Centaur Carbon vs Morrison Carbon vs ACS

[Lee Robinson .]

Comparing top of the line carbon (or carbon core) bows from Centaur to the Morrison and also to the ACS...how do these bows compare in terms of...

1. Shootability - stability, accuracy, arrow flight,

2. Quietness, and

3. Durability.

I realize all 3 are quick and made by quality bowyers.

[Killdeer]

OOOF!
Now THERE is a kettle of worms.
I have a Morrison Dakota, carbon/foam, a Morrison ACS, a Centaur Carbon Elite and a Carbon Chimera.

The Dakota, the Carbon Elite and the Chimera are marked with the same weight, but I have not scaled them for proof. The ACS is 5 pounds heavier. The Dakota and the Carbon Elite are the same length, but the Chimera is two inches longer. I got the Dakota in mid-May, and the Chimera on the third of this month.

Am I going to have to buy a perfectly matched set for accurate testing results?

Now, I work six days a week, and was up way too late last week for the auction, and need to settle into my own projects (Making new arrows, playing with a new cresting toy, cleaning out the truck and getting it serviced, ready to go to ATAR, and then settling into one bow for hunting season.) Then I am going to have to take a couple of clinics so that I can be sure that I am competent to test for accuracy, without being influenced by the different grip designs of the Morrisons vs. the Centaurs. This is going to take a while.

Otherwise, all of this except for some of the chronographing will be strictly subjective and limited to my level of ignorance and lack of skill.

They are all fast, they are all as accurate as you are, and the Dakota is perhaps noisier. Or I might have been torquing my string hand, 'cause the end of my ring finger turned white.

Was this helpful?
Killdeer  

 Good one Killie.

[rastaman]

I think Killie stated the facts as subjectively as any of us could! i've owned or still own all of the above plus some original adcocks.  The A & H has more mass weight than the other two. I had a metal riser A & H that would shoot a whole range of differently spined arrows regardless of what i did.  i don't know why i let it go.  My carbon elite centaur is the sweetest of the three (how's that for subjectivity!).
I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, but please try to shoot them all before you buy.
Now, if anybody has a Leon Stewart Slammer Special out there they will let go of, i am set!  

[bowfiend]

I can offer my experience, which really comes down to what I believe is grip fit. I've had multiple configurations of the Morrison carbon/foam dakota and I never felt that "they" were as accurate as my ACS's or Centaurs. I have since sold or traded the Morrisons, but I do believe that this was just a byproduct of the grip not fitting me to my preference.

I'm currently shooting a 58" Centaur carbon elite and a 64" ACS-ACX. The poundage is 4 pounds different between the two with the ACX being heavier. My hand fits the ACX grip better and I really like the way it feels, but I'm shooting the Centaur better. If I had to pick one bow from my inventory to make a kill shot at 20 yards today - it would have to be the Centaur. I have only had the ACX for a couple weeks, but I did shoot a previous ACS I owned very well.

Both bows are quiet in the grand scheme of things, but the ACX does have an edge in that department. As far as durability goes, I'm pretty careful with my gear so I don't really know for sure. I did drop the Centaur and it took a ding in the belly-side grip that seemed significant for the type of fall it had sustained, but I'm pretty anal about that sort of thing.

[oddan]

When you get to the top line bows like these it is really a personal choice. After shooting all the above I prefer the Centaur hands down. For some reason this bow just shoots very well for me. Not that it is better than the others, its just better for me. I have sold my other bows and just have 2 Centaurs with another on order. I think you have to shoot the 3 and decide which feels best and shoots best for you. All 3 are quality bows that will deliver a deadley shot. Best of luck in your choice. Out Door Dan

[larry]

I've shot and owned all three, still have the Morrison Shawnee with dakota limbs and three Centaurs. all are as quick a bow as you'll need. the Morrison has more hand shock than the Centaurs, but the weight of the riser (mines a "B" riser) makes it a better shooter for me. Put a quiver on the Centaur and it gives it just enough mass weight to even out the field in shootability and therefore takes the top spot for me. your mileage may vary.

[floodman]

Well i must be the odd ball..I got rid of the rest and kept the ACS bow's the metal riser bows with a Beaver grip by Big jim makes for a set-up that is unbeatable...All 3  are top notch folks to deal with though...

[Steel]

Well I have had a 58" Dakota carbon/foam, ACS 56" one piece, two 58" Carbon Centaurs in a one piece. I will not get into TD Morrisons and ACS  I have had many,many of them. First grading the looks and construction my Dakota was best of the bunch flat out beautiful and not a flaw in the finish. Bob knows how to make a pretty bow.     As far as shooting all three designs were fast,quiet,and high end bows all the way through. To me they all shoot well and were more alike than different about the main difference was in the way the grips felt which is personal thing. To be honest I don't think I can even pick a favorite out of the bunch? I can say my favorite one piece longbow I have ever owned is the 54" all wood Centaur I have but no carbon there.

[Robhood23]

Never owned a ACS, had a morrison and traded it, my centaur isn't going anywhere!