Trad Gang

Here are some pics of the pass around bow here on Tradgang.  I hope all enjoy and have fun with bow put it through the ringers and leave some feedback for me.  I am always looking to improve and get better.
Thanks and enjoy the journey,
Dave
Hitman Custom Longbows     (http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i434/hitmancustoms/TakeDown%20%20longbows/DSC02507.jpg)   (http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i434/hitmancustoms/TakeDown%20%20longbows/DSC02510.jpg)   (http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i434/hitmancustoms/TakeDown%20%20longbows/DSC02514.jpg)

I forgot the specs on this bow.  The bow is 53# @ 28" AMO 62"   The woods are brown spectraply with onyx half moons.  The left handed handle has grey glass inlays and right handed has black phenolic and both have onyx strip between inlays.  The right handed riser has black phenolic limb caps.  Just wanted to show many options out there that I offer and also the matching limb caps and nocks round out this bow.  I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did making it.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Also they are mappa burl veneers over bamboo cores under gordon glass.  The wedge is stabilized black dyed maple.  It is a strong wood that I offer in the wedges.  It allows for greater stability and strength at the end.  The risers have double pins and bolt system for great alignments of the limbs.  Nice and easy placement I countersink the holes with a countersink sanding bit.  This allows for the easy placement every time
Dave

Dave, Great looking bow > WoW.

Nnnnnniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice  :)

SAAAAAA WHEAT!

Wish I were on the list.  That's a fine looking bow right there!

Rusty

Very nice. Can't wait.

cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My wife didn't send it out today. She forgot so it will go tomorrow.  Sorry for the delay.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

WOW I Can't WAIT!!! Were is the final list!!! Forgot what month I am on for!!! I REALLY hope I can get her for Jan!!

final list is on page three i believe.  So check it out and see where you fall.  You can contact that person for the change.  Then you must contact the individual before them to have the shipment to you.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Dave;
she turned out to be a bow of pure beauty can't wait to try it.

Real nice looking bow, very beautiful wood. I would love to see how it shoots.

Im glad you all like it and I know you will like the way it shoots.  I had a friend over who is making his own bow himself with a little help of mine, he really like the bow and the way she shot.  The final fps on this bow is with 10 grains per pound arrow 172 and 9.3 grains per pound arrow 178.  This was using a paint ball chrono so it might be a little faster than that that, but its not about the speed but the placement of the arrow.  I really enjoyed making her and all who shoot, I hope you enjoy the shot.
Thanks and good shooting, hit em' hard, leave your mark!,
Dave

Well Trojanman has the bow today and look forward to hearing from him.
Stay tuned for the update.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Yes sir got the bow. Have not had a bunch of time after work to shoot it( dang daylight savings) but the bow is gorgeous . The pics really don't do it justice. What little I have had time to shoot the bow it is quiet, fast and even though the bow says 55# it pulls much easier than other 55# bows I've shot. The bow seems to shoot right were I look and and really launches an arrow. Dave thanks again for doing this. I am putting a Hitman at the top of my list

It should say 53# @ 28"  I use a brush to write on my bows as I am liking the personality that it has.  As the more I do the better it gets and I like that and the indian ink.

Any more input Trojanman on the bow?  Seeing if you had any more time
Dave

TTT

looking forward to this!!!!

So I'm upset I had to work today when the wife emails "what did you buy?" of course I had to think a bit guilty but then realized it was the bow!  Looked great!!! Love the limbs! I had to shoot it right away and w/ my 26" draw still made my 500 gn arrows shake the 3d deer and my box target.  Smooth draw and whisper quiet! Will shoot more this weekend!!

Dave - Nice bow!  Are those Mappa veeners stained or natural? I having a bow made now with Mappa veeners and it was good to see a picture.

Ron

Daves bows are real shooters! I had the pleasure shooting a couple at his club earlier this spring! Excellent craftsmanship!!!!

Ron Vought
Yes those are natural mappa veneers, non stained.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

The bow is off to its second on the list.  Hope to hear soon on how he likes it.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Dave - Thanks for the reply. Mappa wood is very light in nature but I guess the glass darkens it a bit?

Ron

Great looking bow, I am jealous of those that get to shoot it. Let me know if you need some one with a long draw (31") to test it out!   :rolleyes:  

Love the wood on the limbs.

Ron
The mappa is light in color but with the yellowish epoxy that I use darkens it up a bit.  I really like the way they turned out and getting ready to make another set with a honduran rosewood/purplish cocobolo piece that I have.  I am having my logo burned into the risers and that will add a touch.
I will post once I have it finished.  It should be a 62 or 64" bow.  I haven't decided yet.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Thanks Dave. I would love to see the honduran rosewood peice when you are finished. I checked out your web site today and you do some very nice work.

Ron

Dave I have it, thought I was #3.  Great shooter and so smooth. Looking forward to this weekend to shoot her again.  Please Pm the name/address for next in line.  We have it for 2wks or did that change?
Thanks
Jay

Jay
Yes you will have it for two weeks and let everyone know what you think and how it shoots.  I am interested as well.

Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Can't wait to here about the shooting of the bow.  Lets hear what you have been doing with it and if any hunting been done.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Jay
Hows the bow been shooting for you?
Dave

Weekend so I can shoot and of course non stop rain.  I was able to pick off a bird in my backyard from 15 yards.  I'm hoping to take it to the woods next week to try on a deer or anything really.  Again very smooth shooter and w/ my hunting arrows very quiet!

What weight and spine arrows are you guys shooting? I am debating if my gamegetters with 125gr heads will do, or if I should order next spine stiffer at 400. Got 500's at full length right now, but have about 3 inches I can cut off. What you think? Shoot great on my 40lb limbs WARF, I am sure this is going to be a treat, even got a new digital Canon Rebel so will take some nice pics!!!  Very excited to see who takes first hog or deer with it.

QuoteOriginally posted by Fisherking73:
What weight and spine arrows are you guys shooting? I am debating if my gamegetters with 125gr heads will do, or if I should order next spine stiffer at 400. Got 500's at full length right now, but have about 3 inches I can cut off. What you think? Shoot great on my 40lb limbs WARF, I am sure this is going to be a treat, even got a new digital Canon Rebel so will take some nice pics!!!  Very excited to see who takes first hog or deer with it.

I'd try what you have with 100gr points first, then cut maybe one of'em down and increase point weight before buying new arrows. Then when you find the right length point combo cut down a few more to match. When going back to the Warf just increase the point weight on you shorter arrows to get good flight for it once the Hitman is gone.

This bow is fast! Wish I had a chrono.  I'm quiting my job tomorrow so hopfully I can do so some hunting with it end of the week before I send it along

It was cold this morning 30 degrees when I got to the woods.  Was a nice crisp morning w/ about 50 Robins to watch and couple of squirrels but too thick to stalk.
(http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae334/biedermann/c40cfdcb.jpg)[/IMG]

A little still hunting through the woods showed tons of sign including this nice rub...Things are bigger in Texas!!
(http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae334/biedermann/8290ec9f.jpg)[/IMG]  

I met John who let me tag along for some rabbit hunting w/ his beagles. He was excited to tell everyone we got a rabbit w/ a bow!  Some cold trails and excitement but no rabbits.  He also loved the bow and how quiet and smooth it was.  He was easy impressed w/ my stellar roving shoots LOL

Jayb
Those are some nice pics and glad your enjoying the bow so much.  Look forward to some harvest pics maybe this weekend.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

I shot her one more time this morning. love the smoothness and how hard she hits.  I mailed her off to the next person.  Hope they enjoy her as much as me and maybe a little more lucky in the woods too. Thanks again Dave!
Jay

Great to hear Jayb.  I think getting this bow out to the trad folks here will show some folks how nice these bows are.  They really do hit hard and leave your mark.
Thanks
Dave

Any news on the bow and if they recieved it yet?
Thanks
Dave

Looking forward to some comments from next feller in line.
Dave

I like the patterns on that wood!!

A review of the bow. First i want to thank Dave for allowing me to test his bow out. I got excited when I received the boxes and opened them to see the beautiful limbs and risers in the boxes. Thanks jayB they traveled well.

Now onwards. I took the bow to the local trad. shop to have them help me set the brace height and check it out to make sure it was in good condition from shipping. Everyone there complimented on the look of the limbs and the riser.

