just wondering what you folks think of metal riser bows like the hoyts, das, and olympic barebows. i like them and think there as "trad" as ny other carbon limbed fiber glass bow. no advantage, just a personal preferance. try to keep this discussion civilized, but i would like to hear some thoughts.
That is all I shoot.A Dalaa for hunting and a 21 inch Elite for targets.I sold a Fedora and a Widow after getting them.
You will see a very good crowd here.I've never seen a more civilized forum.These folks just want you to enjoy whatever trad bow you choose even if it has an aluminim riser and carbon limbs.As long as it's got one string and no wheels you're good here.
never had any complaints with this crowd either. some things hit nerves though.....any more opinions?
I don't own any but have shot a bunch and think most have excellent shooting qualities. I have multiple reasons for prefering my wood riser bows but they are strictly preferential reasons, not those of "more or less" trad.
Quotejust wondering what you folks think of metal riser bows like the hoyts, das, and olympic barebows.
Love'em. As far as recurves go, metal risers are about all I shoot these days.
I've had a Dalaa, a DAS Gen II and a Hoyt Gamemaster. They were all great shooting bows in their own right.
The recurve I'm presently shooting is a one-piece Blacktail that has the perfect grip for my hand. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm the third owner of the bow and that I've never been to OR, I would believe that I would have had to have spent 2 or 3 days in Norm's shop for him to custom fit the grip to MY hand!
That is just addressing the tremendous grip on the bow. I won't address the other obvious elements of a Blacktail recurve (quality craftsmanship and artisanship, and fabulous shooting qualities).
Bill
I have a Quinn that I really like. There is only one bow that I've ever shot better (meaning "me", I shoot this bow well). I will probably not hunt much with it even though I know it is more than capable.
JC said it best: "I have multiple reasons for prefering my wood riser bows but they are strictly preferential reasons, not those of "more or less" trad."
I like them!
I own a Quinn and have shot a Gamemaster. The Quinn shoots as good/smooth as any bow that I've shot and the Gamemaster was a shooter as well.
There are lots of good things about metal riser bows but to me the best is the riser being cut well past center which allows you to shoot a wide range of arrow spines. Makes it much easier to tune carbon arrows if you don't have a saw or don't want to shoot high FOC.
I mostly shoot and enjoy wood riser bows for personal reasons as well.
Did have a Hoyt GM II for awhile and enjoyed shooting it. Also have had the pleasure of shooting quite a few other metal riser bows and can not say a bad thing about them.
As far as the Trad not Trad thing goes I believe if you enjoy what you are shooting that is all that really matters. Just go out and enjoy yourself!
I have only owned 2 wood bows(1 longbow/1 recurve)....i currently shoot a hoyt gamemaster2. i love the way it shoots and it has a great grip for me...i'm always worried about the durability and looks/beauty of an all wood bow....(pretty much i love wood bows but i'm afraid i'll mess them up hunting) :)
For me, they are all I want. Hard to imagine ever going back to a wood risered bow.
Again - for me.
Steve
I think they're fine. I tried a Warf but it wasn't for me. I'd buy a Dalaa but daggone I like the looks of wood. I have no beef shooting against them in a tournament either. Anyone who beats me, beats me, not my bow.
I've shot everything from a willow switch with arrows made of horseweed and bentover bottlecaps fer points(my first rig) to self bow that I made. Mr Bears bows,Blackwidows, Now on to Dalaa's and Warf'S Longbows, olympic bows,aisian bows, japaneese bows,I still have most of'em. I love every one of them for some reason or other.
Some of my favorite bows have metal risers. Some have had phenolic risers. Really like some wood ones too. It's all about what you enjoy and I enjoy most.
I have a Widow and a Lee. Just sold my Crow Creek. Got a Quinn for hunting. Always worried about dinging up a pretty bow in the woods. Liked it so much I have another one on order.
I have owned a warf and a das and they were the easiest to shoot and tune recurves that I have shot/owned. I gave'em up for a few reasons but not because of performance or shootablity. One was that my 13yr old son said, "Dad, what's up with that high-tech bow? (referring to my DAS) I like those old wooden bows better." Just never enjoyed shooting it the afterwards. Trad or not is subjective - so shoot what you like, do it right, and have a great time doing it.........it's all good.
