Settled on my gear for early archery season

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Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow

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for whitetails. Been practicing. Dialed in with:

--Bow: '07 Liberty I 28", 60-70lbs, with Whisker Biscuit "Original QuickShot", Cobra Boomslang sight w/peep, Limbsaver string silencers and cable guide dampeners, and $3.99 Allen brand stabilizer, TruBall Tru-Nock. Draw weight set at about 68 lbs. Bohning quiver.
--Arrows: Easton Epic ST carbon fiber, 8.7 gpi, .281" (9/32nds) diameter, 400 flex, Blazer 2" vanes with 2 degree offset, 29" length, 125 gr Aftershock Archery 2.75" Hypershock. Total arrow weight: 430 grains. Arrow speed: Approx. 280 fps. Arrow energy: Approx. 74.84 ft-lbs.
--Other: Tru-Ball "Tornado" release

Whaddya runnin with, gear-wise?

Random Questions:

--Anyone ever "benchrested" a bow to test for mechanical accuracy?

--Anyone have a Matthews "Drenalin" or a BowTech "The General"? Man they are tough - bow design is really taking strides.

Oct 1 is coming....


Links:

http://www.libertyarchery.com/

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s...ice&cm_cat=RLP&cm_pla=95790&cm_ite=image_link

http://www.trophyridge.com/arrow-rests/whisker-biscuit/

http://www.cabelas.com/ssubcat-1/cat20078.shtml

http://www.cabelas.com/spodw-1/0039397.shtml

http://store.bohning.com/products/1675.xml

http://www.aftershockarchery.com/hypershock.aspx?product=3


http://mathewsinc.com/mathews-bows-DrenalinLD-44-ViewProduct-1451-287.asp

http://www.bowtecharchery.com/general.php
 
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I'm still shooting my 7 year old Q2 with a Quicktune 3000 and XX78s.Guess I'm quite resistant to change, because I know that "some" of the newest gear is a bit "better".I've shot Outbacks,& Switchbacks and haven't felt enough of an improvement to justify a new bow.My brother bought a Drenalin but I've not shot it yet.That might change my mind?
As far as mechanical accuracy,all of the "hooter shooter" tests that I've read strongly suggest that most/all bows could easily outshoot me.
 
Wow !! Guess my stuff is old.
Mathews Q2 28.5" 70 lb.
NAP Quicktune forked rest,not a drop away.
I won't humor you on the XX78s.Oh and they have Thunderheads on the end.
 
I take it those are aluminum arrows. :) Thunderheads and forked rest! Wow, your stuff is bigtime dinosaur gear! :p J/K man, it still works, don't it? You use a sight?

Yeah, next time I upgrade in a few years, it will probably be something like The General, with a fall-away rest, Apex sight - the whole nine yards. A tad bit quieter, tad bit smoother, and a tad bit more arrow speed for a given draw weight.
 
Yes,I use a sight(and a peep) and you're exactly right, that stuff does work really well.Have a wall in the den that I'm very proud of,thanks to that "old" stuff.
That bow has an IBO rating of 308 & I'm getting 255 with those "heavy" arrows.Not quite cutting edge,but not bad.
 
Bow.... Parker Buckhunter
Sights.... Trophy Ridge 5 pins/ peep
Rest.... Whisker Biscuit
Arrows... Easton Carbonerros, Thunderhead broadheads, home fletched

Its a little on the cheap end so it's a little loud, but shoots good out to about 50 yards, but my kill zone is under 25 if I can help it.
Seen a few deer, but mostly out of range or taking off while stalking. Next weekend is going to be good though.....

HB
 
Hehe, short list:
Martin Mamba, 50# @ 28".

Second hand bulk cedar shafts, 5" parabolic feathers, Zwickey Delta 2 blade broadheads.

Oh, got me some nifty beaver fur string silencers. Very high tech, those. :p


Too bad I won't be out for deer this season. Might get a few bunnies, though.
 
Its a little on the cheap end so it's a little loud, but shoots good out to about 50 yards, but my kill zone is under 25 if I can help it.
Seen a few deer, but mostly out of range or taking off while stalking. Next weekend is going to be good though.
Click to expand...

