Stabilizers on trad bows?

[Charlie Lamb]

Glory days my friend!!

Look closely at the fletching. It's early Bohning pbastic fletch. Very soft and rubbery (forgiving). The bow had a Bear Weather Rest (elevated), with a Berger button (cushion plunger) and drew 75#.

It would shoot a 650 grain arrow over 200 fps. for some awesome penetration.

[Ben Maher]

I grew up shooting old Bears Hoyts and Howatts , many of which had a tapped thread for a stabiliser. I used them on and off , but favoured them for my shorter bows .

They shot reallly well with one on and my new ILF rigs all carry a short one.

[swifty99]

I've never used one though I have had bows that had the bushing and have a Bear Kodiak Hunter now that has the bushing. Maybe I will ask my son to make me one, he made me some nice leather pieces for Christmas.

[Charlie Lamb]

I use one on this Bear Magnesium TD that I reworked.  
   

[Charlie Lamb]

I might add that Jack Howard didn't believe in them because his bows were built perfectly balanced with good physical weight.
It's sacrilege to even use a bowquiver on a Gamemaster Classic or Jet.

[Charlie Lamb]

Of course there are some things that just don't make sense!!!      

[Mike Vines]

Throw a bow fishing real on there, and your good to go.  The heck with using the insert for target shooting, use it to killl something.

[Swiftspeed10]

I had one on my takedown recurve but rarely used it, yes it did make shots more stable and fluid but it also increased the weight of the bow alot and I dont like the way they look =P

[Ralphie]

I recently found and bought two vintage Damon Howatt stabilizers, to use on a  Howatt Monterey bow.
I was intrigued by stabilizers, as they often came with new bows in the 60's & 70's, yet their use today has declined. In a way, like recurve sights.
Sometimes people having bows refinished will have stab holes filled, along with sight holes

I found the stabilizers helped to slightly,cut down  any hand shock. In addition, the slight weight added to the bow, helped shooting accuracy.

The benefits, I found, were only slight.

I sold the Monterey, so I no longer use the stabilizers.

[Buckhorn3380]

just say no, unless your going bowfishing then put on a reel!

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

Well now, it seems the line between "traditional" and "modern" just got a little more blurry.    

[vtmtnman]

I don't use them regularly but when I have a bow that has an insert for one I will try one on there.The added weight is awesome for steadying up.It's also nice to have the insert there for a bow fishing reel,string tracker or anything else.

[Jacko]

I don't use a stabilizer, perhaps ?? I'm someonewhat sensitive as it is a cardinal sin in my neck of the woods to have a stabilizer on your Trad Bow. It was never an issue in the 70's and 80's, we recognised the clear advantages. The same folks who whinge about stabilizers have no problem with bowquivers as they like the extra weight ??????

The Trad police need to step back  

regards Jacko

[bigbadjon]

Charlie, I have a Kwikee quiver on mine simply because it was tapped for one when I got it and have had my share of ugly glares. Anyway I have shot with a stabilizer with a compound and tried them on some recurves. My opinion is it did not make a difference. To be fair I tried them on a Stemmler Jaguar, a Bear Super Kodiak, a Bear Kodiak, and a Martin Hunter, and some compounds which are all pretty heavy in the riser. Perhaps a trimmer bow would benefit more. I would gladly use a stabilizer if I felt it would enhance my shooting.

[wbyrd]

Originally posted by swifty99:
I've never used one though I have had bows that had the bushing and have a Bear Kodiak Hunter now that has the bushing. Maybe I will ask my son to make me one, he made me some nice leather pieces for Christmas.

Maybe having a stabilizer on your Bear will make it so you can actually shoot that bow! Pretty sure I have one laying around that used to be on my compound. I guess I could just wrap some leather around it so it will match that stuff you got for Christmas...

[Paul WA]

"Well now, it seems the line between "traditional" and "modern" just got a little more blurry."  

Only for the youngsters that were not shooting before the compound. We old timers remember what was used in the old days and what is really Traditional...PR

[d from phx]

I will be using one on my Winstar at IBO"s

[reddogge]

A big AMEN PaulWA!

[YORNOC]

Bowfishing! When hunting with a great custom, balanced bow, no stabilizer needed for me. But I screw a shed antler butt in it until I set up the bow fishing rig again. For olympic where the finest advantage is needed, you wont even compete without one.
Totally different animals: hunting and target shooting.

[SteveB]

Originally posted by reddogge:
A big AMEN PaulWA!

And another one here.

Simply let's the shooter set the bow up for what works the best to them. A bow balanced for one shooter may not be for another. Using archery equipment that has been around since long before compounds is not going to cause a shift in balance of this new "trad" and cause it to come toppling down.