I have had a number of centaurs over the last year and my glass bows seem to shoot faster than the chimera or double carbons! I never chrono'd them but I felt as if the were better and faster shooter! Man I love centaurs!!!!

Good idea.  One for looking and the other one for shooting..  

Chop,
I have owned at least one of each model Jim has made. Chimera's are all I own now. Don't feel I have compromised one little bit. 2fps difference between my Chimera and the Carbon Elite I recently sold at the exact same draw weight. One plus is the handshock between the two is the same... non existent. The bigger plus is the Chimera is a quieter bow than the Elite. No brainer imo the Chimera is the best all around model Jim makes. Doesn't hurt having these beautiful woods staring back at ya instead of black carbon while things are slow while out in the stand... Here's my two Chimera's
 
 
 
 

Froggy

UPDATE    Thought I better do a little more "data collecting" concerning my not to "controlled" test. Measured brace and weight with my scale. The 62" bows came in at 46@30 not 48@30 as I had thought, both were braced at 7 3/8. 184fps and 181fps at 9.78gr per pound, thats cooking in my book with a 46# bow    Both 60" bows were braced at 7 1/8 and the Glass bow scales at 53@30 as I had thought but the Chimera is actually 51@30 on my scale. Based on my math that would put the speed of the Chimera if it were the same weight as the glass bow at 196fps, 6fps faster than the glass bow. Bottom line is Jim make the BEST longbow out there. Period.

speed is over-rated

Not really over-rated, I don't think.  Maybe sometimes over-valued, at the cost of other bow attributes one may desire.  But a fast, quiet, stable, and accurate bow is generally preferable to a merely quiet, stable and accurate bow.  Or it is for me, anyway.  

I love my Chimera.  Prefer it to the all glass I have and the Carbon Elite I had.

Well said MRD. What it comes down to essentially is whether your'e shooting a slower D shape or a top end speed hybrid r/d, the shooter better be able to put it where it counts at the moment of truth, be it shooting at fur or a bullseye !!!    

Froggy

Ah naa naaa speed along! is over rated. But two bows that shot dead in the hand and accurately.......give me the speedy one any day!

Hey guys, I'm curious.  Do you find the finger grooves in the riser helpful when hunting in the cold with gloves on?

Cheers,
Joe

I like the groove with or without the gloves.  I only use the the first 2 groove because of the way I shoot,  GFA Style with my ring finger curled against the riser. If you get stippling, shooting this way will leave a blister on that finger.

Joe the finger grooves are a big help with gloves especially if damp or wet. The stippling is also nice and you always have a good solid grip on the bow.

Thanks for the input guys!!

Cheers,
Joe