When it comes to lightweight, reliable, and high-performance crossbows, the Excalibur Mag Air has made a name for itself in the hunting community. Designed with precision and portability in mind, this crossbow is one of the lightest in Excalibur’s lineup, making it an excellent choice for hunters who value mobility without sacrificing power.
Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or a beginner looking to up your game, the Mag Air promises to deliver consistent accuracy, straightforward handling, and the durability you’d expect from the Excalibur brand. In this review, we’ll break down its features, performance, and overall value to help you determine if the Mag Air is the right crossbow for your next adventure.
Table of Contents
Excalibur Mag Air Crossbow Specs
Excalibur Mag Air  | |
Speed | 305 FPS |
Overall Length | 31” |
Width (Axle to Axle) cocked/uncocked | 25.5” |
Weight | 4.9 / 6.7 LBS |
Draw Weight | 12 / 136 lbs |
Our Rating | |
Price |
First Impressions
The Excalibur Mag Air makes an immediate impression with its lightweight design and ease of handling. As one of the lightest crossbows in the Excalibur lineup, it feels agile and well-balanced, making it ideal for hunters who value portability, especially during long treks or when navigating dense terrain. Its minimalist design doesn’t sacrifice durability, and the build quality lives up to Excalibur’s reputation for rugged, reliable gear.
Upon closer inspection, the Mag Air showcases simplicity in both form and function. It’s straightforward to assemble, with no unnecessary complexities, making it approachable even for beginners. Seasoned hunters will appreciate how quickly it’s ready to shoot out of the box. The recurve design, a hallmark of Excalibur, ensures long-term durability and easy maintenance compared to compound alternatives, which can be more finicky in the field.
The Mag Air features a Gen2 synthetic mainframe meticulously engineered to minimize weight while maintaining exceptional strength and durability. This innovative design ensures the crossbow remains both lightweight and robust, ideal for demanding hunting environments. Additionally, the polymer rail and stock are equipped with strategic cutouts, further reducing the overall weight without compromising structural integrity or performance.
This thoughtful construction makes the Mag Air one of the most portable and maneuverable crossbows in its class, perfect for hunters who prioritize ease of use and reliability in the field.
The Excalibur Mag Air weighs 4.9 pounds bare, this is up to 1 pound lighter than most competitors’ bare crossbows in this class. With all accessories (scope, quiver, and bolts) attached, the crossbow weighs just 6.7 pounds, which is a perfect weight for this model. These dimensions and weight make the Mag Air ideal for use in stands and blinds.
Assembly
The Excalibur Mag Air comes in a ready-to-shoot package. This means that it only requires a few steps to set up this crossbow. It can be done without effort and it takes little time, which is great if you are a beginner and never set up a crossbow before in your life.
The Mag Air comes with a so-called one-bolt assembly system. This means that you only have to connect the limb assembly to the mainframe. Now you’ll only have to install the fixed power scope and the 4-arrow quiver which takes little time and effort, and you’re ready for sighting in!
Optics
The Mag Air comes equipped with a high-quality fixed-power scope that complements a crossbow of this class perfectly. Fixed-power scopes, unlike variable ones, offer a set magnification level, simplifying usage while providing reliable performance. This design is especially suitable for crossbow hunting, where quick and accurate target acquisition is essential.
The scope features a 1-inch tube and is specifically optimized for crossbows with speeds up to 350 fps, making it an excellent match for the Mag Air’s performance capabilities. Its reticle is clear and well-calibrated for consistent accuracy, even at varying distances. Setting up the scope is straightforward, with easy-to-follow calibration adjustments that ensure precise alignment in no time.
Overall, the included scope is a practical and effective addition to the Mag Air, enhancing its performance without unnecessary complexity. It’s a solid choice for both seasoned hunters and those new to crossbows, ensuring consistent, hassle-free accuracy in the field.
Cocking
Excalibur crossbows offer versatile cocking options, including attachable cranks, integrated cranks, and rope cockers, enabling users to reduce the draw effort to as little as 12 pounds. The Mag Air comes with a rope cocker included in the package, making it straightforward and easy to cock with minimal effort.
