Alright gang, here's my dilemma....I just sent a deposit to Mr. Berry for one of his bows. I have about a six month wait BUT I feel like a kid in an ice cream shop trying to decide on what "flavor" to order. That's where I need your help....What is is best shooting/most forgiving model & WHY ? I know opinions will vary but I value your experience and advice,(I'm torn between the Morningstar, Taipan & Vixen)
Thanks
Tradcat,
Most forgiving...... now thats a hard one. Lets see, I own a Misty Dawn, Vixen, Morningstar, Northstar and a Taipan.
I can honestly shoot them all about the same on average, BUT the morningstar and Taipan are definitely the two I can shoot good all the time, no matter what. Why? Im not sure really, maybe the arrows are tuned better for those two bows?
The morningstar and taipan "FEEL" more in tune with me for sure.
I really enjoy american semi-longbows, maybe the nostalgia, the look, not really sure but I love them, so in that right the Morningstar gets a lot of shooting in. BUT, if you take nostalgia out of the equation, and just look at overall accuracy, and shoot ability of a bow I don't see where you could get better than the Taipan. Now I don't own an Argos, Renaissance, or appollo though so who knows. But for the bows I do own, the Taipan seems to be the overall most accurate cant miss bow I own closely followed by the Morningstar. This years 3D tourneys will be shot using the Taipan. This includes local outdoor and indoor 3D, indoor 300, outdoor American Rounds and if I can swing it the IBO Worlds will be shot with the Taipan, this bow is just that "consistently accurate" for ME. It seems to shoot itself.
With all that said, I don't feel you can make a bad choice, and the Morningstar still gets lots and lots of shooting time, and is also my goto hunting rig.
Can't speak for all models, but my North Star string follow reverse handle is a true dream to shoot. Smooth, smooth, smooth on the draw, gentle on release, and quiet like nothing you've shot. Likes heavy cedars.
Tim
I can't say a word different than Far Rider and Brian.....have owned a Morningstar and now a Northstar. James truly knows what he's doing and no matter your choice, it'll treat you right.
Brian, Brian, Brian, just when I was about settled on the Morning star you throw the Taipan into the mix, Love my r/d bows. AARRGG. Would it be possible to put up an unstrung profile of the Taipan?
Don't own a Berry yet, waiting on my build, good luck with your choice tradcat.
I keep seeing this question and wonder what folks have done that they need so much "forgiveness" for??
A bow is a bow and when you get one from James, you can bet it will be smooth and very shootable. I for one cannot even define what "forgiveness" is.
:confused: :archer: :archer2:
Arne
moebow, Arne, Arne, Arne, a forgiving bow is one that has not broke (yet)..lol.....James
Waiting on mine as well no hijack intended here but what is the speed difference between the taipan and morning star different designs somewhat I know thnx that being said I love the looks of the morning star
GOOD ONE JAMES!!!!!! I get it!!
Arne
Here it is unstrung
(http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q618/brianlocal3/jd%20viper/null_zpse39ddd69.jpg)
Tradcat -
I think you've hit all three nails on the head. Any one you choose will be a great bow.
Danny
Problem solved -- get all three. :bigsmyl:
Arne
Nice profile love the reverse handle design
Thanks so much Brian, very nice lines. Good choice to lay it on the tile lines for reference. OOOHHHH AAAAHHH, going to be a difficult choice, forward handle backset or r/d. :confused:
moebow I agree with your assessment but $ is the problem, sounds like a good long range plan though.
My definition of forgiveness is when one is about to bend way over, hold the bow flat to the ground to shoot under a blowdown, squeeze rosin out of the riser, grind your teeth, pull harder with your ring finger than normal, take careful aim at a nasty killer cottontail, release, and nothing goes wrong, the arrow flies perfect and I have supper in hand.
pavan,
You are referring to the OMG shot. I now can see where forgiveness factors in. Learn something every day. :pray:
Arne
Pavan,
I agree with your assessment of forgiveness. And this is why after tuning up the taipan is did exactly that, shot it in all the odd ball ways I could think of like I do with my straightlimbed bows, fully expecting some loss of forgiveness, but alas he Taipan pulled thru, as did my others , but I was wanting to see if it would be touchy or not,
pavan, tried that once, missed, cottontail came over and kicked the crap out of me, not doing that agin!....jA Me s
A forgiving bow will allow me to make a mistake or two while trying to make the shot but won't let the arrow in on "it" so it still hits where I wanted it to anyway.
God bless,Mudd
BTW: Both of my Berry bows fill the bill.
Just taking a break from the opera Richard Tucker thing on TV. I managed to put together a bunch of net length bunny arrows today for the warm spell that is coming. Perhaps i should take my mace along just in case something goes wrong.
I'm really starting to like these JD Berry discussions. Has anyone compared the Appollo with the Taipan? James' website says they both come off the same form, with the Appollo having a two inch longer handle, if I am reading correctly. I like the sounds of that. Would a 2" longer handle be more forgiving? Or am I splitting hairs?
QuoteOriginally posted by JDBerry:
pavan, tried that once, missed, cottontail came over and kicked the crap out of me, not doing that agin!....jA Me s
James....are you really saying it's possible to miss with one of your bows? Boy, that's gonna suck when it happens. :D
James, sounds like the bunny from that Monty Python movie!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Mudd, I like that theory. I wonder if I can figure out how to break the lines of communication between my bow and my arrows?!?!?! :eek:
You guys are killing me.
