posted
ILF HAS dominated archery for many many years. It is only newer to trad archery. International Limb Fitting Stickboy! Tournament archers have been using this stuff forever, myself included. I used to shoot Olympic style competition. I think it is incredibly accurate and very easy to tune. I have not found a non ILF that will out perform my ILF setup.
That being said, my favorite hunting bows are NOT ILF! Go figure! I'd rather hunt with a snakey home built osage longbow. Too bad I dont know how to build one yet!
-------------------- David M. Conroy Posts: 2745 | From: Bellingham, Massachusetts | Registered: Jun 2009
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What's not to like. You can get plenty of wood risers from manufacturers to keep the metal haters happy. Phenolic and wood/phenolic combos too. The limbs selection is huge and there is a good selection of high performance limbs available.
-------------------- PBS Reg member 1973 Maryland Bowhunters Society Traditional Bowhunters of Maryland Heart of Maryland Bowhunters NRA Posts: 3373 | From: Finksburg, MD | Registered: Aug 2008
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posted
ILF is simply a limb attachment system; nothing more. But the fact that the system is universal makes it incredibly valuable for versatility and convenience. The models that offer lateral limb adjustment are even better yet.
For me, the real appeal is the ability to shoot whatever limbs I want on whichever riser I like. If I want a second set of limbs, I can log onto the internet, choose from several different retailers, and have them at my door the next day. If I simply want wood and glass limbs, I can find them new for a $100 or less. Or for under $500 I can get top end limbs used by the best recurve archers in the world (i.e. Olympic archers) from manufactures that spend five figures and up in R&D every year. In my opinion, that’s huge.
Like YORNOC said, ILF has been dominating recurve archery in general for a few decades now. It’s only in the last few years that it stopped being taboo in many traditional archery circles. And much of the doom and gloom wives’ tales about the supposed dangers of using the ILF attachment system on shorter hunting risers have long since been dispelled.
What’s really nice is seeing all the custom bowyers building bows with ILF fittings. If a person wants to go the nice wood / custom route, there are several to choose from. If he/she wants to go off the rack, the selections are even greater. The price range is one that can fill most any budget. For under $300 a person can get a decent riser and wood/glass limbs. Or an archer can spend upwards of a thousand dollars for a more expensive riser and top shelf limbs.
Posts: 3746 | From: Northeast Illinois | Registered: Mar 2003
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I'm new to this, but the whole reason I decided to get into traditional archery was to get away from technology. I realize every person will have to draw their own lines as to where they want the technology to stop. You can shoot a wooden self bow, a laminated glass recurve, an ILF with aluminum riser, or a compound with an electronic sighting system. They're all perfectly fine in their own rights. For what I like, I draw the line at laminated, one-piece bows. That's what I like now (after many years with a compound).
-------------------- “...the old ones ... knew in their bones... that death exists, that all life kills to eat, that all lives end, that energy goes on. They knew that humans are participants, not spectators.” -- Stephen Bodio, On the Edge of the Wild Posts: 285 | From: AL | Registered: Mar 2012
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I voted the third choice, just got first complete ILF bow and it seems pretty nice, bought the bow as a backup for my wife primarily, at least that's what I told her;). Want to get a heavier and longer set of limbs and see what i think of it then.
-------------------- David Achatz CPO USN Ret.
%$!@ %&*^ riser with Dryad ACS RC limbs Posts: 502 | From: CO | Registered: Jan 2012
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quote:Originally posted by eminart: I'm new to this, but the whole reason I decided to get into traditional archery was to get away from technology. I realize every person will have to draw their own lines as to where they want the technology to stop. You can shoot a wooden self bow, a laminated glass recurve, an ILF with aluminum riser, or a compound with an electronic sighting system. They're all perfectly fine in their own rights. For what I like, I draw the line at laminated, one-piece bows. That's what I like now (after many years with a compound).
no cams or sights = trad for me. Metal or wood riser, one piece, take down or ILF. ILF really isnt huge tech its just the way the limbs are set up. like a 3 piece bow except better because you can adjust the draw weight a little, set the tiller right for your style and it makes it easier to tune and you can pick the limbs that feels best to you instead of only having 1 limb option. In the end I want good accuracy when Im shooting at game and im not in a fashion show. I bought my fancy wood bow and I love it, but Im much happier when I shoot better with a ugly bow then shoot worse with a pretty bow. Just my thoughts on it Still want to get me a D shaped one piece in the future though.
-------------------- - Hunterbow 58" 47# @26" -bear kodiak 60" 45# at 28" Posts: 1033 | From: windsor, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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Sounds like excellent technology for tunability and portability, but for me personally, a little further from the idea that pulled me back to traditional archery/bowhunting. Not to cast aspersions - you still have to find 'em and hit 'em!
-------------------- Jim Posts: 341 | From: Maryland | Registered: Mar 2011
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quote:Originally posted by sawtoothscream: [QUOTE]Originally posted by eminart: [qb] but Im much happier when I shoot better with a ugly bow then shoot worse with a pretty bow.
Heh, cant argue with that!!
-------------------- David M. Conroy Posts: 2745 | From: Bellingham, Massachusetts | Registered: Jun 2009
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I have had a bunch of ILF combos in recurve,and longbow form's. Once I got one tuned the way I liked,I did not want to switch it up again. That is what makes ILF nice is the ability to change the bow around. But,I found that I did'nt like having another set of limbs just lying around,so I bought another riser. I fell back into traditional laminated bows,because it is very basic. ILF is easily understood,and works well,but I just enjoy the simplicity of a laminated bow. No bolts,all wood beauty,etc. They work well,but I got bored with them. rat'
posted
I love pretty wood bows as well and never thought I would ever lay my BW bows down, but I have to say after shooting my Buffalo, I sold all my BW bows and will continue on with the adjustable ILF type bow systems, they are just the thing for me. I love being able to fine tune every aspect of the bow to fit my shooting style and they really perform as well. I know gadgets and technical stuff is what drew me away from the modern compound bows many years ago, but these new systems are very easy and reliable to adjust and gives me back some of that tickering I still love to do but with more reliability and forgiveness and with the lock down systems for all the adjustments I still only need to check my brace height and nock height and I am good to go!
Posts: 844 | From: Cartersville, GA | Registered: Mar 2003
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Some may think the poll questions were slanted to favor a particular outcome, and they could have been since I don't have an ILF system. I owned a Morrison ILF 15" wood riser with Hoyt G-3 limbs a couple years ago, but sold it after it did nothing for me.
It was not too long ago when the predictions were common that the ILF would dominate. The poll so far says it is popular and widely used.
There are 20% who use it exclusively while more than 50% use it part time. The rest of the group (about 30%) are staying away from it for now. Just keep voting and let's see where this leads.
-------------------- Lon Scott Posts: 4344 | From: Auburn, Washington | Registered: Mar 2003
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I don't see how an ILF is seen as dreaded technology and the Bear limb attachment is not. You can get wood ILF risers and metal risers have been around for a loooong time.
-------------------- Micah 6:8 ...and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your GOD. Posts: 1213 | From: Graham, WA | Registered: Dec 2007
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Still want to get me a D shaped one piece in the future though.