Where and why are you worried about your bow being considered trad? Are you talking traditional local shoots in general?
Seems I read a while back that the Olympic Traditional Class states no metal risers.
Rico...never heard of a Olympic Traditional class, which Org. holds those?
I don't have a problem with metal risors. I just like the feel and look of wood. I just love a nicely grained wood, so I stick to wood risors... ;) :thumbsup:
Not sure Shooto8s I just came across it surfing Olympic Archery
National Traditional Championships Equipment and Shooting Rules
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I. At least two equipment divisions will be made (Note: there are now 3
divisions counting the "Traditional Recurve"):
a) "traditional longbow"--all--wood British longbows/American
flatbows without arrow rests/shelves;
b) "modern longbow"--longbows made with fiberglass or other
"modern" man-made materials and other longbows with arrow rests or shelves.
c) "traditional recurve" -- Recurve bows with wood handles or risers.
Rod-ya' got your old moniker back!
If I shot targets I wouldn't care much if it is wood or aluminum.
I like the warmth and feel of wood and prefer it for hunting, and the often wet and cool temps. The trad-non-trad angle doesn't weigh one way or the other.
It's a big contrast from my Howard Hill bows but I like them I sold most all of my wood recurves only have 3 left but still have 7 or 8 longbows. But the metal riser recurves shoot nice......stabow
The metal riser bows are very shootable. I like wood riser bows better purely for my own subjectional reasons.
I hunted this year with a 73 bear mag take down it felt traditional to me.
Just as I prefer wood over synthetic gun stocks, I prefer wood bow risers over metal. To me, they'e much nicer on the eyes. Plus, I like the lower tech appeal. But to each his own.
I have two Das and several wood bows, composite and self, I like them all. The metal risers are easier to precisely tune for me, have the ability to shoot many manufacturers limbs and change grips.
QuoteOriginally posted by SteveB:
For me, they are all I want. Hard to imagine ever going back to a wood risered bow.
Again - for me.
Steve
That pretty much sums up my feelings. I now own 3 DAS bows (Master, Dalaa, Elite), the Master being my favorite. It is definitely the ultimate hunting bow for me.
I think I'm fixed for risers now for quite some time...Still experimenting with limbs :)
Craig
Nothing against metal risers. I shot compound metal risers for years and appreciate the features and qualities of metal risers. But, two years ago I got hooked on trad archery after a friend made me a hickory self-bow. Love the feel and beauty of wood.
Never owned a metal handled trad bow but back when I firsted shooting with training wheels the bow I had was made of metal. I learned that there was no way to hold on to it for 6 hours when bowhunting with the temp around 0 with out loosing fingers to frost bite. For that reason alone I will not go back to a metal handle.
...Opinion ? "HUGLY" !!!!! :bigsmyl:
QuoteOriginally posted by NorthShoreLB:
...Opinion ? "HUGLY" !!!!! :bigsmyl:
They may be ugly, but try shooting one and then judge it.
Bill
I have a Dalaa and a Titan. Both great shooters.
Kind of a crossover bow for those not ready to make the full leap into Traditional Recurves. Nothing wrong with that. IMO
To each their own. I just prefer the looks and warmth of nice wood. Same with gun stocks. :)
Since I bought my Dalaa there are eight wooden bows that have been hanging on the wall and none are coming down any time soon. It is by far for me the best shooting bow that I have ever owned.
We had these same choices going from the late 1960's into the 1970's. Bear, Herter's, Shakespeare, Black Widow, Wing, Carroll's, Browning, et al, were offering metal riser bows.
I owned several and liked them a lot. They were cold in the winter though. We solved that by putting on leather handle wraps.
They are easier to tune because you can cut past center without compromising strength...a problem with wood unless you laminate the riser. Todays wood risers with vertical laminates could be made much thinner and lighter and utilize centershot capability more than they do. Just look at the old Wing Slimline bows....most are still shooting today and they were thin and light. An actionwood riser could be made in those dimensions easily. We just need bowyers to take the step.
