Red Wing Hunter Shelf and Grip Customization with Pics

[Ssamac]

This is a thread I started over a week ago and now have some descriptive pics. Most of the top shooters say that the arrow should rest on or close to the fingers. However my Red Wing Hunter sets the shelf at least a half inch above my fingers no matter how much I try to hold it high. Should the shelf be shaped more and does that ruin the bow or at least the value of the bow??? Can I damage the bow?

First here is my Wing Falcon 40# (on the left) grip and shelf side by side with my Red Wing Hunter 50# grip and shelf. I really like the Hunter but look how clubby the grip is. The Falcon is a perfect grip for me. Here's the first pic

 http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/Ssamac/RedWing001.jpg

And here's how the RWH fits the hand:
 http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/Ssamac/RedWing002.jpg

Not easy to take pics of your own hand, but you can see that I can't close the hand down on it and it tends to turn in to the right.Also a glossy slippery grip.

Take a look at the Wing Falcon. Does not seem a lot better in the pic but if you look close you see the hand fits in there nice and when in an upright position, the shelf is right over the fingers.
 http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll279/Ssamac/RedWing003.jpg

Can I make the grip on the Red Wing like the Grip on the Falcon? It does not seem so much like lowering the shelf but slimming down the grip itself.

Thanks for any ideas.    

sam

[Kelly]

It is not a fair comparison when your hand is not in the exact position as it will be when actually shooting. Just holding the bow to take pictures is not a true dipiction. Furthermore I would not mess with altering the grip and/or shelf. Just not necessary IMHO. Besides I think the statement of arrow as close to hand simply is not that important. Otherwise you would not have anyone using an elevated rest.

[SELFBOW19953]

Sam,

I'll post some photos of the RWH that I "modified".  I got it about 10 years ago with a big chunk of wood missing from the grip-was "repaired??" with wood putty.  I took a rasp to it, making it similar in size and shape to a '65 or so Grizzly or Kodiak magnum.  I also radiused and lowered the shelf.  I cleaned up my tool marks, sanded my work, and put some poly over it to seal it. Several months ago I sent it to Sipsey River to be camo dipped.  It is now my turkey bow-no luck yet, birds have vanished on me.

Phil

[kurtbel5]

Sam
I'm doing a BP Cougar and since I am learning, I went from the grip up, rather than just taking the shelf down, I was not shooting for off the hand though, just slimming the grip and rounding all 90 angle's they left at the factory.
I stuck with hours of hand sanding, cause files and power tools are forever.lol

           Kurt

[SELFBOW19953]

Sam,

Here's my "modified" RWH.

 

It's 52" 50@28.

Phil

[kurtbel5]

Phil
that looks really nice.
       Kurt

[Ssamac]

Appreciate the comment, Kelly, but I really like the bow but the grip is bad for me. I mess up too many shots with it which I don't do with my other bows. My bow is exactly like PHil's, 52" 50 @ 28 and a great shooter but that grip is a constant problem. What you did, Phil is exactly what the Wing Falcon grip looks like and exactly where I want to be. I like Kurt's suggestion of work slowly on it with sandpaper, maybe a rasp but slow and easy to get it here. The more I have looked at it since it's the grip more than the shelf, the bottom up approach would be the safe way to go.

Thanks
sam

[Ssamac]

One more note to Kurt. Has this changed the way the bow shoots or weakened it at all in your opinion?
Also, you did a camo job which is super. I plan to keep the natural wood finish. Should I spray it with clear polyurethane>?

Thanks again
sam

[SELFBOW19953]

Sam,

The bow has not weakened at all that I can tell.  The bow is now more comfortable for me to shoot and I am much happier with the feel and pointability of it.  I like a low wrist grip and one that I can wrap my hand around (probably one reason I prefer Grizzlies to Kodiaks).  

I would definitely seal that bare wood with something, rub on or spray on.  The folks at Sipsey River do an awesome job with their camo dipping.

Phil

[Kelly]

Remember you are talking about bows that are quite different lengths, 52" compared to 62". The difference in feel of their grips can be attributed to the different shpe of the risers. With the Falcon the riser is more straight up and down whereas the RWH is much more Deflexed. That alone will make the "FEEL" of their grips quite different with the Falcon more towards the low side.

Personally I love all Wing grips, especially the Red Wing Hunters, Chaparral and Thunderbirds. Of all the Classic manufactures and models, Wing grips are my favorite and the above 3 models have no equal.

[Ssamac]

I am partial to Wings too Kelly. I guess you're right about the Falcon's riser but I think if I can just reduce the RWH's grip a little at a time until I feel I have a comfortable grip, my hand will sit in there better and I'll shoot it better. I promise to go slow.

Thanks
sam

[Kelly]

One thing you need to know is short bows are more critical to archer error during the shooting process. IMHO, they are much more difficult to be accurate with, especially when you are comparing them to a bow 10" longer. Being able to shoot it better may have nothing to do with the grip.

[Ssamac]

And that's why the target bow is usually longer, for sure, Kelly. I've messed with this one awhile, and I can shoot it with pretty good accuracy. You have to concentrate on not moving around a lot since the little bow, very light too, is like nothing in the hand. The issue I have is I have to adjust the hand all the time to get a grip whereas my other bows grip easily and just kind of come up right.

sam