16 replies to this topic

[bluecreek170]

I want to buy a new sz 380 but i am nervous now after reading about the limb problems.Are they resolved now?How do i know when im looking at one on ebay or anywhere else if its one without bad limbs?

[Jetster]

If you decide to buy one do not buy off ebay,they will not take care of your problems under warranty!!!!!!By the way they say the black limbs are good,camo are bad..............

[NJ Devil]

If you small game hunt i would go with the 350 unless your rich and can afford  new bolts every month. lol

[bluecreek170]

when did the sz380 come out on the market?

[Jetster]

bluecreek170, on 01 February 2012 - 01:01 PM, said:

when did the sz380 come out on the market?

Last year,and I bought one!!!!Worse bow I ever bought.........

[Tim50]

Supposed to be a great bow IF you can keep it in the woods & not on the FedEx truck! Lot's of lost time afield by many hunters this year...hopefully they've got it fixed!  IMO if I only had one crossbow to hunt with I would have to look in another direction!

[Ky Bob]

bluecreek170, on 01 February 2012 - 08:05 AM, said:

I want to buy a new sz 380 but i am nervous now after reading about the limb problems.Are they resolved now?How do i know when im looking at one on ebay or anywhere else if its one without bad limbs?

Bowtech will not honor any warranty unless bought from a dealer.

[Ky Bob]

NJ Devil, on 01 February 2012 - 12:54 PM, said:

If you small game hunt i would go with the 350 unless your rich and can afford  new bolts every month. lol

Why do you say you would have to buy new bolts every month?

[sika64]

Yes they had limb problems on the 380 not on the 350,But i think that it was not as bad as some would like you to believe,And i do think they have it under control now...Most that have them,LOVE them...

Edited by sika64, 01 February 2012 - 08:59 PM.

[Verne]

Bluecreek,

I'm new to this forum, but both my friend and I just bought sz380s and we love them.  We did a lot of research before we bought them, and everyone we spoke to felt confident that the limb issue was solved.  This included dealers who sold much more expensive crossbows and actually recommended the strykers to bows costing several hundred dollars more.  I'd say if you get one now, and you're anything like us, you'll know exactly what you have long before deer season rolls back around.  If nothing has gone wrong with them by that time, I'm betting they'll make it through the season without any issues.

That actually makes me wonder how accurate some of the negative claims have been (some, not all).  I mean, who goes out and buys ANY kind of weapon weeks or days before the season, shoots it a few times in the back yard, and then takes to the woods with it?  I'm sure some people do, but I don't know any of them.  Personally, I'm going to know what I'm shooting inside and out months BEFORE the season opens.  I'll know what it will and won't do, and I'll definately be confident that it can hold up to whatever I throw at it.  Anyone that buys something a week before they intend to hunt with it and expects everything to go smoothly is just asking for trouble.  I don't care how much you pay for it or how "bullet proof" everyone says it is.

Just my two cents.

Edited by Verne, 01 February 2012 - 10:34 PM.

[Jetster]

Verne, on 01 February 2012 - 10:33 PM, said:

Bluecreek,

I'm new to this forum, but both my friend and I just bought sz380s and we love them.  We did a lot of research before we bought them, and everyone we spoke to felt confident that the limb issue was solved.  This included dealers who sold much more expensive crossbows and actually recommended the strykers to bows costing several hundred dollars more.  I'd say if you get one now, and you're anything like us, you'll know exactly what you have long before deer season rolls back around.  If nothing has gone wrong with them by that time, I'm betting they'll make it through the season without any issues.

That actually makes me wonder how accurate some of the negative claims have been (some, not all).  I mean, who goes out and buys ANY kind of weapon weeks or days before the season, shoots it a few times in the back yard, and then takes to the woods with it?  I'm sure some people do, but I don't know any of them.  Personally, I'm going to know what I'm shooting inside and out months BEFORE the season opens.  I'll know what it will and won't do, and I'll definately be confident that it can hold up to whatever I throw at it.  Anyone that buys something a week before they intend to hunt with it and expects everything to go smoothly is just asking for trouble.  I don't care how much you pay for it or how "bullet proof" everyone says it is.

