Custom bows.....pretty, but to claim they outperform all production bows would be a stretch. And how many bows do you make before your production. I have made 8 bows. Low production, but production. As far as fps go mine shoot fast as most others. I add carbon to the limbs which does give a few more fps and makes them fill stiffer at the beginning of the draw. After building a few bows I realize that a $2000 custom and a $300 samick are not that far apart. And material cost is similar. Chevy or cadilac it's personal preference. I don't mind being seen in a pinto myself.

I'll drive the pinto too Red, but cover it in a woodlad camo limbskinz!

QuoteOriginally posted by Mr.Magoo:
FPS is only one small measurement of a bow's performance.  If you're going to reduce a bow to speed you're in for a lot of disappointment.

Could not agree more.  I got caught up in that some years back with a 60# Dan Quillion Patriot.  It was certainly well made and blisteringly fast, like 220 fps with hunting arrows, but not at all pleasant to shoot and very loud.  I draw 30" and it was huffing 68# by then . . . and felt like 90#.  At the time I was shooting a longbow of 60#@28" as my primary.  It was my one and only takedown recurve and I sold it to a club member who lusted after it, and last I knew he was still loving it.  It was just not the bow for me.

I actually think I disliked the fact I couldn't see the arrow, even though I don't consciously look for them in flight.

   

QuoteOriginally posted by Mr.Magoo:
FPS is only one small measurement of a bow's performance.  If you're going to reduce a bow to speed you're in for a lot of disappointment. [/b]

I agree, but still think the results are interesting. Everything else is, to me, rather subjective, while velocity is measureable. I've hunted for years without knowing the velocity of my arrows and haven't been hampered or otherwise bothered about it. Like I said in the OP, I was playing...    :D

I am glad martin is still in the bow buisness.
They make a outstanding bow any one new to our thing can get a bow resonable and no wait.Newcomers just arent going to wait a year to get a bow made for them just to try our sport.

jhg, certainly there will be production bows that some prefer over custom bows. Just because a bow is made by a bowyer not a factory does not make it better by any means. However of the reputable custom bows i have shot, there is no comparison as far as shoot-ability.

Fair enough.

Joshua

I'm glad Martin is still in business, too. Even though my tastes run to the customs, I'll always have my Hunter. I was rather impressed that it kept up, velocity-wise, with the more expensive custom. And I agree that companies like Bear and Martin make entry into our sport more immediate and less financially painful...even though we all know it will turn into a full-blown addiction!

(Besides, it was a gift from my wife!!     )

Opinion Only:    
The best production bows ever built are Damon Howatts.I've seen them smoke the biggest names in the business speed wise and the older models are about a beautiful as a bow can get.  When I say the best I mean all around, Speed, Stability, accuracy, The design of the Howatts is second to none. Long risers, stiff tips and short working area but not overloading the limb. they are just great bows. Take an old Hunter or even a Ventura or Monterray and put some phenolic on the tips and a light ff string and watch out. One thing though . A lot of them are heavier than the poundage writtne on them. some quite a bit. God bless you all and Andy I will get you some pics real quick. I have your riser through all the first layups. Steve

I have to agree with Sixby. I have 4 Howatt Hunters and a Monterey built on the same form. I put phenolic tips and a D-97 string on the Monterey. After making this change I would put it up performance wise with anything out there in a 62" 49# bow. I really like the riser grips on the 1960's Howatts.

I owned a Habu which was a nice bow with outstanding workmanship but choosing between the 2, I would keep the Monterey every time.

QuoteOriginally posted by Sixby:
God bless you all and Andy I will get you some pics real quick. I have your riser through all the first layups. Steve

Thanks, Steve.  I'm feeling kinda like Pavlov's dog about now!      :D

Andy I took pics this am. When I can get Marcy to size and post them I will do something I have never done. I will post up a pic of a half finished riser and you all can see the difference when it is finished. This is really going to be a nice one. God Bless you all, Steve

After shooting the Habu with  B55,  9 strand Astroflite, and  12 strand Astroflite strings, I've come to the conclusion that my release is not clean & consistent enough to accurately determine a significant difference...other than the B55 is super quiet.

I've pretty much noticed the same thing that overbow spoke of.  I'm shooting a 46lb. Viperkhan with longbow limbs that is shooting 8 feet per second faster than a 55lb recurve of another make.  Of course I don't care at all about arrow speed.  I just like habu bows alot.  Can't wait for my new one to get here.

I think you can get a great bow from any custom or production at a given time or a so so bow as well. I have Saluki, Hills, Bears, Brownings, and a SelwayII Little Shooter all good and most are fast enough, but the Little shooter leaps out in front all the way around. I have had a couple of Martin longbows that were in the so so class. I have never shoot a Martin recurve but I believe that is where they shine. 1400 more for the Habu? I don't think so, but maybe if I shoot one I mite change my mind.

I use a list of 15 charactersitics that I've determined essential in selecting a bow to try. 'Speed' is way down the list.

So far the Vyperkahn w/LB limbs is one, in my limited experience, that performs in reality as well as it looks on paper. In my book, this finding is remarkably evidential.

Note: My 25 year engineering career in dealing with aircraft engines revolved around conceptual and implementation of technical, intricate and precise processing improvements, which may involve millions of dollars. It was absolutely rare that a large project using very conservative figures ever initially matched what was on paper without considerable tweaking.

It is almost an anomaly when initial intricate plans and continuous precise coordination processing 'on paper' become reality.

When coming to the proper bow, we are all individuals and have our own specific requirements and expectations. Finding the 'one' that absolutely meets and/or exceeds our expectations is both the challenge and the prize.

Curious Andy have you checked the draw weight for each bow with a scale?