The BEST Death by Bunjie video EVER! (No exaggeration!!)

This video has it all! Super slow motion, crossbows, arrow flight, the science of arrow flight, science of how not to ruin your crossbow, fun, you name it! Make sure you watch it until the end because THERE ARE SURPRISES THROUGHOUT!!! Check out the chapters if you miss something:
00:00 What are we doing here?
00:19 Cool slow motion shots with the crossbows
01:40 Bunjie III in slow motion
02:10 Watch that arrow go!
02:42 Look at those cams!
03:04 Look at those limbs!
04:10 That poor scope!
04:50 The Swat X1 in slow motion
05:12 The Swat X1's enclosed barrel
06:07 Do the Scorpyd arrows flex in flight?
06:58 Do the Swat X1 arrows flex in flight?
07:39 Look at the Swat cams!
08:00 Comparing vibration between two crossbows--this is good stuff IMO
08:22 THE ORIGINAL BUNJIE in slow motion--isn't Bunjie already slow? LOL
09:02 The slow motion footage explained
10:05 Comparing three crossbow SPEEDS in slow motion
11:02 Bunjie's Limbs--after 13 full seasons!
11:32 The string bumpers in slow motion--IMPULSE THEORY (this is great stuff!)
13:14 Check out the difference in ENERGY DISSIPATION between these three crossbows (with music LOL)
13:42 Comparing arrow spin--how fast does an arrow start spinning out of the crossbow?
15:32 Testing helicals on a crossbow in slow motion--look at that!
17:40 THE GOLD--some great slow motion and I NEED YOUR HELP WITH THIS! Leave a comment!
The Darren Cummings video is here: • FIVE Ways YOU Can SAVE...
This channel is about my love of the crossbow, hunting, and the outdoors. I hunt exclusively with the crossbow. I love it and I aim to help you love it, too!
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Check out my first book! The Death by Bunjie Crossbow Story (Confessions of a Crossbow Hunter) is NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon.com! You can check it out here: amzn.to/2Peq4aC
Check out our website www.deathbybunjie.com and sign up for our FREE email newsletter--you can cancel at any time! Also, check out the Gear Page on deathbybunjie.com. I am not sponsored by anyone! But you can see what gear I like and don't like on that site. And if you buy from Amazon.com using one of those links, Death by Bunjie receives a small referral fee and you DO NOT pay more! How cool is that?
Check out the Death by Bunjie podcast, Talking with Bunjie! It's available on deathbybunjie.com or on the podcast app of your choice.
deathbybunjie
Bunjie (The O.B.) is a 2010 Excalibur Axiom Crossbow. After more than a decade of killing deer, hogs, squirrels, woodchucks, and even a bear, Bunjie is now semi-retired. Enter Bunjie III (or Bunjie '21, Bunjie 3.0, The Slick Black Cadillac of Crossbows) a 2021 Scorpyd Deathstalker 420, the result of trying various models and looking at dozens of them online for characteristics I liked. It is, in fact, a gift from a Friend of Bunjie, which goes to show how important Friends of Bunjie are to this channel and what an impact they can have. Bunjie III is a testament to modern crossbows, producing over .7 slugs of momentum and almost 140 ft-lbs of kinetic energy with stock arrows--at nearly 400 fps!
Bunjie, Jr., is my daughter Genevieve's crossbow, an Excalibur Micro Suppressor 355. This crossbow was also a much appreciated gift from a Friend of Bunjie, and it changed Death by Bunjie forever by inspiring Genevieve to become a part of our story as a second-generation crossbow hunter, and it also convinced me there is a benefit to a newer, faster crossbow (see our 2020 Maryland Doe Hunt).
Again, I am not sponsored by these companies. I am sponsored by Friends of Bunjie! (I'm not asking for gifts whatsoever--please don't feel like you should send me stuff! But I do appreciate the support I've received over the years! I'm just trying to express my appreciation for that.)
This channel is the result of combining my interest in filming and hunting...and music, too! My related channel, Yankee Militia, showcases my music. Some of the music is hunting-related, so check that out, too! The soundtrack for this channel is provided by my band, so the two are intertwined. The albums "Live Free or Kill" and "Zombies Gotta Eat, Too!" are available on Amazon.com and elsewhere. A third album is in the works.
All Hail Bunjie!
--Rich Wilson, Death by Bunjie

