Bear Patriot tuning

[coldwinterlake]

Hi!

This is my first post to this website and I found that here isn't that much discussion about Bear Patriot bow.

I have 2007 model 64" 50#@28 and have some serious issues to get this thing shoot the way want.

Firstly, Patriot is REALLY smooth even I have 29,5" draw and 50 pounds with this bow is like nothing to me. So that's a good thing.

My problems is concerning about the noise and brace height.

Let's start with the BH. My string is Tomahawk custom FF string and it's 62,5" long, the same lenght that the Bear factory string was.
Even now the suggested minimum BH (6,25"-7.25")is almost impossible to achieve. I find that strange because the bow is 64" long and the string is only 1,5" shorter... Could there be some kind of mistake in those suggested BH's? I mean if I somehow achieved that minimum BH my fletchings would probably touch the strikeplate and that is not going to work.

Another issue with Patriot is the noise. I have succesfully installed beaver balls about 6"-7" from the limb tips, but that doesn't seem to make a big difference. The bow used to be noisi and like a tuning fork. No the resonance is gone but the noise when releasing is still there.
How on earth can this be overcome?

I have also trouble finding properly spined arrows. I prefer aluminum over carbon and I've tried 32" 2213s with 125gr points and they were too stiff. I've also tried 30" 2016s with 100gr. points that were too weak. Maybe 2018s or 2117 would be proper match. Hard to tell without trying but spine selecton charts seem to propose too stiff arrows.

[ISP 5353]

I had a bear Patriot several years ago.  It was a great shooter, but it did take some tuning to get it that way.  

The first thing I did was have a good flemish twist string built.  Mine was made with D97.  That made a world of difference.  I ran the brace height at 7 inches.  I used either beaver balls or wool puff silencers.

I shoot carbons and ended up shooting .400 spine with 250 grains up front.  My bow was listed as 50 @ 28, but was about 4lbs heavier than claimed.  I drew it to 29.75 inches.  Good luck with yours.  I would start with a good string and build from there.  PM me if I can help.

[BuckeyeGuy]

Unless I missed it was your brace height over or under the recommended after installing the new one?  I will assume you are under.  Rule of thumb is 3" less your bow length for longbow string length.

Also on the 2213s, if you have heavier field points keep adding till you get good flight.  You may get up to 175-200 grains to get them to fly correctly.

Lastly, are yours arrows flying side to side or up and down?  Just want to make sure your nock point is not to high or low.  Correct one thing at a time and then move to the next.  First thing is correct string length for brace height then the next step.  Thx, Mike

[stalkin4elk]

I picked up a custom 75# @28(29" draw) Patriot a few years ago that is 64"from TG's classified ads.
When I contacted Bear Archery they rec. the 6.25-7.25 brace ht. with a 60" string.
I got a new string from SBD(sponsor) and with Navaho wool silencers(Centaur Archery or 3 rivers)she says a very muted,soft "tunk" upon release. The original string sounded like a sick banjo.
I believe your string is too long.
Also, SBD strings will turn most good bows into great bows...others agree they are THAT GOOD.
SBD's are on all my bows now.
Hope this helps.

[Sirius Black]

I'll probably be putting a SBD string on my Hoyt Dorado when it comes in. I've heard NOTHING but good reviews on SBD!

[coldwinterlake]

Yes! Now i got it right. Patriot shoots like dream and is now very quiet.

I still shoot the 2213s with 125gr points and 4" offset feathers. Feathers made the difference somehow. Bare shafts were too stiff, but magically they fly nicely now.  

BH settled to be 7.5" so it's out of the suggested measures but works.