Ragim Impala ?'s

[CoastalHunter]

I just ordered my first traditional bow today from Dave at my local archery shop, a Ragim Impala. He's also a traditional archer and was very helpfull he even offered to teach me how to shoot it properly and I definately need all the help I can get    . I have a few questions about the bow for the Trad Gang. First can I use a FF string on it and if so what type of string material should I use and how many strands, endless loop or Flemish twist, what type of serving ect.? My draw is 28" and the bow is 45#'s. Also I have read a few posts about putting locator pins in the riser. What are the advantages of using them and can they be used on the Impala? Also can I install them myself fairly easily with basic hand tools or is it something I should pay someone else to do? Thanks, Sean

[CoastalHunter]

Anyone?

[Patience]

Your bow comes with a string? Just shoot it and worry about the rest later.LOL

[CoastalHunter]

I thought about doing that, but wouldnt that be too easy? LOL Only reason I was asking about the string is I read on here that the Impala shoots very slooooow. Plus I never can leave well enough alone    :rolleyes: .

[robtattoo]

Sorry, but the Impala's only good for Dacron strings. They're not the quickest bow on earth, but it'll get the job done!

Sorry, but I don't know what you mean by 'locator pins'

If you want to speed the bow up a little, they come with either a 16 or 18 strand string. You could happily cut that down to 12 or even 10 strands. Stick witha B50 endless & you'll be fine.

[CoastalHunter]

Thanks Robtattoo that is exactly the info I was needing. What I mean by locator pins is metal pins that stick out of the limb pockets and fit into holes in the limbs locking them together so the limbs cant move side to side or up and down.  Thanks, Sean

[JoeK]

My daughter just got a 30# Impala, the deluxe model.  It doesn't seem slow to me, average or perhaps better.   Very smooth draw.  No pins, fast flight  or other stuff will be used. Joe

[ibohuntwhitetails]

I have one I have been shooting since christmas and I wouldn't call it fast by i also wouldn't call it slow. It does a fine job as is out of the box as far as my untrained self can tell. I am very happy with the purchase and havent really thought about changing a thing. The only thing I have considered is tryin a rest instead of shooting it off the shelf but that is just to many years of shooting wheeled bows putting that thought in my head. Enjoy the bow and get the basics before you worry about upgrades. The faster bows and more complex things seem to be less forgiving of beginner mistakes anyway.

Tom

[CoastalHunter]

Its good to hear you guys are enjoying your Impalas. I ordered the bow sight unseen on the recommendation of the sales man at the archery store. Needless to say I was a little worried it might not be a good bow but the salesman has a good rep so I trust him. After reading JoeK & ibohuntwhitetails replies I feel a lot better about ordering a Impala. Sean

[insttech1]

Your bow will come with an alignment system for the limbs.  There is nothing mechanical that you have to do to that bow whatsoever for assembly.
(other than bolting the limbs on, and DON'T overtighten the bolts...they should be gently snugged about 1/16th turn after they stop turning easily...)

If you ordered it new, the only thing you need to do is string it (with a stringer!), and tune it...

You may need to put shelf material on it (i don't know if yours will be attached, separate, or not included...)...

Set a nock point...

And set brace height...

For the nock and brace setup, ask your proshop guy to spend 15 minutes with the bow to get it basically set up, and pick his brain while he does it!!

Take Care,
Marc

[Raineman]

Please take no offense here (because none is intended) but should you not have had these questions asked and answered by the gentleman that sold you this bow?

I almost jumped in to an Impala (and may still get one....jus' 'cuz) but found a few alternatives through asking questions here BEFORE I spent my $$.

I am much happier with my Super K than I would have been with the Impala, and at the same $$.

It sounds to me you may be best served by finding yourself a "bow guy" instead of a "sales guy at a bow shop". There is no way to serve you unless he has been there, only to sell you.

Perhaps you can spend some time on here, and with some of us Trad nutjobs, and educate him.

You are on the right track however...the advice and instruction here is borderline gospel. I am sure you will be happy with the Implala. Accomplish the basics with it. It is a very affordable bow. ( I think I am talking myself into one    )

[Redwing]

I bought an Impala deluxe a coupla years back and love it! You can't use the fastflight string though (I think someone already said that). I don't think you will be let down with the performance of your bow if it shoots like mine. Everyone that has seen it or shot it really liked it. Also, once again if it is like the deluxe model it will have the pins in it I think.
Good luck and enjoy!

[CoastalHunter]

No offense taken   .  I bought the bow from Dave Camp who is a friend of Bernie Dunn who is member of Trad Gang. He has been involved in traditional archery and archery in general for probably as long as I have been alive. The reason I bought the Impala was more for budget reasons Dave asked me what my budget was and the Impala fit my budget. The reasons I asked these questions here instead of asking Dave was because I know I really dont have to modify the bow for learning purposes but more for my never ending urge to modify everything I own   .  Sean

[LAR43]

Sean,
As Isnttech1 said . . . get the proshop guy to do the initial setup, pick his brain before you walk out with it, & shoot it. . . .  a lot!
Other than tuning, ie. raising/lowering brace height & moving nock point up/down to adjust arrow flight, or make up a string w/ less strands, you're gonna find that trad bows work perfectly well as designed.

Larry