Using the rope cocker effectively cuts the Mag Air’s 136-pound draw weight in half, requiring just 68 pounds of pulling force. This system is user-friendly and ensures a smooth cocking experience. Additionally, the crossbow’s well-sized foot stirrup provides a stable and secure platform, further simplifying the process.
For those looking to reduce the effort even further, the Mag Air is fully compatible with the Excalibur Charger EXT cocking crank, sold separately and available on platforms like Amazon. The Charger EXT dramatically lowers the required draw effort to just 12 pounds, making it an excellent option for hunters who prefer to avoid straining their back or arms during extended use. If effortless cocking is a priority, we highly recommend investing in the Charger EXT for added convenience and ease.
Whether you stick with the included rope cocker or upgrade to the crank, the Mag Air ensures a hassle-free cocking experience, catering to users of all strength levels.
Trigger & Safety Features
The Excalibur Mag Air is equipped with a smooth and reliable trigger system that enhances the overall shooting experience. The trigger has a crisp break, ensuring precise and consistent shots every time. With minimal creep and a predictable pull, it offers the confidence hunters need for accurate performance in the field.
Key Features:
Guardian Anti-Dry Fire System
One of the standout safety features of the Mag Air is the Guardian Anti-Dry Fire (ADF) System. This mechanism prevents the crossbow from firing unless a bolt is properly loaded, protecting the bow from potential damage and ensuring user safety. This feature is particularly valuable for beginners and seasoned hunters alike, reducing the risk of accidental dry fires.
Automatic Safety Engagement
The Mag Air comes with an automatic safety mechanism that engages as soon as the crossbow is cocked. This ensures the crossbow is safe to handle during loading and prevents unintentional firing. Switching off the safety is intuitive and quick, so it doesn’t slow you down when you’re ready to take a shot.
Light Trigger Pull
The Mag Air’s trigger has a light pull weight, designed to reduce fatigue and promote better accuracy, especially during long hunting sessions. The smooth pull allows for a clean release, improving consistency across multiple shots.
Ergonomic Design
The trigger assembly is ergonomically designed, providing a comfortable grip and easy access to the safety lever. This thoughtful design enhances usability, ensuring that the Mag Air is both safe and simple to operate under various hunting conditions.
The trigger and safety features of the Mag Air combine precision, reliability, and peace of mind. Whether you’re lining up a shot in the field or handling the crossbow in preparation, these systems work seamlessly to provide an enjoyable and secure experience.
Performance
The Excalibur Mag Air performs impressively on the test range, delivering accuracy, consistency, and power across various distances. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its performance at 20, 40, and 60 yards:
20 Yards: Short-Range Precision
At 20 yards, the Mag Air showcases pinpoint accuracy. Groups are tight, often within 1-inch clusters, making it ideal for close-range shots in hunting scenarios. The combination of the fixed-power scope, Excalibur Quill arrows, and Bolt Cutter broadheads ensures exceptional precision. The lightweight design also contributes to steady handling, helping shooters maintain focus and stability for consistent results.
40 Yards: Mid-Range Reliability
At 40 yards, the Mag Air maintains its accuracy and power. Groupings remain consistent, with arrows landing within 2-3 inches of each other. The optimized 300 fps speed ensures a flat trajectory, and wind drift is minimal due to the aerodynamic design of the Quill arrows. Hunters can confidently rely on the Mag Air for medium-range shots, whether targeting game or honing their skills on the range.
60 Yards: Long-Range Effectiveness
At 60 yards, the Mag Air continues to perform admirably. While groupings naturally widen to around 4-5 inches, the crossbow remains capable of delivering ethical and effective shots at this distance. The fixed-power scope requires careful aiming adjustments, but once calibrated, it provides clear visuals and accurate targeting. The Mag Air’s recurve limb system ensures consistent energy transfer, keeping power and penetration strong even at longer ranges.
During testing, the scope functioned flawlessly, providing sharp visuals and reliable accuracy under different conditions. The fixed magnification eliminates the need for constant adjustments, allowing hunters to focus on the shot rather than the settings. Whether you’re targeting game at close or moderate range, this scope delivers dependable results.
The Mag Air proves to be a versatile and dependable performer across all tested distances. It excels at short to mid-range shots and holds its own at longer distances, offering hunters the confidence to take on a variety of situations in the field. Its lightweight build, smooth trigger system, and reliable scope combine to make it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced crossbow users.
