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Hickory Creek Koolaid

Well folks my first ever kill with a crossbow was yesterday, the first day of Gobbler season here in NY. It was an HCM. I tricked it out as @Jtaylor and others have recommended with the 5/16" by 18 nylon lock nut with a neoprene washer underneath, I turned both limbs down to maximum and made sure tiller was the same on both... mine is 6 3/16" top and bottom even and it also lines up with the rear of the screw as Jerry describes in his videos. I changed out the scope to an older Bushnell Trophy red dot that has mutliple different reticles. I have been using the crosshair one. At first I didn't think I was going to like the red dot on it with just 1x magnification as you can see the foot stirrup and part of the riser when sighting it on target but it actually forms a kind of a "V" that I find gives me a bit greater precision. I didn't want to buy another red dot so I just used one I had on hand but for someone originally tricking it out, I would recommend maybe something with 3x magnification. The only other thing I did was wax the strings and cables not covered with serving and I noticed the "brushes" on my rest would loosen after a few shots. I pulled the screws out of each and coated them with some string wax and screwed them back in the plastic housing. So far they seem to be holding tight. I also added a HHA sight bracket recommended by @redsquirrel but I like four arrows so I use one of my old Kwikee four arrow quivers. Finally, I just added some bow jax sound dampaners to the limbs and the stirrup. This turkey was at about 12 yards facing away from me when I shot. After the shot he ran-flapped another 30 yards and collapsed in a pile in cut cornfield. This was my first ever crossbow kill and my first ever hunt with the HC Mini. I also took @Nutterbuster's recommendation on the Waldrop Pac Seat. I was tired of lugging my folding camp chair around with no real great way to carry it. With the Pac seat and a chest harness, I was able to carry my chair and my blind on my back. About as portable as you're gonna get with archery blind hunting for turkeys. I used NAP spitfires I had when I shot flappers for my regular compound setups. I couldn't believe the hole it made in the Turkey. I'll show some picks later. Got to get to church.
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Well folks my first ever kill with a crossbow was yesterday, the first day of Gobbler season here in NY. It was an HCM. I tricked it out as @Jtaylor and others have recommended with the 5/16" by 18 nylon lock nut with a neoprene washer underneath, I turned both limbs down to maximum and made sure tiller was the same on both... mine is 6 3/16" top and bottom even and it also lines up with the rear of the screw as Jerry describes in his videos. I changed out the scope to an older Bushnell Trophy red dot that has mutliple different reticles. I have been using the crosshair one. At first I didn't think I was going to like the red dot on it with just 1x magnification as you can see the foot stirrup and part of the riser when sighting it on target but it actually forms a kind of a "V" that I find gives me a bit greater precision. I didn't want to buy another red dot so I just used one I had on hand but for someone originally tricking it out, I would recommend maybe something with 3x magnification. The only other thing I did was wax the strings and cables not covered with serving and I noticed the "brushes" on my rest would loosen after a few shots. I pulled the screws out of each and coated them with some string wax and screwed them back in the plastic housing. So far they seem to be holding tight. I also added a HHA sight bracket recommended by @redsquirrel but I like four arrows so I use one of my old Kwikee four arrow quivers. Finally, I just added some bow jax sound dampaners to the limbs and the stirrup. This turkey was at about 12 yards facing away from me when I shot. After the shot he ran-flapped another 30 yards and collapsed in a pile in cut cornfield. This was my first ever crossbow kill and my first ever hunt with the HC Mini. I also took @Nutterbuster's recommendation on the Waldrop Pac Seat. I was tired of lugging my folding camp chair around with no real great way to carry it. With the Pac seat and a chest harness, I was able to carry my chair and my blind on my back. About as portable as you're gonna get with archery blind hunting for turkeys. I used NAP spitfires I had when I shot flappers for my regular compound setups. I couldn't believe the hole it made in the Turkey. I'll show some picks later. Got to get to church.
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Congrats man! Awesome way to break in your Mini for sure!
 
I said I'd post pics of the entry and exit holes from the NAP Spitfire I used. No damage to the broadhead that I could tell whatsoever. Arrow went right through the bird lengthwise and stuck in the ground about 2 inches. That little mini packs a decent punch. Has anybody went to a heavier arrow setup for their mini? If you have please elaborate on your results when you get a chance. Top photo is the exit wound, bottom is entry.IMG-6135.jpg
 

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So I finally got one. I was looking for a case for it. The axle to axel makes it hard to find a hard case for it. How many of ya'll take it down and put it back together everytime? I am going to do my own research of breaking it down putting back together and rechecking zero on the scope. If this work, I will just buy an extra foam rubber middle for one of my pelicans. What have ya'll done?
 
