mine is a mathews solocam light weight compact...it is running about 320 fps and plenty accurate.

I shoot a Parker Ultra Lite Pro. It's old by today's standards but since it works great I could care less. It's killed stuff all the way from big tusker warthogs, plenty of whitetails on up to BIG kudu. I don't know how fast it is, I really don't care since it works just fine!

My new bow is a Mathews Switchback. Set at 73#. 30.5" draw.

My "old" bow is a CheckMate TD Hunter recurve. 65# at 28".

I also have an old Fred Bear recurve...45# at 28".

Love the trad bows, but enjoying my recent foray into mechanical bows too. And now I have to shoot something with that Mathews to justify the investment!

Cheers,
Canuck

A Fred Bear TRX 32, should be around 60 lbs draw weight now, which I believe is max for this bow. It's a monocam bow, pretty slick due to its small size.... if I get a mule deer with the rifle quickly enough I may spend a few days in the bowzone, looking for a whitetail. Other than the tremendous miss last year, this bow has not been drawn with game in the sights.

Frans

Always shot Hoyts until 2003. I picked up a Mathews Ultra. I'm shooting about 280fps. Gold Tip arrows, 100 grain heads, 4" white vanes. Nothing fancy but a proven critter gitter.

Mathews Z- MAX, a magnum in it's day. Today it was a field and failed to find the bone required to make it draw smoothly, perhaps tomorrow or the next day. Scapes are piling up, and deer are beginning to look around outside their usual haunts here abouts.

Bowtech Diamond Liberty set at 73#

Mathews Z-max set to 60#, Goldtips, and 100 grain Slick Tricks.
Just like the old Raid comercials, Kills deer dead.

Mathews LX
72-73lbs
30" draw
Gold Tip XT 5575s
100 grain NAP Shockwaves
4" vanes, offset
WB rest
300-305 fps

Shot a Bowtech Patriot last year, a Pearson for a few years prior, and a High Country Phantom for about ten years prior. The Mathews LX is the fastest of those bows, the smoothest, and I'd say the Pearson was alittle quieter but it's a draw.

Mathews makes good bows. I rank them #1 w/ Pearson nipping at their heals.

Good Luck

Reloader

Oneida Pro Eagle
73 lbs
XX78 2613's cut 32"
125 gr Easton Outfitter cut on contact fixed heads
I think it is around 245 fps.

Golden Eagle Splitfire 32 XTR

Mathews FeatherMax Solocam 70#

Bowtech Allegiance 80#

Mathews Custom Safari 100#

Various old ones in the closets that are not worth naming!

CSS Swampmaster
70 lbs.
Gold Tip 5575 shafts
Rocket Ultimate Steel 100 gr. broadheads
280 or 290 fps

I hunt with an Oneida Extreme with an Oneida Black Eagle as a backup. I have another Oneida Black Eagle set up for 3-D, a Pro Eagle set up for indoor 5 spot league. I have a Ted Nugent Strike Eagle and Phantom, new in the box, never fired. I have a zebra striped Talon(the first one ever made) new in the box, never fired. Two Screaming Eagles, an Aeroforce and the wife and son each shoot Oneida Hawks. Then of course there are the recurve and long bow hanging in the trophy room.

Hugh

PSE something or other.
Older wheel bow 15+/- yrs old.

Bowtech Allegiance at 73#.

Awesome bow.

Gerhard

Mathews LX

Fred Bear model something or another, middle of the road Gander Mt. special $249, sure did work though. I wasn't sure I would even like bow hunting, but now that I'm addicted my son will probable get ol' Fred and I'll move up a notch.

Pearson Predator 64# @ 28"
Gold Tip 5570
Muzzy 100 Gr. 4 Blades
Got 2 bucks with this setup in October.

A Bear Epic Extreme set at 61 pounds shooting Axis Arrows with B-52 Broadheads. It's an old bow that I have shot for years & I keep telling my self that this year is it's last but it just keeps on killing
Here is it's last kill & Black Bear in Manitoba a few weeks ago.

High country machined supreme. 9 years old and going good.

Jennings Buckmaster with a Trashco Red Dot.

A couple of weeks ago another 8 pointer found out I can still shoot pretty well with it.