I noticed right away the riser for LH was done in a way that fit real comfortable for me. Also when I pulled back this bow I was little worried about it being to heavy but it drew smooth and was no problem. The first arrow out of the bow was incredibly fast it just showed up after I released from anchor. A couple of the shop guys shot it to and enjoyed the bow a lot.

The next day i took the bow to the outdoor range where it was going to snow later that day so I shot the bow with fleece gloves on with my tab and had no problems handling the bow and shooting accurate as evidenced by the pics below.

    (http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/797/img0340ye.jpg)  

Another pic of the bow at the range from the side.
  (http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/9162/img0339vc.jpg)

I will try and get it out for some small game hunting before I ship it on but Christmas might prevent that.

Where are we on the list? How far has the bow gone?

Matt

Matt;
I am 3rd on the list. I have the bow until the Tuesday after Christmas or 27 and then I ship to the next guy.

I think I am about 8 or 10. I need to check.

Matt

Kirk
Im glad everything worked out for you and enjoyed the bow.  Nice pics and look forward to some harvest pics if you get anything.  
thanks and good shooting
Dave

Great reports, can't wait till I get her. Hope it all works out for my hunt to have her with me.

Fisherking
I think you are going to have a great hunt.  Have a great time and keep us in touch.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Dave your bows look awesome.if you ever do a pass around of one of your one piece longbows keep me in mind.they do look sweet

The one piece pass around has been an idea and will be looking into that in there near future in a 60" bow.  I have a new form in 62" that I will be making soon to compare to my 60" bow that I really enjoy shooting.  It is based on the pronghorn hybrid style limb design.

Thanks
Dave

So what ever happened to the list   :readit: ?    :saywhat:

Dave,

Can you re-post the list and where we are on it?

Matt

Here is the list
1 Trojanman
2 jayb
3 skilonbw

Here is the list
1 Trojanman
2 jayb
3 skilonbw
4 budb
5 nattybumppo
6 rrowslngr
7 raging water
8 hermon
9 house
10 caleb7mm
11 fisherking73
12 sticksnstones
13 gen273
14 sawtoothscream
15 joe keith
I do believe there was some trading of spots and that is up to the folks that traded.  I am not responsible for any of this but I believe all is fair.  I hope this helps and let me know if I forgot anybody.  I was looking through all my mail and this was the final list that I posted.
Thanks
Dave

I am next on the list as I traded with budb (thanks again man) so I can get this bow in time for my hunt.

Attractive...Beautiful...Eye-catching

You bet FK73...My season is almost up and I hoped you'd get it in time for yours.

That should put me behind caleb7mm I guess.

What was the decided trial time? Two weeks or three?

The trial is two weeks unless you work something out with the fellas after you.  
Thanks
Dave

So if I understand this right I need to send the bow to KisherKing73 then? i will send out tomorrow.

Thanks Dave I can't wait to shoot it!

QuoteOriginally posted by skilonbw:
So if I understand this right I need to send the bow to KisherKing73 then? i will send out tomorrow.

This should be correct if swapping my place with Fisherking73.

1 Trojanman
2 jayb
3 skilonbw
4 fisherking73
5 nattybumppo
6 rrowslngr
7 raging water
8 hermon
9 house
10 caleb7mm
11 Bud B.
12 sticksnstones
13 gen273
14 sawtoothscream
15 joe keith

I swapped with Fisherking73 early in the game.

Okay good to know since I sent the bow out priority mail today supposed to get by Friday or Saturday FisherKing, if you don't let me know since i put tracking on it or if you want the tracking numbers pm me and I will send to you.

Thanks BudB for the update as I forgot who fisherking switched with.  All is good and enjoy the shooting.
Thanks
Dave

Sent you a PM but disregard, will keep an eye out for it. You can pm the tracking number so I can see when to expect it. I already spoke with hitman, and I am not back from my hunt exactly at 2 weeks, but like 2-3days after my 2 weeks are up so I will mail it ASAP as soon as I get back. So next in line should expect it to be shipped 17th.


PS  What grain arrows,length and heads have you guys been using? My 500's with 125grain at full length is where I will start and then cut back a bit if needed to 29 or 30 inch.

QuoteOriginally posted by Bud B.:
 

QuoteOriginally posted by Fisherking73:
What weight and spine arrows are you guys shooting? I am debating if my gamegetters with 125gr heads will do, or if I should order next spine stiffer at 400. Got 500's at full length right now, but have about 3 inches I can cut off. What you think? Shoot great on my 40lb limbs WARF, I am sure this is going to be a treat, even got a new digital Canon Rebel so will take some nice pics!!!  Very excited to see who takes first hog or deer with it.

I'd try what you have with 100gr points first, then cut maybe one of'em down and increase point weight before buying new arrows. Then when you find the right length point combo cut down a few more to match. When going back to the Warf just increase the point weight on you shorter arrows to get good flight for it once the Hitman is gone. [/b]

The other option is to keep the arrows and just by a Hitman bow if I like the bow LOL Have been saving my sheckles for a higher end recurve or longbow compared to my warf. We'll see how this test drive goes, very excited to say the least and thanks again Dave for putting this up for us to use, abuse, test, and basically just enjoy!! Will make sure to get some good pics of the bow (got a great new camera) hopefully next to a deer or hog.

Thats awesome and look forward to reading about your experience and voyage.
Take care and good luck
Dave

So wife called me while I was in the bathroom taking a shower, said there was a package  :)  needless to say it was a very quick shower after that. All I can say is WOW!! Put it together, right out of the box, shoots WAY better than my WARF. I was worried jumping from 36lb to 50 lbs would be an issue, but not so. SMOOOOTH pulling, hard to believe it is 50 lbs. Took some pics, some video and got some good groups out to 15ish yds (did not range it) and this is before messing with brace height or tuning arrows. Although they seem to be flying right. Will post pics and video up a bit later tonight, gotta go out with the wife for our date (she was kind enough to let me shoot before leaving the house lol as she knows I would have just been thinking about the bow)

FisherKing, when I put the string in the box I tried to leave it in a way so that it would not untwist from the optima brace height I found for the bow with the LH riser, so hopefully it does not need to much change to it.

Thanks, it seems like it might of held cuz was shooting fine for me. I am use to shooting from plunger rest, so shelf is a bit different,but I like. No problem with arrows clearing, did not notice any porpoising. Getting the pics off the camera now.

From tip to tip this bow is beautiful. This is the leftie riser, fits in the hand very nicely. Shoots dead in the hand, no vibration/after shock I can feel, but will shoot it alot more to see. Out of the USPS box, it is much better shooter than I am. I suck and it is shooting where I want it to out to 15yds with only about 20 arrows through so far. 20 yds should be no problem. Shooting 500 gamegetters full length with 100grain tips. Clearing shelf good for now, no porpoising noticed, flying good. Has sexy lines on it, just a great looking bow, light, could walk around all day with this bad boy stalking hogs.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/pier_afficionado/tip-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/pier_afficionado/IMG_0814-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/pier_afficionado/IMG_0816.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/pier_afficionado/IMG_0810.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/pier_afficionado/IMG_0813.jpg)

Here is some video. My shooting lane is between my house (solid wall) and fence. I think here what you hear is very amplified and concentrated. As you can hear, or not hear lol, this bow is pretty quiet. This is the first set of arrows I shot after getting the bow together. That first flyer off to the right, later on I inspected the arrow and it was bent. The rest of the group being what it is, i will assume it was bent before I shot it. No critiquing my lousy shooting form LOL
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/pier_afficionado/th_MOV02558.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v123/pier_afficionado/?action=view¤t=MOV02558.mp4)

That is awesome and what do you think of the handle and the way it feels?  Just wanting to get some feedback and handle design and how it fits the lifeline of hand.  Great video and you don't have bad form either.  lol
Dave

The handle just sticks to your hand, you put it in there and it just goes right where it needs to if that makes any sense lol Kinda lines up your arm to where it should be, good wrist angle etc..

