Chek Mate Hunter

[bamacrazy]

I'm looking at used take down hunters. Which of the Chek mate hunters are the most desirable? Do they all perform similarly? Which ones have the wide grip. Thanks in advance.

[NDTerminator]

I have the TD Hunter I, TD Hunter II, and the Hunter 56.  All have pro's & cons.  

All have a relatively thick grip. If it's too much you can send them back and CM will slim them down some for a reasonable price.  I have an H2 riser on order on which I specified the grip be slimmed down when it's made.

Although the H1 design is supposed to be a bit faster than the H2, in my experience the H2 shades the H1, all else being equal.  The H2 is more forgiving and to me has a much more comfortable grip/riser design.  

My H56 is a very zippy little bow.  The draw back on the H56 is the small sight window.  You pretty much have to shoot three under and you definitely have to shoot feathers off the shelf with a H56.

Here are the speeds my bows generate at 28-28.5" draw using a 525 grain 2413 with vanes.  The H1 and H2 have T-300 rests, the H56 is shot off the shelf with a rug rest and 515 grain feather fletched 2413. These tests were shot over a Chrony.

58" H1,  52#@28"    178 FPS
60" H2,  53#@28"    188 FPS
56" H56, 50#@28"   185 FPS

Here are speeds of my one piece recurves for comparison, all using the 525 grain 2413 and elevated rests:

60" Kota Prairie Swift 55#@29"    181 FPS
58" Martin Mamba 55#@28"          195 FPS
52" Bear K-Mag 55#@28"            179.5 FPS

As you can see, the TD Hunters match up well.

I have to shoot 57# limbs on my H1 to get in the speed area achieved by the 53# H2 and 50# H56.  I have no explanation for this, but it's a fact.

If that H56 had another 1.5" of sight window it would be about perfect as far as I'm concerned.  I'm going to try it's limbs on a 58" H2 riser in the near future.

Hope this helps...

[BMOELLER]

The take downs have the same grip whether or not it the H1 or the H2.  The H2 has more deflex than the H1 which makes it more forgiving. The H1 is a little faster.  I have seen more H2 than H1's.  I own a Hunter 2 all bacote @62" and 62#.  It is plenty fast.  

I met a guy at the range that had a one piece black widow with 60# just two pounds difference.  He let me shoot my arrows out of it and the Checkmate shot noticeably faster. Plus it was much quieter.  No disrespect to widow owners but I think they are way over-rated.

[Panzer II]

I have the Hunter (I) and it is by far the smoothest, most accurate, most forgiving bow that I have ever owned, and I have owned a few.