Custom Bighorn TD

[adam]

Such a glorious afternoon, how could I resist heading out for a walk with my new curvy stick. On a mountain made up of iron ore boulders I took these photos that don’t do this bow justice.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1060702.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1060711.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1060719.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1060700.jpg
The specs are
Custom bighorn 2001
57# @ 27” I’m drawing to 29”
59” strung with a 17” riser
Using a leather arrow wall and shooting of the shelf with a hair plate.
Flemish fast flight string, bomb proof limbs and tips
Matt finish on the timber.

Draw is very smooth and lets off with silence, best bow I have had possession of to date (up there with my Armstrong longbow). Using an old selway quiver and some neat arrows a good mate gave to me (Manuel Agius).
Adam

[NormGunston]

Stunning combo, Adam- you've definitely got an eye for colours... right down to the red nocking point!
Ant

[Glenn]

The Bighorns are a nice bow Adam, I always wanted one of them. I like the limb design of the Bighorns...Glenn...

[Paul R]

Beautiful looking bow Adam :D

[Mick Smith]

I've always wanted a Bighorn too. :cry: :D

It's a very nice bow Adam. :wink:

Mick

[Antarcher]

Hey Adam that is one nice looking bow. I was thinking about getting myself a recurve but I am not sure what sort to look for in terms of quality and length. Your opinion that this is one of the finest one's you have owned has interested me though. I'd like to know how you went about getting it and how much it set you back. Perhaps I will not aim too high for my first curve and will settle for something a little less impressive, but I would appreciate some help on this. Thanks, Antonio.

[benhohnke]

Lookin good adam :D

[Antarcher]

Adam, Thank you very much for your response. It has been helpful in many ways. I believe I will seriously start looking at what is best for me and I will probably buy a higher priced bow. I have learnt from experience to buy the best thing you can afford as you will be replacing the cheaper gear in the end anyway as your passion grows.
I intend to get something around the 54- 55 pound mark and my compound draw length is 30 inch so a 60 inch long bow sounds good too. Just one more question is how did you get into contact with your bow maker. I like the look of yours more than anything as the riser does not look anywhere near as bulky as other recurves I have seen in the past.
Thanks once again. Cheers.

[adam]

Hello Mr. Antonio
It’s great to see your interest in traditional bowhunting gear. I'll explain what I can, however the thing that I can't explain is probably what’s got me sold on this bow. That is it just feels right when at full draw and after release.

Generally I’ve hunted and shot with short recurves around 52 to 56 inches, and I’ve now gotten very comfortable with these short bows. However with a 29 inch draw I’d be much more suited to a bow around 60 inches which this one is, I also prefer a little throat grip which the Asbel grip on the bighorn is. This bow is also a higher market bow so I would think there’s a bit more to the limbs making them very smooth to draw with no stack. The difference is obvious when I shoot smooth drawing bows. It’s a lot easier for hunters like me to deliver a spot on shot as we don’t anchor as such so with the smooth draw we can be a lot steadier up to the point of release. I believe the riser is quiet small on this bow allowing for more limb in a 60 inch bow. The riser size can be an issue if you shoot your bow vertical as you won’t have a very big sight window. However I shoot my bows on a hard cant so my window of sight is everything above my gripping hand. The bow has bomb proof limb tips basically meaning they have been reinforced to handle flight flight strings etc, which I believe is a quiet, good arrow release string (someone inform me if different). The bow is also very quiet for a td recurve and I’m sure we all know that can be the difference in not pushing a fatally hit animal further then it has to go, or getting a second shot etc. There’s no shock after the release which I’d put down to having a moderately weighted bow along with good limb design, ff string. I think a good recipe for confidence is the feel and look of a bow, knowing it can do the job. The second I put my stringer on the bighorn and slipped the string onto the tip I knew I would shoot the bow well. I know it probably sounds like hoo doo but that first bit of confidence just kept building for me and I’m shooting better then I generally do.

In writing this I have and think traditional bowhunters can shoot most bows well with practice, just some are more pleasurable to shoot then others.
I’d suggest starting out with what you believe is a pretty decent price recurve, Its never hard to pass a recurve on for roughly what you paid and it could very well last your hunting career. I know Glenn Newell makes some sweet shooting recurves for a great price (Glenn?) or even a start out bow like the higher end samick hunting bows would be alright. I think a lot of bows you are just paying for the name these days, though take that with a grain of salt as I certainly haven’t shot all the bows on the market.
Actually traditional set ups can be very cheap, bow, quiver and you’re laughing.
I think when starting out its very important to stick to a moderate poundage like 55 pounds which will harvest boar goat deer no worries and still be an absolute pleasure to shoot. Then once very familiar with your stance, draw, release etc move up in poundage if you feel the need. Well I’m rattling on now so I better get off the net.


I hope that helped some mate, there’s a heap of knowledgeable traditional bowhunters on here maybe they can alleviate what makes a bow suitable for them.

Adam

[Mozza]

certainly looks the goods Ads :)
counting the days untill I see a pic of some game taken with it, i'm sure I wont have long to wait :wink:

[jpbon]

I'm more of a compound shooter but i "wheelie" like that setup Adam.

Gorgeous looking bow that one. Looks very slender and sleek. I like the colours that you have with it also.

[adam]

I picked my bighorn up from a guy on the tradgang site www.tradgang.com it is second hand cost about $1000 aud in perfect nick pretty much never shot. I don't think you have to spend that much to get a top shooting recurve btw.
Most bow builders are easily contacted through email though I haven't bee able to find Bighorns email.

Adam

[Antarcher]

Thanks again Adam.

[Piggy]

Nice bow there mate, MMMmmmm Traditional Journeys ? Are you working on a dvd or book perhaps ?

Cheers

Paul

[adam]

Its a regular column in Cashys mag piggy.

Adam

[Piggy]

:oops: I get the mag every Issue and read it back to front about a dozen times :oops:

Cheers

[adam]

Your one must be the short issue, yeah narr you don't get the traditional stuff in the short issues. Jokes mate, I should have mentioned up coming regular colum.

Sorry bout that
Adam

[Piggy]

LOL
Cheers Mate



Paul

[Clinglish]

Beautiful bow mate ,can't wait to hear of it's expeditions.

[adam]

Hopefully heading inland Clint once I get some direction and a number for a station with goats on it, you'll be the first to know how she goes mate :wink: .

Adam

[Al Kidner]

Yep nice looker of a bow Adam. Always good to get a new bow in the post.

al

[adam]

Gday Al

Haven't seen you around of late, have you been out hunting lately. Yes it is exciting having a new bow show up.

[Al Kidner]

G'day mate, the family and I just got back after a 4 day weekend away on the chital. Went for a walk here and there but just was good to get away and relax with the family.

Regards al.