Here are some stills shot with sports shutter of the draw to get an idea of the deflection of the limbs on draw.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/pier_afficionado/1st.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/pier_afficionado/2nd.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/pier_afficionado/3rd.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/pier_afficionado/4th.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/pier_afficionado/5th.jpg)

Thats awesome and I never thought of that.  I do like the pics though.  Thanks for the updates
Dave

So have you had any success in the woods with the bow?  Keep us updated......
Dave

fisherking have you had any luck hunting with the bow?  Excited to hear of your hunting experience.
thanks
Dave

No luck, did not even see any hogs until it was dark thirty and no where near range. Going again this weekend on sunday for a last attempt. But full moon messing up the move. Can you forward me the address of the next person so I can ship out ASAP monday morning. I have more pics to post when I get a chance.

nattybumpp is the next in line and I pm'd you the address.
Thanks
Dave

So finished shooting her today for the last time. I am going to miss her as we were just starting to get to know each other well. My final review is the bow is just pure awesome. A joy to shoot, and physically beautiful. I took it today to shoot with a group of trad 3D shooters and made sure to put it in as many hands as I could and jotted down in my mind all the feedback they gave. I asked em all what they thought of the bow in looks and feel. This is what I got.

"Very quiet bow, one of the quietest I have not heard, and very fast too."

"What kind of wood is that, it is just beautiful (regarding the veneer on limbs) that bow is very nicely built" Later I found out this gentleman builds bows

"Feels awesome in the hand, I love the grip, it feels so solid"

"One of the smoothest bows I have ever drawn, if it is 53lbs at 28" that is very impressive" "it does not feel like a 50lb bow at all"

"Its very quiet, all you hear is like a release going off, the click from a compound,the deer will never know what hit it"

Everyone that saw it commented atleast on the asthetics of it.

My shooting was off today, no fault of the bow. I changed too many things at once trying to zero in on tuning the arrows. But still had a great time shooting a great bow.

Dave, thank you very much for this pass around opportunity. Hopefully I can save up enough funds at some point to work on a bow with you. If anyone ever asks for a recommendation, you will definetly be at the top of the list.

Nattybumpp, check your pms tomorrow, will forward tracking number, hope you enjoy her as much as I did.

Thanks Fisherking for the words of encouragement and all the looks you gave it.  Sounds like the word is getting out.  Glad to see you had an exciting time with it.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

On the way (sadly) to Nattybumpo.

I think he will like it as much as you did.  We will stay tuned till then.
Thanks
Dave

Just arrived!!! Sadly to bad weather in GA!!! Going to have to be content today to sit and drool over it...

Hopefully it will get in on a bunny hunt first of the week! Maybe I will get lucky tomorrow and get a break between fronts and get to try and stick a squirrel with it!

Glad to hear it arrived for you to shoot.  Look forward to hearing about the experience with the bow.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Nattybumppo
How has the bow been shooting for you?  Have any input on how it shoots and feels?
Dave

Hope to have some pics Sunday of it being shot by a bunch of Wounded Warriors! Heading down to a hog/goose hunt that a buddy is doing for some heroes. I'm rabbit hunting and then cooking those guys lunch. We're going to have a little shoot around after lunch. Going to spread the trad love a little!!!

BTW- Any of you who has served. THANK YOU! GOD BLESS!!!!

Can't wait to see the pics and hope you are liking the bow.

I've enjoyed it. I have a few thoughts on it but I really like the way it shoots.

Nattybumppo
Thanks for the thoughts and look forward to working with you on a new bow.  I will be talking to you soon.  
Thanks and good shooting
Dave

I just wanted to thank those who have had the opportunity to shoot the bow so far for all the great feedback they have given.

Alright this is getting boxed up and sent out today. Hope everyone enjoys it!!! I'm working on a write up of it and just haven't had time to get it finished since I just started a 2nd job this week.

I can't wait to read about the experience and look forward to the feedback

Wanted to see if you had time for the write up?

Any reports?

Im still waiting as well Bud.  I can't wait to hear from the last person to have it.  Let wait and see?

Can you Post the list again and show where the bow is now?

I'm curious where it is too?  I guess it's my turn and I haven't seen it yet?  Was it coming from nattybumppo to me?  I'm wondering cause the 7th was a few weeks ago?

QuoteOriginally posted by Nattybumppo:
Just arrived!!! Sadly to bad weather in GA!!! Going to have to be content today to sit and drool over it...

I'm in Atl GA could i pass by -or you pass by with the bow(i have a "range") so i could shoot it to-before you send it out ? Yes I'm serious     :archer2:
aawww maybe i missed it    :dunno:

aawww and is a lefty aawwwww     :rolleyes:

there is a righty riser with it too

nattybumbppo
rrowslngr
raging water
hermon
house
caleb7mm
fisherking73
sticksnstones
gen273
sawtoothscream
joekeith

it was suppose to go to rrowslngr next and he hasn't recieved the bow yet.  What is going on?  I can't get a hold of the nattybumppo guy.  So I will keep trying.

QuoteOriginally posted by Bud B.:
 

QuoteOriginally posted by skilonbw:
So if I understand this right I need to send the bow to KisherKing73 then? i will send out tomorrow.

This should be correct if swapping my place with Fisherking73.

1 Trojanman
2 jayb
3 skilonbw
4 fisherking73
5 nattybumppo
6 rrowslngr
7 raging water
8 hermon
9 house
10 caleb7mm
11 Bud B.
12 sticksnstones
13 gen273
14 sawtoothscream
15 joe keith

I swapped with Fisherking73 early in the game. [/b]

Yes Bud that is correct as I had forgotten about that.  Thanks for the repost.  I am waiting to hear from nattybumppo about the bow and haven't heard anything yet.  I have left some messages to see whats up but waiting till Monday for reply as I might have his work number from what I gather.
Hope for the best and thanks for the patience
Dave

I hope that I have it tracked down and was told it will be in the mail tomorrow, Monday.  He apologizes for the inconvenience, he's been working doubles for the past two weeks.  I look forward to the adventure that it takes to our next friend.  
Dave

Good news the bow went out in the mail on Tuesday and hope it arrives in time for the arrowslngr to have fun.  Look forward to some more feedback
Dave

Wow, that's a relief! I'm looking forward to my turn!
Thom

man I still have awhile.

if it comes back to GA pM me please if you will , thanks

I checked the tracking number and should arrive on the 3 march to arrwslngr
I hope to hear from you to see that you recieved the bow.
Thanks and good shooting,
dave

rrowslngr should have the bow now as I checked the delivery status and has the package on 5 March
Hope to hear feedback soon,
Thanks
Dave

I received the risers today but no limbs?  I'm going to go to my post office tomorrow morning to see if they have a second package.  Can't wait to have a complete bow!  Risers look nice.

I have the limbs and risers now but no string. I've been thru the packages twice but no string to be found. What would you like me to do Dave?

I was told that the string will be there on wednesday.  He realized that he didn't send it with the rest of the package.  I do apologize for this and wish you good shooting,
Dave

rrowslngr
I hope you have all the parts now.  Let me know what you have or don't.  
Thanks
Dave

I didn't think that this was going to be so difficult.  I apologize for any inconvenience folks but its out of my hands.  Please remember this so that others on the list after you aren't waiting so long.
Thanks for the cooperation in the future.

rrowslngr
I hope you have all the parts now.  Let me know what you have or don't.  
Thanks
Dave

I didn't think that this was going to be so difficult.  I apologize for any inconvenience folks but its out of my hands.  Please remember this so that others on the list after you aren't waiting so long.
Thanks for the cooperation in the future.

I got the string yesterday afternoon. Today I shot the bow for the first time. Overall I was really impressed. The bow is very quiet and dead in the hand. I found the bow easy to shoot. I shot my first 5 arrows at 10 yards and all were in the inner 6 inches of the target. I moved out to 20 yards and continued to shoot pretty well for a first shoot.  I shot some of my heavy arrows from my toelke's with 180 grains up front and it liked them. I'm not sure if I like the grip.  The bump on the front side of the bow hits me right in my middle finger and feels wrong for my hand.  It might be designed for someone with real large hands. I'm between a medium and a large glove.  Other than the grip I really like the bow.  I will ship it out to Matt two weeks from today.

Here are a few pics of the bow next to my wapiti.  I took pics next to the wapiti because out of my 11 bows its my only takedown.

