Black River Pass Around Bow Info/Review Thread

The bow is on its way to M60gunner in AZ.

I feel this bow is a great bow. I only shot the longbow limbs, but it performed well, and fit and finish are excellent!

Anyone looking for a recurve style handled longbow should give this one a try!

Bisch

[M60gunner]

I got the bow about an hour ago. My wife and I are impressed with the wood combos and the workmanship. I strung up the recurve limbs and made BH at 8". I did have to raise the nock point. That may change when I shoot the bow tomorrow. Same with LB limbs. To me the grip is fine and I am picky about grips. It feels much like my Hoyt Excel grip which is a medium.
I am taking a few different  sizes of arrows to try. Carbons and alum. Might try my currant woods as well. They might be over spined. We'll see.
Will update tomorrow.

Originally posted by M60gunner:
I got the bow about an hour ago. My wife and I are impressed with the wood combos and the workmanship. I strung up the recurve limbs and made BH at 8". I did have to raise the nock point. That may change when I shoot the bow tomorrow. Same with LB limbs. To me the grip is fine and I am picky about grips. It feels much like my Hoyt Excel grip which is a medium.
I am taking a few different  sizes of arrows to try. Carbons and alum. Might try my currant woods as well. They might be over spined. We'll see.
Will update tomorrow.

Geez, I am so glad to read this post! Tracking says it is in Pittsford, NY!!!! Had me all worried. Tom and Will, disregard the PM's I sent y'all!

Bisch

[M60gunner]

Well shucks, instead of shooting this fine bow this AM I am typing on my IPad. My fuel pump decided to take a dump on me last nite at father in laws place. Be tomorrow before I can get it repaired.
I was able to shoot a few arrows in garage at close range. Looks like my 35/55 GT's will be what I try outside.

[M60gunner]

Just got back from range. Put about 200 arrows threw bow, recurve and LB. Those recurve limbs shot my 35/55 well but I did better with my 2114's. Both weight the same so it probably is me and my "form". I was able to get good flight from my 55/75's as well. Just a little loggy past 30 yards.
Let a couple others guys try, both said how smooth the LB limbs are.
All in all a well made bow. I really enjoyed my time with it. It will be on it's way tomorrow AM.
 Thanks for letting me try the bow. Sorry no pics, me and Photobucket, Imgur have issues with IPad.

[M60gunner]

I am adding more to my review.

I believe if I had a doz new carbons and started from scratch bareshaft tuning I would have done better than I did with the variety of arrows I used. That goes for the recurve limbs especially. But that is to be expected with recurve. Recurve has always taken me more effort to tune arrows to. But that maybe me and my form or lack of. My 35/55 weight 500 grains, a touch over the 10 grains most guys seem to like. The bow I think likes the heavier arrow as there was no noticeable ark at 40 yards. The bow does point well and when I did my part I had no issues hitting 40+ yard targets. I had the brace height at 8". I wonder what others used? Only change I would make is a different string material for the recurve limbs. Agian just my preference but I like BCY X. It does not stretch in the heat. The grip fit me like the grip I have on my Hoyt Excel so I had no issues settling in. I assume it is a med grip?

[PaulDeadringer29]

I thought this bow came with BCYX strings?

[DanielB89]

They are both with BCY X strings.  I have messaged him and will gladly send a new to the next person.  

Tom said the LB string wasn't stretching like the Recurve string was, which shouldn't be happening seeing as they're both the exact same.  


Whoever is next on the list, if you have the same problem, I will just send a new string.  It COULD have something to do with the AZ climate, but then I don't understand how it isn't happening to both strings..

[M60gunner]

Bow is on its way. It supposed to be delivered Saturday.

[Jack Hoyt 75]

I believe that I am up next and will shoot the bow on Sunday.  I will most likely send to next lucky guy by Wed. or Thurs. so if sending a new string send it to the person after me.  I will let you know if I have any string stretch.  Thanks!!

[DanielB89]

Originally posted by Jack Hoyt 75:
I believe that I am up next and will shoot the bow on Sunday.  I will most likely send to next lucky guy by Wed. or Thurs. so if sending a new string send it to the person after me.  I will let you know if I have any string stretch.  Thanks!!

Jack,

please do let me know about the string. Thanks.

Daniel

[TKO]

A request was made to edit the title of this thread in an effort to make it a little easier to follow for those interested. So, I fumbled my way through the process (my first edit) and it appears I got it done. I hope this works for everyone.

[Jack Hoyt 75]

I received the bow in near perfect condition. (Edit: noticed very minor wear mark on riser and a scuff on top longbow tip)  Shot a little Sunday and tonight.  Full review to come and it will be in the mail on Wed to John in Ohio.  

DanielB89, there is no issue with the string.  I left recurve strung for quite a while and it did not move at all.

Easy shooting bow of very high quality. I like it!!