Ive had mine for one season now and at first I did break it down. It reassembled fine and shot perfect out to 20 yards. Going out to 30 groups started to open up. Eventually I just decided to use the lock nut to really lock it in and no longer take it down ever. Seems to eliminate those open groups out to the 30-40 yard marks. Just one man's experience. I love this thing though. It's taken 2 deer so far and neither went past 20 yards. Cant wait to put it back into action here in about 4 months.
 
So I finally got one. I was looking for a case for it. The axle to axel makes it hard to find a hard case for it. How many of ya'll take it down and put it back together everytime? I am going to do my own research of breaking it down putting back together and rechecking zero on the scope. If this work, I will just buy an extra foam rubber middle for one of my pelicans. What have ya'll done?
I've had the same experience as philsanchez76 breaking it down. I think @bj139 found a case that worked for him somewhere back in this thread. I think it was a tennis racket case but I might be mistaken.
I understand the need for a case sometimes but I don't even bother putting mine in a case and it usually just rides on the seat of my pickup or trunk of the car. I'm pretty hard on gear and haven't noticed any ill effects.
 
My hunting land is 4 hours away and a lot of times I am packing the expedition up of a family of 4 for the weekend to grandma's house. Except for my CCW all my weapons get a case just to protect them from the 3000 baby dolls in the back.
 
So I finally got one. I was looking for a case for it. The axle to axel makes it hard to find a hard case for it. How many of ya'll take it down and put it back together everytime? I am going to do my own research of breaking it down putting back together and rechecking zero on the scope. If this work, I will just buy an extra foam rubber middle for one of my pelicans. What have ya'll done?
I have a soft regular crossbow case that works fine. I don't take it down or apart. It is a little bigger than what is needed to carry the Mini but I use the extra space for extra arrows and an arrow tube, a toolkit I carry with me for all of my bows which has allen wrenches, string lube, broadhead wrench, etc. in a USGI Lensatic compass case. I figure its dialed in nicely, why monkey with it.
 
What is everyone using for a sling for the Mini? Its so relatively small and light, I have just been carrying it by the buttstock handle but I want to devise a sling type system. I was thinking of some kind of one point attachment like you would use for an AR. What are the rest of you doing?
 
What is everyone using for a sling for the Mini? Its so relatively small and light, I have just been carrying it by the buttstock handle but I want to devise a sling type system. I was thinking of some kind of one point attachment like you would use for an AR. What are the rest of you doing?

I tried an AR style 1 point sling at the beginning of last season and it just didn’t ever feel right. The mini hung down too far and the weight wasn’t comfortable. Ended up just using an old piece of webbing with plastic buckles and strapped it to the d loop on the shoulder of my backpack. That way the whole whopping 6 pounds of the xbow can be on my shoulders while I hike on in. I can go hands free very easily. But there is just enough length that I can still shoulder the mini if I do need to take a quick shot. I always hike in cocked and locked cuz I do run into deer on my way in quite frequently. Apologies for the toilet in the back of the pics.

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Carabiner clipped to pack D-ring. This picture is posted somewhere back in this thread. Took me about 5 seconds to set it up.
 
I've had the same experience as philsanchez76 breaking it down. I think @bj139 found a case that worked for him somewhere back in this thread. I think it was a tennis racket case but I might be mistaken.
I understand the need for a case sometimes but I don't even bother putting mine in a case and it usually just rides on the seat of my pickup or trunk of the car. I'm pretty hard on gear and haven't noticed any ill effects.
I use this case, with the xbow broken down. The xbow was on the back seat of my truck fully assembled all winter under a hunting coat.
More pictures of how it fits are back somewhere in this thread.
 
I've just finished this whole thread......I've been very interested in the mini for awhile. What is the consensus on fixed blade broadheads.....what do you owners shoot? I really think that I want to hunt with fixed blades and it's been an issue for some guy to keep accuracy with them. What do you use and weights? Thanks
 
I've just finished this whole thread......I've been very interested in the mini for awhile. What is the consensus on fixed blade broadheads.....what do you owners shoot? I really think that I want to hunt with fixed blades and it's been an issue for some guy to keep accuracy with them. What do you use and weights? Thanks
Shot good ole muzzy mx4 125 without issue. Father shoots 3 blade muzzzys.
 
BigAl,
The Hickory Creek can be tuned just like a traditional compound bow therefore you should be able to shoot any fixed blade broadhead. I currently shoot a 170 grain fixed blade with a 100 grain insert and 250 spine shaft and hit dead on alongside my field points out to 50 yards. No difference. Amazing little bow in my opinion.
 
BigAl,
The Hickory Creek can be tuned just like a traditional compound bow therefore you should be able to shoot any fixed blade broadhead. I currently shoot a 170 grain fixed blade with a 100 grain insert and 250 spine shaft and hit dead on alongside my field points out to 50 yards. No difference. Amazing little bow in my opinion.
250 spines....23"?
 
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