Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: snag on April 09, 2011, 02:42:00 PM
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For you guys who shoot these types of bows can you enlighten me in the differences of these two models of Hoyts? Thanks, David
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Snag I have been Shooting the Buffalo for about 3 months now and I just bought a Dorado off of Maineac and should have it by Tuesday. So I will let you know. The Buffalo has a bouble Radius shelf and the shelf is a little closer to your hand than Dorado shelf . The Buffalo also has a differnt limb system.
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Sounds like the Buffalo might be more like a regular recurve or longbow...?
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I've shot both but not side by side so it's hard to compare. The Dorado has a good deal of mass weight to the handle so it is real steady and the version I shot was 62" and 50#. The Buffalo had been retrofitted with Hoyt carbon ILF limbs so it also was a good shooter. The riser is smaller and the bow is 60".
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You can use ILF limbs on the Buffalo?
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No, you can swap out hoyt recurve limbs , but you can not purchase ILF limbs. that's my understanding atleast...
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See below.
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Originally posted by reddogge:
You can buy adapters from Lancaster Archery and shoot ILF limbs.
only gor the dorado. i believe the buff uses specilized limbs only from hoyt
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I amended my post. I'm shooting with the friend tomorrow who has a Buffalo bow and he is shooting expensive Hoyt carbon limbs which are not Buffalo bow limbs. Not sure if they are ILF or not but will ask him what they are and how he got them to fit. But the fact remains you don't have to shoot Buffalo bow limbs on a Buffalo bow riser.
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Well I'm the opposite of Macksdad. I've have had a couple Dorados and I'm getting a Buffalo this week so I can also chime in on this later. Dorado shooters seem to like the Buff better, I figure its the difference in the limbs maybe. I guess I'll find out in a few days.
You don't have to shoot Buffalo limbs ,BUT you cannot shoot standard ILF limbs, they must be the paralever limbs from HOYT.
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Originally posted by reddogge:
The riser is smaller and the bow is 60".
The buffalo is available in 60" and 62" as well.
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The buffalo riser is the same design as the RX FITA riser. You can buy F2,F3,or F4 limbs to fit the Buffalo bow. ILF limbs will not work as the hardware on the limbs are different. Just sold one and they are a great bow. The 60in bow uses short limbs. The 62in bow uses medium limbs. For a real stable bow you could put F2 long limbs and get a 64 in bow. Just can not get used to a metal riser. Roy
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I understand Roy. I have looked at these for tournament archery only. Don't know if I can go this way though...love my wood bows. I'd have to shoot one before I could make that decision.
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Not a metal riser fan either, however my 1st three arrows out of a Buff were spot on at 20 yards. Tried it again a week later and gexperienced the same results.
Again bows are individualistic and have shot the Dorado at least a 1/2 dozen times. Never seemed to get on the mark with it.
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You guys were right who said they can shoot other Hoyt formula limbs. My friend has a set of Hoyt carbon fiber limbs on his, don't know the model though.
I must have been thinking of the Dorado that can be adapted for ILF limbs.
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Yes, this is an adapter out for the RX type risers to be used with ILF limbs. Unfortunately, I do not know when or where they will be available.
(http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=712649&stc=1&d=1264701555)
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Well I just got my Buff yesterday and it a pretty good shooting bow! Not sure of actual weights but the Buff seems heavier, which I like. Limbs are pretty darned smooth out to my 27 1/2" draw, and they are #45 limbs. The thing that puts it over the top of a Dorado is the ease of breaking it down to put in the case if desired. I know it sounds petty but once you start breaking bows down like you do with the ILF's you get spoiled, SIMPLICITY!!! Trust me, there is nothing wrong with a Dorado, dang good shooters, I think you just need to shoot a Dorado to respect the Buffalo!
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Well I finnaly got to shoot both bows side by side. First off the Dorado has a little fatter grip and a wider shelf than the buffalo. Dorado feels a whole lot liter whether it is or not I dont have a scale to weigh it on but it definetly feels lite. I have both bows set up as close as the same as possible. 16 strand flemish twist dacron stings with leeches for silencers nand mole skin on the limbs. Both off of the shelf with a bear hair type rest and side plate. Dorado 7 1/2 inch brace, 2016 gamegetter xx75 with 5" sheild cut fletching and 100 grain tips. Buffalo 8 1/8 inch brace, Cabelas carbon 400 , with 125gr weight tubes 5" sheild cut feathers and 125 gr tips. Both bows shoot great. As far as the buffalo being worth the extra $200, It doesn't shoot any better in my opinion but it does look a lot sharper, however I feel the extra money is probably just for the Fred Eichler signature. Just my opinion on this.
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David, get yourself a warf or an ILF riser, very similar but you have the option of a thousand different limbs compared to the Hoyts you mentioned. If you want to shoot an ILF just let me know I can send ya my Belcher with your choice of a couple sets of limbs and you can try for week or so and just send back to me. I would pay shippin to get it to you my friend. Just say the word! Shawn
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Very generous off Shawn. Give me some time to get some other projects out of the way and then we'll talk more! Thanks buddy.
