I've done a good bit of selling in the last few months in order to buy a new bow for X-Mas time. I've narrowed the two choices down to a 58" Bocote ACS-CX or a 56" Tulipwood PAX Widow. Price is very similar, and it seems that both bows have positive features I'm looking for.
The ACS is probably going to be the faster of the two (it'll be safe to assume that I won't find anything faster). However, 56" seems to be my magic number with longbows/recurves and I don't know if A&H is offering the 56" limbs yet. I would assume the A&H will be quieter, seeing as how it won't have the string slap of a recurve. It would also be easier to take here and there because you could string/unstring it without a stringer.
The Widow would undoubtedly be better looking - I have yet to see a bow as spectacular as the Tulipwood Widow from last December's TBM, which got me interested in the PAX in the first place (JMHO). Also, I can readily get the 56" length I prefer, and I like the Widow's reputation for smoothness and bombproof reliability. I know Widows are fast as well, because a friend has a 56" SA3 which is VERY fast.
Any input on either of these bows would be much appreciated.
buy them both,then give me the one you don't like. :)
Both really nice but I like the Widow for it's mass to keep my so so shooting in line. JMHO :)
I have a PAX and I really like the way it shoots. It is not as light as my Widow Longbow (PLX in Birdseye Maple, which is also something you should check out), but much lighter than my PSAX. It is smooth, and as you said built to take what the outdoors can dish out! Some other bows may look similar, but upon inspection the difference is dramatic. Good luck!
I wanted to buy an A&H because of its incredible speed, but the(neutral) test of Blacky Schwarz shows that the Cx is only 3 fps faster than the PSA-Widow(with the same string)- - thats not enough speed gain to leave my widow.
I´m absolutely shure that the overall-package from BW is hard to beat- Forgiving, stable, very smooth and fast!
ACS, a little quicker, A LOT quieter.
Eric
I'm interested in the same two bows as well.
I LOVE that tulip wood PAX, but I've been thinking of adding a longbow to my stable, and recent talk of ACS-CX's has got me interested.....
I think it is a personal preference thing, and my personal preference is the ACS CX hands down.
Zmonster, it's good to see that I wasn't the only one drawn in by that darn Tulipwood Widow ;-)
ACS CX hands down great shooting bow and quiet as a church mouse
I have an ACS/CX and a PSA V i have had the PSA for 2 and 1/2 years and the ACS for just under 1 year. I love them both, they are differant animals. For me the mass weight of the PSA makes it more forgiving than the ACS, with that said the ACS is my goto bow. I love the light weight and the way it points. Even though the PSA is more forgiving, when i do my part the ACS will drive nails.
Also the ACS has a flatter trajectory with the same arrow out of both bows.
I just switch from 46# limbs to 50# and have ordered a 6 strand D97 string, all for the ACS and cant wait to get it tuned to see how flat it will through a 600 grain arrow. I draw to 30 1/2 that puts it at about 58#
On BW speed I would like to chime in.I recently noticed that I didn't have the brace height right on a couple of my widows limbs sets, and that really affected performance. I have them at 8 1/8 and the speed really picked up. They seem to be more sensitive to that than long bows. I also use just one cat whisker at about 6 to 8 inches from each limb tip. The woollies are ok too. And they are screaming fast, and I doubt that when the black widow is tuned right, that there are bows that are a lot faster, maybe a little though.
With the first set of limbs I shot, later on I cut the spiders off the string and put the whiskers on and the bow went up a whole arrow size at the same length of arrow. I almost couldn't believe it, and I don't think there was much difference in sound.I also leave the whiskers long.
I have a near 30" draw with a recurve and I shoot SA III 60" limbs. I have a 36# pound set that I'm shooting 30" 2016 super slams like a dart off of.
So long story widows are pretty fast to.
I have some fast long bows too and I draw most of them shorter so it is harder to compare but they are nice because they are so light. I've never shot a ACS but I've heard about them and would love to try them out. I shoot pronghorns mainly and they are exceptional in the steady in the hand department and pretty fast too and inexpensive compared to these other bows were talking about.
I just bought a Morrison Dakota at 56# 58" and it is a fantastic bow, it seems to be as fast as my widows (it has carbon in the limbs)is very light and shoots very well with 700+ grain arrows. The rest on the Morrison is a marvel and the grip puts you in the same spot every time making it recurve accurate. I already love that bow.
