apples & oranges: Martin Hunter vs Habu Viperkahn

[Andy Cooper]

I was playing with my Chrony this morning and decided to compare my Martin Hunter recurve with my Habu Viperkahn w/longbow limbs. Both are 62" long and 50@28. The Martin has a B50 string and the Habu has a 12 strand Astroflite string. Both have string silencers. I shot with a tab, 15 shots per arrow wt per bow.

470 gr spruce...Martin 172 fps   Habu 174 fps  
586 gr POC......Martin 159 fps   Habu 157 fps

Looks like the 13 year old $400 Martin holds its own with the new-this-year $1900 Habu.     :eek:     I am using the draw weights listed on the bows...don't have a scale.

[Bjorn]

Martin Hunters have always had a strong following. Speeds aside do you like shooting one more than the other?

[Andy Cooper]

Hi Bjorn,

The Habu is quieter than the Martin, but only when I put a B55 string on it. Next I'll have to see how much difference that makes. I really love shooting the Habu. The grip fits my hand a bit better than the Martin.

I'll always have the Martin, though, since it was a gift from my wife.

[KyleAllen]

most traditional bows do not vary widely in fps regardless of manufacture. What you get with a higher end bow is typically a closer attention to detail, more attractive woods, smoothness of draw, and dead in hand. However they all kill just the same. Like a hyundai and a cadillac. Both will get ya there. One will make you say " Oh THIS is nice!"

[Andy Cooper]

That's where I am with the Habu, Kyle. It's got a macassar ebony riser and lams...very dark and very pleasing to the eyes. It draws more smoothly than does the Martin and is quieter. Were I unable to afford the Habu, then the Martin would serve just as well...other than it is a one-piece, so it would be a pain to travel with.

[Stumpkiller]

Who ever said custom bows are necessarily better performing than factory?  Almost all the factory names: Bear, Pearson, Hoyt, Wing, Howatt, York, Widow, Martin . . . started as custom bowyers.  The factories also have more resources for test and research.

I've seen two recurves fold up - one was an old and tired Bear with an ape drawing to over 31" and and one was a new custom.

[Andy Cooper]

Point well taken, Stumpkiller. However, FWIW, the triple carbon Habu's are billed as performing in the top 1%. Of course, that's the bowyer's claim. He sure makes a nice bow, though!! The Habu is either way smoother to draw, or one of them is not 50@28. The Martin is noticeably harder to draw, whatever that means.

[KyleAllen]

andy, that "harder to draw" is called stacking. Very typical of production bows.

[Andy Cooper]

Soooo, the opposite of stacking is smooth draws? To me, that is worth extra $$, but not sure if it's worth $1400 extra!  

[YORNOC]

I've always been a Martin hunter fan myself. Of all the mass produced bows, I like it best. Mass produced, but still darn nice to look at!

[Stumpkiller]

Originally posted by Andy Cooper:
Soooo, the opposite of stacking is smooth draws? To me, that is worth extra $$, but not sure if it's worth $1400 extra!      

Nah.  Long risers tend towards accuracy and stability and short risers (long limbs) are smoother.  Or so the legend says . . .

Watch people draw various recurves.  Some open like flowers and the tips uncurl beautifully.  Others are fairly static.  You can design a short bow that will have a 45" draw (there is one that shows that in their magazine ads).  Slice your fingers off but it will do it.

Ideally, a recurve that stacks right at, but not before, your draw length is perfect.  It's like a built in clicker.

But buying a production bow is like buying a suit off the rack.  It may fit several perfectly, some well enough and many not at all.  On the other hand, if you buy a "custom" bow that is built before your order came in it is still a production bow . .  .but made with better (hopefully) materials and hopefully with similar or better care.

When Howatt was making bows for Martin they were very much handmade one at a time.  But made to set standards.  So, just what is a custom bow? Did someone measure your grip, arm length, finger diameter?  Or did you just get pretty wood?

[Andy Cooper]

Sixby's building me a take-down. Sent him a couple of sketches of the grip and a hand tracing. The other 'customs' I've had were pretty wood. Nuttin' wrong with pretty wood, but I'm really looking forward to this Eaglewing...it'll have pretty wood and a grip to my specs!

[dirtguy]

I have two Martin Hunters and an Damon Howatt Hunter - I've never noticed that they stack out to 30".  In fact, I've found them to be very smooth drawing bows.  However, they are known to draw more than they are labeled.  For example, my Hunter that is labeled as #50 actually scales #53 at 28".

That being said, a true custom bow - made to your specs, and made to fit your hand, is just going to feel "right"

[overbo]

HMMM,
I've found my Vyperkahn shoots as fast as or faster than my other bows that are 5-10 pounds heavier in draw weight.I get in the 180's fps w/ a 505gr arro out of a 60lbs @ 27'' Vyperkahn

[Over&Under]

Originally posted by overbo:
HMMM,
I've found my Vyperkahn shoots as fast as or faster than my other bows that are 5-10 pounds heavier in draw weight.I get in the 180's fps w/ a 505gr arro out of a 60lbs @ 27'' Vyperkahn

Not to start something, but I have had bows that shoot a 505 grain arrow almost 190 and they were only 53@28.

Interesting findings Andy, thanks for sharing them.  I have always heard the Martin hunters were good bows all around.

[jhg]

Originally posted by KyleAllen:
What you get with a higher end bow is typically...  smoothness of draw, and dead in hand. However they all kill just the same. Like a hyundai and a cadillac. Both will get ya there. One will make you say " Oh THIS is nice!"

Sorry, but after shooting a LOT of bows, including high end customs and good production mades like a Damon Howatt Hunter, I think you are over-reaching to suggest the custom bows are by default any smoother than the better designed production bows. (I'll let the Bear Super-K crowd chime in on their own) Of course there is usually no comparison appearance wise (usually, not always!) but believe me, custom bows can be  something other than smooth drawing, with plenty of shock too.

There are well designed bows. Or not. Regardless of where they came from. Period.

Great bows come from production facilities and they come out of garages. It matters little as long as the design pieces are all in place.

Joshua

[Bowwild]

About 10 days ago I was pretty intent on buying a Habu.  Then I discovered they don't make a takedown recurve. I suppose the one on their site that looks like a recurve is a hybrid?  It is difficult to tell from the photo.  Frankly, I was relieved because this is a very salty bow. I even went so far as to contact the folks at Habu to see about demo bows. They don't have any.

[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.

[maxwell]

My Habu is as nice a bow fit and finish and highly beautiful woods as any I have ever had.  Just plain beautiful.  shoots great to.

[Spectre]

For $1900 the bow oughta gut, skin, and butcher the deer for you. JMO.