Brackenbury Quest info please

[cartman308]

Hey guys!  I'm a compound shooter but have toyed with traditional gear from time to time.  A great friend of mine made me an offer I couldn't refuse!  He offered to lend me his Custom Brackenbury Quest recurve for as long as I want it.  He's had some issues and can no longer shoot and wants the bow to be put to good use, but doesn't want to sell such a fine bow.  

I've searched the web and only found a little bit regarding the Braks.  What little I found is glowing.  I don't know the specs of the bow I'm getting but he said it would fit me perfectly.  I'm STOKED!!!!  

Can you give me some more info on the Braks?  Only arrows I have are unfletched Victory V1s.  I'm going to have them fletched with 5" feathers as the manual on the Brackenbury website suggests.  

What weight points should I start with?
Do they papertune like compounds or is there another tuning method?

ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED!!!!! Like i said, I'm a wheeled shooter from way back, this is all new to me!

[Danny Rowan]

Shawn,

I am a diehard Brack shooter. You will be pleased. Now, if you are coming from compound, you will need to start with no more than 45#, it is quite different shooting a recurve, no let off,LOL and no sights. It will take you a while to become proficient, practice, practice and more practice and do not shoot after you become tired, creates bad habits. Have fun and good luck.  As for arrows, I cannot advise unless I know your draw with a recurve and the draw weight of the bow. Your draw length will shorten from what it is with the compound.

Danny

[buckster]

Another Brack Quest fan here!

[cartman308]

Originally posted by Danny Rowan:
Shawn,

I am a diehard Brack shooter. You will be pleased. Now, if you are coming from compound, you will need to start with no more than 45#, it is quite different shooting a recurve, no let off,LOL and no sights. It will take you a while to become proficient, practice, practice and more practice and do not shoot after you become tired, creates bad habits. Have fun and good luck.  As for arrows, I cannot advise unless I know your draw with a recurve and the draw weight of the bow. Your draw length will shorten from what it is with the compound.

Danny

Thanks for the info Danny!  I'm not sure as to what any of the specs are on the bow.  My compound draw length is 30.5.  I'll give more specs when i get the bow in my hands.  Should arrive very soon!

[Steertalker]

Cartman,

Bill Howland at Brackenbury is an awesome guy and his bows are second to none.  I own a whole herd on them.  Don't know what to tell you about the arrows because you didn't mention what the draw weight was on your bow or other specs.

As far as shooting...the only difference between the compound and the recurve is the letoff of the compound.  In general...you will not need to change your form to shoot a recurve.  If you had good and correct form shooting your compound then you'll be fine shooting the recurve.

Brett

[mscampbell75]

http://www.bowmaker.net/index2.htm

This is good info on tuning.

[longbowman]

I shoot a Brack and love it!  I needed help with arrow flight and got it from Herdbull when he told me to go at least 1/8" higher with my nocking point than any other bow I've ever owned.  I'm actually at 13/16" abover center and shooting darts with cedars, aluminum, laminated birch and hickory.  Have fun!

[cartman308]

Hey guys!  Got the bow in my lap right now!  WOW what a beautiful bow!!!  
 
OK... specs

62" model, 53#@28"

ONly arrows I have right now are Victory VForce V1s that I can fletch with 5" feathers.  They are the .300 spine.  Where should I start with point weight?  I have several different flavors to try  

[Danny Rowan]

Ok,

If you draw 28" and your arrow is 30" to back of point and a point weight of 125 to 145, you would need a spine wt of 75# for wood arrows. I shoot AD Trads, any 55/75 spine carbon should work great. I highly recommend the AD Trads. Not sure on the V1s at .300 spine but imagine they would work. I also shoot Vapor Carbon woods at .250 spine and they fly great. all my arrows have 100 gr brass inserts and a heavy head as I like heavy arrows. Just tune for perfect arrow flight, play with point weight and shaft length until you get that, just go slow if cutting down the arrow length,1/8" at a time. You can measure your true draw length by drawing the bow with an arrow on the string and holding and have someone mark the shaft at the far side of the riser to find how long you want your arrows.