Once you shoot that acs-cx ,looks will be the last thing on your mind.
I have both and for me there is no comparison acs-cx all the way.
2 great bows!!! double ur pleasure!! :) LOL
Big Al, I would be leery of stringing the ACS without a stringer. The limbs are not as thick as most longbows and seem to be more prone to twisting. They send a really nice stringer with the bow. The ACS will be lighter, quieter and a touch faster. It took me a while, but I am really liking mine, however, I needed another bow that was different and found a used PSAX.
I forgot to mention that I'm more partial to a R/D longbow, but I've been shooting a Samick Stingray recurve lately and have really gotten the feel for it as well.
Al- both are top quality bows. I am considering the same question for myself. Very tough decision.
Heck that's easy. Get a hold of John and have him build ya a tulip wood ACX.
Mike
When I shot the A&H ACS-CX it was fast and quiet. I preferred the shape of the tips and riser on the A&H than the Widow I saw.
Jason
Here's a collage of the Widow PAX that had me bewitched. (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa83/al_in_wv/PAXcalendar.jpg)
get the widow...you're already in love with it. It's not like you'll be dissapointed, after all, they are excellent bows..
Have you shot both bows? Black Widow does a demo program. Call up A&H maybe they'll let you try one out as well. That is the only real way to make up your mind. I've been in this boat before and no matter what you buy, you'll always wonder about the other. Both are great bows, they just don't work for everyone...Mike
Well, after great debate I took the plunge. Dan at A&H is now putting together a 58" ACS-CX for me. Red/charcoal silvertone Dymondwood riser. Last night I shot my longbow and my recurve a bunch, and decided that I just like the feel of a longbow better. Now comes the hardest part, the waiting...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLCJEYLIBQY
I have a PSA5 and love it Big Al, not too much difference in the speed department versus the ACS-CX.
I crave an ACS-CX, and have it on my short list. Think it's a good idea to own them both and have the best of both worlds.
Be sure to post your thoughts when your new ACS arrives!
Thanks.
Their web site does not show the Diamonwood riser. Is there extra charge for that?
John, I think they may have one more Dymondwood riser left in RH, you'd have to call DAn and ask. There won't be any more of them.
It seems like the PAX and ACS-CX are as different as apples and oranges. Maybe a man would be better off to have one of each...
I just got home from a road trip to the big city for work. I picked up an ACS CX from a friend to try for a couple of weeks. After work I went to an archery shop to fling a few arrows through the crono,, I should note not a controlled test but I just shot normally. I shoot heavy arrows (for my bow weight), arrows were tuned for my bow but not the ACS. I draw 26"
Results:
Got to longbow 60" 52 @ 26
600g arrow = 143 fps
700g arrow = 134 fps
62" ACS CX 48 @ 26
600g arrow = 154 fps
700g arrow = 137 fps
WOW!!,, ASC was quiet and grouped well at 20 yards (even though I never touched a thing),, darn,,I would love to see what a 52 @ 26 would do,,Frank
Big Al,
You made the right decision! I was in the same boat a month ago and decided on the the ACX and all I can say is WOW! The Widow is a fast bow no doubt, but the ACS is faster and much quieter. I have never shot a bow that is this accurate and forgiving. Wherever I point it and make a good release, it drills holes like a laser. I have been shooting traditional for 20 years and I'm just giddy every time I shoot this thing!
i own both as well. my widow was way more finicky with the brace height. if it wasn't spot on perfect, i could tell it. the acs is much quieter and shoots harder in my opinion. the deal breaker for my widow is the fact that the acs is much more forgiving. on shots where i know i flinch as soon as i let it go, i miss my mark by inches with the acs rather than a foot with the widow.
three weeks and counting, folks....
I have an ACS CX, 62" 56@28. Great bow and I shoot it better than any other I have owned. Very forgiving of bad form.
Customer service at A&H is great as well. The riser on my bow cracked and they replaced it as soon as I mailed it to them.
I don't like the finish on the new riser though. Seems like an off dull compared to the original and it must have been bumped as there are 4 white spots, kinda bubble looking, in the finish.