ILF limb decision

[LouisianaRecurve]

Anyone have any experience with these 2 sets of limbs? Strongly considering the MXT GWs but didn't know if someone had experience with both and could help me choose.
https://lancasterarchery.com/products/win-win-wiawis-mxt-gw-recurve-limbs

https://lancasterarchery.com/products/win-win-winex-recurve-limbs

Background, I do a lot of shooting at home. No tournaments so this would be used for personal enjoyment on shots up to 70 yards away. Also want to use it for hunting pigs and nutria. Going to wrap the limbs in camo tape for those adventures.

In the end I want the best/most efficient limbs I can get so I give myself the best chance on those longer shots without using a compound.

[McDave]

Win & Win are a well known brand, so probably will be okay.  I notice that they are close outs, and many of the different weights and lengths are not available.  Have you checked to see if the one's you want are still available?  If you decide to buy them, be sure to check right away when you get them that there is no limb twist.  Nothing against Win & Win, I would recommend the same regardless of who made them and particularly because they are close outs.  It is really hard to get limb twist out of carbon limbs; I don't know if it is even possible.  Maybe it doesn't matter if it is only a little bit because of the torsional stability of carbon limbs, but the limbs should be perfectly straight coming out of the box, and if they're not, I would send them back, close out or not.

[LouisianaRecurve]

To be honest I'm not sure either. I've had a shoulder injury that has limited me in archery. I've been able to get back shooting over the past year or so though. Shooting a samick starting at 30# and working up to the #45s. Shoulder started to bother me again at 45 so I've backed down to 35 and I've been able to shoot for multiple hours in a row with no real shoulder pain. The bow I had when I was 18 was a 55# martin longbow so heavier weight when I am healthy shouldn't be a problem. I am currently doing Pt to help my shoulder. I'm relatively young and fit at 30 so pulling bows at #45 should be no problem with a little PT and possibly some PRP injections into the joint.

I plan on buying a 21in Kinetic Meos Riser which will increase the listed draw weight by #4. So I'm considering the #40 short limbs to make a 62in bow with an actual draw weight of 44lbs or #44 long limbs (66 AMO) with an actual draw of 48lbs due to my 29/29.5 inch draw.

I'm considering calling them tomorrow and asking if I can make an arrangement where I pay for the riser and both sets of limbs and I can return the set of limbs I don't want and they can credit me back when the limbs come in. Idk if they'll do that. If not I'll probably wait until I get my shoulder better where I can confidently choose a weight. Because I would prefer the long limbs but I'm just unsure if my shoulder will hold up.

Your point of making sure the limbs aren't twisted are very valid though. I'll definitely be sure to check that when I open the box. 

[McDave]

Lancaster has good customer service, so on regularly stocked items, I wouldn't think you would have a problem.  “The draw wasn't as smooth as I expected,” should be excuse enough.  On a close out item, though, it might be better to call ahead and ask, as you suggest, because they might be a little more picky.

[5deer]

     

[The Whittler]

Have you gone over on Tradtalk, there's quite a few ILF shooters and I'm sure they would gladly help you.

[LouisianaRecurve]

Tbh I thought this was the appropriate place to post this topic and I didn't want to spam the forum. I also decided to just go with the long heavier limbs. #48 at 28 should be manageable for my shoulder in a few months. Shot at #40 yesterday and I don't have shoulder pain from it today. I'm just going to verify the limbs aren't twisted when they arrive and then put them aside. 🤷‍♀️

[McDave]

I don't mean to imply that you don't know this, as you may know more about limb twist than I do.  But the way I identify limb twist is to put one end of the strung bow on the floor, and hold the other end in my hand, so the bow is extending down from my hand at about a 45* angle.  I center the bowstring on the limb, and raise the bow until I can see the limb tip of the end I’m holding against the underside of the bow.  Usually there is a limb bolt or something marking the center of the underside of the bow, but if there isn't, you can put a piece of tape across the limb and mark the center.  A bow without limb twist should have the string centered on top and the limb tip centered on the bottom, so that you can see both at the same time.  ILF risers have an adjustment to move the limb back and forth, but if that adjustment won't center the string and the limb tips at the same time, you have limb twist.  Then do the same thing with the bow reversed.

