ACS as primary hunting bow

[mooseman76]

I'm wondering how the ACS fares as a primary hunting bow year after year.  Seems not too long ago there were many questions about the durability of carbon as a belly side lam.  How is it holding up after a few years?  I'm not one to throw my bow around, use it as a walking stick, etc..., but would like to know how it handles the everyday scratches and such we all seem to get while hunting.  I don't put tens of thousands of shots through my bows every year, but would like to know that I could.  

I am in no means questioning the fine folks at A&H, just wanting to know that if I put my hard earned money out that I'll have a bow that lasts a lifetime (as long as not abused, of course).  Thanks for any and all info you guys/gals can provide...Mike

[Peckerwood]

Mike , I think that the ASC will hold up as well as any bow . I have had one for 1 1/2 yrs. , hunted with it and always leave it strung. As with any bow , some times they will break but the A$H has been out there for a while and I have heard of few problems. I just got another set of their limbs ( 58 in.)and really like the short limbs for hunting.

Bill

[mikecc]

I believe the new A and H bows have black glass over the carbon for better durability. I have a brand new bow of my friends here and if that's not the case then the limbs have been painted black before they were clearcoated. Carbon laminations are grey and the limbs on this new both are jet black, like glass. I've heard from several people that the glass was being used now and the limbs are a bit wider than the original adcock bows. If I'm wrong I stand corrected.

[vermonster13]

Carbon comes in black also Mike. The Black Swans have no glass on them and the cores for many other bowyers who use carbon also have black carbon.

The A&H limbs are a bit wider than OL's and the tips are bigger also.

[mooseman76]

Regarding the new short limbs, can you use em at longer draw lengths?  I have a 29" draw, can I use, say, the 58" limbs or is it still suggested to go with at least the 62" limbs?  I know it is best to call A&H about this, but being the weekend I thought I'd ask what you guys have been hearing.  Thank you...Mike

[vermonster13]

John suggested no shorter than a 62" bow to me for 29".

[Big Sneaky]

I have two ACS CX bows.  One is 55# the other 61# at 31".  Both are 64" bows.  I love mine and after owning quite a few other bows have stayed with the A&H.  The lighter bow is just for targets and form practice, the heavier one is my primary hunting rig.  I have had it for over a year.  It has been on one elk hunt, numerous hog and deer hunts.  On the elk hunt I slipped on some steep terrain and caught myself with the hand I had my bow in.  It did chip the finish.  I just put superglue over the spots and you can hardly see them.  I thought the finish would be a little tougher than what it is.  It isn't nearly as tough as the Widows I had.  I guess for me that is the trade off for performance.  I suppose if I wreck the finish bad enough some day, I will just send it in for refinishing.  I don't really worry about hurting it by hunting with it, that's why I bought it.

[Peckerwood]

I DRAW A LITTLE OVER 28 IN. AND CAN DRAW THE SHORT LIMBS PAST 29 IN . WITH NO PROBLEM.  THE SHORT LIMBS ARE A LITTLE SLOWER THAN THE LONG ONES BUT THEY ARE MORE QUIET AND VERY SMOOTH ON THE DRAW.
LARRY TOLD ME THAT THE LIMBS ARE PAINTED BLACK AND THE EDGES ARE RESANDED BEFORE THE TBIRD IS APPLIED

BILL

[Burnsie]

Anyone know how the A&H guys are coming along on thier recurve design?  I am very interested in seeing what they come up with. I'm saving up and holding out for the recurve.

[mooseman76]

Thanks for all the info guys.  I'd probably go with 64" limbs, maybe 62".  Any other thoughts on the finish?  Thanks...Mike

[vermonster13]

John is taking one of the recurves moose hunting.


Peckerwood, being able to draw it and should draw it are two different things.

[DEAN]

I have a 29 1/2 in draw and my A&H+ was a 62 in and a nice drawing bow for my draw length.Smooth from the time the fingers went on the string to anchor. SWEET BOW AND FAST

[Bjorn]

I have 2 ACS's that 'are my all the time' bows and I have shot thousands of arrows through them.
The bow from a few years ago has a set of the original OL limbs like Vermonster described, the other one is a more recent bow-but still 2 years old.
Both are going strong.

[Curveman]

I'm betting the recurve will be outstanding! OL has always impressed me as being one of the top 2 or 3 most knowledgeable bowyers out there! (So what do I know right?     ) but you can always perceive a very analytical mind.

[vermonster13]

OL isn't designing the recurve Steve, John and Larry are/have with some input from some test-shooters.

[Ray Hammond]

I'm shooting the ACS CX that is on the website homepage I think. Its a 64 incher, 60#@28 and a real thumper!

Its been through hog swamps, used as a 'poker', a walking stick, a snake thumper, been strung, unstrung, stuck in the ground, dropped several times, and shoots 'straight as an arrow', with authority.

I am using the bow exclusively and have found it to be fast, quiet, efficient with heavy arrows, and a true hog THUMPER.

I don't know about the recurve.

[mooseman76]

That's what I'm talking about Ray.  A bow to be hunted with.  Now for the question...How did the finish of the bow hold up for you.  Some scratches, and such are expected, but how bout chipping, flaking, etc...?  Thanks...Mike

[Ray Hammond]

no chips so far.

[mooseman76]

Thanks for all the info.  Now for the second "million dollar" question.  Wood or aluminum?     I've been shooting Black Widow recurves and shoot them well.  For that reason I was leaning towards the metal riser, plus I think the all black bow looks deadly...Mike

[vermonster13]

Well Mike, the wood risers have more resale value....  

The aluminums do shoot real nice though and will give you more of the mass you are used to.