Wood risers to machined aluminum

[Aspirinbuster]

When I first started doing exhibitions in the mid 1980's I used a wooden Bear Kodiak recurve.  When I told Fred Bear about hitting baby aspirin with the bow those big shoulders rocked with laughter and he told me the story of his exhibition days.  When he was first starting out he couldn't afford a booth at sports shows so he would trade the show owners a booth space for an exhibition.

2010 marks my 25th year on stage doing instinctive archery shows.  Time flies.  And the bows have sure changed.  In 2010 I will be shooting twin Hoyt Formula RX recurves.  These bows are cosmetically appealing and if they shoot half as good as they look then the baby aspirin tablets have had a bad day.

Don't get me wrong, I love a wooden riser bow and the beauty and craftsmanship that comes with a custom made recurve.  I have a pretty good sized collection of bows...  But when it comes to accuracy I love a machined aluminum riser.  It's a matter of personal preference.   I tell people to shoot what they feel comfortable with.  Alot of my friends like the older style traditional tackle, which they feel keeps them close to founders of the sport.

I have had a few people think I wasn't sticking to purely traditional tackle when I use these machined risers with fancy limbs.  Instinctive shooting is instinctive shooting... so my response to them is to find a way to unite bowhunters and not divide.  To continue to promote this great sport we must all stick together and focus on whats important... the next generation.  

That's my two cents worth.  Whatever style bow you use, whatever method you use, enjoy this great sport.

Shoot Straight,
Frank Addington, Jr.

[wingnut]

Yep that is a mouth full.  We spend way too much time mashing our rules and standards on others that want nothing more then to be part of the group.

I'm gaining an appreciation for alloy riser almost every day.

We have a bunch here as we are working with ILF limbs and are shooting a number of different setups.

Mike

[cacciatore]

Franck,you are right istintive shooting is istintive shooting and for sure everybody has his own reason for using what they like most.Maybe for what you use your bow the machined riser is better,but I like the look the feel the romance of the natural wood,and for kill a deer it is plenty.Welcome abord bro,LOL.Felix

[Red Beastmaster]

I have yet to see a machined aluminum riser that I thought was attractive. I'm sure they are all you say they are, but not for me.

I'll soon be wrapping my hand around my new Brackenbury. Just can't see how grabbing hold of cold metal would feel as good.

I guess that's why they make choices. We're all shooting bows without wheels and that's what counts!

[koger]

Wood is beautiful and warm, no doubt, I used to wouldnt have a alum. riser bow, now that is what I shoot 90% of the time, my go to bows. I dont baby them, and they sure look pretty when you lay them down on a fat doe, or a limit of turkeys that you have taken with them! Plain fact is, because of my small hands, I just shoot them better, and if I shoot better, make a more humane kill, dont cripple or loose as much game, then I am in. Just MHO.

[Aspirinbuster]

I was wondering how this post would be recieved... I was glad to see so many open minded folks.

Thanks.... I am proud to be here and in the family of archers... which we all are.

I like wood too by the way...

Shoot Straight,
Frank

[trashwood]

what ever you want to shoot is OK by me.

this riser was built before there were compounds.  I think it would have to be called traditional.  these limbs are a prototype longbow limb.  kind of a best of the old meets the best of the new      

   

I don't think I can bust asprins but this is the time of the yr that squirrels are feeding on the ground. I am sure gonna see if I can hit a mess of squirrels      

rusty

[Aspirinbuster]

The baby aspirin shooting is probably over rated anyway... haha.

That's a beautiful bow... what type?  Carroll?

[George D. Stout]

Frank, I shot a metal riser takedown in 1966. It wasn't mine, it belonged to another fellow who bought it new in 1953...direct from Grimes Archery or Par-X...can't remember which for sure now.

I also had my own Shakespeare QT, aluminum riser takedown in 1973, and a Herters metal riser in 1974;  I took second place in the bowhunter division at the Pa. State Field Shoot, in 1975 with that Herter's Perfection Magnum T/D.

To say the metal riser is not traditional is to be ignorant of archery history....a closed mind syndrome.  They have their own unique beauty which is mostly discovered in the shooting, rather than the looking.  I've owned many over the years and I only favor the wood because it's much warmer on my old hands.  But if I were to get serious again about competing in the field tournaments, it would be a metal riser that I would be using.  Been there, done that.

[Bill Carlsen]

I've got one of the first metal riser bows Harold Groves made back in the late 60's. Still have it and it shoots great. I've had wood  bows but always did my serious hunting and shooting with my metal riser recurves.

[mahantango]

Love my 25+ wood bows, but my Hoyt Gamemaster probably sees more action.

[trashwood]

Frank - the bow is one of the hoyt t/d hunters 16" risers.  the limbs are Dryad Bow's ILF longbow limbs.  I have one of those 3rivers eye brush rests on it.  good hunting  bow.  just go back from the indoor range.  shot a 241 instincitve on a 300 indoor traget. I can shoot a little better if I have an arrow tuned to point of aim on the traget face.  Not a bad score but would not breakmany aspring.  it would have brought on a few squirrels  
rusty

[FerretWYO]

Frank you said it very well. Stop dividing and keep uniting.

[Aspirinbuster]

That Hoyt riser is awesome.  A little before my time... wow I like it.  Interesting how short it is under the grip.

Earl & Ann Hoyt were friends and I never shot a single bow Earl designed that wouldn't shoot.  He was the man when it came to bow design.  A gentle giant in the bowyer field.  He was awesome.

Good posts everyone, thanks