This has been in the works for quite a while now.  We've been wanting to offer a truly different product based on our proven design and this is it.  We're calling it the ACS-ACX (for All Carbon eXtreme).

It has a radically new carbon riser that is both EXTREMELY lightweight and EXTREMELY strong.  In precise flex tests this thing rivals our solid aluminum riser in terms of thousandths of an inch deflection but weighs about the same as a feather.  

Some companies offer a "carbon" riser but it's actually made of chopped-up carbon fibers bound together by a resin system.  With such a design you only get the strength of the resin along with being burdened by the heavy weight of the resin.  A poor excuse for something called a "carbon" riser.  As I've said plenty of times before, compromising on an easy and quick solution isn't in our genes.

This riser is both strong and lightweight because of the way it's constructed.  The internal skeleton of reinforced carbon is surrounded by a lightweight-but-strong foam.  All of that is shaped and then covered with a thick and strong shell of carbon.   The result is something completely unlike any 3PTD riser I've ever seen, held, shot, or owned in almost 50 years of playing with stickbows.  This design is totally new stuff and comes with three extraordinary benefits - light weight, warm feel in extremely cold weather, and unbelievable sound deadening.

This riser weighs only a few ounces.  For folks who've always loved the lightweight feel of a simple one-piece bow and therefore stayed away from a heavier 3PTD, this is definitely something to look at.  Or, for those hard-core backpack hunters who want to save weight in their equipment this feather-light riser will definitely not disappoint.   In cold weather the carbon shell feels warmer than wood when you grip it - a really nice feature for those of us who hunt in cold climates.  And finally, I cannot emphasize enough how incredibly quiet these bows are.  Our bows have always been very quiet, but the sound deadening qualities of the carbon skeleton with foam core and carbon shell must be heard to be believed.  I'd challenge you to find any high-performance bow anywhere that's as quiet as this one.

Now, to the limbs.  The ACX limbs still have wood core, but that's the only thing that's not carbon.  The limbs are still made with four layers of carbon (two on the back and two on the belly).  But the ACX takes things farther.  By using an all-carbon wedge, carbon butt cap overlays, and carbon tip overlays, the package becomes complete.  The carbon wedge is not only cool to look at, but it also lightens up the limbs (even more!) and also attenuates the harmonic vibrations that any limb set has after the shot.

The ACX riser can be used with our standard limbs ( but not with our new short 3PTD limbs), and the ACX limbs can be mounted on our current line of 14", 16", and 18" risers.  However, to recognize the full benefit of this new bow you should use them as a system.  I feel comfortable in saying that you will say something like "holy cow!" the first time you shoot an ACS-ACX.

For more info you can check out our website or call the shop.

Here are some photos:
 
 
 
 

Sweet bow!  Any plans to use foam core limbs?

We've tried and tested foam core in our limbs and have chosen to not use it or offer it.  Our limbs (because of the ACS design) already have very, very little core.  So any weight savings derived from the use of foam versus wood in the critical final few inches of limb length is minimal.  Plus (and maybe this is because of our limb design) the foam core limbs I've tested are quite a bit slower than the same limbs made with our wood core.  Since what we always try to offer is maximized performance and because foam core degraded performance we don't offer it.  I can assure you that we'd use it all the time if it made our bows perform better.

This is not to say that foam core might not make other bows better/faster/quieter.  But for us it didn't so that's why we don't offer it.

SHAZAM...Wow John, you guys went off the chart with that one! I'm honestly shocked you can do that riser for $575. Ya'll don't have any "trial" bows do you?    :rolleyes:

That is pretty sweet looking,very nice!

Hey Joe,

We'll probably have one or two for folks to shoot at both Compton as well as ETAR.

We'd be glad to make one for you!  

has anyone looked at the effects that uv has on carbon fiber. i know in working with it before that we would have to use a special uv clear coating. maybe it would have to sit in the sun always to have any effect? don't know but either way, AWESOME riser!

Damn! That's seductive!!      

THAT is COOL! Way to go John and Larry.
I will be sure to try and shoot it at Compton if you will let me.(I will beg if I have to.)
Thanks John. great job,as always
Chuck

Sadly, I won't be at Compton and my play funds are in the negative. However, this riser is the first lately to make me actually consider adding something new to the stable...and that's saying something. Fantastic achievement though, continued congratulations for always pushing the envelope.

I also didn't see any pics of the new shorty 3ptd riser/limbs. Do those look different than the standard length models? Any plans to make the carbon riser/limb system in the shorty configuration?

John,

You and Larry are a treasure.  Nobody pushes the envelope like you guys. AND knowing how you test, test, test should gives guys confidence that these will last, last last.  Nice work!

Now that's just too cool!!

I know I'll sneak it out when no one is looking at Compton.  LOL

Mike

Nice work, John..

Bet this will a top seller !

Hey John, looks great!! Can we expect the carbon eXtreme riser with the recurve grip in the near future? If so... i'm gonna start saving !!
                   Thanks, Jr.

Neat!

Very nice, I bet its tough and very light. Nice work.  Chad

Boy do I want one bad!!!!

Great looking bow John - Hats off to you guys!

Holy cow!!

I've been away from the computer for a while.  Now that I'm back I'll take a stab at answering the questions in the order they were posed.

Joe, the new short 3PTD models do indeed look different from our standard line of bows.  They are based on a 12" riser (new design) and use limbs that are shaped 3-dimensionally differently from our standard design - all intended to work together as a unit to maximize performance from a shorter package.  If we don't yet have any pics up on the website give Dan a call and he can probably send some to you.

Again Joe, regarding whether or not we'll have the short 3PTD in an ACX format.  The answer is (not to be coy) time will tell.  Getting to this point was quite expensive and very time consuming.  We chose this riser/limb combo because it is one of our most popular models.  If demand for this version of the ACX meets (and hopefully exceeds) our expectations then the next line of bows we'll consider offering in an ACX version will be the short 3PTD's.

Steve O., in your p.m. you asked essentially if we have conducted any impact tests to see how much blunt trauma the shell of the ACX riser could take.  The answer is no, we haven't.  However, the shell is pretty darned thick and not flimsy at all.  And given how strong and stiff the riser is I'd expect it to take a licking and keep on ticking.   It's worth noting that the skeleton surrounded by foam is PRECISELY sized so that the outer shell bonds to the skeleton as well as the foam.  The skeleton isn't floating around inside of the foam which in turn mates with the shell.  The entirety of the system integrates to make for one tough mutha.

Guss, I personally hope that demand for this riser offers us enough encouragement to move all the way through our line of risers to include the RC riser.  I have to admit that it's my personal favorite because it's based on a few risers that i carved for myself a long time ago.  If this one does okay and is as well received as I expect it to be then it would be quite reasonable to expect an RC version one day.

Great stuff John!!  H