I have been looking at these bows for a few months now. I know they have to be really good bows since they have been around for a long time and I have read a few reviews about guys shooting the same bow since the early 80's.....
My question is about the limb design not gaining performance with a FF string.... Is that something that you Wapiti guys have noticed also?
I never shot mine with FF, really never saw the need. Now you have me wondering....
Contact tecum-tha.
Most of the Wapiti bows you are not suppossed to use FF on according to Keith.
QuoteOriginally posted by Friend:
Contact tecum-tha.
Who is that?
I like mine although I wish it was a heavier draw weight. Very smooth drawing bow. I think you're gonna see some mixed feelings coming at ya so be prepared. :bigsmyl:
Tawl
I'm know there are as many opinion on bows as there are bows..... I really am curious about the limb design.
My Wapiti doesn't have FF tips. Don't really see the need for ff, the performance is more than sufficient. My 57# @ 30" with a 580gr. 250 Heritage produces 180+ feet per second. Very pleased with the setup and performance.
Thanks Mark. I also draw 30".... how long is your Wapiti?
Keith Chastain's Wapiti limbs are, in my opinion, unique. They are very fast, very smooth and do not stack. I've had a couple of his bows over the years and loved them (until they were stolen). Now I shoot a Bear Kodiak A riser series 1 T/D with FF limbs that Keith made for the bow. I couldn't be happier with the setup.
I have had both an FF string and a dacron one on the bow and if there is a difference in speed between them, I haven't really noticed.
Further to my previous reply, one has only to look at the profile of the Wapiti limbs to realize that these are quite different from most other custom bows.
Hey I sent you a PM last night.
I read it this morning Randy. Thanks for the help.
I have great admiration for Keith's limb design. They are definately smooth drawing as well as fast.
60" Wapiti.
QuoteOriginally posted by Blaino:
QuoteOriginally posted by Friend:
Contact tecum-tha.
Who is that? [/b]
He sells them for Keith and could answer or findout for you. I have shot one at a local traditional shoot he had to try out. I think it was a 47lb bow but drawing it back felt like a 37lb bow, man was it smooth and extremely fast.
I have 2 of Keith's bows, one with the FF option, and one without. Identicle poundage.
There MIGHT be some performance gain between the 2 but if there is, one would need a chrono to measure it.
Noise of both is about the same also.
Thanks Otto
My TD is the quietest with B50 or B75 string, although mine can take FF strings. Quiet goes over 5-7 fps more speed in my book anytime. Now, only the imperial series takes FF(linen micarta tips and full choice of options), the royal series doesn't (hardwood tips and limited options).
The old FF bows were called the Caylor series, named after Mr. Caylor who died sheep or mountain goat hunting and as far as I can remember was a heck of a hardcore bowhunter according to Keith.
I have a 60" 55#er that feels like less and is the smoothest shooting bow I have, plenty quick too...
Non FF.
I've had 2 of his 3 peice recurves and niether stayed in 3 peices.Never again
QuoteOriginally posted by overbo:
I've had 2 of his 3 peice recurves and niether stayed in 3 peices.Never again
Lol @ that. I have heard of a few instances of this. Very unfortunate, the only reason I don't own one. Best shooting recurve you'll ever lay hands on though. I draw 29" and can shoot a 58" wapiti comfortably. Very smooth, very fast.
Keith once had a bad batch of glue quite a long time ago.It took a while to figure out what the problem was, since it could have been in the glass,too. That was the only reason bows were breaking/delaminating. This can happen to any bowyer.
If limbs break, most likely the bow is strung up wrong. I have seen the damaged limbs from customers which were shipped back and there was none which had any problems before. All these were failures typical for leave a limb slightly twisted after stringing and then pulling the bow all the way back. I've seen it live happening with a $1500 bow from another bowyer.
If one guy built about 5500 bows,and an average failure rate of 3%, it would make about 165 failed bows. This is a very low rate and a bowyer is always dependent on the quality of his raw materials. Dustin,I'll have my assortent of show bows with me at the TN classic for everyone to try.
I remember when Paul Schafer himself ran into some bad glue. Or other bowyers with faulty glass....it happens.