Feather rest on a Black Widow PL?

[Maclean]

Just curious if anyone is using a feather rest on a Black Widow PL.

If so, what's your thoughts pro or con?

Thanks in advance fellas.

[Archie]

I've been shooting an elevated flipper rest for over 10 years on mine.  I modified it to cut it down in overall size.

[LoneRanger]

I would think that the curved profile of the shelf on the Black Widow would provide much of the benefit of the feather rest.

I have shot feather rests before on flat shelf bows, a Bear Kodiak specifically. A trade off of using a feather rest is the tendency of the rest to collapse when wet, in the rain.

What are you hoping to gain with the feather rest?

[Maclean]

LoneRanger - good question. I'm seeking more consistency shooting this particular bow. It's the wild horse in my stable. I shoot all of my other bows very consistently, but not this one. I don't know if it's the handle or the shelf, but when I'm having a good day the PL is dead on and I love the bow. If I'm a little off, this bow will let me know, whereas my other bows are more forgiving.
Everything I've heard about feather rests suggests an increased degree of consistency and forgiveness, and I was hoping to tame this bow a bit. It really is a fine r/d longbow.

[LoneRanger]

Well, I see three down sides to the feather rest. One is the tendency to collapse when wet. Two is that it places the arrow further above the bow hand, which is generally considered bad for instinctive shooting. Third is that it will wear out in time (maintenance item). That said, mine on my Kodiak has proven to be long lasting with a few thousand arrows shot and no visual sign of wear.

Like I said before, I believe the shelf design on the PL gives much of the benefit of a feather rest as it is, being curved.

If you do try it, I’m interested in your experience.

[Maclean]

Keefers is sending me a modified LH feather rest.  Due to the narrowness of the Black Widow PL shelf, a standard rest would've been too wide, so he fixed that.
I'll post an update after I get it installed and shoot with it a bit. Be patient, it's archery elk season here in Idaho.