Just my two cents.

Did either one of you guys put your bows through speed tester??????If so is it any where near 380 speed now!!!!!!!!

[Tim50]

Verne, on 01 February 2012 - 10:33 PM, said:

Bluecreek,

I'm new to this forum, but both my friend and I just bought sz380s and we love them.  We did a lot of research before we bought them, and everyone we spoke to felt confident that the limb issue was solved.  This included dealers who sold much more expensive crossbows and actually recommended the strykers to bows costing several hundred dollars more.  I'd say if you get one now, and you're anything like us, you'll know exactly what you have long before deer season rolls back around.  If nothing has gone wrong with them by that time, I'm betting they'll make it through the season without any issues.

That actually makes me wonder how accurate some of the negative claims have been (some, not all).  I mean, who goes out and buys ANY kind of weapon weeks or days before the season, shoots it a few times in the back yard, and then takes to the woods with it?  I'm sure some people do, but I don't know any of them.  Personally, I'm going to know what I'm shooting inside and out months BEFORE the season opens.  I'll know what it will and won't do, and I'll definately be confident that it can hold up to whatever I throw at it. Anyone that buys something a week before they intend to hunt with it and expects everything to go smoothly is just asking for trouble.  I don't care how much you pay for it or how "bullet proof" everyone says it is.

Just my two cents.

Good luck with your purchase and I hope their troubles ARE behind them for your sake. If you had checked multiple forums a few months back first the trigger then limb issue was not imagined or made up. Many items expierence issues their first year out!  If you choose not to believe the NUMEROUS posts or question their motives that is your call! I had two good friends that expierenced issues with these bows & if it were not for friends lending them bows their season would have been lost! No agenda here just facts! I agree that you should shoot the bow & become familiar with the bow prior to the season! That being said I would feel VERY confident that if I bought a Tenpoint or an Excalibuer the morning of the hunt the LAST thing on my mind would be the trigger failing or the limbs blowing up! The failure of these bows had nothing to do with the buyer or when he or she bought it!  Failures can happen with ANY product but I cannot for the life of me understand why these Bowtech apoligist cannot just accept the fact that these bows failed thru no fault of the buying public! All reviews & reports on these bows have been glowing EXCEPT for the trigger issue & the limb failure! Not a small issue. It has supposedly been correct so we can move on...but please do not deny the facts that a number of these bows failed thru NO FAULT of the owner! PS: I WAS a Bowtech owner at one time.

[xbowguy]

I think its too soon to tell.  My understanding is that its still a work in progress.

[Verne]

The last thing I'm trying to be is controversial or defensive.  I'm so new to crossbows that I'd be an idiot to take a firm stand on ANYTHING on the subject.  I was only relaying what I've been told by numerous dealers and stating that, regardless the deal, I never would've bought a crossbow I didn't trust.  Will mine have problems too?  Possibly.  Could any crossbow on the market potentially have issues?  Sure.  

I'm not brand loyal or a brand basher.  I just did a lot of shopping and shooting before picking the one I did.  Hopefully it pays off.

[Ky Bob]

I ordered one today.............. I think they have got all the bugs out of the limb problems.

[randyxx75]

Verne and KY Bob,,,, for what its worth ,,,, I have my original 380, (4 / 2011) and have well over 3,000 shots on it, just changed 1st set of cables, and I've put 3 strings and reserved about 3 times, killed 5 deer with it this season... still going strong

Bought a second one last week , new , with black limbs, I have over 300 shots already with it with no issues.
I chronied the new one with an average of 381 fps, with stock arrows...

Enjoy !

[Buck_Slayer]

I would not be scared to get one if that's what you really want. Bowtech isn't going to sell "junk". They made some mistakes and had some failures. It seems like they responded to their clients well enough.

Having said that I would make sure to buy one from a dealer you are VERY confident in.