the target before the bow stopped resonating. Now that’s nothing against the resonance of the crossbow mind you! The Vision was amazingly quiet. 300 fps is just simply that fast.

The reverse limb design brings many features to the crossbow itself. The short axle-to-axle length I mentioned before is one, but perhaps the best result of the design is the terrific balance it brings to the crossbow. By bringing the riser to the rear of the barrel, you eliminate much of the weight out on the front of the crossbow. The Vision weighs in at 8.3 lbs, close to that of the Bone Collector, but you would think it was as light as the TRT the way it balances. You have the stability benefit of the weight without the instability downfall of the imbalance, which makes the Vision a very accurate and easy to handle. The design also makes the crossbow quieter. With the machined wheels fitted with sealed dual ball bearings, simply put, you have an outright stealthy piece of equipment.

With all of its many features, accurate shooting, and innovative design I think the Vision was my personal favorite. The Vision 175 Scope Package in Realtree APG lists for $849.99.

Horton also has for 2011 a more economical version to the Bone Collector called the Brotherhood^TM, along with their more traditional recurve-style crossbow, the Legacy. I did not get to shoot those two bows, but along with the Vision, Bone Collector, and TRT, they fall into Horton’s vat of high-quality, precision-made crossbows, and each comes with varying package options and available accessories to customize them to your taste. From camo patterns to scopes, cocking devices to cases or slings, even the thoughtfulness of an arrow designed for the safe de-cocking of the bow, Horton has provided a quality solution to your crossbow obsession!

Visit www.hortonarchery.com for more details.

By Duane Taylor

TalkHunting Pro Staffer Duane "Duane72" Taylor was born in western NY. As the son of a pastor, he spent several childhood years in Wisconsin, then West Virginia where he graduated high school before landing in Rhode Island. Moving out on his own, Duane spent a few years in Texas before enlisting in the US Air Force where he served for four years, stationed in Germany and South Carolina, and took part in Operation Desert Shield. After, he returned to RI where he served an additional year in the Air National Guard and married his fiancé Desiree. He now works full-time as the Facility Manager of his church, as well as volunteer serves on the board of Deacons. Duane cherishes his life with Desiree and is the proud father of two boys.

Growing up in a family that, even though they were not opposed to it, had minimal interest in hunting, Duane had few, if no, opportunities to experience the world of hunting for himself. He has always had an enjoyment of fishing and holds fond memories of fishing the ponds and lakes of Wisconsin with his dad and siblings. Always having a deep interest in hunting though, he took it upon himself to get started the year after settling home in Rhode Island. Armed with nothing more than an ancient recurve given to him by an old man in his church when he was in his teens, and decked out in his Air Force BDUs, he plunged into what would soon become a passion, hobby, and lifestyle.

It was several years before Duane would arrow his first deer with a used compound bow he had "upgraded" to. But those first years brought with them many valuable lessons, mentors, and friends and were the foundations of the successful years that followed. Hunting also the shotgun and muzzleloader seasons, spring & fall turkey, as well as some small game and coyote, Duane spends a great deal of time in the woods or preparing to be there. His other passions are most importantly God, his family, and his off-season fix of motorcycles.

Comments(1):

1. Horton makes good Stuff

   Great read Duane... I Love shooting Crossbows... Great read for those looking for or have a need for a Crossbow.

   Thursday, August 04, 2011 Dennis