I'm not looking for a Ford vs Chevy thread and I know a lot of this is going to be personal preference. I all ready did a bunch of searching here and at other places and I swear I just get more confused. Just too many options out there with all the limb and riser combos available.

I want a meat & potatoes hunting bow that has top end performance. One that I can throw in the back of the pick up truck or not worry about scratching cause it's too pretty. My top end budget is $1000 but would like to do it cheaper if it's possible. That includes sights,plunger,grip and the rest of the gadgets like brackets and or adapters needed.

I don't get the price difference in risers and limbs...Risers..$200-$800 and limbs about the same. Is there really a field hunting difference? Should I try to save money on the riser and put the cash into the limbs or visa-versa?

I'm looking at:
Tradtech
Dorado
DAS

Priority's are:
1. I can shoot it accurately.
1a.Dead quite.(with light arrows ie.8gpp)
2. Dead in the hand.
3. Shoot of the shelf or with plunger and rest.
4. Fast with light arrows at least 200 fps.
5. I am also interested in trying the DAS aperture sight out.

My specs are:
1. I'd like a bow between 58"-60"
2. 50#'s
3. I pull 27.5"

I've seen in searching a lot of the arguments between these risers is the ILF compatibility issue. I'm not real concerned about that cause I just want a good set of limbs,set it up and go hunting with it. I don't plan on trying lots of different limbs and such.

Any advice or recommendations you metal riser experts can offer is greatly appreciated.

TIA

I have three bows, one Bear recurve, one Centaur, and a Gamemaster. I shoot the Gamemaster as good or better than the others, and it shoots 5 fps slower than my Centaur. It really upset me this year when I set the Centaur down in the leaves to pack up my treestand, it slid down the side of the hill I was hunting and got scratched up on some rocks, so I understand what you mean about being too pretty. All in all the DAS has more adjustability, but the others are significantly cheaper. Personally, I would take the Hoyt, spend a little extra money on getting it quiet and keep the change for a treestand or camo!

Look into a Quinn, check out the sight carefully... you can get fixed up with a new bow and great limbs for less than $300.

Even at 8 gpp, it's going to be hard to get the speed you want.  For example, the bow test in the Nov./Dec Traditional Bowhunter showed a 53# Dalaa with 9 gpp producing a speed of 189 fps at 28 inches.

Black Swan recurve. You can order it drilled for a plunger if you want it that way. Available in 56" or 60" as a recurve. Tough as nails, no nonsense hunting bow. Very quiet, stable and fast.

I've got to agree with Orion, at 50 lbs and a 27.5" draw, 8 grains per lbs. you will not likely see 200fps. I don't even think the new black swan with recurve limbs will get you that, and it is very very fast.

Myself, I have a DAS gen.II riser and it brings to the table every thing else you are looking for. As far as limbs go, the higher priced ones will be faster, but it's highly unlikely that you would notice much difference in the smoothness of draw between  a 150.00 pair and a 600.00 pair.

Is there a chart or something for ilf limb weights on different legnth risers?

QuoteEven at 8 gpp, it's going to be hard to get the speed you want. For example, the bow test in the Nov./Dec Traditional Bowhunter showed a 53# Dalaa with 9 gpp producing a speed of 189 fps at 28 inches.

The 200 fps isn't that important to me but I thought they were getting higher numbers with some of the newer limbs..thx.

QuoteBlack Swan recurve

That's a thought. I've been eye balling those for a long time now. Wish I could shoot one first.

QuoteAs far as limbs go, the higher priced ones will be faster, but it's highly unlikely that you would notice much difference in the smoothness of draw between a 150.00 pair and a 600.00 pair.

That's what I've been really wondering about.

I hope you're not hunting at 8 gpp?

QuoteI hope you're not hunting at 8 gpp?

Yes, but I guess I should have mentioned this bow would be mostly for small game. Rabbits,Turkeys,Squirrels,Stumping,3D and fun.
If I decided to use it on deer or hogs I would shoot 10+ gpp. I have a Blacktail that I shoot 10-12 gpp out of. This bow is for fun,small game and practice with light arrows and a flatter trajectory.

Like Hickey said, go with a Quinn, you wont be sorry. I have 2, wont sell for anything, already drilled for plunger and sight, great bargain.

Quinn for sure if you want a metal riser. And the price is right. YOu'll get one for less than a PSE or Hoyt and much better. The people there are super.

I would suggest the Quinn also.The difference in performance between a $270 Quinn and a $1000 whatever is going to be very small.It's fine if you are willing to pay 3 times the price for a few fps or the ability to try the latest ILF limbs but the Quinn sounds more like what you are looking for.

It won't matter how ugly the bow is.You will be a lot more upset over scratches in a $1000 bow than a $270 bow.

For less than 1/2 the price of a DAS ot top end TT,you can have a Quinn with two sets of limbs.

I own 3 DAS bows and love them but the Quinn is a real shooter for the price.

You shouldn't have any problems hunting deer with a 50 lb bow and 400 grain arrows.

I just got a Quinn, and I am very impressed with it.  Good performance, quiet, and solid.  Very well made, and shoots great (regardless of price).  Best money I have spent on a bow.

Mark

TAC Firefly.  its a 19" riser.  I've got TT longbow limbs for it, making it a 64".  Other ILF limbs will get it down to 58" or 60".  OUt of the handful of bows I've owned this one will never leave.  Its super tough.  can be shot with a plunger and rest or from the shelf.
The best grip on any bow I've held.

oh cool. That is plenty.