A wood riser is every bit as accurate as a metal riser, they are just not as rigid. I like both and wouldn't ever say I would never own or shoot the other. How long do you think it will be till the next argument is about carbon risers????
Enjoy the dichotomy....it's still all archery; no wheels or let-off...thank you.
I wonder where we would be if the early settlers would have passed out metal risers with lambs instead of rifles to the Indians !
It's just the American way !
We will find something to question, like or dislike, favor or hate, just because we are what we are, human.
Like I have told my people at Church at times;
" you have nothing to live for until you're willing to die for what you hold dear to yourself, "is there not a cause"
Of course I'm referring to Jesus Christ. We seem to pick out little things that separate us to make us different from others to either make ourselves look good or better.
If you like wood, or if you like metal, isn't it about the journey, and the struggle to succeed, and isn't the success about that person next to you rather then yourself or what you have your hand ?
Pastor Carl
www.usarchery.org (http://www.usarchery.org)
Traditional Rule Changes
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The Traditional Recurve division has recently made some major changes to give the wooden recurve shooter a chance to compare their scores with the target archers of the 1950's and 1960's. The below rules are a combined effort and compromise to best represent the archers of that era as a whole. Realizing not everything was exactly the same in that 20 year period, we sought to represent the majority in that era. We believe this will add much interest to the Traditional Recurve shooter and could also give the FITA shooter today a great way to warm up for the Outdoor Nationals.
The Traditional Recurve must have a wooden riser and can be either a one piece bow or a take down. No carbon limb composites or foam limbs, just wooden core limbs with glass overlays.
Arrows may either be wood or aluminum but may not be carbon or aluminum carbon composites. Arrows must have feather fletching.
reallly cold on cold morning and a bit more of an alert sound when and arrow hit them over a wood riser. Other than that-they are bows and meant to be shot
I don't have any problem with metal. As long as it doesn't have sights on it, I feel like the bow doesn't give any advantage in a 3-D shoot. If a guy likes sights for hunting, I don't care about that either; I think it's more important to be able to make a good shot than worrying about whether you are being traditional. I have only shot two metal risered recurves. One was an older Hoyt (a Diablo, maybe?) and one was the newer Gamemaster. I found both of them to be on the loud side, but they shot fine. I like the idea of having a hunting bow that I don't have to worry about dinging up, but haven't seen any metal recurves that I particularly like the looks of. Just my opinion.
P.S.- I hear lots of good things about Quinn bows, but can't seem to make myself take the risk of buying one. Wish I could shoot one, but don't know anyone who has one around here (Shreveport Louisiana). Paul.
Bill, I wouldn't be able to get close enought to the bows to be able to shoot them :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
Metal,wood or anything else it is all the same to me.When you get to full draw you don't usually pay any attention to the bow any more.As long as it is a good shooting bow I really could care less what it is made of or what kind of bow it is.I just like shooting them and will leave all the classifying to others that it matters to more. :)
No interest in them here. I always wonder if "Just add wheels" is printed on the box they come in, LOL. I'll stick with wooden bows, thanks.
They actually added wheels to wooden bows too back in the day.
Here are my metal riser bows:
(http://jhoneil.smugmug.com/photos/244773695_UU2qs-XL-1.jpg)
Hoyt TD3
(http://jhoneil.smugmug.com/photos/126750213_dG3Ep-L-1.jpg)
Dalaa and a Quinn 3D XL
(http://jhoneil.smugmug.com/photos/147677484_wRjHk-L.jpg)
Dalaa and the Black Bear Warf
(http://jhoneil.smugmug.com/photos/255224348_ACnBm-X2-1.jpg)
A&H 3ptd with the metal bows. Sebastien Flute Fita Recurve, Dalaa again
Jhoneil
What limbs are on that Hoyt TD3? are thoes limb skins?
That is the best looking paint on a Black Bear I've ever seen.Did you paint it? Please tell me more.I would love for mine to look like that.
Jhoneil, nice collection of bows. Too many Dalaas though. Maybe you should send one to me. :D
Hahahaha. I wish - I only have one Dalaa and it is my number one bow. I just include it in my pictures a lot.
