Rants about PSE

For those of you who know jack about bows, this will probably be boring, so find something else.

For those of you who do know about bows, this is why I really loathe PSE:

Their recurves are OK, but overpriced for what they are – GM’s with holes in. No more on this.

The one that really bugs me is the compounds they make. They are junk.

The target bows are largely deflex riser models – even Hoyt has shifted over to principally reflex risers such as the Ultratec and Cybertec.

They are bloody expensive – the Mach 11 is the wrong side of a grand in dollars, and I hate to think what it is this side of the water.

The hunting models are slow. The fastest thing they do (Nitro) is 314 IBO, and that sucks. The _average_ Bowtech does that. Mathews bows _average_ 305, which is far higher than PSE. Even Hoyt, geared principally to the target market, can produce two hunting bows (Cybertec/Havoctec) that are both capable of 300+, and have far better technology behind them – TEC risers and nicer cam design, more on which below.

The cam design is more misused than a Clinton-era intern. The Vector cams are wheels. No-one in their right mind shoots wheels seriously except finger compound shooters. The one-cams are completely useless, with no true variable modular draw. My definition of modular draw is that you can change the draw length without having to stick the thing in a bow press to let the tension off. _All_ PSE bows you have to have a bow press, or access to one. By this definition, a non-modular single piece dual cam is a modular cam as you can increase or reduce the draw length a quarter inch or so by twisting the cables. This is sheepshit, and should not be allowed.

The only vaguely useful looking cams they have are the Lightning single cam and the Maxis HL dual cams. And these are 80% letoff, which is too much to be safe – encourages overbowing of beginners; as with a holding weight of 12 lbs, a 60 lb compound seems more attainable. This is wrong.

What else? They stick Navcom material (for which they charge a _lot_) everywhere – for example, around the limb bolts. This is OK, but if I wanted a bow that was laden with products endorsed by Ted Nugent, I’d buy a bloody Renegade Non-Typical XL and a few hundredweight of Simms vibration stuff. As it is, if you really want a silent bow, you will get access to a bow press and work it out for yourself. Such as Navcom in the space under the limbs in the pockets on a Merlin Max2000. Such as installing cats-whiskers on the string, and then moving them around to be quieter. Such as trial and error with limbsavers to find the most efficient place. Such as a true fall away rest, that is also silent and minimises contact and consequently noise, with the arrow. (The MZE looks nice here.)

Also, the ‘Patented Machined Pivot Pockets’ – what rubbish. Every bow company is doing this sort of stuff now – certainly Merlin, and Hoyt has gone further with enclosed pivot pockets, which strike me as a good idea should the limb shatter. (No record of this happening, but just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it can’t. Like me and tasteful clothing.)

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<Rant> 26/08/2002

Thought occured - Bow selection flowchart.

1) Is it faster than 300 IBO? If yes, proceed. If no, reselect.

2) Is it made by PSE? If no, proceed. If yes, reselect.

3) Is it a solid riser? If no, proceed. If yes, reselect.

4) Is it one of the true shoot-through compounds? If no, proceed. If yes, reselect.

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