Risers
  (http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg22/yjcrawlr/photo-911.jpg)

 limbs

(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg22/yjcrawlr/photo-1799.jpg)

The grip was designed around being a locator style but can be adjusted to individual likeness. The bumbs on back of handle can be smoother and rounded over if they like. Glad to see you have it all. Look forward to hearing after your two weeks of shooting
Thanks and good shooting

Where is the locator supposed to hit your middle finger. Is it supposed to be above, below, or right across the bump?  I should get a chance to sling some more rrows tomorrow.

I usually have it between middle and index finger but that is my hand.  Some hands may be smaller and could be adjusted to fit smaller hand.  This is a standard style grip for me and like I said can be customized.  
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

did you get a chance to shoot some more arrows?

any more updates to post and have you sent the bow out?  Keep posted

I'm checking to see if the next person on the list recieved the bow after rrowslngr was done with it?
Thanks
dave

Come on guys! Some of us are looking for your updates. Isn't that why you have the bows? :-)

I am next to receive the bow, so I will post when I get it and what I think.

Matt

I know this may not be the right thing to say but I am disappointed that more people who have test driven the bows have not put reviews up here for others. I know we can sometimes run out of time but if I can take the time out of helping the wife with a then 3 month old baby to write a review of my experience. I would encourage others to write theirs for people to get an idea of such a good bow and bowyer Hitman is.

I agree skilonbow! I thought that was the point of the pass arounds. Hopefully they will find time to give honest reviews. I really look forward to reading them!

Thanks guys my point as well and look forward to others reviews as well, whether good or indifferent.  I am always looking for new ideas and concepts from others experience and try to incorporate them into my bows.  All is good whether your ideas are your own opinions or whatever.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Matt the bow is on its way to you.  
I enjoyed shooting the bow and I found it to be well constructed. The veneers on the limbs are stunning. It shoots real quiet and had no hand shock probably due to the heavy riser. The bow feels well balanced. It didn't seem overly picky on arrow weight. I shot medium to heavy arrows out of it with good results.
The limb bolt system works but it was not clear how the rubber washers were to be used. I put one on either side of the limb and I think there was a extra washer or two.  It's trivial but I think there is room for improvement in this area.  Also the back side of the left handed riser where the limbs bolt is not finished as nice as the right handed riser.
Overall I enjoyed shooting the the bow but will not be adding one to my collection at this time. For me my favorite bows (toelke,wapiti, and my David Dowell longbow) all feel like they are part of me.  Even thou I liked shooting the bow and found it easy to shoot, I didn't feel like it was a extension of my arm.  It could be as simple as the grip. For others it may fit like a glove.
Thanks for the opportunity to try it!

I am glad you had the chance to try it and am always looking for that feedback.  I have said folks in previous posts that this is a grip that I started doing in the past year as to fit your life line of your hand.  Is it perfect, no, but it serves a great purpose for consistency.  I have done many styles of handles and can custom to your likings and around measurements that you give.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Dave, I realize this is a generic bow meant to fit many hands. I'm 5'7" 185. Large build. Fat palm short fingers. So your grip may fit big guys perfect. I'm short and stocky.  If the finger splitter(indexer) was thinner it might fit my hand better. It felt large which spread my fingers wide and felt odd. I either packed my first and middle finger on top which left my middle finger a inch below. Or split my first and second finger.  Either way it didn't feel right.  
The washer problem could be fixed as simple as glueing them where they go.

I really like that your honest and how you feel about the bow.  As long as I get feedback like this it allows me to add adjustments and also tweak little things here and there.  I am always looking for that and appreciate your honest opinion.  
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

The risers arrived on Wed. But, not the limbs.

I am trying to track them on USPS tracking.

Matt

Hopefully they will show up today Matt. They were shipped together at the same time. The string and pass around list is with the limbs

03111660000239694359


According to this tracking number it is being delevered back to you.

Please, check.

Matt

Matt USPS tracking is strange. I went to my post office and the explained that all that says is that it went thru the sort facility in Kiowa on April 2nd. He said it is not in route to me but has not been accepted in round rock yet. The packages were both sent the same way priority mail same time.

Dave told me to insure the bow for $500. So I put $250 on each package.  So the limbs have $250 insurance on them. The box was larger than the other one but if was super light. It should have made it to you by now.

The package resurfaced again. I tracked it last night and it said it was in Austin Texas to be delivered to you today.

Looks like the limbs arrived today. Need to check the package.

Matt

hi if it wouldn't be too much trouble i would like a try out. thanks Lawrence tischer
                      E 24104 cnty rd M
                      augusta, wisc. 54722
                      thanks again

Lawrence,
I will let you know how long it will be before it can get to you.  There is approx 8 guys left on original list, so that should be approx 16 weeks plus a few days or so.
thanks
Dave

To the rest of you folks that are left on the list please tape boxes together as they will ship together rather than seperate boxes.  I did this originally but they have been shipped seperately but on the same day.  They don't arrive usually together even though they ship same day.  The insurance on the bow should be $500 or more if you like.  This will make the rest of the folks in line less frustrated and make it fun like its suppose to be.  I should of been more forth right but this is new to me and didn't think it was going to be a problem.  Thanks to all who have participated and good shooting to those who are inline.  
Thanks and good shooting,
dave

Gents,

In addition to shipping together, please, include the bow bolts.

I had to get a set off of one of my other 3 piece bows.

Courtesy would be key here.

Matt

I sent the bow bolts that came with the bow. They are threaded into the lh riser. I shipped it the same as it was shipped to me only new boxes and bubble wrap.

Shot the bow today at the Austin 3 D shoot.

Very nice bow. Shoots great, very, very quiet.

Color me impressed. I will post some video later.

Matt

Matt
Glad you like the bow for the most part and looking forward to your video review.  Thanks for the heads up and keep the reviews coming,
Dave

This is Rob Green of Kid Styks shooting the Hitman.

He liked it!

Matt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7603Elybr-Q

Here I am shooting the bow.

Pretty darn cool bow, Two thumbs up for this bow.

Matt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfrd9ZL7Qa4

Matt
Thanks for the video that was awesome and glad your enjoying the bow so far.
Dave

Going to pack it up and send it to the next guy.

Really, really nice bow. Those limbs are the talk of the town.

Matt

Great to hear that and I like the posting and keeping up to date on the review.  Once again and I will keep you posted on those limbs.
Dave

Has anyone heard from the next one in line that Matt sent too?  It should be to Herman now and lets see what he's thinking of the bow.

Dave,

Had the bow all week. In on a Saturday (limbs arrived then) and will mail out (one week later) this Monday.

Got a new strong box to put both risers and limbs in. Keeping it all together.


It will be in Glenn Hermon's hands by this Friday. (if not sooner)

Matt

I sent you a new person and address for the next guy in line.  Hermon has opted out and the next in line shall be next.  
Thanks
Dave

Got it.

Travis is up next. Will ship on Monday.

Matt

Thanks Matt and I had a great time watching your videos and write ups.
Dave

Bow on it's way to Travis.

Matt

As always looking forward to the next adventure with Travis.
Good shooting,
Dave

Has anyone heard if Travis has recieved the bow yet?

Any feedback on the bow Travis?

He enjoys shooting it so much he's forgotten to post...   :thumbsup:

I wish the folks that volunteered for this pass around would allow folks looking in on this thread to know that they recieved the bow and what they feel about it.  For the future folks please allow us the curtious of knowing when you receive and what you think.
Thanks
DAve

Right on Dave. Isn't that sort of the point of a pass around? It aggravates me looking in on this thread that people would be so quick to take advantage of your kind offer to shoot your bow for free, but then are unwilling to take the time to do a proper review.

I agree and if I ever do this again I will have to have some limits on the whole deal.  I hope the rest of the folks here will keep in touch more readily and give there honest feedback.

Dave,

I understand your frustration.

I got the chance to shoot your very fine bow. It was a pleasure and I would highly recommend your bows to anyone.

Was it a big deal for me to post videos of the bow in action, nope. Pictures are easy to post as well.

A simple written review and a notification of the bow being received and sent out is even easier.

Note to others..... If you sign up, please show curtesy to the bowyer and others. Provide info.

Otherwise, the bowyers won't do pass arounds.