Jim

AR 31 Ram Cam
29" 70#
Ripcord rest
Alpine Soft-Loc 5 quiver
Cobra Sidewinder 5 sight
Sims Ultra Limbsavers and Leeches

Hoyt Trykon XL 72# Draw
31.5 inch Easton Axis FMJ arrows
100 Grain Wack'em Triton Broadheads
TRophy Ridge sight and Drop Zone rest.

My main hunting bow is A Robertson Stykbow three piece T/D Falcon recurve. 60# @ 28"

I own about 18 different bows ranging from board/osage self bows, longbows, 50's style recurves and plain recurves.

Black Widow 57"..55 @27..
AK

Bowtech Tribute 100# set at 95#
30 inch draw
Big game 100 arrows with tube inserts = 660 g.

I shoot everything with this bow from rabbits to big game. I shoot 3D and I also shoot target with it.

I dont have "big bow syndrome" - I'm just a lot more comfortable with higher poundage and strange as it might seem, I have difficulty shooting accuratelt with lighter bows.

BTW, I just checked with Bowtech to see if I could get heavier limbs for my Allegiance.

The reply was that since the Allegiance is no longer offered in the heavier weights, all the remaining stock is for warranty support.

Soroko,

That is a geat weight arrow for your bow - and it sounds like it would really smoke 'em. I was toying with trying to build up to a heavier bow in case I ever went back to Africa for Cape Buffalo. But I reckon I'll let it go since I'm too cheap to buy a whole new bow.

quote:

Originally posted by Don_G:
Mathews FeatherMax Solocam 70#

Bowtech Allegiance 80#

Mathews Custom Safari 100#

Various old ones in the closets that are not worth naming!

Sorry Don,

I missed something. In fact I got a virus in Africa in january and my recovery is slow.
Can You tell us more about the

Mathews Custom Safari 100#

Thanks a lot.
jb

Jean,

I hope you are getting better, those bugs can be tough! I was wondering about you just the other day.

The Mathews Custom Safari was offered up until 2004, if I remember correctly. It is adjustable from 80 to 100 lbs. I have two cams that give me either a 29 or 30" draw. I think it is about 35" axle-to-axle, and weighs almost 5 lbs.

The 83# Allegiance will give the same energy to a 900 grain arrow that the Safari will when the Safari is set to 95#. So I decided the Allegiance made more sense for my old bones.

The paint on my Safari is pretty worn, where it has spent a lot of time knocking around before I got it. The limbs look new, though. I bought it from the guy who goes by eyedoc here on AR, if I remember correctly. I think the bow has been to Africa twice before I got it.

I've been keeping it around to exercise with - maybe someday I'll try a 90 or 100# bow if I get my strength up. I found out on my recent trip to TZ that I need to be ready to shoot buffalo out to 50-60 yards, and the heavier bow would give me a flatter trajectory on my 900 grain arrows.

Penetration tests showed that the Allegiance set at 83# had plenty of oomph for Cape Buffalo, yielding 98 ftlb KE at 222 ft/sec for the 900 grain arrows. But the trajectory was pretty steep after about 30 yards, making range estimation very critical.

I estimate that I'd need a 105# bow that is as efficient as the Allegiance to get the 900 grain arrow to 250 fps - the speed that I'm used to doing all my hunting at.

The testing I did on buffalo carcases in TZ convinced me that the 900 grain arrow was the right weight, so I do not want to reduce the arrow weight to get the velocity up. My 83# Allegiance will trot a 700 grain arrow up to 250 fps - but I think the heavier arrow is a lot better for Cape Buff.

I tested on 3 buffalo, ranging in age from an estimated 7 years to an estimated 14 years, and the older buffalo were significantly tougher. I put three arrows completely through the 7 year old, but none went all the way through the 14 year olds. All got killing penetration - one even when through the blade of the shoulder (scapula).

The Mathews Safari 100# is a long and heavy bow, especially if you are going to walk and stalk. The Allegiance I believe was not a reliable 100# bow as many of the limbs broke. I personally know that a friend of mine had his Allegiance limbs replaced 4 times. He now has a Tribute as I do and no problems at all. I shoot a lot - 120 - 200 arrows on weekends when practising - no problems with the Tributes limbs.

The Tribute is quite compatable with the Mathews Switchback when it comes to parallel limb design, carry weight, carry comfort etc.

Its a pity that Mathews does not manufacture a 100# big game bow based on their current modern parallel limb technology.

