Looking for a second actually 4th, bow as a tree stand /ground blind and back up bow.
I have narrowed it down to a 58" Hoyt Dorado or ******** onyx riser and black max carbon and wood limbs.
what are the good, bad and ugly with these selections.
It will be 50-55 pounds, both about $600.00,
Both good setups, but honestly the Black Onyx setup with Black Max's will be smoother, quieter AND fully adjustable. You can mount ILF limbs on the Dorado riser by removing the ILF bushings but won't have adjustability/ it will be a bolt down bow.
Don't get me wrong the Dorado is a handsome bow and if the looks really do it for you, don't hesitate. But the ILF bow also offers tool less takedown capability and the limb core construction on the Max Carbon limbs is simply superior to the Dorado's very basic Hoyt limbs.
thanks, nine, that's the kind of input / insight that I'm looking for.
No problem. If you had a chance to examine a pair of limbs off each one side by side you'd know what I mean. The BM's are very thin in cross section for their given weight and very lightweight overall. They are actually just rebranded and blacked out Samick Olympic recurve limbs. Samick Universals I believe. The stock Dorado limbs would be like burly wood planks compared as they lack the carbon for reinforcement and weight savings. I know all this because I have quite conveniently owned both setups. The Black Onyx riser is quite comfortable in the hand and the deflex makes it very pointable. The phenolic lends it a warm hand feel and I imagine it would be much friendlier in cold conditions vs aluminum if you frequent that type of weather. If using for a backup bow consider finding a Dorado or TT setup used on the classifieds or abroad.
I have a Hoyt Dorado and love it, it's a sweet fast shooting bow that is very easy to tune... Hands down I suggest the Dorado... FYI they run about 2ish pounds more then they are marked...
Now I haven't had any expairiance with the other but I'm sure it is smoother because of the carbon and nine is right the dorado does have plain wood limbs. But it is a good shooting bow.
Probably not what you're wanting to hear, but find someone with a Bear Kodiak Mag you can try. I'm totally amazed how smoothly this little 52" bow draws - even back to 29". There are some nice used ones available for $150 - $225.