Ragim Matrix TD Recurve

[Night Wing]

I'm a recurve man and I like "long" length recurves. This is why I shoot two 66" all wooden custom made hunting recurves. I just like the way a recurve looks and feels in my hand grip wise. Yesterday, I was surfing the internet googling traditional archery bows and came across the Ragim Matrix take down recurve.

  http://www.ragim.org/matrixdx.htm  

The dealer for the Matrix here in the US is Ye Olde Archery Shoppe.

The Matrix TD comes in both right and left hand. It has black colored limbs too. What surprised me was the different lengths it comes in. The lengths are 62", 64" 66", 68" and 70". I've always wanted a 68" or longer recurve for bowhunting. I killed my first deer when I was 16 years old with a 69", 36# target bow with white limbs.

The Matrix is inexpensive too at $119. Not bad for an entry level bow for a beginner. Then I got another pleasant surprise. It comes in 20#, 24#, 28#, 32#, 34#, 36#, 38# and 40# weights. Since it's a production made bow, the poundage is measured at 28".

I like the looks of the bow. The only thing I can't tell is how long the riser is, if it's cut to center and what material the bowstring is made out of. I'm assuming the riser is 21" or 23" in length. I'm going to try and find out just how long the riser is because if it is a 21" or 23" riser and if the bow is cut to center, I just might end up buying this bow and use it as a "knock around" bow for bowhunting.

Since I have a 30" draw length, if I order a 36# @ 28" Matrix, it should be around 40# @ 30" with my draw length. The only other decision I need to make is whether to get the bow in a 68" or 70" length. Right now, without any other info, I'm thinking if the bow has a 21" riser, I'd get it in a 68" length. If the bow has a 23" riser, I'd get it in a 70" length. From looking at the photo of the bow, my "gut feeling" is telling me the riser is 23" in length.

At it's $119 price, I'm expecting the finish on the bow to be not so good and I'm sure the string nocks will probably need some sanding work so they don't cut the string loops on a bowstring. I'm also assuming it comes with a not so well made dacron B-50 bowstring. I can have one of my friends make me a bowstring out of B-55 material. So, I'll call Ye Olde Archery Shoppe and see if they know how long the riser is, if the bow is cut to center and what type of material the bowstring is made out of. The only thing which would turn me off to this bow is if the riser is 25".

All in all, not a bad find in my opinion.

[tecum-tha]

Nightwing, I use the Matrix mainly as give-away bows for kids. It comes in 48",54",62",66,68 and 70" length. I mostly give away the 54", becasue you can shoot them for quite a long time.
It is also available from other outfits on the web. The tips are glued on plastic tips, which work ok. Nock grooves are generally sharp edged, so fine sandpaper for rounding is a good idea.
Seal with rubbing on some super glue.
The supplied endless string is of mediocre quality and braces the bow usually a little too high for my taste. I always make a 5:1 ratio Flemish string from B-50, with padded loops (14 strands, acrylic wool silencers and wraps at end of string in slap area. The string changes this bow completely. From a vibrating mess to a pretty quiet arrow launcher.
The riser is made out of beech wood, at least on the 48 and 54" models and varnished brown.
Bow can be shot over the shelf, but no shelf material is supllied with bow. A Bair Hair Rest works good.
The 54" and longer models are set up with a plunger button hole and other inserts, so it should be cut a little bit past center imho.

[Night Wing]

Tecum-tha,

I know the Matrix comes in different sub models. The model I'm looking at is the Matrix Deluxe. I took the length measurements and weight poundages directly off of Ye Olde Archery Shoppe's site. I'm just not allowed post a link to their website here on TG.

If the tips are glue on plastic, I think one of my friends can put different limb tips on it made out of wood or maybe even phenolic.

If he can put phenolic limb tips on it, I might be able to put a fast flight bowstring on it.

Where are you at in Texas? The Local archery shop here in Georgetown carries Ragim bows. I don't know if he has the Matrix Deluxe or not but I can ask. If he does I will measure the riser for you.