Arrows
The Excalibur Mag Air utilizes 16.5″ quill arrows. These are good quality carbon hunting arrows. They have a .003 straightness and 2-inch offset blazer vanes and Rhino Nocks. These flat nocks are specifically designed to work in conjunction with models equipped with CeaseFire Anti-Dryfire Technology but can also be used on all Excalibur crossbows. They primarily ensure better contact with the string.
Quill arrows have no designated cocking vane so it doesn’t matter which vane you slide into the flight groove. The arrows have a heavier front insert which increases front-of-center weight for enhanced accuracy. These arrows are also very effective when matched with the appropriate broadheads. They are designed to ensure good broadhead accuracy.
Recommended Accessories
To maximize the performance, convenience, and safety of your Excalibur Mag Air, several accessories can enhance your hunting experience. Here’s a list of recommended accessories that complement the Mag Air crossbow:
Arrows and Broadheads
For optimal performance with the Excalibur Mag Air, we highly recommend using the 16-inch, 250-grain Excalibur Quill arrows. These arrows are specifically designed to complement Excalibur’s recurve crossbows, offering exceptional accuracy, durability, and consistency in the field. The Quill arrows are crafted to handle the high-power output of the Mag Air, ensuring a flat trajectory and precise grouping even at longer ranges.
An added advantage is their affordability and availability—you can easily purchase them online at competitive prices. Retailers like Amazon often stock them at budget-friendly rates, making it convenient to replenish your supply without breaking the bank. For hunters who prioritize quality without overspending, the Quill arrows deliver the perfect balance of performance and value.
Using the right arrows is crucial to maximizing the potential of your Mag Air, and the Excalibur Quill arrows are a trusted choice to get the job done efficiently.
For the best performance, we recommend pairing the arrows with 150-grain Excalibur Bolt Cutter broadheads, featuring a cutting diameter of 1 1/16 inches. These high-performance broadheads are designed with tunable alignment blades, ensuring each one flies with identical accuracy and consistency.
What sets the Bolt Cutter broadheads apart is their ability to maintain precise alignment. The blades on every individual broadhead are calibrated in the same position when loaded into your crossbow, reducing variables and enhancing accuracy. Adjustments are straightforward—simply use the included wrench and hex key to fine-tune alignment, ensuring maximum efficiency and reliability in the field.
With their robust design and customizable features, these broadheads are an excellent choice for hunters who demand precision and confidence from their gear.
 | Excalibur Boltcutter Broadheads Features:
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Storage and Transportation
We recommend buying a crossbow case to keep the Mag Air secure and safe. The Tomb Case is specifically designed to accommodate Excalibur’s recurve crossbows, including the Mag Air. Its shape and size ensure a snug and secure fit, preventing unnecessary movement during transport and storage.
Investing in a quality case like the Tomb Case helps protect the integrity and longevity of your Mag Air. Proper storage can reduce wear and tear, ensuring the crossbow remains in top condition for years to come.
In short, pairing your Excalibur Mag Air with the Tomb Case is about maximizing protection, convenience, and durability. It’s an essential accessory for hunters who take their gear and performance seriously.
 | Excalibur Tomb Case
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Excalibur Charger EXT Crank (Cocking Aid)
As mentioned earlier, the Excalibur Charger EXT Crank significantly reduces the draw weight to just 12 pounds. This is a must-have for anyone who wants to save energy and avoid straining their back or shoulders during extended hunting trips. The crank mechanism is easy to use and offers a precise, smooth cocking experience.
Final Verdict
Excalibur Mag Air Crossbow Review
Summary
The Excalibur Mag Air stands out as a top-tier crossbow that strikes the perfect balance between portability, performance, and reliability. Designed with the modern hunter in mind, this lightweight yet powerful crossbow offers exceptional accuracy, ease of use, and versatility, making it a top choice for both novice and experienced hunters alike.
With its affordable price point, rugged design, and consistent performance, the Mag Air is an excellent investment for any crossbow enthusiast looking for an efficient and effective weapon for their hunting adventures.
Last year we reviewed the Excalibur Micro Mag 340 and the Excalibur Micro 340 TD.
