Finger Shooter?

[sherppa]

After looking at some of the newer compund bows out there a question came to mind.  Does anyone make a compund bow for finger shooters?  Everything out there looks as though it requirs a release to shoot.

thanks

sherppa

[GRIMJIM]

I don't believe any bow is made specifically for either. Maybe someone knows different but I believe you can shoot with whichever you feel most comfortable with. I personally use a release for the consistency, tried fingers and a tab but my hands are very shaky and the release worked best for me.

[horseman308]

Reflex makes one bow, the Caribou, that is set up specifically for finger shooters. It's about 45" ATA, and shoots 250 fps. Runs about $550, give or take. Martin also puts out one, the C4 Couger Elite, which is about the same size with Nitrous Cams and they say it shoots about 315 fps. Never shot either one, but they're the only compounds I've heard of lately that are long enough for finger shooters to use comfortably  . Good luck.

[GRIMJIM]

Are bows actually set up differently for finger or release shooting? I'm not doubting you I just didn't know this. If the ata length is smaller don't you just need to adjust the draw length? Or is it just an ergonomics issue, less pinching of the fingers on a longer bow. I would like to know.
Jim

[jgalar]

Almost all the compounds sold as of late are too short to be shot with fingers. When pulled back to your anchor point the angle of the string pinches your fingers. The arrow rests are different also. When shooting a release the force is applied to perpendicular to the string so you use a shoot through rest. When shooting with fingers you will always apply some side force to the arrow as the string slips from your fingers so you need a shoot around rest.

[GRIMJIM]

Interesting, thanks for the reply.

[JeffG]

Yes!  Ask your bow prow, there are specific cam, wheel bow with the finger shooter in mind, I believe I was shown a PSE at Sportsman's Warehouse last year...

[sherppa]

Thanks for all the input folks.  I am a stick and string shooter but work crunches the time I can spend at the range.  So am looking at going back to a wheel bow.

thanks  sherppa

[HammerMan/LongbowMan]

I'm not new here, but I haven't posted on this site in about a year.  I started shooting a compound, then switched to longbow and now I shoot both.  I bought a Custom Shooting Systems bow because you can get ata length up to 45", any cam they make and different riser designs.  I bought the contender and it is a great finger shooting bow and I like the idea of being able to get what you want in a bow.  Fingers rule!!!!!

[Rev Buck]

There are several things to make a compound bow friendly for a finger shooter:
1) long axle-to-axle lenth.  Anything shorter than 38 inches produces too much finger pinch and less stability;
2) high brace height.  Over 7 1/2 inches, preferably near 8 inches.  Makes the bow more forgiving;
3) low let-off.  Needs to be 75% or less, the string comes off the fingers better and your back tension is better for a good release;
4) an arrow rest that is conducive to finger shooting.  I like the whisker biscuit for this purpose.

I have two bows that fill the bill; an older Reflex and a Champion which is no longer made.  They both are 38 inches a-to-a, have high brace height, and adjustable let-off set at about 65%.  Both shoot close to 300 fps with fingers!  These qualities are getting hard to find in bows today.  I think Hoyt still makes a 38 which is a very sweet finger bow.  Martin, Reflex, and also the PSE Dakota too.  The McPherson/Pearson Bishop was a good one but alas I don't think they make that one any more either.

Rev Buck, old finger shooter

[Cottonwood]

I wish I could remember the video/DVD that I saw on why a mechanical release is best, over fingers and tabs.  But in this high speed video you can see just what the arrow does on release.... the flexing is unreal and worse when fingers are used on compound bows.  But then again, its your choice to use your fingers too.