[@kkreitma1]

I think the reason the vanes appear to spin the other direction could be due to Stroboscopic effect, or Wagon Wheel syndrome. If the rotation is out of sync with the frames per second rate of the camera, then it appears to change direction...just like the stagecoach wheels on old western movies look like they begin to spin backwards as they increase speed. So it may be an optical illusion.

[@ranflee1]

I was thinking the same thing, although I didn’t know the name of it. Actually I didn’t know there was a name for it. Just know of it because I’m a big fan of old westerns

[@billm2078]

U r right.

[@jerrygillespie6121]

Great input on how energy affects the limbs, as well as arrow spin while in flight.

[@fredmcdearmid6865]

The backwards spit is the shutter effect. Like the old western movies when the wagon wheels turn backwards.

[@dethTr0ll165]

An other great video Rich with some really good information and also some sweet slow motion footage!

[@brandonyoung7760]

Bunjie Master got a new hairstyle 👏🏼🤌🏻💪🏻

[@raymondcava4669]

Excellent video Richard. That last shot at the end of your video is an illusion not unlike a prop on an airplane as it picks up speed it appears to go backwards.

[@gregstabryla9945]

Thank God for the engineers, right? Great job on the slo- mo. BTW, I like the new haircut! Not kidding.

[@user-sv8cl3lu7n]

Bunjie was definitely doing the dance. AWSOM VIDEO RICH SEEING IN SLOW MOTION AMAZING.🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌 love it

[@MorrowSind]

Mechanically, your old Excalibur shoots beautifully. In slow motion, it looks so smooth. The arrow/ bolt looks so much straighter with less wiggle in flight. Slower, but smooth... from what I see. I'd be interested to see what Bunjie Jr. looks like in slo-mo. Cool video, Rich. Good stuff as always.

[@Deathbybunjie]

That's true, 16 and 1/2 in arrows in slow motion might be interesting!

[@tythomps]

And the ZS shafts that the OB shoots have a super stiff spine.

[@jaybaughman4640]

Just want to share my experience with the KI Swat x1. I bought one about a year and a half ago. The limbs splintered after putting about 30 bolts through it. They would not refund my money. I filed a warranty claim and they sent me new limbs which I had to pay to get installed. A couple months later and probably another 30 bolts through it the limbs exploded as I sat in a tree during a hunt. This ruined the cams the limbs and several other things. I sent the bow back (on my dime) and they replaced everything. I have no confidence in that company or bow. Just don’t want to see you waste your money. I will say they honored their warranty with no problems.

[@Mike-cc2eu]

Good morning Rich most excellent video it’s amazing to see the energy from the cross bows most amazing to watch thank you

[@paulmillen2101]

I don't have to wait until tomorrow. Of course the arrow doesn't stop spinning and then begin to spin in the opposite direction. It's the videotaped arrow version of the wagon wheel effect. As the arrow's rotation slows, the wagon wheel effect makes it appear to have stopped. As it slows more, the wagon wheel effect will make it appear to be rotating in the opposite direction.

[@jimowens381]

That was an awesome video! Thanks for your efforts.

[@rextex4222]

Awesome video, Rich. Keep 'em coming.

[@earlkoropatnick1928]

I'm always learning from your video's, Thank you!

[@gramps5157]

You can even see the arrow's shadow going down range, that super slo mo is very cool. I never knew the arrow spun, I just thougth it flew straight like a plane.

[@archery365]

Get you that X1 Rich, I have one and of the crossbows I do have, including that awesome DS420, the X1 is my favorite.

