Opinions please from ACS-CX owners

[peter c iacavazzi]

I have the chance to purchase an A&H ACS-CX from a friend. The bow is 62" and draws 59lbs @ 28". Here is my question: I normally shoot heavy recurves and longbows in the 75-90 lb range. I shoot heavy arrows 700 plus grains and hunt elk in at least 3 states per year. Can I expect to get sufficient arrow speeds and pentration from  such a light bow? I know that to most 59lbs is not a light bow, but to a guy who routinely shoots bows between 75-90 trust me 59 lbs is light. I shot the bow last week and I will say that with a 600 grain arrow the 59 lb ACS shot as fast as a 70 lb longbow that we chronographed it against. I'm intersted in hearing from other ACS owners as to your opinions regarding the ACS for elk.

Thanks, peter

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

I dont see why you would have any issue with that bow for any game on the north american continent,  If you liked shooting it and it shoots as fast as the 70lb bow why not take advantage of the more efficient design and save some where and tear on the old bod? My ACS -CX out performs any bow I have ever had.

good luck with your decision

[BodarkOkie]

I just received mine last month.  45# @ 28"

Wouldn't hesitate to use it on any North American animal.

Ditto what LITTLEBIGMAN said....especially the "wear and tear" part.

[JC]

Pete, first, honored to be able to give you any input whatsoever. Your credentials (and Curt's high praise) preceed you.

I owned one that was 58#@27...at the time, about as heavy as they would go. It is a superb bow, imho, one of the top two bows I've ever shot. I certainly think it's efficiency would be capable of taking and elk at the draw weight you are looking at. I've never killed an elk with a bow, but I think hogs are pretty tough critters and have taken a few of those. With a 650+ arrow and the right head, I would have taken that bow against any hog in the woods. As you saw from your own tests, the ACS/CX's poundage belies it's efficiency.

While I don't shoot as heavy as you, I do prefer the heavier weights. If A&H would intentionally make limbs well into the 60's that I prefer to shoot, I'm not sure I would have sold it.

Imagine what such a bow would do in the 70# range   :eek:  

Good luck; in short, I don't think you will go wrong with an ACS/CX...it just may take some getting used to at a weight 15+ pounds less than what you are used to shooting.

[peter c iacavazzi]

JC,

Thank you for the kind words and solid input. I really liked the bow when I shot it. I was amazed at how quiet and smooth it was not to mention how fast it was for such a light weight. I'm told that A&H is now making limbs as heavy as 64 lbs (still very light for me) but at least heavier than 59 lbs! If a 59 lb bow performed that well I'd like to get a set of 64 lb limbs. It seems that with the ACS bow even adding 5 lbs equates to extreme performance. I'm giving serious consideration into buying the bow. If I can get a set of 64 lb limbs I'll keep her if not I can appearently sell the bow for at least what I'm paying for her. I appreciate all the above input! Thanks guys!

Peter

[jon]

Peter,

I would read Ashby's comments on the A&H websight. He felt the bow he shot(60 pounds)was as fast as his favorite longbow with the same arrow(if memory serves me, his longbow was 90 pounds). I have one with 45 and 54 pound limbs. After shooting it for a while, I believe I could take an elk with the 45 pound limbs given the right shot. Those limbs will throw a 640gr arrow around 165-166fps. I am in line to get a set of the new shorter limbs at 50 pounds. Those will probably be my " go to" limbs for elk hunting. I can't immagine what 59 pound limbs would do with a 700 gr arrow. I wouldn't hesitate to take anything in North America with that setup. Good luck and hunt safe.

Jon

[Big Sneaky]

Pete, I have read your TBM articles and enjoyed them very much.  Glad to see you on here.

As for the ACS CX, I have had 3.  I now just have the one and it is a 64" 52# @ 28".  I draw almost 31" and have scaled this bow at 60#.  It shoots a 590 grain arrow around 193-194 fps.  Although I haven't taken an elk yet (not for lack of trying) I believe it will be sufficient when the time comes.  These bows are extremely effecient and it seems the more arrow weight you put to it the more it likes it.  I would agree with JC that the only adjustment you might have to make is for lighter draw weight.  Exactly the reason I kept this one, the other two were lighter.  Good luck.

Cade

[peter c iacavazzi]

Cade, Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad you enjoy my writing.

Jon, you're absolutely right, Dr. Ashby speaks very highly of the ACS and I respect his opinion very much.

It sounds as if all ACS owners really love thier bows. I have to admit I really enjoyed shooting this bow and I'm giving strong consideration into buying it. I'm sure the whole weight issue is really more in my mind than I care to admit. After shooting heavy bows for so long I've sort of become predjudiced against light bows.