Bisch

[Rob DiStefano]

i have a 64" 34@28 ragim matrix as a "guest" bow for visiting non-archery friends and relatives.  this is the walnut stained riser version, which is still available, not the newer "custom" or "deluxe" model, which is the same price ($120) but with a clear coated multi-laminate riser.  both use the same black glass over maple core limb sets.  so essentially, they're the same bow.  

the riser is 19-1/2" long, from end to end.  the sight window is cut 3/16" past center shot.

the tips have a red laminate plastic and are not hmpe bowstring friendly - dacron/polyester only.  i spun up a 10 strand b55 string to replace the supplied 16 strand overkill dacron string.  the riser is drilled for a plunger and the shelf is angled away from the riser so it's not rug friendly - i use a simple stick-on arrow rest.  beman ics 600 carbons or easton 1716s work well from this stick bow and i have 27" and 30" arrow lengths, with varying point weights, to cover a fair range of archers from double digit kids to adults.  for single digit kids i have a maddog pup longbow on hand.  

at its price point, a matrix is worthy enuf to inspire newbies to trad, but a seasoned archer wouldn't be all that happy with its overall performance.  i got mine new online, for $99, a few years ago.

[atatarpm]

I have the Impala Ragim modle and I shot the tips off of it. Then replaced them with pentholic tips I made myself.I bought the bow just to see if I would like archery. I don't shoot it anymore but it is still at our house. Every once and awhile I pick it up and look it over to remember where I started and how far I've come over the years

[Night Wing]

Originally posted by Bisch:
Where are you at in Texas? The Local archery shop here in Georgetown carries Ragim bows. I don't know if he has the Matrix Deluxe or not but I can ask. If he does I will measure the riser for you.

Bisch

I live in Magnolia, Texas about 10 miles from your friend and mine, Doug (Ol Man) on another website.

If you can find out what the riser length is on a 68" and a 70" Ragim Deluxe Matrix, it would be deeply appreciated by me.

[Night Wing]

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
i have a 64" 34@28 ragim matrix as a "guest" bow for visiting non-archery friends and relatives.  this is the walnut stained riser version, which is still available, not the newer "custom" or "deluxe" model, which is the same price ($120) but with a clear coated multi-laminate riser.  both use the same black glass over maple core limb sets.  so essentially, they're the same bow.  

the riser is 19-1/2" long, from end to end.  the sight window is cut 3/16" past center shot.

the tips have a red laminate plastic and are not hmpe bowstring friendly - dacron/polyester only.  i spun up a 10 strand b55 string to replace the supplied 16 strand overkill dacron string.  the riser is drilled for a plunger and the shelf is angled away from the riser so it's not rug friendly - i use a simple stick-on arrow rest.  beman ics 600 carbons or easton 1716s work well from this stick bow and i have 27" and 30" arrow lengths, with varying point weights, to cover a fair range of archers from double digit kids to adults.  for single digit kids i have a maddog pup longbow on hand.  

at its price point, a matrix is worthy enuf to inspire newbies to trad, but a seasoned archer wouldn't be all that happy with its overall performance.  i got mine new online, for $99, a few years ago.

Thanks for the indepth review for me. It's much appreaciated.

I do like a rug rest and I might be able to sand away the angle on the shelf towards the angle.

I'm trying to find out as much as I can about this inexpensive, but intriguing bow to me.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Night Wing:
Thanks for the indepth review for me. It's much appreaciated.

I do like a rug rest and I might be able to sand away the angle on the shelf towards the angle.

I'm trying to find out as much as I can about this inexpensive, but intriguing bow to me.

the "shelf" is on a "rolled angle" that will be near impossible to reorient.  however, it could be squared off, which will make it too low and a hardwood insert epoxied on would allow reshaping/crowning to create a conventional shelf.  way easier to use a stick-on bear brush rest.

[Night Wing]

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
the "shelf" is on a "rolled angle" that will be near impossible to reorient.  however, it could be squared off, which will make it too low and a hardwood insert epoxied on would allow reshaping/crowning to create a conventional shelf.  way easier to use a stick-on bear brush rest.

Rob,

Thanks for the info on shelf reshaping. The Bear stick-on brush way is looking better and better to me. Thanks for your help.