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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: dad on February 20, 2013, 12:23:00 AM

Title: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: dad on February 20, 2013, 12:23:00 AM
Thinking about ordering one of these two with 62" limbs and in 43# to 45# range @27" draw. The longer limbs for my Arthritis in my fingers. Which would you order and why  would you order it? What Alum. arrow would you use? One bow for it all hunting and general purpose, indoor animal round ,3-D would be the uses.
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: David Yukon on February 20, 2013, 12:26:00 AM
I have a PSA V 60"46@28, I draw to just under 31" and have no problems with it. At your 27" draw, a 62" should be butter smooth!!
Good luck.
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: TOEJAMMER on February 20, 2013, 12:59:00 AM
I have three MAII , all 60 inch 60#@28; 61# @28 and 64# @28.  One PMA II 58 inch with two sets of limbs, 55# @28 and 60# @28.  I draw 27 inches as do you.  I really like the 60 inch length for me.  I suspect that a 2016 aluminum would work if not cut too long or overloaded on the front end.  Others who shoot your weight and bow  would be a better source.
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: rraming on February 20, 2013, 05:44:00 AM
To spend 1200 bucks without a test drive is crazy unless you won the lottery. It will cost you about 60 bucks to test drive a bow, do that twice, then order and apply shipping to the bow you order. My kids use to say "easy, peasy, lemon squeezy" it really is.
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: Rick Richard on February 20, 2013, 06:29:00 AM
X2 on the test drive, but I have owned a couple of BWs and for me I need as much mass weight as possible
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: gretchen on February 20, 2013, 07:11:00 AM
I've owned about 9 widows in the last 2 years and my favorite is the PMAs


Dewayne Martin
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: widow sax on February 20, 2013, 09:00:00 AM
The PSA will give you a longer working limb over the PMA I have a SAX and two CHX I like the CHX better myself I like a shorter riser with a longer working limb. But I also like short bows my CHX is 56" long and my SAX is 58" you schould be good with either one.    Widow
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: dad on February 20, 2013, 09:37:00 AM
What would be the advantage of the longer working limb?
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: jonsimoneau on February 20, 2013, 10:38:00 AM
Both are fine bows. But for me the PMA is easier to shoot accurately.
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: TOEJAMMER on February 20, 2013, 10:39:00 AM
Less finger pinch but not an issue with a 27 inch draw on either a 58 inch or 60 inch bow and some say smoother but I can't tell any difference between the two lengths.
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: bogeyrider63 on February 20, 2013, 10:52:00 AM
Don't rule out the PCH in 60" I had a psa in 60" and it pinched and stacked on me but i draw 29" also. Just picked up a new pch in 60" and it was better for me. PCH has a longer working limb since it is the shorter riser.Since you draw 27" i don't see a issue for you in any of their bow's in 60" or 62". good luck.
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: RUTANDSTRUT on February 20, 2013, 10:58:00 AM
the psa with the longer limb should be a little bit smoother.  depending on your draw length, the pma with the shorter limb may be a little bit faster.  one thing to consider is the sigtht window.  if you shoot a vertical style form and/ or low anchoring point, you have to make sure the sight window is large enough for close shots.  given your draw length and needs, i would opt for the psa with the longer limb.  just my $.02
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: dad on February 20, 2013, 12:36:00 PM
I had the PCH and the sight window was to small for me and yes I did the try before you buy that was my first Black Widow.The limbs bolts in my sight picture started to bother me. With or without the canting the bow.
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: on February 20, 2013, 12:39:00 PM
Test drive, by all means, and I agree don't overlook the PCH--no stack, no pinch and less weight in the riser. A 58" PCH will have the same limbs as a 60" PSA. More versatile IMHO.
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: xtrema312 on February 20, 2013, 01:57:00 PM
Test drive for sure.

Pick what you want or need for a site window first.  That is really the biggest difference to me between the PCH, PSA, and PMA.  That could well rule out a bow.  I shoot with a small amount of cant so I need a PSA site window shooting split, but I can work with the PCH three under.

Another factor is if you want a lot of riser weight.  You get the most with the PMA, but an iron wood PSA or PCH has plenty.  Is a lot of weight to hold up good or bad for your arthritic hands? Heavier is more tiring on the hands, but it does cut the vibrations more.

Then pick the limb length that best works for your draw length.  BW doesn't even recommend the 62" PSA or PMA for 27" draw.  More than likely you will not get best performance out of 62" bows at 27" draw length.  I am sure it will be very smooth, but why go so long if you really can't get into the performance of the limb or see the smoothness of a longer limb? A 60" PMA, 58- 60" PSA, or 58" PCH will have the  recommended draw length range for a 27" draw with plenty of room to draw longer.   It is best to ask BW about the best all around draw length for you on each bow.  

I actually think they are conservative on maximum draw length.  I have a 29" draw.  I can shot a 58" PSA with no noticeable finger pinch and zero stack.  My draw is max recommended for the 58".  I can also shoot a 56" PCH with tolerable finger pinch, but smooth all the way with no stack I could feel. That is 1" longer than  recommended on a 56" PCH.
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: rolltidehunter on February 20, 2013, 03:24:00 PM
you need to do the test drive.

i shot the pma and the psa in all lengths and weights. i was lucky enough to shoot all of them at the howard hill classic. i ended up ordering a PSA 53 at 26 with 56 inch limbs.

call the guys and talk to them before ordering

and listen to Xtrema312 post
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: finkm1 on February 20, 2013, 04:10:00 PM
You are a month too late, you could have went to the expo at K-ZOO and shot them all. Thats what bogeyrider63 did. I don't know if Black Widow comes to the Compton Shoot in June or not. If they do, you may want to go and try some different models.
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: dad on February 20, 2013, 04:59:00 PM
With my Arthritis its in the fingers on my release hand. I did call Black Widow and Bob Lee and they both said 58" limbs
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: Ibow on February 20, 2013, 09:40:00 PM
Been shooting MA's for years and years. Bigger site window - love em'.
I believe BW does  come to the Compton shoot so if you can wait that long...    :cool:
Title: Re: Black Widow Owners wich one PMA & PSA
Post by: finkm1 on February 20, 2013, 09:59:00 PM
I have a PSA X built last year 50# @ 28 60 in. I like it. I shoot 2016 xx75s.