[@jimcarriekarker8399]

Great content on this video. Love the slow motion where you can see the power dissipating throughout the crossbow components. I was watching the different parts vibrating before you started discussing each part of the crossbow. Looking at the scope is a great example of why Ten Point added the support struts to their new models. Would love to see a Ten Point model under super slow mo.

[@tythomps]

Cool video. My guess is that it is not reversing spin direction. Probably just getting to a rotational speed that is aliasing with the video frame rate. Kind of like how an open spoke aluminum wheel on a car can look like it is spinning backwards at some speeds.

[@cptvanier]

I agree its probably just an artifact due to the pixilation once it gets far away.

[@nathanmorkovsky2855]

Really enjoy watching your videos. I am thinking of changing to a crossbow. Very good information.

[@cray-z7404]

Pile driver bolts and 125g Thorn Rift 2.2 broadheads out of the centerpoint sniper 370 and it works for me ! Simple & deadly …

[@larasea741]

My first crossbow was a Excalibur Micro Suppressor like your daughters'. Several years ago I drank the cable crossbow kolaid. Ravin R26, Tenpoint Havoc 440 with Garmin Zero, and a Hickory Creek Mini Vertical bow. The Ravin is a hell of a bow but every year I have to change the string and cables at $125. The Hickory is slow and shoots 300 grain arrow. This year if ground hunting my bow choice is the Micro Suppressor shooting 400 grain arrow at 330+ fps. So glad I did not sell it. I'm back to embracing the simplicity of the Excalibur. I wish you luck with the cable crossbows. I will not be buying another.

[@thehundredacrewoods4768]

It's the Wagon Wheel phenomenon for sure. Very entertaining though. Thanks for posting these great crossbow videos. All Hail Bunjie.

[@davidtrammell4453]

So much energy ; these bows are amazing

[@kevindonahue7355]

I think it switched rotation in the air that is crazy I love the slow motion video makes me want to do that with my crossbow so much happiness you really made my day watching how beautiful they fly grab that cold drink and watch them fly go bunjie

[@rodneyhanbaum697]

This was a great video!!!

[@stevescope1037]

Great video!

[@Artisanwoodworks73]

Incredibly cool Rich!!! Soon it'll be time for the thousands of frames per second slow mo.

[@billgalante1181]

Great video, very interesting.

[@bobbygolden2791]

Great Video!

[@Hammerback972]

My drone does pretty good slow motion, i recorded a semi auto handgun with the drone because i was able to film much slower than my phone, but Im not very tech savvy, you do a great job on these videos, editing, split screen, great content. Sorry for multiple comments. Im a motormouth when it comes to this stuff. Lots for me to learn. Thanks again!

[@MichaelLakota-vc4tk]

Hey Rich,first of all I wanted to congratulate you on your induction to2024 DA office 😊 Next I need to comment on the video about arrow spin. After shooting many different length and weight arrows I found out that you have to experiment. All my X-Bows preferences are different at longer range. I too shoot the Zombie Slayers, and I love them. But my most accurate arrows are shooting at 440 fps with a 125gr arrow. As much as I like to shoot the 150gr swhacker, after 30 yards the group opens up 😢. Luckily all my stands are 25yrds or less for shots. I still use my compound bow stands. Even gun hunting lol. Good luck figuring things out-that’s actually the fun of it

[@bumstudios8817]

i am going to vote it is an optical illusion, like how some fans appear to start spinning in the opposite direction

[@jmyers1977jm]

Arrow spin has to do with the way the string is twisted. It will spin the way of helical at first, but eventually spin the way the string is on your cross bow. Compound guys already know this.

[@Deathbybunjie]

So do crossbow guys 😆

[@billm2078]

I really enjoy your content.

[@Deathbybunjie]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@Hammerback972]

Ok, the arrow spin... My theory is as follows, the sampling frequency that our brain perceives in the time of the arrow flight and the distance, it appears to change direction, in reality its just spinning slightly faster than it spun earlier in flight. Similar to a car wheel spinning that often does the same. Cool video!