Matt

Matt
Thanks for everything you have done and said and I will get that bow to you soon as I get the supplies I am waiting on.  I have it ready waiting for the box on the one piece bow.
Thanks
Dave

First and foremost to Dave, and then to the rest of you keeping an eye on this thread I must apologize for not responding sooner.  I have been working out of state for the last two weeks and was not expecting to recieve the bow while I was away.  I did not know it was waiting for me until I arrived home yesterday and my wife informed me that I had a package.

Now on to my impressions of the bow.  At first glance it is very appealing.  Normally not a big fan of the "actionwood" type risers, I found the riser on this bow to be very nice, I really liked the contrast.  The limbs are amazing!  The fit and finish was very good.  I assembled the bow today and took it out to my little range.  It was very very smooth on the draw and I really like the brace profile of the limbs on the bow.  Like stated before the bow is a pleasure to shoot and very very quiet!  All of my arrows are a bit stiff for the bow, but I loaded up the front real heavy and had very good results (I usually shoot in the 65# range).  I thought the bow was quiet before, but try throwing a 750 grain arrow out of it and it really is "mouse pissin' on a cotton ball" quiet.

I am very pleased and feel very priveledged to have been able to take part in this and very sorry that I have upset some folks as this is not the way that I conduct myself.  Had I have known that the bow was sent to me I would have just had my wife send it on to the next person in line.  This is the first thing of this sort I have been involved in in the four years I've been a member of this site and it may be the last.

It is a great bow and I enjoyed shooting it very much.  I will get some pics of it up from shooting it tomorrow and will send it on to the next person in line tomorrow after I am finished shooting.

Thank you to Dave and again I'm very sorry if I in any way caused you to have second thoughts about your CHOICE to do such a GREAT SERVICE to those of us here on Tradgang, we are fortunate to have bowyers such as yourself supporting this great site!

Travis House

Travis, things like that happen. Thanks for taking the time to put up a review!

Travis' post is exactly the kind of info the bowyer and potential buyers need to know.

Well done, Travis.

Matt

im glad everyone is getting a chance with this bow. I am having major wrist issues and had to drop out. hopefully after my healing is done I can finally shoot a hitman!

Travis
No hard feelings and thanks for the review.  It is always welcome to hear from  the folks that have an opportunity to shoot these bows that bowyers let out on these pass arounds.  Yes I have been a bit frustrated but all in all it has been a great ride.  Keep shooting and enjoy all who have left reviews whether favorable or non.  I am always looking for these kinds of feedback as to let me know what others think.
thanks and good shooting,
Dave

If caleb is out I guess I'm up next   :bigsmyl:  

If I get it before Saturday I'll take it to the NCTAC shoot in Wilkesboro so it gets some hands-on use from even more shooters. If not, I'll take it to a 3d shoot hopefully so others can try it there.

The next in line is Bud so I sent a message to Travis and he should be sending it to you.

Dave

Bow is on its way to Bud will be in NC by Friday.
Enjoy Bud!

Travis

Thanks Travis for the review and hope all goes well.
Dave

Bow arrived today. I got home at 11pm and saw the box. I have her strung up on the lefty riser.

Fit and finish are 98/100. The finish looks tough and smooth with just a few areas that are not as smooth. The Maple limbs (guessing it's burl Maple) are unbeleivable. VERY NICE wood displayed on these limbs.

The grip for me needs to lose the bump that splits the index and middle fingers. The thumb groove can stay. That flows nicely. For me, the finger divider is off and makes my grip feel weird on the bow. It's enough to distract me mentally when shooting I'm sure. We'll see tomorrow. I happen to be off from work and can give it a grilling.

Draw is smooth from start to my 28-29ish draw length finish. If the riser cut can be more open it'll give a better sight window as it drops down to the shelf. If this is by design for strength then I could live with that. The laminations on the risers are very nice too.

I'll report back sometime tomorrow with a shooting report. If it shoots as good as it looks then it'll be a doozy  :)

One more thing...fit of the limbs to the riser is spot on. Nice alignment and snug connection. Very good craftsmanship there for sure.

After about 30 arrows through the bow and settling on 30.5 BOP GT Trad 35/55s with factory inserts and 145gr tips tailed by Bohning Signature nocks I got this group at 15 yards. Max spread is about 5 inches. The yellow dot in the center is roughly 2.5" in diameter.

 (http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/HitmanBow006.jpg)

If poor shooting me can get that grouping without a good tuning session just think what you good shooters could do with some effort with one of these bows!!

These limbs are marked 53 @ 28. I'm drawing every bit the 28. It feels light for that weight, but, the way it throws the arrows it seems like it's more than 53. I have no scale to measure it. Point being, it draws light but hits hard and fast. The draw is smooth from start to finish with no, NADA, handshock upon release. The bow is somewhat forgiving of a poor release. Trust me, my releases aren't the best nor are they comfortably consistent. The skinny string is starting to show some wear on the top loop. I'll wax it up before going further with it. Noise upon release is there, but not abnormally loud, nor not as quiet as I've experienced with other bows. Again, my release ain't consistent. I'd like to shoot this bow with a B55 string and yarn puffs  just to hear any difference. I'm a B50/B55 fan.

I didn't mess with brace height. Right now it's at 7.5".

I'd still like to see the window opened up just a bit.


FYI...no Allen key was in the package. I'll try to locate one and ship it with the bow.

I'll take it to the NCTAC shoot Saturday and hopefully to two 3D shoots Sunday so several hands can get on it.

I'll try my best to send it out Monday. I'll need the address of the next in line.

Work that handle grip thing out Dave and your Hitman LB will be a hit to its owners!!

Good info! I think I am getting close on the list.

My arrow weight is 445gr which equates to about 8.4gpp. Lighter means noisier.

I'll try some 60-65 woodies soon.

Bud
Yeah that is a little light on arrow weight and try bracing upto 8" with that light arrow.  I think you would notice a bit quieter bow for sure.  I am always looking for that bit of info that others are seeking about the bow and appreciate that.  I will see about the bump area and go from there.  Glad your enjoying the bow.
Dave

Two shooters got their hands on it at the NCTAC.

Chime in guys if you want...

Takin' it to a 3d shoot tomorrow.

Bud, I got your PM and replied with my address. I'm very excited to be next up to give the Hitman a test drive!!!
Thom

I am glad your finally up sticksnstones.  As you have mentioned you wanted to shoot one of my bows.
Can't wait to hear about your review.
Thanks and good shooting

Looks like I should get it Thursday, and this weekend is the first leg of the Michigan "triple crown". I think the Hitman is going on a field trip    :bigsmyl:

Good to hear and look forward to your writings
Dave

I'm just as excited about getting this bow in the mail today as I have been for the ones I haven't had to give back!

I also bought an allen wrench last night, the next few shooters won't have to worry about that.
Thom

"Fragile Glass" nice touch    :thumbsup:
Thom

Nice packing job Bud! Everything is here safe and sound. I know we've all seen these limbs and risers a bunch of times, but why not post a few pics of it on my table?
   (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/1.JPG)

Notice we have an allen wrench again     :thumbsup:    
   (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/2.JPG)

It's been said before, but holy cow these limb veneers are even better in real life!
   (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/4.JPG)  

Doesn't look like I'll get to the range tonight, but maybe I'll stretch it out at home a little tonight if time allows
    :archer2:  
Thom

Thom
Glad it all arrived in one box.  Seems as though it's a good omen.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

:)

really like the dark gray wood. that would make a nice hunting color.

Hi Kyle, I'll admit I really like that gray actionwood too, especially the one with the black phelonic and footing. It's heavier than most TD longbow risers I've shot, but it just feels nice and solid.

Looks like tomorrow is my day to setup the camera and take some close ups, today I'm off to a big shoot here in Michigan. If anyone sees me there and wants to check this out just give a holler! Taking the lefty riser with me too, just in case.
Thom

EDIT - Might be a busy weekend for Michigan archery, I'll be at the Laingsburg shoot.

Alright I'm drinking my coffee and getting my camera ready for my review, but I thought I'd do a quick catchup from what other people said about the Hitman at the shoot yesterday. Dave, I don't know if I'll be using "actionwood" and "phelonic" in overly broad terms here, but I hope everyone knows what I'm talking about.

Limbs: First and foremost, every single discussion was started by someone walking up to look at the limbs. They were closely inspected by several archers and the comments were 100% positive. OK,    :deadhorse:   we all know how pretty these are.

