Thoughts on metal or Alloy risers?

[flint kemper]

I was wanting your thoughts on these different metal risers as compared to wood. I know most guys like the added weight but I have never shot one only lightweight 1 piece longbows and wonder if the metal risers would not feel that great to me. I know I should try before I buy but may not have the opportunity. I was wondering about the coldness in the winter as well. I know metal risers have been around along time and do not want to get into the is it traditional argument but if you want to  respectfully post your thoughts please do so.    Thanks for replies. Flint

[vermonster13]

If it's so cold as to make the riser uncomfortable, I am wearing gloves anyways. (you can put a leather wrap on it just like any other bow in most cases also)

They aren't for everyone, but when designed properly they are as close to dead in the hand as you can get and so stable.

[MI_Bowhunter]

I like Metal risers on recurves, I've never tried a long bow with one.  I like the added weight and using a rest/plunger combo makes for really nice fine tuning.  I have a couple Quinns that I will never part with.    They are colder in the winter but it is easily negated by using one of several types of wraps or grips.

Ask 10 different people and they will prob all give you different answers.  It's best of you can find one to try before deciding.  Or do what I do and keep a few of each around.    

[koger]

I have 3 metal riser bows, 2-BW's, and a Quinn. both are really well balanced, quiet and handle better than a lot of wood bows, and that led me to sell several of those. The Quinn is the best kept secret in my book, givem a call.

[Curveman]

I don't doubt they are great performers; I just prefer the aesthetics of wood. Part of the appeal of "traditional" for me. I don't agree that they are better performers than wood though-not enough to matter for a bowhunter anyway. That being said, I have carbon in both my favorite bows so I guess that makes me a little hypocritical!    Its all on a continuum. My friend George won't shoot a bow he didn't make himself.

Oh, my Border recurve riser in cocobolo weighs a "ton" and is VERY stable in the hand. Some metal risers weigh less. I'm shooting my "broom handle", "D" shape longbow now though and having a lot of fun with it though it appears less forgiving than my recurve. I seem to be going in the other direction from the "latest and greatest" metal and hybrid bows. Don't know why.

[Bjorn]

I'm sure they do the job-just not for me!

[John3]

Great shooting "adjustable" metal riser recurves are superb. Granted I want the warmpth and beauty of wood. Shoot whatever you like and shoot it well !!!


JDS III

[O.L. Adcock]

If I wanted the most accurate, best "feeling", highest performing, it'd be metal. In one piece bows if I wanted the same thing, it wouldn't be metal but it wouldn't be wood either!   ....O.L.

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Originally posted by Curveman:
That being said, I have carbon in both my favorite bows so I guess that makes me a little hypocritical!      

Not at all. You like what you like. There's no need to feel obligated to explain or defend it.

Flint: If you'd like, I can bring my two metal riser recurves to the banquet in March for you to play with. Just shoot me an email before the banquet if you want be to bring them along.

[benny]

O.L

Would it have 'DIAMOND" in it?

Benny

[Bill Carlsen]

Metal risers give you added stiffnes which means your limbs transfer more energy to your arrows. The late Jack Howard added a steel rod in his wood risers for that purpose. As for hunting in the cold, I have had problems in the past with my Groves bows. However, the DAS bow I now shoot has a very nice poly grip on it that does not transfer cold at all. I hunt with it until mid Dec.

One of my bows is a Groves take down with a 100% phenolic riser. I can't tell you from a scientific point of view but it seems to be as stiff as my metal risered bows and shoots better than the same model bow with a wood riser. If you want a "Metal-like" riser try to get a bowyer to make you one of phenolic. Makes a difference.

[mooseman76]

I'm thinking that OL is referring to something like Phenolic in the riser.  Maybe Micarta, but I'm not sure what the difference is between the two...Mike

[James Wrenn]

From a pure shooting standpoint the more wood you take out of a bow the better.  Of course we are not all looking the best so we shoot different things.Even though I know getting rid of wood is best I still like and build wood bows.