[@mariusbuciuman307]

For future slo-mo vids i recommend either a different background in color(angle of the camera) or different lighting for improved visibility. But i agree 100% that slo Mo vids are very awesome for all the little details you miss on normal speed

[@one-eyedarcher]

Great video Rich! Love it! Xena looks so beautiful! 😍

[@Deathbybunjie]

Indeed!

[@donutdan1508]

Ayuh....she's a hotty! 😂😂😂✌️🍩

[@jonathanyates5198]

A sexy little beast

[@jenniferrobinson5813]

She is pretty ! 🌸 😊

[@chrisruzsa2798]

Yeah you see those effects with good weight too. Imagine with partial dry fires now how they would act. These weapons have way too much stress on them i feel, and that i think is the leading thing to problems. Cool though how they all perform differently. Rich you look good too all nice and cleaned up. Could hardly recognize you hahaha. Looking forward to tomorrow’s show as well. But i think its a few others mentioned an optical illusion.

[@connorchandler26]

This video is awesome!

[@Deathbybunjie]

Thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@matthewlyness8161]

Looks like the killer instinct has less vibration then the scorpyd looks like the bolt is spinning more in the scorpyd deathstalker than the killer

[@ozarksfirewood3936]

Just like when you watch a wheel, or sometimes the blades of a fan, it’s an optical illusion. The arrow isn’t stopping and spinning the opposite direction. Just my $.02

[@jamess955]

i believe what looks like the arrow reversing it's spin is an optical illusion. The same as if you filmed a fan or helicopter blades, it's frame speed of the movement and frame rate of camera not in sync. Great video, as all are.

[@oldgrumpyhunter]

LOVE LOVE IT!

[@mrb.3117]

I think its an optical illusion that it spins the other direction

[@jaymiller286]

The speed of the spin of the vanes and the distance from the lens give the appearance of counter rotation but cannot reverse. It is an illusion.

[@dana44169]

You want your arrow fletchings to rotate to the right so when the broadhead makes impact it tightens up

[@denissmith7434]

I have seen other videos of this. I think easton arrows did one they say it's the way the string is wound then the fletching corrects the spin depending on way the vane is fletched. Personally I think it's just the camera. If you ever watch a farm tractor tire being filmed the tire appears to change direction but we know it doesn't

[@matthewwichtner2935]

FYI, freaking haircut looks much better😮

[@jeffhays1968]

Love the slow motion. Learned something too, seems the drop in the flight curve does not come on until late in the shot, meaning 2/3 of the flight would be on one pin or one reticle of the scope. In other words, contrary to logic, arrows DON"T drop like stones. And many of us will get a good shot on one pin or dot from close up out to say 30 yards.

[@Deathbybunjie]

Keep in mind it's shot up in the air at first, too. So definite arc!

[@jeffhays1968]

@@Deathbybunjie visually don't notice much, maybe put a ruler under it on the screen ? better would be just shoot at 10-20-30 yards and check like you would anyway. Sure LOOKS like a flat shot. Granted we all know at some point the arc becomes a thing, now I am intrigued enough to go see what happens at 20 through 40 just using the 20 yard reticle.

[@Deathbybunjie]

A good video topic! Thanks!

[@rigolugo6987]

Dam nice job on the video

[@Deathbybunjie]

Thanks!

[@sphinxios]

with the twisting of the limbs is beacause the cam is not mounted at the center of pull of the string together with the smaller cam wich has an effect on the twist as well the designer might not have had a thought on thise since this design is common on compund x-bows. a twisting in a limb might be more dangerous for its longevity than the way the excaliburs limbs dissipate the energy because the fibers placed that way to get them to "work", i am not so sure i want a compound crossbow anymore when i saw the way those limbs got a twisting motion

[@Deathbybunjie]

I have a review of the X1 coming up which you might find interesting also, I get it, I do, but there's always more to the story LOL

[@archery365]

Another cool thing you can do with that phone is video extra slo-mo of you arrow passing by a piece of cardboard with inch scale drawn on it and count the frames (960ps) and distance and calculate the FPS your crossbow is shooting, for those who happening to have that phone capability and don't have a chrono.

