A couple of months ago I purchased a 1958 Bear Polar longbow 60# 64". I finally got to shoot it for the first time today, and I have to say I'm impressed. It has a lot of hand shock but it draws like butter, so smooth. I haven't tuned it yet, but it even with my initial set up I'm finding that I'm doing really good with it. I'm using full length 75-95 GT Traditional Blems, 3x5 shield cut feather, 11.5gr insert with 225gr fieldpoint. Last night I replaced the grip with some soft leather I got from a hobby shop and fletched 6 of my arrows. I started at 5yrds stepped out to 10 then 15yrds before I started getting tired. Here's my results from 15yrds.
(http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae347/Dorado1873/Bow/IMG_1208-2_zpsca10af8d.jpg)
(http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae347/Dorado1873/Bow/IMG_1207_zpsf6dd0c79.jpg)
I still need to add string silencers, and I do have a couple of questions for y'all if you don't mind.
1) I'm getting a bit of string slap. I've tried different hand and body positions but it doesn't help. I've heard that sometimes if the Brace height is too low you'll get some string slap. Do I need to adjust my BH? Right now its set at about 7 1/8"
2) If adjusting BH won't help, then what?
If your BH don't help are you shooting with a locked out elbow? Elbow should be slightly bent with a low shoulder.
QuoteOriginally posted by cahaba:
If your BH don't help are you shooting with a locked out elbow? Elbow should be slightly bent with a low shoulder.
I don't think I'm locking my elbow. I could be though. I'll pay attention to it next time I'm out.
Nice! It looks like it's a shooter!
Those old bows shoot great, I second cahabas statement.
I used my usual grip but I think I wasn't being consistent with it. Usually I'll tuck my ring and pinky fingers so that my thumb knuckle stays right of center and the love line in my hand stays left of the grip without touching if I can help it. I try to make the grip of my bow rest on the thick meaty part of my hand. It looks like it's about to rain so I'll have to wait it out and try again tomorrow. I'll pay much more attention to my grip.
Would improper BH affect the string slapping my arm?
I know it affects arrow flight and noise, but string slap?
Tonight I'm going to scavenge the otter fur string silencers off of my Sage and put them on my Polar. I'm not hunting with the Sage so it's not that important for it to make noise, I plan on hunting with the Polar so I'd like to set it up and practice as if I am hunting.
I'm no vintage bear expert but I'm betting she'll behave better with a brace height closer to 8"
QuoteOriginally posted by Biathlonman:
I'm no vintage bear expert but I'm betting she'll behave better with a brace height closer to 8"
I'd have to swap strings to do that. Right now I'm running a 59" I have a 58" dacron that without twisting I get a BH of 7 3/4" I think I'll add a few more twists and work on my grip before I go switching strings.
Turned out to be grip and arm lock. First 24 shots with the Polar, I focused just on form and enough on the target to ensure a hit. With my usual grip tucking two finger and with a slightly bent arm I got no string slap. When I gripped with whole hand I got bit really bad. I've got a line where the string struck, even though I was wearing an arm guard.
I stole the otter balls off of my Sage and put them on the Polar and I realized something....
My bow is possessed. With every shot I heard it say "DOOM!" Now it was quick and quiet but I definitely heard it say Doom. Now it could be saying that whatever I aim at is doomed, in which case, I'm fine with the spirit. Just so long as it doesn't turn on me. Any advice on appeasing the spirits of the bow???
I also had a ghost arrow. I fired my bow, saw the arrow fly, saw a poor hit on my target, heard it hit. Yet when I went to retrieve it. It wasn't there. However a quick investigation lead me to my arrow about 20 feet behind the target. So my arrow went clean through my target. lol. Guess I need to aim better when I'm focusing on form. That or hire the ghostbusters.
Steven King should write a book about supernatural bows. I swear those old bows have a spirit in them!
Sometimes when I shoot my vintage bow it almost seems like my arrow is going to veer off target - then it's sucked in right where it should hit!
It's almost like they are trying to prove what they can still do. Tonight I shot about ten consecutive shots into a grapefruit sized target at over 15 yards with my Bear Tigercat - without sights of course, the only way to become one with your bow and free your mind. At 38# it's not supposed to hit like a freight train either - but nobody told the bow that! I pity any deer getting within my range, I really do.