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No problem, I am likin this ILF stuff. Very easy to tune if you shoot with a rest and plunger. Just let me know when your ready, I have enough others to keep me busy! Shawn
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I have only shot one Buffalo and no Dorados. Did not shoot the Buffalo much since it had very heavy draw weight limbs. Marked 65 pounds, but later measured at 72. It was a very early Buffalo though, as I recall the serial number was, yes I am sure of it now, A001. :thumbsup:
Paul, the Canadian rep for Hoyt, was astute enough to grab that bow when it appeared and it has been touring Canada ever since. Not too often we get the first of anything in this part of the world. Thanks, Paul.
DDave
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I'm still loving my Buffalo! I have had it for 2 1/2 months now and I think I have fine tuned this thing to perfection. I can draw this bow and hold at anchor like no other bow I have had, just fits me perfect the way its set up. I'm shooting Heritage 150's 29 1/2" w/175 up front-darts! Of coarse like any bow if you shoot them enough you really get accustomed to it and thats what I have done with this one, everyday.
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i think the buffalo is quieter than the dorado. the dorado was easier to tune from a rest rather than the shelf. with the dorado the difference in tuning from the shelf to the rest is that the limbs are screwed down tight and non adjustable. making a difference of about a half inch in nock height. changing the tillering of the bow totally.the buff with its double radius shelves makes it very easy to tune from the shelf. limbs can be adjusted for a wide range of tillering options. if using "even" tillering you can adjust poundage minimum to maximum of 5 pounds. again very adjustable to individual preference.
the buff is for formula limbs only. F2, F3, F4 are higher performance limbs. i shoot my buff limbs for hunting. and i have F4 limbs for 3D and all day shooting in lower pounds.you have to remember to make the conversion in poundage when you buy F2, F3, F4 limbs as they are designed for a 25" riser.
my F4 limbs i've been shooting shoot 173 fps with an easton ACC at @ 8.3 gpi at 38#. perfect for my worn out shoulders.
my hunting setup gave me a little trouble. the buff shoots alot harder than i thought. needing a stiffer arrow than usual. like the 2018 but going to try 2020 and ACC 3-39. at @ 50#.
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I've shot both side by side. I think the grip is closer to the type of grip I like, longbows and low wrist. It is a great shooter, but for the money, I can have a nice custom longbow or recurve bow made. The dorado is every bit as good as the buffalo, but the extra money for the FE signature isn't worth it to me. The buff is a great point and shoot bow with the shelf laying right on your hand. These bows would be more a personal preference thing as anything is. :banghead:
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My friend Hutch has both and spent the past month shooting/tuning and comparing the 2 bows...10 3D shoots later and he is keeping the Dorado. He loves the adjustability of the Buffalo...shoots both off the shelf...same arrows...won 7 shoots in a row with the Dorado and has yet to win one with the Buffalo. I shoot a Dorado off the shelf. Simply cut a thick 1" diameter self sticking felt pad in half...put half on the shelf and the other half on the riser leaving a small gap between the 2 halves...it makes the arrow sit just off the hand and makes up for the cut past center shelf. I hate to admit it, but this is the first bow I ever owned that has absolutely no forward movement on releasing an arrow...dead as can be and I like it. BTW- the Buffalo is suppose to weigh less but it weighs more...which I do not like, and if you are shooting fat Dacron on these bows you are missing out on the ability of the bow. As far as quiet... felt pads on the tip string grooves and yarn silencers and it's ready to hunt. Mine is 50# and I had to put my 2016s/145g point in the rack...2018s with a 125 point are great with this bow.
The grips are interchangeable...he loves the Buffalo grip and I prefer the Dorado grip. :^)
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I like the Dorado grip as well, fits my hand perfect. I have been playing with aluminum arrows more lately and might try some 2018 with it. I shot some 2016 out of it but had to go light for them to spine right and they were a bit touchy. I actually shoot this bow better than my Excel set up, just loving this bow. Might have to get some Formula limbs for it and can the Excel!
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Hutch ordered some of the $89 Samick ILF and and Hoyt limb adapters for his Dorado...says it makes a great shooting bow shoot even better...I will stick with the factory limbs...they shoot better than I do...
Bob
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I had the Buffalo and figured I didn't like the metal riser thing and I found it felt really heavy compared to my wood recurves. Anyway i ended up selling it as I just didn't like to shoot it that much. I just picked up a Dorado so I could have a wet weather and fishing bow and something I could use a screw-in rest on and all i can say is WOW. I'm sorry and don't mean to insult the Buff shooters but, the Dorado I received from a tradgang member is Dead quiet, fast and I'm pulling it to exactly 30 inch draw. I was worried as it's only 60 inch but I'm in love with this bow. Feels much lighter physically then the Buffalo, I mean it feels super light!!! For me I would take the Dorado over the Buffalo any day and twice on sundays. For me it was : lighter, quieter, as fast and as smooth.. just my opinion.
Cheers
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The buffalo is an incredible user friendly hunting tool. I absolutely love mine. Since getting it the rest of the bow herd has been sitting idle minus my Silvertip Wolverine Longbow :)
In all seriousness, it is very quick, when tuned properly it is also quiet. I have a 60" with 50# limbs and it is incredibly smooth. Just a joy to shoot!