[@MP-kl5ej]

Wow.

[@pt4036]

bunji arrow looks to me to be the better performer down range

[@philiplang1361]

Going with wind. Hoping the wind sock is a clue.

[@Deathbybunjie]

Oooooh good eye!

[@ralphdeniscojr6198]

Hi, Rich I think the bolt naturally clocks clockwise and it takes a a some time for the vanes to take over. They say its good to fletch your bolts or arrows the way the bolt naturally clock. I haven't noticed a difference on a compound bow but a cross bow is alot faster so maybe it will help accuratesy a little will you notice it I'm not sure . Thank's for the video. Ralph D from Jersey

[@archery365]

I don't think it is physically possible for it to change direction but what I do think is happening is that the spin rate of the arrow slows enough for the frame rate of the video to make it appear to rotate the other way.

[@racingruss7263]

You keep doing all these great videos,You're going to have me talked into a newer faster bow..lol

[@Deathbybunjie]

I am kind of trying to talk myself out of one haha but I know what you mean 100%

[@ranflee1]

Just bought my first CB last year. He already has me thinking what’s next. But the wife is saying don’t even think about it. Haha

[@racingruss7263]

@@ranflee1 Haha...

[@jonathanyates5198]

​@@DeathbybunjieBuy it Rich! 👹 You know you want to 👹👹

[@Deathbybunjie]

@@jonathanyates5198 😁

[@blacksrfm]

I do like the crossbow designs that are rail less,imo I think overall they make the crossbow more accurate… and that’s a first for me never seen an arrow pause, spinning in the air and then spin back the opposite direction

[@tythomps]

Nothing railless in this video. The Deathstalker is semi-railless though.

[@Deathbybunjie]

Does the SWAT X1 really have a rail though? I mean kind of...lol

[@tythomps]

@@Deathbybunjie yes, it is a fully enclosed rail. "railless" would be what Ravin does. Even the Swat inventor (Jeff Anderson) called it a "fully enclosed rail", aka barrel.

[@blacksrfm]

@@Deathbybunjie i’ve never shot one or held one of those swat x1 so I was assuming it had some kind of roller design….

[@treetopflyersofva2]

Your not going to sell me on anything else but Excalibur!!!! I have the Matrix Bulldog 400 and won’t trade it for anything else. I bet it even shoots faster than those other brand crossbows your liking. You should try one of those faster matrix crossbows, and compare it with your phone. Oh and that arrow changing rotation I think is an optical illusion. Thanks for getting back into videos on KZbin. You have been missed!

[@Deathbybunjie]

300 with a 350 grain arrow though...so, no, it's not faster, really LOL but still good stuff. They don't make Matrix crossbows anymore I don't think, either.

[@jonathanyates5198]

Yeah Excalibur can't touch the speed of Barnett let alone Killer Instinct

[@treetopflyersofva2]

@@Deathbybunjie damn I didn’t know that.

[@rkc3crobert]

I have an X1. Love it. What is the bolt weight you were shooting? I’m at 490 gr.

[@Deathbybunjie]

486 or so, pretty close!

[@timothydeyoung5653]

If the crossbow limbs didn't flex you should worry. Also I'm wondering if you've seen Shwacker blades open in Ballistic Gel? Possible future video?

[@kenturmon3660]

I just bought a new crossbow with string stops. The string rests against them at rest with no way to move them forward. I wonder why more manufacturers havent realized that this is bad for the limbs.

[@Deathbybunjie]

They're all different though, my Scorpyd does that too but it works!

[@kenturmon3660]

I thought if trimming a bit of rubber off the end but they may use that as a reason to void the warranty 😂

[@matthewwichtner2935]

Dude, don't do that again! He had that :-(, and don't miss this episode. Made me think you were taking a hiatus! Goofball😊

[@Deathbybunjie]

😄 sorry

[@losgood5936]

Hi Rich, I would like your help sir. I recently received a scorpyd deathstalker. I've come to the conclusion that I want to use heavier arrows on this crossbow. Will you tell Me what you use and also what you recommend. I'm from maine and I do bear hunt. I believe in learning from other people's experiences. Thank you for all your videos and information!