[Jack Hoyt 75]

My Black River Bow Review:

I have had time to shoot the recurve and limbs enough to really get to know the bow.  First let me say the quality, fit and finish is very high and just as good as any high end bows on the market (better than several).  I was impressed with the craftsmanship and not a single imperfection in the finish.

Grip is pretty nice and it fits well in my hand.  The bow is very point-able and has a generous sight window.  Nice size 16" riser with good weight without being massive.  Riser and limb fit seemed very precise and tight.  I like the thin piece of cork between them.

I shot the hybrid longbow limbs first.  I thought it was very quite and I got dialed in fast and had nice arrow grouping.  60" limbs were very smooth at my 28" draw.

Next was the recurve limbs.  Again great performance and no hand shock. It seemed like I shot the longbow limbs just a little easier naturally though.

I stopped by the archery shop yesterday and put both set-ups through the chronograph for the heck of it.

Shot both bows with Carbon Express Heritage 150 with standard insert and 145 gr. field point.  I believe the recurve limbs are 62" and 50 lbs. and I got between 176-182 fps.  The longbow limbs are 60" and 48 lbs. and I got between 172-178 fps.  To me the hybrid longbow held up to same performance as the recurve. (diff. in fps is assume with my form or slight change in draw).

HCB were both fine strings and I had no stretch measured.  I left nock height as it came to me and put recurve BH at 7 3/4" and longbow BH at 7 5/8".

Overall, I was very impressed with the bow.  If Will brought his bows to Compton, ETAR or K-Zoo he would be a very popular guy!  If you like ________ bows (insert most high end 3 pc. bow names here) you are sure to like a Black River also.

Thanks to Will for letting me shoot the pass around bow.  It will be on the way to John in Ohio tomorrow morning.

Picture of strung recurve limb design
 

Picture of strung longbow limb design
 

Thank you!

[DanielB89]

Jack,

great detailed review!  Thank you for letting me know about the string!

[DanielB89]

Any update on this?

[Jack Hoyt 75]

Bow was received by #8 on the list on Monday and confirmed by PM here.  That is all I know.  Hope others post their thoughts on the bows.

[bucknut]

I am very impressed with the craftsmanship and finish of the bow. I pretty much gave it a head to head comparison with my current go to hunting bows which are a Silvertip and a Talltines.  The bow with the Hybrid limbs is a knockout and a pure shooter, smooth as silk on the draw with a slight thump on release. It is a natural pointer and I could have taken it out the night of try out after just 3 arrows and been very confident. The recurve limbs seemed to load up with a steady gradual increase in weight out to my 28" and had a bit of zip. It seemed as though they were significantly faster than the longbow limbs but I have no proof. I shot with both heavy 62# woods and 500 FMJ's and it liked both equally well with the woods being slightly quieter as would be expected. I shot the hybrid limbs much better than the recurves for whatever reason. As far as a comparison to my other bows, It is a lot like my Tall Tines with the RC limbs and the grip is almost identical. The craftsmanship is as good as many and better than most. I would be very pleased to be the owner of this bow and would highly recommend it. It is definitely on the radar for my next bow. Especially the hybrid!

She is off to Utah for the next try out.

Thanks to Will for allowing us to go for a joy ride on one of his bows.
John

[Pheonixarcher]

Great pics and reviews everyone! I'm looking forward to my turn with this bow. Can someone post the list or a link to the next guys in line?

[Dry Creek]

1. TKO Thomas O'brien
2. jt85 Jason Youngblood
3. Graps Dale Kuder
4. Bisch Jerome Bischoffberger
5. M60gunner Thomas Mosher
6. JackHoyt 75 John Haines
7. huntingarcher Danny Red
8. bucknut John Amos
9. Screamin Dan Jackowiak
10. PastorSteveHill Steve Hill
11. Kyle Lancaster Kyle Lancater
12. PaulDeadringer29 Paul Todd
13. Hermon Glen Hermon
14. buckracks7 Jim Davis
15. BigEd Edwin Schlimme
16. Sacredmt Tsosie Taylor
17. ghall80 Gary Hall
18. Larryf Larry Fischer
19. see Dwight Millsaps
20. Pops Michael Schreiber
21. Dry Creek Craig Stamper
22. Breathn John Mosier
23. Basinboy Corey Bailey
24. crittergetter Randy Madder
25. Pheonixarcher Paul Hentschel
26. Muttly Kenneth Medvid
27. Petep Peter Pappas
28. Dewey11 Steve Dulaney
29. Longtoke Clay Ratcliff
30. sam barrett Sam Barrett
31. Bldtrailer Thomas Robinson
32. kleine Rick Kleinschmidt
33. iohkus William Austin
34. Flungonin Steve Dicketts
35. S.C.Hunter Kerry Hill
36. GDPolk Garrett Polk