Opinion: Thunderchild or nitro?

[TradBrewSC]

So I am finally ready to do it.. I have been a takedown recurve shooter for years and now ready to make a deposit on either a 56" Thunderchild or a 58" nitro. I have looked at alot of others but have narrowed it down to those two and am stuck.. Any advice pictures and opinions would be greatly appreciated!

[Gdpolk]

I'd personally go for the 2-piece Big Jim ThunderChild.  That'll give you a quality bow that's, short, light, beautiful, can be broken down for travel, and hard shooting.  What's there to loose?  If I can ever scratch together a few more nickels, Big Jim is getting some of my money.

[LongStick64]

Never shot a Nitro but you'll pry my Thunderchild off my hands when I'm stiff. Very smooth and easy draw, and shoots with solid authority and feels rock solid at draw. Big Jim is about as best a craftsman I have come across. If I had the budget for another bow, a 2 piece Thunderchild would be my choice. You just have to get over that something so small can actually be called a longbow, lol. Actually the design reminds me of the ancient Egyptian bows.

[TradBrewSC]

Thanks for the input I had been leaning on the TC but have also heard the nitro is quite the shooter as well. I have never shot either but from what I hear you can't go wrong with either. My only concern with the TC is the lack of mass being that I am used to a three piece bow.

[SkottyBoy]

Thunderchild fan here also. Smooth fast accurate and mine is beautiful. Perfect bow.

[Froggy]

Shoot a Kanati.... then you'll know .

[Marc B.]

I love my Thunderchild. I would have never believed I could shoot a short bow and not give up anything. Big Jim is one of the finest people you will ever deal with.

[Terry Green]

If you are wanting to go from a TD recurve to a longbow, there's not much difference in moving to a TD longbow.  Some of todays TD longbows are faster than many recurves.....so you aren't really going to 'make a move'....just no curves on the tips of your bow.

If you are really looking for a jump or 'move'...then a one piece or two piece longbow or hybrid would be a jump.

Can't really compare the two you are talking about ....apples n oranges.

[TradBrewSC]

Thanks for the input Terry. That is kind of what I was thinking about the two myself. I guess I know that I want longbow limbs and really just don't know if I'm ready to make the jump to a light one piece. Decisions decisions!  

Lets see some pictures of both!

I'm going to make a call to Bill or Big Jim on Tuesday. Help me out guys!

[Shawn Leonard]

Terry has it right. The Nitro will feel like a recurve riser in your hand just longbow limbs, not just the weight either but the actual grip. If you want a longbow Big Jim, the Kanati, Shrew are more of a hybrid and will feel totally different than the Nitro. Shawn

[drewsbow]

TD thunderchild for me and Big Jim is great to deal with and stands behind his product.

[TradBrewSC]

I may just have to go with a 56 TC. Thinking maybe bocote with all the horn add ons. What have you guys found to be the best bow quivers for those? Thinking GN or kanati but open to suggestions

[Jwilliam]

I'm sure you can't go wrong with either bow. I have never shot any of Big Jim's bows. I do own 2 Zipper Nitro's though. Liked the first one so much, I deceided I had to have another one.   :D  
To me they are one of the finest bows out there. Still haven't found one thing I would change about the Nitro.  


60" Nitro

 

[Frenchymanny]

Thunderchild for me!

 

F-Manny

[TradBrewSC]

Wow, that's a great looking bow too! It is a very tough decision... I feel like I need both!  Now it's is just which one do I want first??

[thump]

Thunder for me also.

 

Luke

[Biathlonman]

I just got a 2 piece thunderchild.  First longbow I can shoot as well as a recurve.

[ermont]

Hard to say. Both are great but different.

[beaunaro]

Any idea what Big Jim's build time is right now?
I'm in for one some day.
Right now, Bill is building a Zipper SXT for me.
I'll get it in January.
Irv Eichorst
 www.truesouthadventures.com

[pdk25]

Last official word I think was 10 months for Big Jim's bows.  I love my thunderchild, but I think what Terry has already said is true.  Pretty different bows.