Riser: After the limbs, people's eyes seemed to move to the riser. Two guys talked about liking the gray actionwood and black phelonic accents, that's the good news. As for the natural color of the actionwood making up most of the riser, all those comments were neutral to negative. Seems like everyone thought the riser was too plain to go with the limbs, and one guy just hates any kind of actionwood. I think had I shown up with the one on the    In Stock (http://hitmanlongbows.com/Stock.html)  page with the limbs/riser matching woods and grains the riser would have been better received for aesthetics.  

Limb tips: I was surprised most guys didn't look more closely at these, but there were three exceptions. The first guy was your average shooter, he really liked the accent lines pulling the riser/footing together. The second guy is a lifetime archer and collector of many fine custom bows, he said they were "really nice." Having seen the fine bows in his collection, I'd take that as a big compliment. The last guy is interesting as he is an amateur bowyer, he closely scrutinized the tips for a minute or so front and back then said "that's good work" then said something about "I really need to buy a new ??? for my shop." and handed it the bow back to me. I think that means he really liked them.

Finally the most shocking thing to me, not a single person asked to shoot it. Maybe nobody wanted to screw up their mojo ahead of the first round of competition for the year. Whatever the reason I don't have any shooting reports from anyone else to post here. Maybe the guys at the indoor range tomorrow will be more willing to put a bend in it.
Thom

I shot the bow a bit more today as I was taking pictures of it and putting it under a magnifying glass. Man that thing is thumping the target HARD with a 645 grain arrow!

BTW, thanks for the PM Dave. I was a little worried about doing a full draw on a 62" bow, but it has been handling it just fine. Here she is with a 35" arrow on the shelf:
  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/drawn.JPG)  

Hopefully I can get some video of me shooting it tomorrow night.
Thom

Video would be cool!

Thom
That looks awesome and glad your liking the bow.  How is the stack for you?  It starts to stack at about 3.5lbs after the 29" mark on a 62" bow and about 2.75-3.0 on a 64" bow.  Let me know what you have seen shooting the bow at that draw.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

I'm really not noticing any stack or pinch with it at all. They've got a tree at the range with a scale on it, maybe I'll get a chance to put it up there an see what numbers the data shows. Going just by feel, I don't feel it.

If I'm stacking on some pounds it's just making the arrows fly faster    :thumbsup:  

The other thing I notice in the picture, it looks like my anchor with this grip is right about 31". That could account for some of the lighter feeling/less pinch observations too.

I'm loving the bow Dave, I'm really thankful to have several days to shoot it and get to know it's ins and outs instead of just a few arrows at Kalamazoo or Comptons or something like that. Thanks for doing the pass around!
Thom

Thom
Glad you like it so far and keeping with the updates.  It's always good to have this type of feedback and see what others like and or dislike about bows whether mine or someone else's.
Thanks and good shooting,
dave

OK guys, as long as you don't make fun of my video quality or shooting form too much, here are a few videos.
 From the front on the arrow side of the riser. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5gXqrzGobE)  
  Profile at full draw from the opposite side. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2_j92-WgsI)

So I shot *140 shots with it last night and the bottom of my ring finger did get a tiny bit sore. If other guys drawing 31"+ are thinking about a Hitman, I'd suggest a 64" or even 66" bow just so you could really enjoy a long day of shooting it.

Enjoy the videos, I still have more pictures and comments to post when work lets up a little.

Dave, want to confirm next shooter and address for me via PM?
Thom

That is a sweet looking bow.  Who do I need to sleep with to get on the list?  :laughing:

Hey Charlie, want to PM me your shipping address?

I think it would be better to ship this to you early, else I might decide to make a run for the border and keep it    :bigsmyl:

PM sent.

I can't waith to get my hands on it.

Thom
Thanks for all the great feedback, pics and videos you shot.  It was great to see what the long draw looks like.
Dave

QuoteOriginally posted by Gen273:
PM sent.

I can't waith to get my hands on it.

According to the USPS, Saturday should be your lucky day!!!

Dave, it was a lot of fun to do! I do have a little list of fine points and pictures I will update here while the bow is on it's way to Kentucky. Just gotta wrap up some work stuff first.

Already looking forward to hearing what Charlie thinks of it!
Thom

Alrighty, time for my wrap up on this bow.

First off I'd like to give a huge thank you to Dave for giving me the chance to shoot this bow for several days and really put it through it's paces. This entire pass around is a very generous offer to our community, and I'm very glad I had the opportunity to participate!

For the record I offered to give some critical feedback to him offline or give him a preview of what I intended to post here and he declined them both. He basically said to just lay it out here like I see it. Saying something like that takes guts!

Alright, let's get into the meat of it! The bow shoots great for me, the arrows are hitting with authority, it's handling my draw very well. For all the points below I tried to have the perspective of "what if this was my long awaited for custom bow, what would I think when I first looked at it?" Dave, I think this is the type of feedback you are hoping for.

LIMBS
The Mappa is spectacular, and I think this brush work looks good:
  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/5.JPG)

But then just a little farther up the limb we have this:
  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/6.JPG)

Two things here, one is the difficult placement of those dark spots in the burl. It would have been nice if it was a little more cooperative in giving you space to write on it. A little more puzzling is the weird angle on that lamination line. I say it's puzzling because the other 3 look great, nice fine edge, square, and symmetrical like this:
  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/7.JPG)

And even in a close up it looks great, like this:
  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/8.JPG)

Additionally all the other glue ups look great, I couldn't get a macro lens to pick up any pockets of any kind. Here is just one example shot:
  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/9.JPG)

RISERS
On to the riser itself. Here is the right handed riser with the phelonic footing. The two pin system and the alignment of the bolt is excellent. It's super tight and exacting. I don't think there is any room for improvement in this link up:

  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/10.JPG)

I am curious, every other 3 piece TD bow I've owned has either had cork or felt between the limbs and the riser, but this one doesn't. I noticed a little residue, was there something in between here originally? Even if there wasn't, the lockup was so tight the bow shot without any buzz and super quiet.

On the left hand riser I noticed a little splintering around one threaded insert
  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/11.JPG)

I know this happens sometimes, but filling it with some epoxy or something to prevent any further damage might have been a good idea (unless this happened during the pass around, I did notice some dings and small gouges in each riser that appear to be wear and tear.)
*** Too many pictures for one post

*** Here we go again
STRING GROOVES AND LIMB TIPS
I know people have different opinions, but I think the craftsmanship of a bow and the skill of the bowyer often shows up in the care put into the grooves and tips. I believe if anyone wants to know about the quality of work that Dave is capable of doing, this is the place to look.

  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/12.JPG)

  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/13.JPG)

  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/14.JPG)

Both tips, front and back, are completely beautiful and perfectly symmetrical. This combination of artistic vision and craftsmanship can't be faked. This is very nice work!

HANDLE SHAPE
Last thing about the bow itself, let's talk about this grip for just a moment. I know Dave said he can make all different styles, but this particular one didn't fit me at all. I've shot a few other bows of another brand that is pretty famous for their finger groves and they felt great.  I've shot tons of bows without any finger groove that felt good to me too. This wide separation between the forefinger and the second finger didn't work for me at all. I ended up just putting the tip of my forefinger on or under the high point in the ridge. Now my shooting partner is very critical of grips. He's been shooting for several decades and pretty much dislikes the grip on any bow he picks up. He held this grip and REALLY liked it. I'm not trying to say this grip is bad, I just wish a little more conventional shape was on the pass around riser for me personally. Obviously there are some people who like it.

STRIKE PLATE VS MY FEATHERS
My first real disappointment was the strike plate, a VERY small thing. I only shot about 250 arrows with this bow but the leading edge on my fletchings started peeling up on all my arrows towards the end. I noticed the velcro was gathering little bits of feather and glue on it every few shots so I'm guessing it's the culprit. I can't say for sure, but I've never had feathers start peeling up on me before. Maybe my arrows were too stiff, but it would have been nice to have the same soft side velcro on the strike plate that was used on the shelf. Of course this wouldn't be an issue if this were my new bow, I'd just rip it off the day I took it out of the package and put on something more to my tastes, but I thought it detracted from my overall impression of the bow at first glance so I'd mention it. Especially with some torn up feathers a few days later.

