Looking for a new bow.
09-30-2002, 01:04 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: O\'Fallon MO O\'Fallon, MO
Posts: 95
Looking for a new bow.
I am looking to buy a new bow. About 5 years ago I had a McPherson drean Classic. I had it shooting about 310 fps @72lbs, 31". The bow was pretty easy for me to shoot, but was loud, & I was always having to adjust & tighten things on it. I am now looking for a accurate, quite, fast bow. I am looking @ the Bowtech Patriot & BK II. My brother just bought a Mathews Legacy, I like it alot, but I don't know about the speed it can produce. Is the brace height on the BK II going to be very diffecult to shoot with? I plan on being @ 70 lbs, 30" draw, carbon or ACC's, release aid.
Also where should I be in KE to shoot mech. heads?
Should I shoot mech. or fixed?
Also where should I be in KE to shoot mech. heads?
Should I shoot mech. or fixed?
09-30-2002, 07:59 AM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Sioux Falls SD USA
Posts: 235
RE: Looking for a new bow.
Welcome to the board AB...
I'm glad to hear you are looking @ BowTech - from what you described I would definitely check out the Patriot. I shoot a Pro-38 and Patriot & love them both. The Patriot is quieter, shorter, and slightly slower than the 38.
My Patriot was tested at 70.4 lbs, 27" draw with a 350 grain arrow & produced a speed of 289 fps. If you add 3 inches to that draw length I have no doubt that you will be well over 300 & I'd guess you'd land somewhere around 315 fps.
You mentioned your brother's Legacy - and your concerns with it. I have numerous friends that shoot the Legacy (and Icon) and they are very similar to the Patriot in sound & hand shock, but the Patriot is faster.
Finally, yes the BK has a shorter brace height, which, if you consistantly use good form shouldn't be a problem, but it also has 2 cams - which you may or may not like (timing issues). Also - for what it's worth - I believe that if you increase the speed that much and shorten the brace height that much you may find it as picky as a 2 year old. I'm guessing that every hiccup in your form would be exaggerated.
I'd stick with a Patriot - You'll love it & it's more than fast enough.
Where should you be wrt:KE for mechanicals? Well - opinions are like backsides - everyone's got one and they all stink except your own... I won't shoot a mechanical - not that I don't think they can't do the job but with a properly setup bow & correct arrow selection my fixed blades fly as well as my field points so I don't see a reason to risk anything.
I've had someone close to me lose too many deer with mechanicals for me to ever change.
Aim small miss small
I'm glad to hear you are looking @ BowTech - from what you described I would definitely check out the Patriot. I shoot a Pro-38 and Patriot & love them both. The Patriot is quieter, shorter, and slightly slower than the 38.
My Patriot was tested at 70.4 lbs, 27" draw with a 350 grain arrow & produced a speed of 289 fps. If you add 3 inches to that draw length I have no doubt that you will be well over 300 & I'd guess you'd land somewhere around 315 fps.
You mentioned your brother's Legacy - and your concerns with it. I have numerous friends that shoot the Legacy (and Icon) and they are very similar to the Patriot in sound & hand shock, but the Patriot is faster.
Finally, yes the BK has a shorter brace height, which, if you consistantly use good form shouldn't be a problem, but it also has 2 cams - which you may or may not like (timing issues). Also - for what it's worth - I believe that if you increase the speed that much and shorten the brace height that much you may find it as picky as a 2 year old. I'm guessing that every hiccup in your form would be exaggerated.
I'd stick with a Patriot - You'll love it & it's more than fast enough.
Where should you be wrt:KE for mechanicals? Well - opinions are like backsides - everyone's got one and they all stink except your own... I won't shoot a mechanical - not that I don't think they can't do the job but with a properly setup bow & correct arrow selection my fixed blades fly as well as my field points so I don't see a reason to risk anything.
I've had someone close to me lose too many deer with mechanicals for me to ever change.
Aim small miss small
09-30-2002, 10:03 PM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: MUSCADINE AL USA
Posts: 5
RE: Looking for a new bow.
AB BOW HUNTER
You may want to look at the new Pearson line. They have an awsome line this year. The bows are great shooting and very quite. The 38 Special is the best bow I have ever shoot and in about 2 weeks they will be releasing a bow called the Freedom. I have not shoot this bow yet but I have drawn it and it aims like a dream come true.
Keith's Arrows & Archery
www.geocities.com/keithsarrows
[email protected]
KEITHSARCHERY
You may want to look at the new Pearson line. They have an awsome line this year. The bows are great shooting and very quite. The 38 Special is the best bow I have ever shoot and in about 2 weeks they will be releasing a bow called the Freedom. I have not shoot this bow yet but I have drawn it and it aims like a dream come true.
Keith's Arrows & Archery
www.geocities.com/keithsarrows
[email protected]
KEITHSARCHERY
09-30-2002, 10:17 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: St. Cloud MN USA
Posts: 1,757
RE: Looking for a new bow.
Love my Patriot! I might pick up a Black Knight II for fun. With your draw length and 70 lbs, most new bows should have more than enough KE to shoot Mechanicals.
PRACTICE....PRACTICE....PRACTICE......SUCCESS!
PRACTICE....PRACTICE....PRACTICE......SUCCESS!
10-02-2002, 01:20 PM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: knoxville tn USA
Posts: 34
RE: Looking for a new bow.
