I bought my first dozen surewoods and love them. I tuned my set up and I am ready to order in bulk. The first dozen I bought were Premiums. But I was considering going with the Hunters in the bulk 100 shaft package. Has anyone bought and used both? Is the grain quality considerably better with the premiums? Or is it simply the weight variance that they differ in price? Just want to spend wisely!
Unless I have my suppliers mixed up they state the grain and or grain run out for each grade on their website.
A few years ago I took advantage of the "short shaft sale". I bought 50 shafts that were 29", I need 28 1/2. I saved some money and I feel I got good shafts. I do have a spine tester and weight scale so was able to group them. I think it is wise to at least have a scale when buying bulk. They are a good $20 investment. Give them a call and tell them your concerns. They are good folks to talk to.
I think the premiums are a bit more consistent, prettier, and come more straight then Hunters. Ive used many hunters though, and they shoot like any other arrow.
Have shot premiums for a couple years and just ordered some hunters. There is a visual difference on a couple of the hunters but they shoot the same.
I had a one set of hunters, and they were very good. several sets of premiums - I go with these because there seems to be slightly less grain runout. That matters to me because I break arrows stumping, and they're more likely to break where the runout runs out.
There is a little difference. You are paying for a higher quality shaft when you pay for premiums. Their hunter grade shafts will make a very nice arrow too. I typically use premiums. If you match either up in spine and weight you will have a fine set of arrows though.
I have heard it said that Surewood's "Hunter" grade are like some shaft makers premiums. Both the premiums and the hunters have grain that runs full length. The difference is with the premiums you get no fewer than 4 continuous growth rings. While with the hunters there is very slight grain runoff with no fewer than 3 continuous growth rings. Both are hand graded, spined and weighed to + or - 5 grs and within 5 lb spine. Hope this helps.
oh i didnt think the hunters were weighted...yeah i think im going to get a sander for tapering and just get the hunters....thanks guys!
Surewood Steve is like Big Jim. He has a last name but who cares. Both men are icons in our world known for freely sharing their experience and expertise. Give Steve a call right after you order a longbow from Jim. Kind of a package deal.
DDave
Better check before ordering. I think the dozens are weighed, the bulk are not.
I suppose every batch is different and everyone sorts different.
Bulk 100 lots of Hunters (any bulk lot) are not weight matched so after sorting in groups and I run any group 12, 16, 23 shafts etc. I really like getting 20 some shafts all within 10 grains and spine within 5 - you will get one large group like that for sure. (think I got 28 once)
You will get maybe 3 dozen or so fantastic shafts good enough for anyones tolerance for hunting.
Around 20 or so that don't fall in with others for wasting on stumps, squirrels etc.
The rest are just really decent everyday shooting shafts.
I really like Surewoods and have switched to the hunter grade when they priced over $265.
These are total averages that I believe and can be totally different through someone elses eyes.
Cant say enough good things about these guys - once I was out and called since the website said they had none in my spine - Bob found me 50 and sent them out.
Hope that helps
There are two places I strongly advise against trying to save a buck, one is wood arrow shafts and the other bow strings. Top quality in both will yield long term benefits well beyond the minimal additional cost.
That said, Surewood's shaft quality is so high I am certain you will end up with a lot of good arrows if you go with their Hunters.
QuoteOriginally posted by damascusdave:
Surewood Steve is like Big Jim. He has a last name but who cares. Both men are icons in our world known for freely sharing their experience and expertise. Give Steve a call right after you order a longbow from Jim. Kind of a package deal.
DDave
best advice I've heard all year :)
"Icon"? Now ya did it!
I agree with Braveheart.
No kidding David Lawson! It's hard enough to live with the self proclaimed "brains" of the outfit: now this.. Dave, I know you meant well, but really an Icon. Now Mr. Savage does have the "gift of gab"
I will admit but all we heard yesterday at the shop was this Icon stuff.
Kidding aside (hope Steve doesn't see this) he truly is the second best thing to ever happen to Surewood. And as the guy from Midway USA says "thanks for all your business".
QuoteOriginally posted by Surewood Bob:
No kidding David Lawson! It's hard enough to live with the self proclaimed "brains" of the outfit: now this.. Dave, I know you meant well, but really an Icon. Now Mr. Savage does have the "gift of gab"
I will admit but all we heard yesterday at the shop was this Icon stuff.
Kidding aside (hope Steve doesn't see this) he truly is the second best thing to ever happen to Surewood. And as the guy from Midway USA says "thanks for all your business".
you being the best thing
I believe that there will be at least two people shooting surewood shafts in the longbow class at the Oregon State indoor tournament coming up in a couple of weeks. I do believe there will be a new state record in the longbow class produced at that time!
awesome Newhouse 114! I am enrolled in the Oregone State Fisheries and Wildlife program...im glad to hear they have traditional competitions because I may be there sooner than I thought. The military may medically retire me due to chronic migraines and my plan if that happens it to move to the Corvallis area and be a fulltime student. Are there archery shops that carry traditional stuff? My shop in Omaha carries one small section of wall for traditional tackle.
I was a wildlife major at Oregon State back in the mid to late 70's. Most shops carry a little bit of trad gear but don't push it or know much about it. I live about 150 miles from Corvallis right now so I'm not sure what is available. This shoot isn't a trad shoot, it just has both traditional and longbow classes at the shoot. The vast bulk of the shooters are still using the training wheels.