STRING
Second complaint is the string. It was a bit worn from the previous shooters, to be expected. It was also REALLY tight on my nocks. Wanting to get some better speed and accuracy, I made a new string for it so I could get a better release. My groups did tighten up and I gained a little over 5 feet per second on the average. Dave, I don't know where you source your strings or if you make your own, but I think a little skinnier in the serving would fit the average arrow a little better.

Dave, I tossed that string in the box and I hope it finds it's way to you as a thank you for letting me shoot one of your bows for all this time. If your serving was a little too tight, mine might be a little too loose at .018 so you might want to reserve it at .024. Teaser pics of your new string:

  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/string1.JPG)

  (http://thomjorgensen.com/bows/Hitman/string3.JPG)

CLOSING
After closely inspecting this bow several times and shooting it quite a bit I can say I'd be comfortable recommending a call to Dave to someone looking for a takedown longbow.

If I were ordering one for myself, I'd ask for:
- 3 piece takedown for portability
-  66" to better accommodate my draw length
- some awesome limb veneers and tip overlays like these!
- some type of hardwood riser with complimentary grain/burl/figuring for limbs
- standard low grip handle, no finger groove
- phelonic footing for limb mounts
- antler bolts would look great, and not require an allen wrench that could be lost  :)
- skinnier string
- either a leather or calf hair strike plate, or none so I could install my own

All in all, that is very few, and very minor changes from the stock bow being shipped around.

Great bow Dave, thanks again for letting a bunch of us yahoos shoot it!!!
Thom

Really enjoyed the thorough write up and the new string Thom. I agree with you after my assessment that Dave make a really nice bow that I would put on my short list to think about buying.

Thom,

That was a great review!!! You hit it out of the park. If all bows had that kind of a write up about them, we could make an informed choice about a purchase without even shooting one.

Thanks
Charlie

Agreed. That's the way it should be done. Nice work!

Dang good writeup. Thom you should write reviews for national publications. That was thorough and quite accurate after having shot the bow myself. I think Dave has the makings of an excellent line. I still can't get over the limbs and how well they fit BOTH risers like a custom glove.

Thanks everybody! Just like the rest of you, now I'm excited to see what these last few folks think of it!
Thom

Thom
I have to say you really layed it out there for everyone to see.  I couldn't be happier.  That is what I want to see as well as others in these types of reviews so that others can accurately read what the whole hoopla is about.  I thank you for being honest and just saying what you thought.  I have nothing to hide and hope others here feel that way as well.  
Thanks and good shooting to all as I am really enjoying the feedback and look forward to the next.
Dave

I am thinking about extending the pass around for another group if there is enough interest.  You will need to have at least a 100 post and be willing to give an honest feedback of bow, when you recieve and ship off so that others are able to follow and I am able to as well.  Let me know of some more interests.  You will need to ship with insurance $500 on average, with a cost of $25 to you.  
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Sticksnstones,

That was the way to review a bow. Well done!

Matt

The eagle has landed! I received the bow today, the review will follow next week.

Glad it made it safe and sound! Hope you're out shooting it now!

Dave, you're very welcome, it was a joy to shoot! BTW with $500 insurance it was marked $17 of shipping when I picked it up and I was charged $17 to ship it back out. There is no reason to skimp on the insurance!

I'm glad to hear you are thinking about extending the pass around, this worked out so much better than just getting to grab one for a few minutes at Comptons or Kalamazoo or something like that.

Thanks Matt, I enjoyed your review too! Your videos sparked me to post the ones I did. Thanks for the motivation!
Thom

Glad it made it to you all in one package.  Can't wait to hear what you have to say.  Looking forward to the review as well.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

is there a updated list?    BTW hitman, im think hard about bidding on the bow for grace, that red looks really nice and the cause is a good one. will have to sit on it and ill see where its at on the 26th

Jason from 330 Outdoors donated that bow and for a great young lady.  My prayers go out to her and her family and I hope that all who bid for the bow will give it much pride.  Thanks and let me know if any of you purchase the bow.  I will have it soon to put some wording on the limbs at there request.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Put a link on here....get more eyes on it  :)

ill grab the link,  hope the mods will let it slide since its on a compound bow forum.

http://www.athensarchery.com/forums/showthread.php?3105-Custom-longbow-from-Bow-Junky-for-Gracie

you have to register,  bow looks great and it really is a good cause. the story is extremely sad. feel horrible for what that familly is going through

I am still shooting the bow,  I will post my thoughts over the weekend.

Just got to test drive a 60" 66# at 28" Hitman one PC.

One of the fastest, smoothest, and most quiet longbow, I have ever shot.

And, that means a lot. I have shot some uber fast bows.

This bad boy flat out smokes an arrow. Super flat cast.

Matt

A Hitman at 66#, I bet is did smoke that arrow!

Can you tell us what the limb setup was like?
Thom

Will take some pictures and maybe some video. If I was in the market for a one PC longbow, this would be it.

Accuracy is second to none. Super quiet.

Speed..... As fast or faster than any other. Pretty cool bow.

Matt

I can elaborate on this for you all.  The bow was a back up bow for me but I saw that Matt likes heavy bows and thought he might be the guy to try it out and seems that he really likes the way it shoots.  
The bow is a 60" AMO 66# @ 28"  bamboo cores with carbon on front and back limbs under a nice set of bubinga veneers.  I did some nice nocks with a handle that has burgundy dymondwood and grey dymalux half moon in the grip area.  I have pics:
(http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i434/hitmancustoms/DSC02320.jpg)    (http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i434/hitmancustoms/DSC02321.jpg)

I have resized the pics:   (http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i434/hitmancustoms/DSC02320.jpg)

So Matt how did the handle on the one piece compare to the handle on the 3pc pass around? I like the colors and looks of it the 1pc

QuoteOriginally posted by skilonbw:
So Matt how did the handle on the one piece compare to the handle on the 3pc pass around? I like the colors and looks of it the 1pc

Uh? Different. This bow has more shoulders to the grip. The palm swell seems the same.

Dave and I are going to try a fifty's style grip on this bow. I am going to send it to Dave for a modification. Thinking about some finger grooves. Should be fun to work with.

Before the re-work, I am going to ship this bow to Leo Markert and Justin Newell. Two Masters of the Heavy Bow. They will provide a review as well.

Matt

The bow is similiar but not the exact one.  Sorry for the confusion but it is similiar in alot of the way it looks.  The colors and woods are but the hand area is a little different.
Dave

Sounds like an awesome bow! I'd love to see some video of that bow getting bent!
Thom

Sunday night, before dark, I will video myself with the Hitman One PC.

I have a Great Northren Ghost Recurve (with some customizing for optimum cast and speed) that is 68# at 28" and is blisteringly quick.

I will shoot them side by side. I bet the Hitman can keep up with what is one of the fastest bows on the planet.

Yeehaw!

Matt

My thoughts on the Hitman Longbow

First I would like to thank Dave for allowing us to have the opportunity to pass this bow around and try it out. Secondly, I would also like to say what a great job Thom did with his review of this bow; so please also take a look at his posts and pictures.
When I received the bow, I had a problem with lose nock fit; therefore I served over the serving with a second layer. If the guys after me have the opposite problem, the second layer will be easy to remove. I also replaced the shelf rug and strike plate with new Velcro. After that I added some string silencers to the new string that Thom built for this bow. I also tied in double nocking points at ½ inch above center.  I found the bow liked a brace height of 7 5/8 inches with my setup. While I tried a lot of arrows, both carbon and aluminum; I found that this bow liked both a 2016 and a 2114 aluminum with a 175 grain point. Also, I shoot the bow three under or Apache grip.

Craftsmanship
Without question this bow features some great craftsmanship, it is evident from the way the limbs fit the riser and the quality of the limb tips as well as the glass work. The limb veneers are also flawless when it comes to their layup and finish. While I would personally prefer exotic wood in the riser, the diamond wood that this is built out of, is nicely done. The riser does show some marks and wear, however you must remember that this bow has been around the world and back.

