Head to Head Trad Bow Speed Testing Results

[pamike]

I decided to do some testing to see how the bows i have stack up again one another in the speed category.  I would not still own the bows if i didnt think they were excellent shooting bows!  So that is a given and I just wanted to know how they compare.  

I have been requested to do this by many people and i finally got around to it.

I am NOT a professional, i did not have access to a hooter shooter so this is a finger release number - lower than what you could get with machine.  

I do not want to offend any Bowyer - so please take this for what it is worth.  Just a trad hunter with too much time on his hands and too many toys to play with!!!!  But it was fun....

Notes:

All have been made quiet and have different silencers on the string - that was a requirement to be in my stable and that may have hurt some in speed (not sure but wanted to acknowledge)

A used a procompetition electronics chron with the light rails for perfect lighting indoors.

I made sure i used a true 9 gpp arrow for each bow weight (all my bow are close 45-51# but i made sure each arrow was within 2 grns of the 9 gpp criteria for the specific bow weight.

I set every bow to exactly 30" draw with the clickers i have installed on all my bows.

I did 3 shots and took the average but most were the same every shot (interesting to me - but made me feel good on consistancy))

I shoot 3 under with a american leathers glove.

I tested 10 different bows and i could not believe how close the results.

Last NOTE - these are MY bows - not bows sent by Bowyer to show off so they are NOT their fastest bows. In fact couple of them said my choice of woods (ebony) really slows the limbs down - but i like ebony.....

NOW FOR THE RESULTS:

#1 Centaur Dark Matter ----  200 fps

#2 Habu Long Bow -----  196 fps

#3 TIE Habu Recurve -------  195 fps
           Big Foot Sasquatch ---- 195 fps

#4 Eagle Wing Talon (1) ---- 194 fps

#5 Hill Country Bobcat ----- 190 fps

#6 Toelke Lynx ----- 188 fps

#7  TIE Eagle Wing Talon (2) ---- 186 fps
           Schafer Silvertip LB ---- 186 fps

#8  Schafer Silvertip RC ----  183 fps


I was really surprised that 5 bows were between 194-200fps - very impressive!!!

let me know what questions you have
Mike

[straight_arrow]

Mike, what were the actual arrow weights for each bow and did you compute the kenetic energy produce for each ?

[Nativestranger]

Surprisingly the top 3 are longbows. I guessing the recurves do not have carbon in the limbs?

[pamike]

Actual arrow weights were 9gpp of the bow weight (+/-2grns on total weight). Example 50# bow = 450 gr arrow (448-452).

No carbon in Sasquatch or Tip, but there is carbon in Habu RC.

[SAVIOUR68]

Thanks for sharing,seems Centuars are usually  the quickest bow in the different tests I have seen.

[rbcorbitt]

Interesting info!  I personally know that my Centaur Dark Matter Triple Carbon flat smokes an arrow.  Cannot wait to get my Sasquatch SS to compare the two!

[Jasper2]

Mike,
Is that Centaur a 60 or 62 inch? And you said that all of your bows are between 45-51#....that is at your 30" draw correct? Just want to make sure I have all the variables right in my head.
Thanks for taking the time to do this. I've enjoyed the thread on fast trad bows!! Which seems like an oxymoron to me anyway :-)

Take care,
Jason

[Brianlocal3]

Ah, the too much time on your hands syndrome....     I love it. Thanks for posting these.

The funny thing is since its rainy here today I was planning on going to my archery shop just to see the numbers on my straightlimbed bows, because I feel they are shooting faster than I would assume.

[katman]

Thanks for sharing, bet it was fun to do.

Looking at the Sasquatch, 195 off fingers in a glass limb bow, pretty darn good.

[ishoot4thrills]

I like your choice in chronographs. I have one made by the same company that I've had for many years and it's very accurate.

I'm also glad to hear that you used a clicker for consistency in draw length during your testing which is very important. Man, that 30" draw you have is a major help in shooting high speed arrows!

You mention that you have different types of string silencers installed on your bows. To be totally accurate for testing purposes, I would recommend not having any silencers installed on any of the bows used for testing to be fair. Different types of things on your string and where they're installed can make quite a difference in speed.

[pamike]

Yes all bow weights were at my 30" draw.

Centaur is 62"

Agree with silencers BUT my logic was if the bow is fast but still loud I won't hunt with it that way so I put on what I had to so the bow was quiet. That was my equalizer. Yes some bows would be faster but I set that criteria before testing them. Fair?? I thought so cause what is speed I can't use for hunting???

[Maxx Black]

Thanks Mike for the effort and fun read.

[Sixby]

Very interesting. The only surprise to me is the Habu. I honestly did not believe it to be that fast from the one I tested. /Very interesting that the longbow beat the recurve limb.

I expected the Dark Matter and the SS to b e tossups for first place. What I did not expect was for the Habu to be faster than the EagleWing.
However it is what it is and great test. All of them a bunch of really great bows.

God bless, Steve

[lone hunter]

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Curious how your toelke would have performed.
Brianlocal get out there and test your bows. Inquiring minds need to know.  

[Ontario Longbow]

You didn't include the Toelke Lynx?

[Nativestranger]

Can the type of veneer on limb affect performance? I was told the veneers are too thin to make a difference. Interesting.

[duncan idaho]

Thank you very much, I really appreciate your test. I wish we could have more of these without the usual negative commments.

I own 13 high performance recurves, but, my Sasquatch Hybird is the fastest of the bunch.

Thanks, again.

[pamike]

I really don't understand why Habu RC is slower than LB - Chris said 7 fps faster with recurve. ?????

Honestly I forgot about the lynx.....I will have to test that one today. Someone said they wanted to buy my lynx so I put it away - wow can't believe I did that!!

SS - I know Kirk makes a faster bow and he told me this one was not his fastest. But I just feel in love with ebony riser. I am still thinking about trading these limbs in for faster ones.....

[3arrows]

Mike,was the strings the same material and strang count? Thanks for the time and effort.

[pamike]

Strings were the same on the Habu's, but not the rest of the bows. Some original from bowyer, some SBD, some A.S. - whatever it took to get the bow hunting quiet.