The Excalibur Matrix 355 was a light, fast recurve crossbow that Excalibur sold in the 2010s, and plenty are still in use. If you own one or are looking at a used one, this page covers what it was, how to keep it shooting, what to check before buying, and which current Excalibur crossbows to consider if you’d rather buy new.
We haven’t shot a Matrix 355 for this article. The specs come from Excalibur’s archived product pages, and parts prices from Excalibur’s online store. Prices, stock and ratings were checked on Amazon on October 4, 2026, and they change often.
Excalibur Matrix 355 at a glance
- Speed: 355 fps with a 350-grain arrow
- Draw weight: 240 lb (Excalibur listed 120 lb of cocking effort with its rope cocking aid)
- Power stroke: 12.2 inches
- Weight: 5.4 lb
- Length: 34.8 inches
- Arrows: 18-inch, at least 350 grains
- Price when new: $949.99 list for the package (product 3500)
- Sold: new for the 2013 season; listed under “Past Models” on Excalibur’s site by 2017
What the Matrix 355 was
Excalibur is best known for recurve crossbows, which have no cams or cables. The Matrix 355 was the lighter, simpler member of its Matrix family, next to faster models such as the Matrix 380. Excalibur pitched it to hunters who wanted the benefits of its compact recurve design and were willing to give up a little speed and a few features. It had Excalibur’s PowerLoad limbs, an Ergo-Grip stock, a Quad-Loc riser and Realtree Xtra camo.
The first packages included a Tact-Zone scope with 30 mm rings, a four-arrow quiver, four 18-inch Diablo arrows with 150-grain field points and a rope cocking aid. Later packages switched to a Dead-Zone scope with 1-inch rings. One detail worth knowing: Excalibur’s 355 fps figure was measured with a 350-grain arrow and an optional Flemish string, so a bow with a standard string may shoot a little slower.
This page used to link to a Matrix 355 package on Amazon. That listing is gone, and Excalibur no longer sells the bow.
Is the Matrix 355 still worth it?
As a shooter, yes, if it’s in good shape. 355 fps is plenty for deer at normal crossbow ranges, and at 5.4 lb it’s lighter than most crossbows sold today. A recurve also has fewer parts to wear out: no cams to time and no cables to stretch.
The catches are cocking and age. A 240 lb draw is heavy, and even with the rope aid Excalibur listed 120 lb of effort, so many owners will want a crank. Excalibur’s listing for the Matrix 355 doesn’t mention anti-dry-fire protection, so never pull the trigger without an arrow loaded. And Excalibur’s lifetime warranty covers manufacturing defects only for the original owner, and only if the bow was registered. Assume a used one has no warranty.
A Matrix 355 you already own is worth maintaining. A used one is worth buying at a price that leaves room for a new string and arrows.
Matrix 355 owner guide
Strings
Excalibur still sells its Matrix Series String, which it says fits all Matrix Series crossbows. On Excalibur’s store the standard black and grey string ($37.99) was sold out, while the colored versions were $40.99 and in stock. Amazon had the Excalibur Matrix string for $36.99 with 4.6 stars from 362 ratings. Excalibur’s $87.99 Matrix Survival Kit bundles the string with a rope cocking aid and a stringing aid.
Because there are no cables, you can change a recurve string at home with a stringing aid (Excalibur’s is $35.99). Wax the string regularly and replace it if you see fraying, broken strands or separating serving.
Arrows
Excalibur specified 18-inch arrows of at least 350 grains for the Matrix 355. Its Diablo arrows are made for the Matrix Series. They’re 18 inches long and weigh 250 grains before the point, so a 100-grain point brings them to the 350-grain minimum. Excalibur’s store had the six-pack for $66.99. Amazon had Diablo illuminated arrows for $61.99, with 4.7 stars from 475 ratings. Don’t shoot arrows that are lighter or shorter than the spec. Our crossbow bolts guide explains length, weight and nock types.
Cocking
The included rope aid roughly halves the felt draw weight and keeps the string centered. If that’s still too much, Excalibur says its Charger EXT crank cuts the draw weight of any Excalibur crossbow to 12 lb. It clips on and off, and it lets you de-cock the bow safely without shooting. Excalibur lists it at $289.99, and Amazon had the Charger EXT for $249.98 with 4.4 stars from 157 ratings. Without a crank, never let a cocked crossbow down by hand. Shoot it into a target with a field point.
