Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: WhistlingBadger on April 04, 2026, 10:11:25 pm
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I really want to love this bow. It looks extremely cool; I'm pleased with the craftsmanship, and I can generally hit stuff with it. But MAN, is it noisy. Quite a bit of hand shock too. Any ideas what's going on, and what to do about it? I've tried string silencers and they don't help a ton, but I feel like a bow of this kind shouldn't really need them. The noise doesn't really come through that well on the video, but here it is.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HQzVycdj-5o
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Ow! My ear's are ringing just from watching that. Just kidding. :D
What's the brace height, it looks a little low, maybe 5" at the most? I usually brace em with at least a 6" fistmele.
How heavy are the arrows, grains/lbs of draw weight?
String material, number of strands?
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Ow! My ear's are ringing just from watching that. Just kidding. :D
What's the brace height, it looks a little low, maybe 5" at the most? I usually brace em with at least a 6" fistmele.
How heavy are the arrows, grains/lbs of draw weight?
String material, number of strands?
Good questions.
Brace height is 5.5".
Arrows are 440-450 grains. Bow pulls 45# at 27".
String is 14 strand Dacron.
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Nothing really wrong about the specs. Is that 5.5" from the back or from the belly side of the handle?
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It’s hard telling in the video since I can’t see the entire bow (unless I accidentally zoomed in and didn’t realize it). But i can see the bottom limb well enough, and it looks like the outer half of the limbs aren’t working enough for their width. Every bow ive been able to fix the noise and hand shock issue, is by making the outer half bend a bit more. For me a slight elliptical has been easier in the hands than circular tiller. Circular has seemed faster but more finicky on limb profile for being mellow in the hand. You may loose up to 5# draw weight but will mellow out how it shoots.
Kyle
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Loud bows with hand shock are often caused by the limbs being out if time with each other, The first thing I noticed in the video was hinge in the lower limb and the stiff outer third.
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What is the spine on your arrow? It might be a bit too stiff, and by the sound, it might be hitting the bow.
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What is the spine on your arrow? It might be a bit too stiff, and by the sound, it might be hitting the bow.
The arrows are spined 55-60#, and I bare-shaft tuned the length so they'd fly straight. But you're right, it does sounds like something hitting something. I might try some heavier arrows and/or a rawhide string.
I fear the issue is the limbs being out of time. Eric, I know what you're seeing. I don't think it's really a hinge; it's just an extremely wonky stave. The outers do look a bit stiff, but they're also holding a LOT of reflex, so they might be working more than it looks like (see below for unbraced pics). I might try giving the outers a few scrapes. I hate to lose any draw weight, as this is already marginal for hunting. But I can't hunt with it this noisy anyway, so perhaps there's nothing to lose.
Here are some other pics of the bow, if it helps.http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,73561.msg1032293.html#msg1032293
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You don't have a cut in shelf so your arrow needs to bend around that. I think the maximum spine you should have on your arrows is about 40# Just because it is shooting straight doesn't always tell the whole story. You are way over spined. Also the twist may be causing the shock, If you pull lightly back on the string while loosely holding the bow without your finger wrapped arounnd it, is it in the same place you are in when gripping it to shoot?.