[Kirkll]

ILF bows are not for everyone....  Checking limbs for alignment & doing lateral limb adjustment for tracking requires a bit of finesse. 

If you mount your limbs and then just draw them to full draw before checking the alignment, you can ruin a perfectly good set of limbs.

After stringing and looking down the limbs as mentioned above, you need to partially draw the bow a few inches and watch the limb tips... If they are coming straight back without any twist, then draw them a bit further the next time.....

You can use an open door in the house and hook the riser on a door knob and gently draw the bow a few inches at a time watching both limb tips at a time.  I use a peg on the side of my work bench to check the limb tracking like that myself on every bow i build.

With lateral limb adjustments, go real easy, and do not over tighten those set screws. Loosen one side, loosen the base plate screw, and then adjust.... then gently tighten the other side and the base plate again to just snug.

Just a little bit of adjustment moves those limb tips a lot more than you think......   Be careful....    Kirk

[LouisianaRecurve]

I wanna say thank you for the responses! I'll definitely be supplementing what y'all have told me with this video which is what I was going to use as my reference on determining if the limbs are bent.    

 Additionally, I purchase some copycat Beiter blocks today because I forgot to order them when I ordered the limbs. https://www.amazon.com/Recurve-Adjustment-Calibration-Detector-Alignment/dp/B07RLBFTFG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8   .

I'm hoping that between y'all's comments, 25 minute video, and the blocks I can determine if the limbs are good without making a mistake. Y'all are correct in that these are my first IFL limbs so I am a neophyte. Thanks again for all the words of wisdom!

Some good news. Went shooting yesterday with the 40# limbs for about 3 hours. Sore today a little pain in the bow arm but definitely manageable with rest.   

[Kirkll]

As a bowyer i would not recommend taking a file to your tip notches on a new set of limbs to try and straighten a tracking issue..... You will void your warranty and possibly ruin your limbs.

Even on older set of limbs without warranty, i would avoid that as a last resort after adjustment is maxed out.... The overall shape of your tip notches should be a teardrop shape that the string loop applies even pressure to the limb tips. This requires a very precise shaping technique whether done with a machine or by hand. This is nothing to mess with unless you have experience.

I'm actually pretty surprised someone would advocate taking a file to new carbon backed limb tips
and not mentioning the lateral limb adjustment.  If you have bad, or unevenly filed limb tips. Send them back, or have an experienced bowyer look at them. The crap they put on you tube sometimes never ceases to amaze me.

Most ILF risers today have lateral limb adjustment capability. If you are having tracking issues, this is where you should start.... even then.... go slow and easy....   .02 cents worth   Kirk

[M60gunner]

I have an old set of W&W limbs, maybe 12 years old by now. Carbon/wood, still shoot just fine and I switch them around on 3 different risers. As for Lancaster I have bought a couple sets of limbs from their “sale” selection. The TT limbs were miss marked but new in packaging. The SF limbs had mounting marks . Neither set has been any issues so far after 3 years. The customer service is in my opinion one of the best out there.

[LouisianaRecurve]

As a bowyer i would not recommend taking a file to your tip notches on a new set of limbs to try and straighten a tracking issue..... You will void your warranty and possibly ruin your limbs.

Even on older set of limbs without warranty, i would avoid that as a last resort after adjustment is maxed out.... The overall shape of your tip notches should be a teardrop shape that the string loop applies even pressure to the limb tips. This requires a very precise shaping technique whether done with a machine or by hand. This is nothing to mess with unless you have experience.

I'm actually pretty surprised someone would advocate taking a file to new carbon backed limb tips
and not mentioning the lateral limb adjustment.  If you have bad, or unevenly filed limb tips. Send them back, or have an experienced bowyer look at them. The crap they put on you tube sometimes never ceases to amaze me.

Most ILF risers today have lateral limb adjustment capability. If you are having tracking issues, this is where you should start.... even then.... go slow and easy....   .02 cents worth   Kirk

I should have been more specific. I was going to use his methods along with what has been suggested here to see if the limbs are twisted. I am in no way going to attempt to modify the limbs if they are out of whack. That will be a return and I can find a different set of limbs.

