A Star Trek Perspective on Trad...

[Dick in Seattle]

Most folks know me as the Hill longbow nut, but recent health events have caused me to have to find ways to compensate for a fairly extreme reduction in draw weight, forcing me to branch out and admit that there are other archery toys to play with.... recurves and even high tech trad.  

I have been shooting a Trad Tech Titan for the past couple of weeks... I know, I know... It ain't a longbow and it ain't pretty and it's too heavy and it doesn't have a soul, etc.   I said it all... but I kept shooting it.   Even with my objections, I had to admit that it is an incredible shooting machine... without being a compound.  It took us awhile to agree on an arrow we both liked, but once we did that, and I learned to tune a little, things started to come together.  I had it out for another round today.   I seem to be getting used to the weight, and didn't mind carryng it.  The vaned carabon arrows are flying like bullets.  The shooting felt natural and the results were, for me, amazing.   This is what I posted to my friends on the Hill list:

"The shooting was great, though.   I did two rounds... too close together, due to having no pipe.   Normally i take a 45 minute pipe break between rounds.    I shot the first round with the Titan.   A strange thing is happening there... i think we're bonding :^)    I'm beginning to think they misnamed it... It should be Vulcan instead of Titan...   Somehow in my mind I have been calling it my "Techie" bow, which of course slides over into "Trekkie" and I'm beginning to think of the bow as Spock... no emotional quotient, but totally logical.  If they had trad archery on Vulcan, this is what they'd shoot.    Boyd, you wouldn't believe the shots I made today.    I'm trying shots from the compound stakes at a number of places."

I'll never give up my fascination with Hills, but I had a great day of shooting today and lots of fun, with a bow that has surprised the heck out of me... and I thought I'd share that.

Dick in Seattle

[Beepy]

Are you going to bring it to the Moses Lake shoot in April?

[Dick in Seattle]

Beepy... I imagine so... I usually have a van full of bows, some for sale or trade and as many to shoot as i can  :^)    I won't be shooting carbons with it there though.... that's a wood arrow shoot for sure!

See you there.

Dick

[laddy]

Have you adjusted your pipe tobacco to match your new bow?  I find a burnished shag works best from a Dunhill large billiard for my yew and bamboo, but DunHill London in a free hand for my Schulz and Robertson.

[xia_emperor]

got any pic of your bow and arrows?

[Dick in Seattle]

laddy.... I smoke a simple mix I do myself in all my pipes... nothing esoteric but with a cherry aroma my wife likes.  It's more important that she likes it than that the bows do!

xia... lots of pix of lots of bows, but none of the Titan... just google for Trad Tech.   It's a production bow and they all look alike.  The arrows that are working are Carbon Tech Whitetail 25/45's, cut to 26 with 100 gr. tips and vanes.   I draw 25" and am pulling 42 on this set of limbs.

I'd post a pic of my wall of Hill bows, but Photo Bucket isn't cooperating with me at the moment.  Must figure that out...

[Stone Knife]

Nothing wrong with sooting other kinds of bows Dick, you just shouldn't admit to it    I'm glad to see your having a good time playing around with  some different bows.

[NDTerminator]

Good for you!  God forbid I admit it hereabouts, but it's generally no secret that although I shoot my recurves the majority of the time, I also shoot compound barebow/fingers and sometimes even compound sights/release...

I have to admit that the high tech recurves fascinate the bejeesus out of me, but they're too bloody expensive to buy one to simply satisfy my left handed curiousity...

[Labs4me]

First and foremost- glad to see you're still shooting and able to enjoy yourself. Even happier for you that your obvious determination has allowed you to remain wheel-free despite your recent health challenges. Sounds like an interesting set up.

Life's short. Make time to smell the cherry pipe aroma...
             

[R H Clark]

I've been shooting the DAS bows the last year so I know what you mean.My accuracy with these bows is much better than with any bow before.I still love the looks and feel of beautiful wood and may own another wood riser in the future.

I became tired of the compound 15 years ago.I wanted a bow that required more from me to shoot well so I went to trad.The high tech recurve offers me a lot of advantages I want in a bow but still requires the same dedication and skill level that any other trad bow requires.

I'm glad to see you enjoying your new bow.What limbs are you currently using? What is your opinion on the noise level of your set up? Does the Titan have any vibration dampning material or do the limbs just sit on the metal of the riser?

[BillW]

Dick, Sounds great as long as you are having fun!

Bill

[Blackhawk]

If you were out shooting yesterday, you were supposed to have an old Bear recurve in your hand to celebrate Fred's birthday.

But considering the fantastic weather we had yesterday, I guess any bow would work...even a Titan.

[Oscar-eleven]

Great bows.

Dick,

A stick bow is a stick bow, is a stick bow is a bow.

My first "real" bow was a Bear T/D with a B magnesium handle back in the early 70's.  That's probably the reason I never got caught up in the silly "it isn't Trad" thing.  I bought a DAS Dalaa in the first run, and currently shoot (mostly) a Titan riser with Hoyt limbs.

Good luck to you, and good shooting.

Jim

[stabow]

This isn't a picture of Dicks bow but just like it except for the quiver the pretty arrows and it's left handed LOL....... stabow

[Scott J. Williams]

I am happy for you, I haven't gotten to that point yet, but I have reduced my draw weight over the last few years.

I suspect that if I live long enough, I may follow in your foot steps.  Not for me to judge, but I will say "KUDOS" to you for not picking up one of those wheely things.

[Dick in Seattle]

Scott...  reduce it at the first signs of problems... not after they become surgical issues.   That's what my doc, who's a sports doc specializing in joints, told me and I'm listening.   Worst thing is the bows I'm having to sell... I saw your Widow list... sigh...   I put my Widow LAG TD up on the board yesterday.

[TexMex]

:(  I was expecting to see a picture of Seven-of-nine with a bow.

[bowdude]

Dick - sorry to hear about your health issues.  If only we were young and strong forever.  But welcome to the recurve fraternity.  

[GingivitisKahn]

Hey - whatever shoots right for you is great.  Live long and prosper, sir!  :-D