Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: kevinsmith5 on January 24, 2013, 08:57:41 pm
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I take my bows out onto a sod farm and shoot a carbon fiber arrow or two (always the same ones, tough and light) at 45 degrees and pace the distance. Its interesting to see how raw draw weight can mislead you on this. And it was fun to see a friend with $800 60 lb draw compound react to his arrow landing closer than mine....fired from a bow made out of hickory flooring and self cut bamboo.
So what do you do gauge the quality of your work?
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Mine are judged on balance and arrow flight alone. Im soley a hunter and shooting in an open field wont answer any of my questions.
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Do I find it appealing. How does it feel in the hand. Does it hit the mark consistently, or as consistently as I am capable of shooting.
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I know when the arra hits the target if I like it or not. Some times asthetics play a part as well.
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I'm using this as a gauge of speed. Figure the further it travels the faster it started.
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If it hits where I am looking and shoots quick and quiet, then I am in love.
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If it hits where I am looking and shoots quick and quiet, then I am in love.
Me to
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I love every one that doesn't break. :)
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+1 on any that don't break
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If it looks the way I want it to then it should shoot the way I want it too. Although I have had some surprises both positive and negative.
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By the company they keep. ;D ;D Like hrhodes said.
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Efficency. To me that means trying to make it as fast as possible without sacrificeing accuracy, comfort and sound. It's not that I'm only trying to make it fast the speed has to balance with the other factors
For me efficency is everything
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Like Pearlie, I make hunting bows. The max distance they will be shoot is less than 30 yards most of the time and generally less than 20 yards. The first few shots from a new bow tells me if it is a shooter or a good shooter. Both will do what I want but the latter is preferred for my hunting bow.
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I flight shoot an arrow or 2 but I can tell even without that test if it is a good shooter. Jawge
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I judge on several points. The first judgment is on the wood character. Everything else goes off of what I have to work with. After that is tiller,the tiller must be perfect or I am not satisfied. It will literally keep me up at night. Another point is workmanship. I want no tool marks, smooth transitions, and good design and form to the bow. After that, how it shoots. I cant blame a bow for accuracy, thats all me, and the arrow. But I do not like hand shock or noise. All these steps i progress though, and do not pass each one without being happy with it. Sometimes though, I do have to, how should I put it, compromise. And I hate it, but sometimes a stick just wont work with you.
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Does it shoot where I point it?
Is the draw weight what I was after?
Is it smooth and comfortable?
Is the arrow speed ok?
Does it look 'right'
Can sum it up in one phrase.... 'do you want to shoot it?'
I still find I go back to my old Hazel primitive with plenty of set 'cos its sweet comfortable and puts 'em wher I point it.
Del
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I also build hunting bow and can usually tell the first shot out of a bow if I like it or not,smooth draw/durable and hit where I am looking is about all I ask from it. :) Speed [to a point] means nothing to me. :) Of course I want it to look good but that in below the other 3 for me. :)
Pappy
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For years I use to flight shoot my bows when I made them. It shows you how good your cast is with that bow. But through the years I ended up telling how good cast is by just shooting it across the yard at a foam block. Ilike others on here shooting where you look is much more important when your shooting 20 yards. 12 To 15 for me, not that I can't shoot farther I can I just set up all my sites 15 or under.
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Look, Draw, Release . Did it hit the mark. Did feel good in my hand. That's what's important to me as well. A pretty bow is nice to look at on the wall, but a well performing bow is the one I would carry! And if there both than its just a plus.
Knapper
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I like all my bows, but the favorites know who they are. ;)
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Harshly. That's what keeps me building. The whole I can do better or different attitude ;)
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Look, Draw, Release . Did it hit the mark. Did feel good in my hand. That's what's important to me as well. A pretty bow is nice to look at on the wall, but a well performing bow is the one I would carry! And if there both than its just a plus.
Knapper
I second all of this.
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Durability and ease/comfort of shooting.
Jon
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I like the challenge of getting the most out of the wood without deforming it, ie, without over stressing any part of it, with too much compression or tension. I think the set the bow takes (if any) shows this exactly...the perfect design for a piece of wood will produce the least set...
secondly, is the hand shock or residue vibration...I really dont like this.....if it has no set and no vibration its a winner.....Thats me anyway ( not that I've fully achieved this ..yet)
oh and dont forget beauty is very important too....3rd on the list
Dave
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Look, Draw, Release . Did it hit the mark. Did feel good in my hand. That's what's important to me as well. A pretty bow is nice to look at on the wall, but a well performing bow is the one I would carry! And if there both than its just a plus.
Knapper
I second all of this.
+1