Author Topic: Would like help/opinions re: bow & swithing to carbon... (Read 879 times)

WARPhEAGLE · « **on:** October 16, 2003, 05:50:22 AM »

I shoot a Jennings Uniforce 650 that I have had for about 5-6 yrs. It
still shoots pretty good, I am not a speed freak so I don't feel compelled
to switch for that reason, nor do I feel like I have to have a new bow every year or 2, I have been bowhunting for about 13 yrs and this is only
my 2nd bow. I have a fairly long draw length, and shoot a pretty big arrow(2912). I guess my question is, have bows improved that much that I would be better off to go to a new bow rather than change my current bow over to a carbon set-up? Also, since I shoot a whisker biscuit, what would I need to do other than change the biscuit to one with a smaller hole? I am trying to plan ahead so that I can start making plans for after the season.
All comments appreciated, TIA.

BowMan · « **Reply #1 on:** October 16, 2003, 06:16:01 AM »

Hi Warp,
just my opinion, but your comfort / confidence level with your current bow would be the deciding factor for me. I would recommend starting off by purchasing some carbon arrows and the appropriate rest for these arrows and shooting them through your current bow. The carbons, although lighter and faster, are denser in makeup and will provide you with as good as, or better, penetration than the current logs you are shooting.
Like you, I am usually hesitant to change bows when I get comfortable with one (currently shooting a 2000 model Martin JagMag with Beman ICS CamoHunter 340 shafts). A good place to deal with to purchase the shafts is online at Mountain Archery where I recently purchased a dozen of the shafts I use cut, fletched and inserts for $40. A cheap way to see what you like. Should you decide you want to try a new bow, I'd probably have to go with a Hoyt Cam and 1/2 bow. The MagnaTec is on the lower level of these, but they are quiet, smooth, fast and forgiving. Quiet and smooth top my list of priorities... There are a lot of good bows out there. I have shot the new Matthews, Archery Research, and BowTech bows (the top-of-the-line...performance and pricewise) and the Hoyt's are very close in performance, but shorter in price, unless you opt for the top-of-the-line Hoyts. Try your current setup with the carbons and you can always transfer rests, etc. to a new bow and then be out nothing.
Again, just my opinion.
BowMan

Varmint Hunter · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2003, 04:16:35 AM »

Different opinion:

I have been shooting and teaching archery for many years. Like most other bowhunters I shot aluminum arrows for years. Eventually, I switched to the earlier small diameter carbons. They provided a fair increase in speed but had some problems with tuning and available arrow rests. When fatter carbon arrows were produced, I switched to them and found them to be an improvement. Fatter carbons were also easier to fletch.

There are a few downsides to carbons:

A quality carbon costs more than a quality aluminum arrow
A quality carbon normally has more runout than an aluminum, it is just easier to make a straight aluminum arrow than it is to make a straight carbon. However, carbons may shoot better than most archers anyway.
When a carbon breaks in a big game animal the shaft material shatters to various degrees. This leaves the potential of having unseen carbon fibers/splinters in consumable meat.

I do not buy into the theory that carbon shafts penetrate better, not in animals anyway. It really does not make any sense. The average broadhead leaves a hulking 1.25" hole in a game animal. You can EASILY slide ANY diameter shaft through such a big hole without any effort. Some shooters believe that carbons penetrate better because they see this when shooting target arrows in foam targets. Naturally if your field tip punches a bigger hole in a target and a small diameter carbon shaft follows through without any drag on the shaft, you will get more penetration on the target. Fatter aluminum shafts normally have field tips that match the shaft diameter and therefore cause the shaft to drag in the relatively tight hole left by the field point. This is another downside of carbons; they shoot deeper into targets and shorten the target life. When you shoot broadheads that produce holes that are much bigger than either shaft, the playing field is leveled.

After considerable shooting of aluminum arrows, fat carbons & skinny carbons, I eventually went back to high quality aluminums for most of my shooting. However, the trend seems to be going the other way. :lol:

Myk · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2003, 03:17:57 PM »

I agree with Varmint Hunter.

I was a speed junkie to an extent. But I went to an overdraw and short aluminums. I've never had the usual overdraw problems of not being able to be consistant so I don't have a need to spend that much more to use full length carbons.

Quote

I am not a speed freak so I don't feel compelled
to switch for that reason

That's what I don't understand. Why do you feel compelled to switch? Carbons cost more. From what I've seen they don't last as long. They are more easily irrepairably damaged.
The only advantage I see with carbon is speed with full length arrows.
Which if you're shooting 2912's I'm sure you could find a lighter set up and still be shooting full length aluminums.

For me, finding the right arrows is the last thing I want to go through again. I'd rather change bow set ups every week than try to find a different arrow that cuts down to the weight I want and flies straight. When I decided to give my shoulder a break and lighten pull weight, I charted my arrows and would not go any lighter than they could handle.
If I ever get to bow hunt moose I'll dig out my old full length logs and make the bow work with them before I try to find a new set of logs it works with.

Tracker · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2003, 02:12:56 AM »

I was faced with the same decision this year. I had a ten year old hoyt bow that I shot fingers with. Shooting 31" logs very slow. Well I switched rests, went to a release and carbons. Then I tried a new Hoyt Cuybertec at the store. Well that was all it took. I now have a new bow and completely new set up from the one I have used for the past 10 years. Well I can not tell you how happy I am with the switch. My accuracy and consistance has improved 100% and I am enjoying shooting much more to the point that I am actually looking at starting to expand my hunting to tarket shooting. By the way I went to the Whisker Bisket and will never use another rest. At least for hunting. I am shooting fixed Muzzy broadheads into 3" groups at 40 yards.