Thanks, Soroko

Oneida Strike Eagle @ 60#
Marten Hatfield takedown recurve 60# @ 28"

A 60" Morrison T/D, 52# @ 28", with an extra set of limbs @ 55#.

Primary Bow: Marten Cougar III SE, 70# 29"
Back-up: Alpine Silverado Grand Teton 80# 29"

Dear Don,

I am really sorry to answer You this late.*
Thanks for Your commiseration, I am recovering slowly but You can consider I am still out of my head for I react only today at Your excellent post.
In my opinion, I think you are a chess player cause you have 3 moves in advance.
Really interesting new data You bring into the light.
This Mathews seems to be very sexy. I feel like You. I am a Mathews nut ( conquest light 60#, then Mathews LX 73#). Now I am a real fan of Bowtech allegiance, thanks to You, and I am training every day between 85 and 90# (I am waiting for a numeric bow scale that I ordered on Ebay).
Anyhow I think any Mathews is smoother than the Allegiance. Isn't it?

quote "
Penetration tests showed that the Allegiance set at 83# had plenty of oomph for Cape Buffalo, yielding 98 ftlb KE at 222 ft/sec for the 900 grain arrows. But the trajectory was pretty steep after about 30 yards, making range estimation very critical.

I estimate that I'd need a 105# bow that is as efficient as the Allegiance to get the 900 grain arrow to 250 fps - the speed that I'm used to doing all my hunting at."
That's most interesting : in fact You want to keep up with a velocity @250 fps, adapting the power of the bow to the wished velocity (and energy) required. This is no minor task to be accurate @50-60 yards with a 900grains arrow.
I avidly read your post about Your fantastic journey in Tanzania and it was a pity You couldn't arrow a decent buff when being almost in the center of the herd. I think You lacked luck. I am almost sure the next time the odds would be on your side. It's not easy to handle a bow over 90# and be accurate @ 40-50-60yards.
But in life, we ever need challenge.
Then : You don't underestimate any detail. Really interesting You spent some valuable time testing penetration. It's the first time I note somebody considering the age of the tested critter. The think we experience when cutting a deer's pelvis. In fact, that are important data.
Can we think You are reconsidering all Your plans again?
This forum and Your fault, I have made a reservation in Zimbabwe for next summer. This way I'll see what most of these forumites are dreaming for. You bet that all Your testings are extremely valuable.........but for the moment I have nothing to offer in exchange. Perhaps because I am not as fluent in English as I wish. But more surely because in France we lack the expertise You Americans have gathered.
Good luck

To stay with the post:

Mathews Conquest light 60#
Mathews LX a tad >70#
Bowtech Allegiance on his way to 90# (my old bones)
Great plains recurve 65#
Avakian recurve 65#.
I love the recurves but my left shoulder doesnt. Recurves are light but convey to much shock for a guy over 53.

Jean,

Your English is a LOT better than my French!

We are the same age (well, I am 54).

My left shoulder had been giving me fits for many years, and about 2 years ago I got an arthroscopic surgery to clean it out. Within 6 weeks I was better than before the surgery, and within 6 months it was like a new shoulder. You might consider getting a medical opinion on yours. The "sports medicine" here in the USA is very good, I don't know how it is in France. I went to the Doctor here in Cincinnati that does all the professional sportsmen. He is also a bow hunter!

I don't know if I will ever get up to a 100# bow, but I'm going to use the Mathews Safari to exercise with and try to get there. This Mathews is an older design - it is smooth but not very powerful for the weight. I would get a more modern bow to use in Africa instead of the Safari. I am keeping it as an exerciser and for nostalgia - I would not suggest that any serious Africa Hunter buy one except for those reasons. Your 90# Allegiance is a much better bow than the 100# Safari.

For my shoulder recovery I started at 60 lbs and worked up to 83# pretty rapidly. I don't know how long it will take me to get to 90#. I now wish I had bought the 90# Allegiance instead of the 80#.

I think the 80# bow is a killer with 900 grain arrows out to 40 yards or so. Anything beyond that I think you'll need the heavier pull and/or a laser range finder.

I am pinching my pennies so I can get back to Africa within a few years - hopefully with my twin brother.

Have a speedy recovery from that mystery virus/bug and Good Luck in Zimbabwe!

quote:

2 years ago I got an arthroscopic surgery to clean it out.

Sheesh...you think you know a guy....

Cheers,
Canuck