RH - the limbs on the Hoyt is a vinyl wall covering I found at a local hardware store. It was not very durable and I already took it off the limbs. The Warf is painted with automotive paint from Pep Boys and finished with a clear coat. I used two colors. I used a neutral color and a brighter color for highlights.
Even more ugly than I remembered :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
...hey it's just an opinion :D
QuoteKind of a crossover bow for those not ready to make the full leap into Traditional Recurves.
(http://cluster.ezphotoshed.com/users/chrisw8658/photos/1190482525-1.gif)
Oh Brother :rolleyes: Made the "full leap" years ago and have been through more wood risered recurves, longbows and selfbows than many will own. Kind of a Holier than thou statement to make, Rico.
NorthShoreLB
I've seen your selfbows and they are beautiful.You have every right to say metal risers are ugly especially since this thread asked for opinions.Just watch about saying that at a trad shoot.
You know how we are always saying bows are like women.I met a guy at a shoot last year and his wife had to be the ulgiest woman I've ever seen but I didn't tell him that.He had obviously chosen her for qualities other than looks.Some of us feel that way about our metal riser bows.
I am sure NorthShoreLB does not mind it if we call his wife/girlfriend ugly ;) hahahah.
I actually had the same mindset before. "metal is ugly"...until I shot one. I still think the Dalaa is ugly but not when I am shooting it.
May not be ugly to some, but damn sure is cold in MN, leather wrap or not. Had a Quinn and sold it, mostly for the cold, but I'm with Manny on the ugly too.
I don't care for them but that is a personal preference.
I like all wood bows and metal risers with solid and camo color glass/carbon limbs.
What I dont care much for is glass covered wood lam limbs. It just seems like fake wood to me. I wouldnt spend the money building an all wood log home then put plastic fake wood trim and furniture inside it. But thats just my personal preference. I wont call your bow fake wood if you dont call my metal riser a compound with out wheels and we can all be happy.
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/BigCnyn/strung.jpg)
I like mine,, he is a wolf,,, Hoyt Oasis Plus Riser off a compound, gene hickman limbs, critter getter a dream to shoot...
I don't get the "metal is too cold" statement. The DAS Poly grips are warmer than wood and I don't touch the little uncovered area in the front when I shoot. That could be fixed with moleskin if it's a problem...and if it's really that cold wouldn't you be wearing a glove?
I don't personally think the DAS, or most other metal bows are ugly, but they sure aren't "pretty". If I wanted a bow to hang on the wall, I wouldn't be shooting what I do. No amount of pretty exotic wood is going to help in the woods, or on the range.
Craig
P.S.-Transition bows? I started trad with a long bow then moved to recurves, then the DAS. Most of the metal guys I know have been shooting a while and have found that's what they prefer.
Metal of any kind in archery -- save for field- and broadheads, of course -- bores me. But no matter metal, wood or a synthetic riser, limbs, etc., if you can adjust tiller with the turn of a wrench, you've gone beyond where I want to be. Man, that's really boring! If I wanted easy, I wouldn't be an archer or bowhunter in the first place. I prefer to do as much as possible myself -- that where the challenge, joy, and pride come in. Some need more of those things than others. Everything is relative, and the only relatives I ever had that I liked are long dead. Selah.
I suppose that those of you who have Harleys or other bikes don't mind them being metal....or your favorite knife....or your favorite broadhaead. I've had and shot metal risers since the 60's and for me they are better with the same limbs than a wood risered bow in terms of how well they shoot. As for being cold in cold weather, that was problematic until I got a DAS. The grips have eliminated that concern for me. As for performance I truly believe that although the metal riser on my DAS is superior engineering, I have found that the better the limb I put on that riser the better the bow will shoot. Metal risers have many positives going for them in the performance domain, but, again, two different quality limbs on my DAS riser gives me two bows that are not equal.
ARCHERY IS ARCHERY....but down south it rains a bunch with Lightening and when you combine a metal riser, :thumbsup:
If boring means I can shoot more and not bother with spending time tillering bows then I am all for boring. ;)
Transitional? Hardly !!! I've been shooting for over 50 years and I like my Quinn the best of all the bows I've owned. It's got the perfect grip for me and is a great shooter. !!