Blacktail one piece or Sitka?

[Straitshot]

I am wondering if anyone owns or has shot both a Blacktail one piece and the new Sitka Blacktail? I would like to know your opinion on how the two bows compare? I realize the Sitka will probably be a bit heavier physically because it is a take down. I am thinking the 62" one piece would shoot similar to the 60" Sitka and that the limbs would be about the same length since the Sitka riser may be a bit shorter.

Hope someone has either owned or shot both.

[sightsee]

When you refer to the one piece are you referring to the VL?
Biiiiiig difference between the VL and Sitka. The VL is your traditional design recurve and the Sitka is a sweet compact dream shooting recurve. The preformance is about the same but the design and shootability is very different. I love them both but since I got a Sitka I'll never go back to the traditional design recurve again.

Far as one piece versus 3 piece Sitka is up to the archer if he doesn't need a take down model or save money with a one piece. The exact same bow in one  piece and 3 piece will perform very close to each other.
I absolutely love the Sitka model, it's an answer to prayer for the avid recurve hunter who hunt's from stand, blind, or heavy brush. I shoot a 62" Sitka, 57lbs@29" draw. It honestly felt like 52 lbs instead, so little stack. I'm wondering what a 60" Sitka would feel like? Hope this helps.

[Straitshot]

They only make one model one piece recurve and I suppose it is the Elite configuration because they do not make the Sitka in a one piece.

I have an older (straight line through the riser and not the flair) 62" one piece that I really like. I love how smooth it shoots and how quiet it is. I also have an older Snakebit which has the Elite configured riser and I like it but I actually prefer shooting the one piece. It is sort of difficult to explain why. I just like how the one piece performs a bit better.

I am considering ordering a new Blacktail and am trying to decide if I want it to be a one piece or their new Sitka model. Since I have never shot the new Sitka I am wondering how it compares to the one piece.

For my 28" draw length my old 62" one piece is awesome and I am wondering how the 60" Sitka would compare.

My older Snakebit I ordered years ago originally with 60" limbs and soon began to wish I had ordered it with 62" limbs instead. Not long ago I purchased a set of 64" limbs from a fellow TradGanger and I prefer them over the original 60" limbs but I still like the performance of the one piece the best. It may be because it is 2 pounds lighter in draw weight. The Snakebit is 50# and the one piece is 48#.

Decisions, decisions. It is just that the new Blacktails are a considerable investment and I don't want to make the wrong decision like I did when I ordered the Snakebit with 60" limbs instead of 62" limbs.

[cacciatore]

I like short riser with long limbs and I am considering a Sitka myself. I had 6 long riser Blacktail and I still own 3. I like everything on them. But I find the Sitka very appealing.

[Recurve7]

Regretfully I can't comment on the one piece. However, I own a Sitka. Absolutely love it!

[newhouse114]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Blacktails. Just depends on what style you prefer. I've shot most of them and while I don't own one, I certainly have no complaints about any of them either!

[Bowwild]

I agree with Charles that any Blacktail is a good one.

I have two Sitkas and I used to own a 1-piece.  My experience isn't super valuable because the 1-piece was a 62" and my Sitkas fit me (26" draw) better at 56" and 58".

If I was going to own only one Blacktail it would be a TD Sitka (T2 if you like the most beautiful of woods).  I like a hefty riser, even with the TD, I pick woods that are more dense and heavier than most others. I even have a long list of woods with density numbers so I can pick.

I go to the Blacktail site about every day for a few moments just to see what new bows have been listed.  The new "colored" maple burls are amazing!  Thanks goodness that all these new ones are RH because I don't need to spend T2 money on a bow right now, !  

It is weird. I was thinking about "blue tone" in a riser about 4 days ago. Then yesterday I see a blue burl (RH-whew!)  That green-toned Maple Granite is so nice.

In case some think they are too nice to hunt with. I have a Australian Corrugata Burl that I've hunted with all year (very dense and have wood). I don't toss my bows to the ground from the tree stand and I don't hold the top strand of barbed wire down with my bow.  I'm just careful (with all my stuff).  If I lived out west and hunted a lot of rocky country (spot and stalk/still) I'd probably have the "Hunter" model.

My Sitkas have caused to sell off about 10 bows over the past 2 years. And (ha) not to pay for them as much as I just know I won't hunt with them.

Can't resist posting the pic of my favorite. This is a 58", 50@28"TD.
   

[Steelhead]

Louis I never had the Sitka.Certainly looks intriguing.I( like the concept of the shorter riser,shorter bow.As well as being lighter in the hand.Especially with a bowquiver attached

I have had the original 62 and 64 inch T.Ds.I have had four 64 inch 1 pieces and a 66".Even an older one like you desribed above with the straight line through the riser and more plain red elm limbs.I do think the newer one PC curves are more refined than the older 1 piece you described and shoot a bit better.

I also preffered the 1 piece bows when comparing the non Sitka T.D to the one piece.Just something about how it felt in the hand and the shooting experience was a tad sweeter for me.I do like 1 PC bows for aesthetice and less mass weight.

Probably doesn't help you much since I have not shot the Sitka.I would like to try one someday.I would probably talk to the Bowyer after you get some more opinions and get it from the horses mouth.

[BlacktailBowhunter]

I've got money down on a Blacktail and after owning 2 VL models I was going to buy another VL and then I spoke to Norman after Sightsee recommended the Sitka. After discussions I decided to try the Sitka. It'll be 4 to 6 months before I know whether I made the right choice

[sightsee]

Great answers everyone! I love talking about stickbows and hearing everones input.

[Straitshot]

I am thinking the limb length on a 60" Sitka would be about equivalent to the limb length on a 64" one piece since the Sitka riser should be a bit shorter. I want my draw length to fall somewhere in the middle of the recommended draw range and not be the maximum or minimum. The draw recommendation for a 60" Sitka is 27"-30" and for a 64" one piece is 27"-30".

Bowwild, awesome looking Sitka. Like you I like dense heavy woods in the riser. I think they absorb more of the shock and vibration and make for a more dead in the hand feel on release. That alone may cause me to stay with my decision to stay with the Sitka. Take dawns are just a bit heavier than one piece bows.

[newhouse114]

Now I just heard a "rumor" today that Norm has a newly designed long bow that has not yet been released to the public. Give you all something to dream about!

[sightsee]

Yep-newhouse, matter of fact he has several new ideas and products coming out or are in research and development stage. Can't wait to see them. Happy Holidays to ya!

[warpedarrow]

Wanting a Sitka but not wanting a long wait, I saw one for sale the other day and bought it about two minutes later.  I haven't shot it much as I'm having an issue with trigger finger on my string hand.  That darn skinny string feels like I am drawing a seventy pound bow when it is actually a fifty.  Maybe I'll try again this afternoon.  I have a Whippenstik arriving this morning so I may as well string up both bows and play; if my finger holds out.  I am only about twenty five or thirty miles away from San Angelo so I offered to let Louis test drive the Sitka.

[tom cunningham]

Hi Louis.  The specs are not right so it's safe to just "look" at the one on the "bay" that came up .....Tom.

[warpedarrow]

The specs aren't right for me either but I would rather buy a Blacktail worth the money than invest another dollar on Wall Street.  I had to jump in to that sale.

[Straitshot]

Tom, It is a nice looking bow but as you say the specs are not my range, however, like Brad is saying if you could get it at the right money it would be worth an investment.

Brad doesn't live far from me and I drove out to his home yesterday and shot his Sitka. It helped me a bunch in trying to make my decision. His is a looker and shooter. Who ever he bought it from sure didn't shoot it much because it looked brand new.