Tim
I consistantly outshoot scoped high velocity rifles at 500 yards with my JD Berry bows. Well maybe I don't but I do consider them all forgivin!
Hi!
All I can say is that the taipan is an awesome bow. I had James make me a 66"52#@27" the bow draws super smooth. No stacking. Nothing. It feels easier to pull as I get to my draw actually. Weird.
I have tried many different types of bows with differnt grips. I really like this bow. The bow is amber boo core, highly figured maple parallel limbs, African wenge riser with different accents, the tips are James special berry nocks with iron wood, boo, then lacewood. I didn't choose any of this, (except for the berry nocks and that dam cockroack :-) )In fact, I let James artistic talent take over. I was Not disappointed. The bow is absolutely gorgeous. The pics are lousy due to poor lighting and operator error.
It's very light in the hand. Very point-able. No shock and fast and great cast! I had James make me a slight dished grip. This is what I prefer.
Received it friday night. Shot it about 20 times (saturday) at about 10yrds. I was hitting 1/4 size groups. This morning I went out to 15. Whammo. I went to 25yrds whammo. This bow is amazing. I told James he messed up because this is probably the last bow he or anyone else's bow I would want. I would not change a thing. I'm going to make a video and post it on youtube.
Shoots big jims blems 55/75 cut to 29&3/4" w/100gr brass insert w/145,3" para feathers. Total weight is 548. Cast and speed is blazing amazing, Flat n fast, like me 20 years ago :-)
Here are some pics, enjoy the first 2014 taipan, I sure am! :-)
Thank you James! Every time I pick this bow up I smile and smile.
(http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t587/budomike/Mobile%20Uploads/20140111_145740_zps78f5e8ac.jpg) (http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/budomike/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140111_145740_zps78f5e8ac.jpg.html)
(http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t587/budomike/Mobile%20Uploads/20140111_150044_zps3dc19379.jpg) (http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/budomike/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140111_150044_zps3dc19379.jpg.html)
(http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t587/budomike/Mobile%20Uploads/20140111_151828_zpsc5b9695f.jpg) (http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/budomike/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140111_151828_zpsc5b9695f.jpg.html)
(http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t587/budomike/Mobile%20Uploads/AA084B0F-3F67-4367-AA0D-32156F29E60F_zpsuihcijbr.jpg) (http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/budomike/media/Mobile%20Uploads/AA084B0F-3F67-4367-AA0D-32156F29E60F_zpsuihcijbr.jpg.html)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNZHQqNMEkk
that is a very tough question. i have had 6 berry bows and all was as forgiving as the next. a taipan, argos, yaweh, mistydawn and two vixens. i couldnt pic one if i was at gun point. hahaha. i do love the vixen though. just because i prefer a backset straight end. my taipan is my holy grail though. i really want a north star and a morning star. so at least i am faced with fewer choice issues. lol. u sir have a tough choice in your future.
Good luck in which ever you choose. Shooting this taipan several days now. It's a very good bow.
Okay, I'll chime in on this. These Berry threads are informative and do wonders for James business.
First off, my idea of a forgiving bow is simply a bow that seems to shoot where I'm looking even when my form and execution suffers. Like moebow, I do think its a term often used and it's meaning is quite ambiguous. Everything is so personal that forgiving to me likely means absolutley nothing to the next guy.
Figure out what style Berry bow you like and when you receive it it will be the most "forgiving" bow James makes.
ronp,
These bows are custom in all respects. The Taipan was James' creation of an economical Apollo. My Taipan was ordered with the extra two inches in the riser like the Apollo.
(http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu47/chromebuck/IMG_0018_zpsafcca3b8.jpg)
I have placed my order for a second Taipan in slightly heavier poundage. Still contemplating those medieval nocks...
Mike(lineman72),
Can you post a close up side profile of one of your nocks? The braced profile of the 66" is way SEXY....
THanks,
~CB
Hi chrome buck(Keith).!Pulling an all nighter. Cable failure due to flooding manholes from water main break. Will post tomorrow. Man they are very sexy. I thought that they would be bigger tbh. But they are very sleek. And I'm very very happy with them.
Mike.
Your Taipain turned out absolutly beautiful!!! Hopefully she will be serving you well this 3d season, and I'm sure she will. My Taipain won the honors of being my dedicated tourney bow for sure
OK I'll say its the Vixen! just get the Vixen!
Has anyone noticed how James' waiting list is getting longer. Man, I'm glad I got an order in for a Taipan about a month ago.
I'm glad I got on the list (again) about 5 months or so ago. :)
Thanks Brian, I am really impressed with the Taipan.
Chromebuck, added a new profile pic of the berry nock and vid. Let me know if you want any more pics
I am going have hands on input in a couple of weeks.
Mike,
Thanks for the pic and video. You have a nice instinctual shooting style. A keeper indeed! Berry bows can be likened to Doritos for some folks, and me being one of them.
Give your daughter a special thanks from us on TG for exceptional camera skills and a very cute finger!
I fully understand the positive string attachment attributes the medieval nock style has, but I'm still on the fence...I shoot a 62" 53# Taipan with a near 28" draw length. It is skookum!
:thumbsup:
~CB
Mike,
I just saw that you added a video. AWSOME looking Taipain!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNZHQqNMEkk
Good video. Thanks for sharing. I have to call James real soon!