Riser Importance

[dick sable]

The importance of the riser in take-down bows seems to be rarely mentioned, except for the different beautiful woods.  Usually, most discussion is focused on different limbs and their various compositions.

Today, I spent several hours in the basement range shooting a variety of Morrison bows. Fortunately, I'm privliged to have four different take-down risers and limb combos. The different bows range from the mid 90's years (bamboo, amberboo, osage) to 2010 carbon/foam limbs.

Interestingly, although they all shot as expected, I noticed that certain risers seemed to be more important than the limbs in "my" shooting performance.  I have one riser that just seems to "groove' - no matter which limb!  Does that make sense?  Yep - - looking for the perfect bow!  I think I might have the perfect riser. Ever noticed the same??
Dick

[YORNOC]

I have with Silvertips. The basic dymondwood riser seems to shoot the best. I've done the same, shot risers with different limbs from lightweight to 80+ pounds. I don't notice it so much when shooting lighter limbs, but over 65#'s the heavy, solid Dymondwood risers are my preference.
Woods are all different, mass, grain, strength, etc. and can exhibit those diffences under certain circumstances.

[stevewills]

i preffer a 19 or higher riser in length,from my widow to my ilf bow.i also enjoy a heavier riser for shooting anything over 55 lbs.but thats just my preference...

[traditional beagle]

This probably doesn't happen with bow makers that have a machine to cut perfectly. But, when making my risers if I don't get the angle exactly the same where the limbs bolts on then the bow does not perform as well. I do think dense woods will be smoother to the hand.

[olddogrib]

Wondered something similar, but I'm not fortunate enough to have access to the variety of bows required to test the theory.  I have two 60", 46# @ 28" Morrisons, an A/D Shawnee and an A/D Cheyenne.   My perception is that they have noticeably different shooting "characteristics", but my guess is that most of that is reflex vs. deflex design. I go through spells where I favor one over the other, but shoot them both equally well with practice.  I like mass in a riser and the Cheyenne is Cocobolo Dymondwood whereas the Shawnee is Bocote/Macassar.  I think the A riser Cheyenne is 1" longer than the Shawnee to begin with so my comparsion isn't really apples to apples anyway.  But my question is would there likely be a perceptible difference from a different 60" combination (B-riser, C-limb), with all else equal, i.e. poundage, limb design/composite, string, etc. ?

[Stumpkiller]

Dick,

Is the material the only difference or do your various risers have different grip shapes?

All my bows are one piece, but the risers are widely different in grip depth, width, and angle, as well as overall weight.  My 62" Explorer weighs almost twice as much as my 58" Ben Pearson Hunter.   I'd rather have the Hunter in a treestand but the Explorer at a 3-D shoot.

[trubltrubl]

riser weight and design are just as critical as the limbs as far as I am concerned...I have a 1967 Super Kodiak with a large heavy riser and you don't even know you are shooting a bow it is so smooth...the weight also seems to give me more accuracy...I love my lonbows too though...but the riser shape, lenght  and window are very important as far as I am concerned..

[dick sable]

Charles,
The material is not the difference. The newer one is macassar/bacote and slightly heavier. The older ones were pre-CNC - all slightly different. The older risers are actually made from actionwood and one of cocobolo. The throat and thumb-rest just fits like a glove - less "torque". The newer rise basically has no "thumb rest". My shooting seems to improve - no matter which limbs I use. The grip seems to be the variable. Hope that makes sense.
Dick

[RRock]

It's all about the grip.

[snag]

I agree RRock. That is why I shoot Blacktail bows. They are the most consistant in my hand over all bows. My hand rests in the grip without any torque.

[johnny girardi]

Most everything posted is good and true.I would add that some risers bend when coming to full draw.this makes bow shoot bad mostly with good shooters or with shooting mach.Also why dymalux or aluminum risers are more accurate. Widows have glass all over in riser super strong.