AB,
Bowtech makes a great bow and the Patriot would be a fine choice. I shot the Patriot and Legacy back to back and the Legacy felt better to me, so I went w/ the Legacy. I've heard the Patriot is top heavy both on this board and in my local pro shop. In fact, the only guy I know who has a Patriot was trying to trade it for a Legacy a month after he got it because he said it was top heavy. The difference in speed is so small it's insignificant in my opinion. The most important thing to me is not an additional 5fps, but something that feels good in my hand. Also, I've read article after article that for a hunting bow forgiveness is more important than speed. The awkward shooting positions that are sometimes needed to shoot big game mean a forgiving bow could make the difference between a solid kill shot and 2 days of tracking. With practice something in the 280-300 range with forgiveness would be better than 310-315 without it, if you plan to hunt with it. The bowtechies on this board may disagree with me, but in either case shoot them both and go with whatever feels best in your hand. That's what you're going to notice alot more than a few fps.
Bowtech makes a great bow and the Patriot would be a fine choice. I shot the Patriot and Legacy back to back and the Legacy felt better to me, so I went w/ the Legacy. I've heard the Patriot is top heavy both on this board and in my local pro shop. In fact, the only guy I know who has a Patriot was trying to trade it for a Legacy a month after he got it because he said it was top heavy. The difference in speed is so small it's insignificant in my opinion. The most important thing to me is not an additional 5fps, but something that feels good in my hand. Also, I've read article after article that for a hunting bow forgiveness is more important than speed. The awkward shooting positions that are sometimes needed to shoot big game mean a forgiving bow could make the difference between a solid kill shot and 2 days of tracking. With practice something in the 280-300 range with forgiveness would be better than 310-315 without it, if you plan to hunt with it. The bowtechies on this board may disagree with me, but in either case shoot them both and go with whatever feels best in your hand. That's what you're going to notice alot more than a few fps.
10-02-2002, 01:37 PM
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wellston Ohio
Posts: 56
RE: Looking for a new bow.
I shoot the Patriot and love it. It is shooting 28"/69lbs and launches a 450gr arrow around 260fps. For the record the patriot only goes to a 30" draw. the tall brace BKII is easier to shoot than one might think. I shot mine very well until I loaned it to a friend and it never found it's way home. Either bow will produce enough KE to blow through deer at 30". I would go with the Patriot and for the top heavy part just put a small stablizer out front and a little longer one in the back hole and it will shoot like a dream. I can shoot 5" groups at 70yds with a 4 blade broadhead.
10-02-2002, 01:48 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: CT, USA
Posts: 3,058
RE: Looking for a new bow.
Shoot a bunch of bows and then make your choice.
Personally I find my BKII with the high brace option to be easier to shoot and more forgiving than my Patriot & Legacy was..not to mention it's about 17-25 FPS Faster. With your draw length you would be shooting in the 340-350 FPS range with that model at 5 grains per pound. You could go to a much heavier arrow and still hit the 310 FPS mark. It's a total tack driver too. There are a few of us who own the bow, and have "seen the light" <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
BTW, there's an easy way to cure most of the balance "problem" with the Patriot...take the grip off...it changes the balance point, and the bow will shoot even better. Personally, I LIKE the way the Patriot balances..I like a bow to tumble forward as I shoot..much better than rocking up..but that's just me.
I had the Legacy and Icon as well this year. The Legacy is very nice but I found it harder to to shoot consistently than either the Pat or BKII;it doesn't hold as well on target and the valley is more sensitive..the Icon was... well...kinda blech...not impressed at all other than it was super quiet.
You've got lot's of choices...shoot 'em all and take your pick...most everything these days is really good...
But Bowtech is better <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>
JeffB <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Personally I find my BKII with the high brace option to be easier to shoot and more forgiving than my Patriot & Legacy was..not to mention it's about 17-25 FPS Faster. With your draw length you would be shooting in the 340-350 FPS range with that model at 5 grains per pound. You could go to a much heavier arrow and still hit the 310 FPS mark. It's a total tack driver too. There are a few of us who own the bow, and have "seen the light" <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
BTW, there's an easy way to cure most of the balance "problem" with the Patriot...take the grip off...it changes the balance point, and the bow will shoot even better. Personally, I LIKE the way the Patriot balances..I like a bow to tumble forward as I shoot..much better than rocking up..but that's just me.
I had the Legacy and Icon as well this year. The Legacy is very nice but I found it harder to to shoot consistently than either the Pat or BKII;it doesn't hold as well on target and the valley is more sensitive..the Icon was... well...kinda blech...not impressed at all other than it was super quiet.
You've got lot's of choices...shoot 'em all and take your pick...most everything these days is really good...
But Bowtech is better <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>
JeffB <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
10-03-2002, 11:56 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: O\'Fallon MO O\'Fallon, MO
Posts: 95
RE: Looking for a new bow.
Went with the BK II. I am picking it up tommorow. I have it with the 6.5" brace height. 70lbs & 29" draw untill the 30" mods come in. Limb savers & no string leaches (yet). I am using a Winn Free Fligth release, A/C/C's 3-60's & 75 grain tip. Martin speed rest which I am still up in the air on, & still haven't picked a sight yet. I will use it for hunting mostly, but still want the target accuracy. Any input?
10-04-2002, 07:05 AM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: WEST PALM FLORIDA
Posts: 2,890
RE: Looking for a new bow.
A B Bowhunter give us a review after you have shoot it for about a week , when I got mine I was expecting a touchy speed bow and to my suprise it turned out to be more like a target bow that smokes arrows .Very forgiveing [believe it or not ]dead on accurate and very littel hand shock[ I have 2 of the small simms modules in the rear stabilizer hole and an 10' x ring in the front those x rings are not very good on soaking up vibration but are lighter than most and it works great ] also I have limb savers and string leaches .
If information provided by the members of this board have helped you please let us know .
If information provided by the members of this board have helped you please let us know .