Sounds good. I don't shoot past 30 yards with a bow, tops. Not good enough. Well for elk with a larger kill zone I'd probably go 35 or 40. I suck - get occasional fliers opening up my group to as much as 6" or 7" at 19 yards.

Gonna archery hunt for deer Oct 9-12th. Got a '99 Hoyt Aspen as a backup bow.

HB: "home fletched" - with what kind of fletching? C'mon man, I like details! :)


Let me say this about the Boomslang sight - I wouldn't recommend it, because of the fragility of the fiber optics wrapped around the back side of the pins. They can and do easily slip off of their "groove" that they're set in on the pin, and they're not protected in any way. Won't take much brush to foul them up. It will still shoot with a non-illuminated pin however, if this happens, but it's not a good sight design for this reason. Otherwise it is a very good sight - nice and light.
 
Practice more! :p

Some joking aside, a little bit of work and you can really dial in those groups. You're already pulling a lot more bow than you need for whitetails, and even Elk, at 30yds, so you could push your range out a bit further, easy.
 
Details, eh?

Lets see...

-Mathews Q2XL (XL=extra long=extra smooth!) @65lbs (went down from 70lbs while rehabing a shoulder injury and found I shot better - go figure!), with Limbsavers and string silencers. Non-tethered peep that I have slightly overbored the aperture on, and a 4" hydraulic stabilizer.
-Fletchhunter release, direct to serving, no string loop!
-Montana Black Gold fiber optic pin sight. 5 pins, but I use only 3, and only 2 of those for hunting. (3rd pin is set for when I'm having a good shooting day and want to have some fun...5 arrows into a paper plate at 75yds.)
-Whisker Biscuit, added a narrow strip of moleskin through the hole, the width of the 'dark bristles' for the arrow to ride on - quiets the draw.
-Carbon Express Terminator Lite Hunter arrows, built-in weight forward, 30" length, 2" fletch, 6075 spine.
-Grim Reaper Razortip 100gr mechanical broadheads. Total arrow weight 439grs.

Backup to all this is a 70lb Browning Mirage w/ SightMaster crosshair sight and Easton XX78's (2514!! - like a pool cue!), fork rest, peep sight, and Thunderhead 125's.
 
I suck - get occasional fliers opening up my group to as much as 6" or 7" at 19 yards
Click to expand...

USUALLY due to muscle fatigue and "target panic". Try backing off draw weight and/or shoot fewer arrows at a time. Can also play with your release sensitivity if it is adjustable, but this is a technique issue and only practice will cure. Most people shoot too much draw weight in pursuit of arrow speed (which is all the rage nowadays)and sacrifice the ability to hold at full draw.
 
This is my new set up
Bow- Hoyt Katera 60-70#'s 29 inch draw
Sight- Spot Hogg SDP
Peep- G5 meta peep
Rest- QAD Pro HD APG
Quiver- Hoyt 6arrow
Stabilizer- Doinker 7''hunter+
Release- Scott Sabertooth
Arrow- Carbon Express Aramid KV
CIMG1749.jpg
CIMG1748.jpg
CIMG1750.jpg
 
favorite:
64" osage orange long bow with deerskin handle wrap and flemish string-55 pounds @ 28".
tapered Port Ord cedar shafts with turkey feather fletching and Zwickey Black Diamond broadheads. leather tab for 3 fingers under.

my other rig:
Mathews Legacy 70# with Vital Bow Gear sight.
Vital Bow Gear dropaway rest and Scott release.
Carbon Express terminator light hunters with 100gr 3-blade Muzzys
 
USUALLY due to muscle fatigue and "target panic". Try backing off draw weight and/or shoot fewer arrows at a time. Can also play with your release sensitivity if it is adjustable, but this is a technique issue and only practice will cure. Most people shoot too much draw weight in pursuit of arrow speed (which is all the rage nowadays)and sacrifice the ability to hold at full draw.
Click to expand...

And I think that's *exactly* what it is in my case. After I've been shooting awhile fatigue sets in, and I will sometimes relax too much just as I'm about to release and the string "let's up" a bit right at the point of release and shazam, my arrow could go anywhere. I believe that I will take your advice and dial it down to the 60-62 lb range until I gain more consistency.

