Anyone have any experience with a JD Berry Pit Viper ?

Thanks

Not personally, but I do know it was James's flagship model for a longtime and took quite a few European championships.

I owned a left hand Pit Viper.  It was my first custom made longbow I owned, although I bought it used.  I had purchased from a friend who got me into trad shooting and bow building.  He had ordered it from James.  It was an amazing shooter and one of my all times favorites!  I was new to trad shooting though and coming from a compound bow, thought I needed 60# to hunt whitetails with and this bow was 62@28".  Later after I learned better form and quite being hunched over and short drawing, it was very obvious that I was overbowed, so I sold it.  If it was 10# lighter it probably would have saved me tons of money and years of trading and selling bows looking for another bow that I shot as well.  
 There was a great article in one of the early TBM's about JD Berry bows.  At one time a lot of the big shoots were all being won by JD Berry bows.  Then it seemed like they kinda disappeared for a few years.  Didn't hear of anyone getting one and didn't see any advertisements in TBM anymore.
 I am glad to see James back in the lime light and building some great new bows.
 I should call James sometime and see if he still has the old form and if he would make up a Pit Viper again.  
 So yes, I have experience with the Pit Viper and yes it is one heck of a nice shooting bow IMHO!

Took the Pit Viper off the market in 1995 and designed the Tipan off of parts that bow. I put it back on the market in 2003 as the "Argos" Named after one of my Great Danes, With some improvements to the handle style.....James

I want one !!!

Killed my first traditional gear buck with my Argos.  A very powerful, lethal, duo-flex longbow.
It will always be a special bow for me.

Music to my ears. I was not aware of the history of the Argos. Mr. Berry is working on an Argos to send my way in a few weeks. I purchased a JD Berry yaweh(20+ year old bow)and had to have another JD Berry bow and the Argos is the closest to the yaweh. I own a custom made 3 piece take-down long bow that is just over a year old and I shoot the yaweh better. I can't tell much difference in the speed between the two. Was having a hard time waiting as it was-then I read this.

"Argos" What a great name for mans best friend be it bow or dog. Loyalty to the end...never forget.

I have a serpentine that is my alltime favorite bow.  (sorry, I will never sale it Brian :-)  )  I wish it was a little lighter as I would still be shooting it more often than I do now.  I have a taipan on order and can't wait to see how that one shoots.

Dave,
You beat me to it . I saw your name as the last post and I was gonna see if I could pry it from you. Lol