Grip
Most of the time people will tell you that the grip of a bow is the most important thing about how a bow feels to an individual; and I would agree that the grip of a bow is very important. While there has been many, many comments about this bow Grip,both good and bad; I would like to say a few things before I comment on my personal thoughts about the grip. What makes a grip a "good grip"? For me I think that a grip that produces repeatable hand position is at the top of that list. That must be followed by a grip feeling comfortable in an individual's hand.  This is the tricky part, because we all have different sizes and shapes when it comes to our hands.
In my opinion, while this bow does not have a grip that I would call my favorite, I would still say that the Hitman's grip is a good, if not a very good grip. This grip produces very repeatable hand position from shot to shot. That repeatability is paramount for accuracy. Also, the more I shot the bow, the more the grip became comfortable in my hand and an extension of my arm. Furthermore, if the front finger grove is a deal breaker for you, I am sure it is easy for Dave to remove it.

Limbs
This bow has 62 inch limbs and they have a fair amount of sweep in the line of the limb. My first impression was that the limbs were way too whippy or flexible when strung to be very fast. Boy was I wrong, this is a very fast and hard shooting bow.

Riser
The riser is well built as I have already stated; however, it is a little on the bulky side for my taste. But as you guys know that is a subjective thing.  I also thought that the sight window was extremely small, while this did not affect me as an instinctive shooter, it may be an issue for a point of aim guy.

Draw
The draw of this bow is smooth, very smooth. While this bow is a 53 pound bow, it feels at least 3 pounds light because of the silky draw. There was not stack or rough spots all the out as far as I could draw the bow.

Vibration/Noise
I can sum it up by saying that the bow is void of a thump or noticeable vibration. This bow is also very quiet.

Performance
This bow is a rocket launcher! While my chrono has a blown bulb, I can say without hesitation that this bow is faster than the average longbow. I have shot and tested enough bows to know, so trust me on this.

Conclusion  
While my preference is a shorter and slimmer profile bow, I found this Hitman to be a very nice and easy to shoot bow. I think that Dave builds a good bow at a fair price. If you are in the market for a takedown longbow, you owe it to yourself to at least give a Hitman a long look.

Once again I would like to say thanks for the opportunity to try the bow! If anyone has any questions feel free to shoot me a PM.
Charlie Goodman

Hitman - One Piece 60" 66# at 28" - Review

After I shot and reviewed Dave's Hitman Recurve Pass Around, Dave sent me this bow to try.

First Video:

Here is the 60' 66# at 28" Hitman One PC by Dave at Hitman Archery

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eW1k5ascFw

Second Video:

Here are the Side by Side shooters: Hitman and Great Northern Ghost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enpyoOiyfNs

Third Video:

Here is the Side by Side "Shooting" of the 2 bows: Hitman and Great Northern Ghost

(Turn up the volume on this one if you want to hear my mindless chatter)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2-YRnMiBpg

Matt

Matt
I have to say that it was impressive to compare to the recurve and see that they both have a flat cast.  I am really impressed with the great northern and the speed.  That bow of mine is a speed deamon and I have always compared it to the likes of the more expensive bows but my name is just getting out there.  I should send you a "D" style bow of mine and see what you think as well.  Not quite as fast but still a good shooter.
Thanks for the video review and a another great post.
Dave

Dave,

Love to see the D shaped bow. I am a Jack B Harrison man and would shoot them side by side.

Got a Heavy D Shape laying around?

Matt

Dave,

What do you call your:

3 PC recurve?

One PC Longbow?

D Shaped Bow?

Matt

Actually the bow you shot in the 3 piece is my Pronghorn series as well as the one piece that you are shooting now.  The same limb design.  The one piece "D" style is my raghorn series.  I don't have anything right now but in the near future as something might happen.  I will keep you in touch with that as it is bound to happen with carbon bows.
Dave

Great review Charlie! I was surprised by how flexible those limbs felt without a load on them and by how hard they hit when launching an arrow too!

Sorry that center serving came up too small, thanks for fixing it up. I made a new sting today and I still can't find my .024, guess I have an order to make tomorrow. You may want to give the original string a try too if you haven't already. Should be rubber-banded to the left handed riser.

So Matt, you liked the short, "light", R/D HLC longbow so much you want one in a long, heavy, D?    :laughing:  

Dave, if there were ever a heavy Raghorn pass-around and you were looking for volunteers...
Thom

I shipped it on to the next in line today.

Thom, I thought you did a fine job on the string. Have you been building them long?

Thanks Charlie. I guess it hasn't even been a year yet. Most of the early ones were just OK (or worse...) then for New Years one of my resolutions was to learn how to make a great string. I think I've about got it down now    :goldtooth:  

Of course a bunch of credit has to go to Chad, Josh, and Pierre since they gave pointers and inspiration along the way. TGers have an incredible depth of knowledge and someone here will teach you just about anything about archery or hunting if you sincerely want to learn. What a great community! Loading counter-twists between making the loops, and building/using a string stretcher were the two biggest a-ha moments.

Back on subject, are there really just two guys left in the passaround?
Thom

I do believe so and can't wait to hear from them.  Charlie what did you think overall about the bow and how it shot?
Dave

got the bow, first impressions, im not giving it back lol.  grips awsome, draw awsome, no shock at all and my first 3 arrows touching at 10 yds.  Bow is beautiful and would look great next to the hunter bow  :)    need to tune it still since my arrows are weak but so far im loving it

thought I would post a pic next to the hunter bow. I shot both for a little when I got home.  Weight wise both feels about the same to me, draw I will give to the hitman, it is slightly easier probably due to the length difference (58 to 62), weight wise the hunter is 47# at my 26" draw and the hitman 53 at 28 so about the same weight as the hunter with my draw lenght.  Both are very close to the same speed it seems wish I had a chronograph to know for sure, I really really love both style grips so its  adraw there, I do hold better groups with the hunter but I also have been shooting that bow for almost a year and its tuned better for me.  the hitmans limbs really have some curve to them, very recurve like look which I love, the hunter bow looks more longbow like.   Shock wise the hitman just doesnt have any, where my hunter does have some (hitmans has cat whiskers and a flem string and my hunter doesnt have string silencers and uses endless loop.  The hitman seems to like a stiff arrow, im using my full length gt trads with the regular inserts and a 100gr tip and they still impact right of where im aiming, going to cut 2 arrows down a little and try getting it tuned better for me.  Over all you can not go wrong with either and I would gladly own a hitman. going to hurt sending it to the next guy  :(     Wish I had a string so I can compare it to my omega longbow, That bow has some curved limbs as well and is 62", comparing them would be better, I know the omega will be faster (50@ 26") and that sucker really throws a arrow fast.  

(http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g464/sawtoothscream/100_4660.jpg) (http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g464/sawtoothscream/100_4661.jpg)

Beautiful looking bows.  Any time you need someone to test I would be more than happy.  I am also looking to build a bow for myself.  nothing to amazing just looking for a good hobby and advise would be greatly appretiated thank you

I have to say the more I shoo tthis bow the more I love it. its just so nice feeling from start to finish and its really stacking arrows at 15yds (all te room in my basement, its been raining and extremely windy since I got the bow). Cant wait to get out and shoot it out to 30 yds.  Going to miss it when I send it away

Glad you had a chance to put the bow to the test and have come to enjoy it.  Always look forward to seeing everyone's review.
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

Has anyone heard from the last guy to recieve the bow and any feedback?
Thanks and good shooting,
Dave

QuoteOriginally posted by hitmanlongbows:
 Charlie what did you think overall about the bow and how it shot?
Dave

Dave,
look at my review on the 17th page of this thread.

I guess I should look before I ask next time. Glad to see your enjoying the bow.  Everyone will have to check out the in stock bows under gallery on home page:  hitmanlongbows.com

sent the bow out a few days ago, next joekeith should have it anyday now

Glad you enjoyed the bow and look forward to the next adventure series.

I got the bow on Mon.  Rained most of the day.  Got to shoot it Tue. and today.  
First impression, pretty limbs, they really stand out.
The grip was nice, and she's a real sweet shooter, but the best thing about it is how quiet it is.  She's quieter than most of mine, and a pleasure to shoot.  I like it.  :thumbsup:  
Thanks for the chance to shoot it.  
Now tell me where to send it and I'll ship it out on Mon.

Joe
You can send it back to me as you are the last one on the list.  If there is anyone else that has at least 100 post on here and want to try the bow let me know and we can get it out to you.
Thanks
Dave Heniff
1508 Lucille ave
Twin lakes, WI  53181