Used-buying checklist
- Limbs: on a recurve the limbs take all the load. Look for cracks, splinters or lifted layers, especially near the tips and the riser. Don’t buy a bow with limb damage.
- String: check for fraying and worn serving. Budget about $40 for a new one unless the seller has a receipt.
- Riser and rail: look for cracks around the riser and deep grooves worn into the flight track.
- Trigger and safety: the safety should engage when you cock the bow, and the trigger should break cleanly.
- Dry fires: ask directly. A dry fire can crack limbs even if the damage is hard to see.
- Extras: 18-inch arrows, the scope, the quiver and the rope aid all add value.
We couldn’t find a reliable published source for used Matrix 355 prices, so we won’t quote one. Compare recent sold listings near you, subtract the cost of a string and arrows, and weigh the result against a new recurve such as the Excalibur Mag MAX (about $800) or the Barnett Wildcat CRX (about $240).
Today’s best alternatives for a Matrix 355 fan
If you’d rather have a new crossbow with a warranty, these two recurves were in stock new on Amazon. Both come from third-party sellers, and the Mag MAX had only 3 left, so check stock and the seller before you buy.
- Best overall: Excalibur Mag MAX. 350 fps in a 32-inch, 6 lb package, about $800.
- Budget pick: Barnett Wildcat CRX. A 280 fps recurve, ready to hunt, about $240.
We used to list two more Excalibur bows here: the Matrix GRZ 2, the closest match because it takes the same 18-inch arrows, and the crank-cocked REV X. When we checked on October 4, 2026, Amazon was down to its last new unit of each, so we’ve taken them off. An Excalibur dealer may still have a GRZ 2.
1. Excalibur Mag MAX: best overall
The Mag MAX is the modern take on what the Matrix 355 offered: a compact, light recurve at a mid-range price. Excalibur rates it at 350 fps from a 13.2-inch draw length. It weighs 6 lb and is 32 inches long, shorter than the Matrix 355. It adds CeaseFire anti-dry-fire protection, so it won’t fire without an arrow loaded, plus Excalibur’s R.E.D.S. string suppressors. The kit includes a Dead Zone scope, rings, a quiver, three 16.5-inch Quill arrows and a rope cocking aid. Note the shorter arrows: your 18-inch Matrix arrows won’t fit.
Excalibur lists 14 lb of draw effort with its optional crank. The package was $799.99 on Amazon, under Excalibur’s $829.99 price, sold by a third-party seller and shipped by Amazon, with only 3 left. It had 4.1 stars from 11 ratings.
2. Barnett Wildcat CRX: budget pick
If you mainly want a simple recurve for deer and don’t need Excalibur’s speed, the Wildcat CRX costs a fraction of the price. Barnett rates it at 280 fps and 66 ft-lb with a 380-grain arrow, from a 195 lb draw weight and a 12.5-inch power stroke. It weighs 6.1 lb and is 33 inches long, and published specs put it at about 18.4 inches wide when cocked. It’s slower than the Matrix 355, and it ships with 20-inch Headhunter arrows, so use the arrows its manual calls for, not your 18-inch Matrix arrows.
The Amazon bundle includes a red dot sight, a rope cocking device, a side-mount quiver, three arrows and broadheads, and Barnett’s anti-dry-fire trigger is standard. It was $239.99 and in stock, sold by a third-party seller and shipped by Amazon, with 4.1 stars from just 10 ratings, so there’s little owner feedback yet.
The bottom line
A sound Matrix 355 is still a light, quick deer crossbow. Keep it in a fresh Matrix string, feed it 18-inch arrows of at least 350 grains, and consider a Charger EXT if cocking is a struggle. If you’re buying new, the Mag MAX is the closest modern equivalent, and the Wildcat CRX is the budget route.
For more recurve options, see our guide to the best recurve crossbows. We have similar owner guides for the Barnett Ghost 410 and the Barnett Jackal, plus our Barnett crossbow reviews. To compare every brand, see our best crossbows guide.