[@losgood5936]

I also want to use a lighted nock. Thank you again for your help.

[@Deathbybunjie]

Scorpyd used to say that a burt coyote Lumenok, Parker style, was okay for this crossbow. I use it. But their website now says not to use those for whatever reason. I don't know if that's for my older 420 or just a newer models. My debtstalker arrows with a 150 grain field point or broadhead weigh 442 grains total. I'm happy with that. If you want to go heavier, I would suggest contacting Wyvern Creations and asking them what they recommend. They have a few different options. Just my thoughts! Good luck!

[@losgood5936]

thanks to the whole bunjte family@@Deathbybunjie

[@ultraclassic01hd]

"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.....😎"

[@nikkirazelli3250]

that first shot seems to miss its mark, by at least 12 inches

[@Deathbybunjie]

There are multiple targets there. All shots were dead on!

[@stevenhicks815]

Everybody caught in speed! I archery hunt to get close not to shoot 60 yards

[@seregill13]

Even at a close range faster is better, deer can drop at any range.

[@stevenhicks815]

@@seregill13 why 20 and under the old recurves did just fine

[@stevenhicks815]

@@seregill13 a deer is dropping at 20 yards at 250fps sorry

[@Deathbybunjie]

More on this soon

[@seregill13]

@stevenhicks815 I guess some people just hate a good thing. Use a longbow if you don't like technology.

[@Hammerback972]

Just starting the video, but, I have the same fascination with super slo mo! If you arent familiar, check out the "Slow Mo Guys" and "Ballistic High Speed". "Smarter every day" has a video of a clear suppressor on a rifle in super slo mo, the suppressor actually fails (it was a prototype, not designed for use) its pretty cool. I can put a link here if someone has difficulty finding things. And YES! You captured some amazing footage, almost scary to think about my old crossbow I got in December when my dad passed. Makes me nervous after seeing these nice, much more technology involved crossbows-flexing and working like they do. Thanks for sharing sir. Clear suppressor vid: kzbin.info/www/bejne/baGyiaikh759f9k

[@user-lo1oe6di1b]

I think when it changed direction finally corrected it self ?

[@Deathbybunjie]

That's always a possibility but I think it was just an optical illusion, kind of like the Wagon Wheel effect on TV

[@andrewilliams1518]

Rich i was at cabelas and I saw a ten point that shoots 505 fps that super fast. Do you think we need all that speed for hunting

[@Deathbybunjie]

Need? No. Want? Maybe! I shot that xbow here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p323Xot_qKl0fqs

[@jonathanyates5198]

Realistically you only need about 170 fps to kill a deer. Sharp broadhead and heavy arrow is what kills, not speed

[@charleshodge9327]

Ames window effect.???

[@tahoe829]

Too much rotational inertia on the arrow for it to just stop and reverse.. it would take a large force to stop its rotation and to reverse it.. which all takes energy. Im inclined to think its a shutter effect from the camera ;)

[@matthewlyness8161]

Why didn't you do Genevieve's crossbow in slow motion?

[@Deathbybunjie]

Just because she's not always around when I'm shooting the videos and I am not going to use her crank alone LOL

[@matthewlyness8161]

Oh yes the good old crank I don't trust myself at one of those either I don't blame you lol

[@nikkirazelli3250]

the killer instinct missed by maybe five feet.. this video show little interest, unless you can hit your target

[@Deathbybunjie]

There are multiple targets there. All shots were dead on!

[@nikkirazelli3250]

08:00 closes video. no helpful info

[@Deathbybunjie]

If you don't get this video, this channel is not for you. 😅

[@driftlesshunter9200]

A good video, but not your best. Your best videos are Genevieve getting hooked on crossbows & harvesting her first couple deer with one.

[@Deathbybunjie]

😊👍🏻