I hope and assume all of this is overkill and the limbs are perfect and I'll be good. I just don't want to receive the package not check and then determine the limbs are twisted like a month later or something. Since I won't be shooting these limbs right away. But definitely not going to take a file to the limbs. Even if it was endorsed by y'all I do not trust myself with that in the slightest. 

[LouisianaRecurve]

I have an old set of W&W limbs, maybe 12 years old by now. Carbon/wood, still shoot just fine and I switch them around on 3 different risers. As for Lancaster I have bought a couple sets of limbs from their “sale” selection. The TT limbs were miss marked but new in packaging. The SF limbs had mounting marks . Neither set has been any issues so far after 3 years. The customer service is in my opinion one of the best out there.

Good to hear, I hope I have as much good luck when I get mine in. 

[Kirkll]

As a bowyer i would not recommend taking a file to your tip notches on a new set of limbs to try and straighten a tracking issue..... You will void your warranty and possibly ruin your limbs.

Even on older set of limbs without warranty, i would avoid that as a last resort after adjustment is maxed out.... The overall shape of your tip notches should be a teardrop shape that the string loop applies even pressure to the limb tips. This requires a very precise shaping technique whether done with a machine or by hand. This is nothing to mess with unless you have experience.

I'm actually pretty surprised someone would advocate taking a file to new carbon backed limb tips
and not mentioning the lateral limb adjustment.  If you have bad, or unevenly filed limb tips. Send them back, or have an experienced bowyer look at them. The crap they put on you tube sometimes never ceases to amaze me.

Most ILF risers today have lateral limb adjustment capability. If you are having tracking issues, this is where you should start.... even then.... go slow and easy....   .02 cents worth   Kirk

I should have been more specific. I was going to use his methods along with what has been suggested here to see if the limbs are twisted. I am in no way going to attempt to modify the limbs if they are out of whack. That will be a return and I can find a different set of limbs.

I hope and assume all of this is overkill and the limbs are perfect and I'll be good. I just don't want to receive the package not check and then determine the limbs are twisted like a month later or something. Since I won't be shooting these limbs right away. But definitely not going to take a file to the limbs. Even if it was endorsed by y'all I do not trust myself with that in the slightest. 

Good deal....

[McDave]

“I hope and assume all of this is overkill and the limbs are perfect and I'll be good. I just don't want to receive the package not check and then determine the limbs are twisted like a month later or something.”

That's the reason I mentioned it in the first place, because that happened to me.  I “assumed” since my limbs came from a good manufacturer that they would be straight, and when I got around to checking them some time later and found them slightly twisted, I “assumed” that they would be easy to straighten, like non-carbon limbs I had straightened in the past.  Wrong and wrong.  Because of the amount of time that had passed, I felt guilty about returning them because who's to say i didn't twist them myself?  And when i tried to straighten them, they wouldn't easily straighten like non-carbon limbs.  I didn't want to wraunch on them too much and wreck them entirely, so I just decided to watch them.  So far, they haven't twisted any worse, but I’m not happy about it, although I have only myself to blame.   

[LouisianaRecurve]

“I hope and assume all of this is overkill and the limbs are perfect and I'll be good. I just don't want to receive the package not check and then determine the limbs are twisted like a month later or something.”

That's the reason I mentioned it in the first place, because that happened to me.  I “assumed” since my limbs came from a good manufacturer that they would be straight, and when I got around to checking them some time later and found them slightly twisted, I “assumed” that they would be easy to straighten, like non-carbon limbs I had straightened in the past.  Wrong and wrong.  Because of the amount of time that had passed, I felt guilty about returning them because who's to say i didn't twist them myself?  And when i tried to straighten them, they wouldn't easily straighten like non-carbon limbs.  I didn't want to wraunch on them too much and wreck them entirely, so I just decided to watch them.  So far, they haven't twisted any worse, but I’m not happy about it, although I have only myself to blame.

I'm really glad you shared that with me earlier in the thread or I most likely would have never checked them.

[Wheels2]

Call LAS and ask to speak with one of their trad shooters in Customer Service.
Ask them specific questions as I have found them to know a lot about the various limbs and risers.  They have a tendency to play around with them.
So far as being close-outs, W&W has made great products for years and each year they put out something new.  Even LAS cannot stock everything.