[cartman308]

Originally posted by Danny Rowan:
Ok,

If you draw 28" and your arrow is 30" to back of point and a point weight of 125 to 145, you would need a spine wt of 75# for wood arrows. I shoot AD Trads, any 55/75 spine carbon should work great. I highly recommend the AD Trads. Not sure on the V1s at .300 spine but imagine they would work. I also shoot Vapor Carbon woods at .250 spine and they fly great. all my arrows have 100 gr brass inserts and a heavy head as I like heavy arrows. Just tune for perfect arrow flight, play with point weight and shaft length until you get that, just go slow if cutting down the arrow length,1/8" at a time. You can measure your true draw length by drawing the bow with an arrow on the string and holding and have someone mark the shaft at the far side of the riser to find how long you want your arrows.

Thanks for the info!  Greatly appreciated!!!

[Steertalker]

Cartman,

A .300 spine is too stiff for that bow.  I would go with a .400 with that bow.  You indicated that your draw length on your compound is 30.5 so if that is your true draw length then the 400's should be what you need. The lightest Brack I have is 57 lbs at 28 3/4 inches.  I shoot Easton Axis ST 400's cut 30 1/4 inches long from nock grove with a 100 gr brass insert.  BH's are approximately 225 grs.  With this setup I can shoot bullet holes thru paper from point blank on out.

Brett

[Red Beastmaster]

I just got my Quest in January and love it. I shoot it better than any bow I ever touched.

I can't help you with arrows for your bow since I have no experience with carbons. I despise tinkering so I followed the chart on Brackenbury's site and bought the recommended aluminum arrows. They are perfect.

There is so much to like about the Quest but probably the most important part is the grip. Really comfortable with the arrow right on the knuckle.

You will do great things with your new bow. Good luck.

[cartman308]

Thanks for all the great help!  I've yet to have time to shoot the Brak yet.  Wife has work PILED ON ME!!!!  

I figured the Victories would be way stiff.  I'm hoping I can tune them with enough point weight.  I don't have any spare cash right now for new arrows.  But soon enough.

[mike hall]

For that weight I've had good luck with Carbon Express 4560's cut 29 1/4 with 225 up front. My draw is 28".
Looking forward to getting my new limbs soon.
Have fun with your new "Smackenbury"      

[Steelhead]

Before deciding on your carbon arrow choice your gonna need to know your exact draw length 1st.

Lets say you draw 29.5 inches for example.Which may be close to your draw with that bow.Since you draw 30.5 with a compound.

Your bow will scale about 5# higher at that draw length.As long as it doesnt stack.Lets say 58#s.You will need an arrow about 30.5 inches long to account for the broadhead.

For that poundage and draw length I would say a deflection of around .375 to start with and play with point weight in your tuning.A variety of filed point weights is always good to have on hand.

I got from 100 gr. up to 300 gr and everything in between.

I CX Heritage 250 is gonna be a good shaft to look at.Its tough,heavier and has a .375 deflection.

The shafts Denny recommended are supposed to be very tolerant of different poundage ranges and are tapered.Alot of guys love them.

I have great luck with CX Heritage 250s just by adjusting point weight for different bows.They are reasonably priced and excellant arrows.I like em more than Gold Tips personally do to thier consistancy in spine.

good luck!

[cartman308]

Originally posted by Steelhead:
Before deciding on your carbon arrow choice your gonna need to know your exact draw length 1st.

Lets say you draw 29.5 inches for example.Which may be close to your draw with that bow.Since you draw 30.5 with a compound.

Your bow will scale about 5# higher at that draw length.As long as it doesnt stack.Lets say 58#s.You will need an arrow about 30.5 inches long to account for the broadhead.

For that poundage and draw length I would say a deflection of around .375 to start with and play with point weight in your tuning.A variety of filed point weights is always good to have on hand.

I got from 100 gr. up to 300 gr and everything in between.

I CX Heritage 250 is gonna be a good shaft to look at.Its tough,heavier and has a .375 deflection.

The shafts Denny recommended are supposed to be very tolerant of different poundage ranges and are tapered.Alot of guys love them.

I have great luck with CX Heritage 250s just by adjusting point weight for different bows.They are reasonably priced and excellant arrows.I like em more than Gold Tips personally do to thier consistancy in spine.

good luck!

Thanks again!  My Victories are cut to 29".  I'll be drawing them very cautiously the first time for ten  :D   I'm probably going to need a full length shaft.