But don't get me wrong, most of my 19/20 yard groups are in the 2.5-3.5" range (5 shots), and I screw up nocks and vanes regularly hitting them. But that occasional flier kills me - I think my arrows may be a bit too flex-y. Think I may cut off an inch or two and see if stiffer is better. But yes, I need a lot more practice. Thanks for sharing, everyone. Nice rig, bigcim!

Kingcreek - you have got to decide - are you a traditional man or a technology man?! :p
 
Switching the draw weight will usually require that you change to arrows with the appropriate spine. I don't have any of my aluminum/carbon charts around anymore, so I don't really know if you're making a dramatic enough change to really affect the spine or not, but it's a point to consider in addition to further arrow trimming.
Also, I always start with my arrows a little long. Just like getting a haircut, you can't put arrow back on if you cut too much. :)
Another idea is to mark the 'flier' arrow next time you go out. Even with modern carbons manufacturing defects do happen, you may just have a bad arrow. If it's the same arrow every time(you didn't mention if it was always the last shot that was a flier). If it's a bad arrow, then chuck it. Could even be bad fletching.
 
HB: "home fletched" - with what kind of fletching? C'mon man, I like details!
Click to expand...

They are blazer knock-offs, but fly just as good. These are some of the cooler arrows I have made/seen, so I'll try to post pics latter. I actually had some 5'' vanes on a few arrows, and the shot well, but moved SLOW. They shot good, but it's tough to keep them on the shaft. I have had very good luck with the ones on now though.

HB
 
Matt, you make a good point - I could actually kill two birds with one stone by dialing down the draw weight, if part of the problem is too much flex. It will help with my hold, AND probably help to match the flex with the power. I might hit that sweet spot without changing my arrows by taking 5-8 lbs off the draw weight - I'll be trying that this weekend.
 
Let us know how it goes. As much as I love shooting my guns, the sound of an arrow thwacking into a target is just so sweet. :)
 
I bought a used bow to get back into bow hunting.

I have a 2002 PSE Beast 70# 29" draw using carbon arrows with mechanical broadheads.

Last time I bow hunted was in 1994 with a Bear Whitetail II, with Easton aluminum arrows and 140g broadheads with razor blade inserts. I can't believe how much stuff has changed.

Took me a little bit to get used to a release and using fiber optic sights.
 
Bow- PSE Nova 70#
Release- Trufire
Arrows-Carbon Express with 125gn broadheads
Sight system-Truglo fiberoptic pin and kisser button

For a long time I shot with fingers but I found that I am steadier with the release, I just had trouble trusting that it wouldnt let go before I hit the trigger. I also gave the Peep a try, but its not for me. I like the button at the corner of my mouth.
 
60# longbow . . . it works for me (and I can see my arrows in-flight, don't care if I break a wooden shaft practicing, take as many "stump shots" as I care to, have no clue as to how fast it is, do know that it dispatches deer & elk effectively, and that my arm isn't sore from carrying it at the end of the day) ;)
 
I'm just getting started out...

I thought I was doing good with an '06 leftover PSE Nova Rimfire that came with a spring loaded prong rest, 3 pin fiberoptic sight, 6 arrow detachable quiver, & setup of kisser button, release loop, and peep sight for $180 (originally $299); some other stuff I got: wrist sling, Sims LimbSaver stabilizer, string whiskers, 12 GoldTip carbon arrows (nocks, vanes, inserts included), target points, TruFlite wrist release, Plano hardcase, 6 pack of Muzzy MX-3 100gr broadheads, Buckmasters high density foam target, and Sims Limbsaver Ultra limb silencers all for under $500 (including bow);

http://tune.pse-archery.com/BowDetail.aspx?Year=2006&Model=0402RF

PSE relative IBO speed is 287 to 295 fps; I have it tuned down a bit for 60# draw...guessing that speed is @ 275 fps; fast enough for my first bow
 
You're doin fine, kmrcstintn - just practice, hunt, and let us know how it turns out! I bought a recurve today and shot it and knocked the rust right off, hitting the 1.5" across bull within the first 16 shots.
 
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