If I could get a 59 lb ACS to throw a 600 gr. arrow at speeds of 190 fps I would be very happy.

I chronoed my 75 lb recurve and with a 630 grain arrow I was able to score speeds of 210 fps. Hard to imagine a longbow that is 15 lbs lighter would be only 20 fps slower but it seems that perhaps the ACS really does compare.

Thank you everyone for the input.

[Guru]

Wuss    

[SERGIO VENNERI]

Peter; How are you ever going to explain that to Schafe some day!!?? 59#'s ?? LOL.

[Kip]

Peter  You will get older save it for later and also enjoy it now.Kip

[peter c iacavazzi]

Nice Guru.LOL.

Schaf would probably understand...I hope

I don't believe any bow under 70lbs can kill and elk but seems I may be wrong...

[Tbay]

I have taken several bull moose (over 20 years) with bows that were 60 lbs.  I have never heard anyone call a 59 lb. bow "light". Unless you hunt a super elk... something bigger than a  moose... I can't see any problem with a 59 lb. bow, especially an ACS design. I also have a hard time believing anyone thinks a bow less than 70 lbs. couldn't kill an elk!!!

[Bjorn]

As my joints are getting older I needed to drop some weight and got my first ACS about 18 months ago. I went from a high end 58# recurve with a 12 strand D97 string to a 49# ACS with the same string.
I shoot the same 600-650 grain arrows at the same speed with the ACS as with the bow that was making my body ache. And the ACS is smoother and giving me greater accuracy than before.

[peter c iacavazzi]

Bjorn, thanks for the input. I have gotten several PM's from less than satisfied ACS owners but overall the positive remarks far outweigh the few criticizms I've gotten. However, it seems that several of the PM's I've recieved were from former ACS owners that wished the ACS bow came in draw weights of 65 lbs plus. I think I'm going to buy the bow. But I'm still hoping A&H will make me a set of 65 lb limbs. I would imagine that if the ACS bow was available in a stouter weight 65 lbs and up the demand would be even greater. But thats only my opinion.

[Guru]

good deal bud....like you said,if you find out you're just not comfortable,or they won't make heavier limbs, you can always sell it. I don't think there a bow made with higher re-sale value.

 59#'s is plenty for elk.....of course next yr when I come out,you'll have to deal with the fact that little ol' me is pulling more wt. than you        

[Ray Hammond]

Pete,
I bought JC's CX. I have shot the old ACS too..and the CX is hands-down a completely different weapon in my opinion.

I am used to shooting 65 to 70 lb bows. My CX is 58@28 and is an absolute rocket launcher with heavy arrows...last weekend it was burying them in Rinehart 3D targets so much farther than anyone else's in our group, they were really having to work to get them out each time.

I routinely shoot 12 grains per inch, forward weighted carbons, but have shot my 810 grain hickory arrows out of it with great results as well.

It is  deadly quiet....much more important to me than speed. It also shoots a broad range of shafts well, another plus.

My assessment is I would have NO problem with using this bow on a 1000 lb bull and believing I could get a complete pass through with it.

[Precurve]

Pete;

I have a 61 @ 28 that I pull to 30-1/2".  The bow measures 67# on our local pro-shop's scale at this draw.  My observations are very similar to Ray's post above.  I'm used to shooting 70-77# recurves as my go to bows, and this ACS-CX outshoots them. It's the quietest bow I own and the fastest.  Using a 600 grain arrow I'm consistently 211-212 with a finger release.  I haven't checked any super-heavies with it.  I'm still distracted by the very small sight window (about 1-3/4"), but I'm getting used to that.  It's a very nice shooting bow; maybe a little more sensitive to a bad pluck on the release, but that's not the fault of the bow.  Look at the CX as if it's a beautiful woman...if anything's wrong she'll let you know about it right away, and whatever it is will be your fault!

[Elk Chaser]

There is a happy ending to this problem, I personally would not use a Bow for Elk less than #65.
With that said I have a ACS CX 64" that was made last year and its #70 @29"
I pull about 29 to 29.5
This bow does it all its smooth easy to shoot and performs real well.
I would not hesitate to use it for any Game in North America.
Just an opinion.
all Larry and have one made at #70 .
Bill

[JC]

Bill, I'm not sure how you got it done, but when I ordered mine and even when it was delivered in December they would not make limbs above 60# @ draw. I wouldn't have been so quick to sell it if I knew I could get stouter limbs.