PoisonSnake Tip of the Week (Week 8)

[PoisonSnake]

Okay, for those of you that know me, I don't fix what isn't broken. For me to change something on my bow or gun, it really has to be messed up. But, for the last several years, as soon as I buy a new bow, I switch the strings out. I don't want to screw witha factory string stretching or creeping. Well, I had shot Winner's Choice strings for years with very good luck. But, your very own SAMCRO introduced me to Carter's Archery in St. Joseph, MO a few years back and recommended a set of his strings. My first set of strings, were not the best. I had some peep rotation and was not terribly happy about it. He indicated he was at the end of his spool when he made that set. However, the following year, I bought a new bow from Crackers and he made it right by guaranteeing my previous set of strings. Let me tell you this..., I have never in my life seen a better set of strings on a bow. Not once over the 2 years of having that set of strings did I see one degree of peep rotation. Now, here comes the story of having to get a new set of strings. I really didn't need them. But, my bow had developed a popping noise on the draw cycle so I decided to go ahead and send my bow to Mike to fix it. While he was at it, I told him to replace the strings. Come to find out, all he had to do was loosen the module screws and retighten to fix the noise (something I would never screw around with). This new set of strings appears to be as superior as the original set he put on. Oh, and now, I have 2 spare sets of strings and cables for this bow. I highly recommend you having your bow Crackerized if you get a chance. He will certainly get the bow set up and shooting to factory specifications. Furthermore, your bow will just look flat-ass cool once you mix and match string colors with accessories. My hat is off to SAMCRO on this one.

[SAMCRO]

Mike Carter is the best there in the great State of Missouri when it comes to string building and overall bow tuning and knowledge. While it's nothing new to realize that factory strings are lacking when it comes to quality, what isn't widely understood is the fact that simply replacing them with a new set of well-known strings doesn't come with any promises that they will fare much better. I'm excluding Mike from this point, and am instead referencing the purchase of things like Winner's Choice (which are fine strings, don't get me wrong).

The fact of the matter is that strings and cables are like any other manufacturing process. You need quality materials, but you also need a quality process. String makers who have high volmes simply cannot always maintain the level of detail and strict manufacturing practices of guys like Mike. We'll delve more into the details later.

Realize that anything you manufacture can come from two different makers, with the same materials, but the final product can be vastly different. Look at sports cars, without naming names. A high end partially hand-built sports car has the same general construction and materials as a mass-produced car from an American builder. The hand-built car will generally be better, due to the attention to detail and quality that comes from a maker who is interested in the utmost performance, and is willing and able to do what it takes to take those materials to the next level. In other words, your hand-built Ferrari F50 is going to be a better, faster vehicle than the most expensive, exotic Mustang or Corvette you could get your hands on. Nothing wrong with either, but the more discerning buyer knows the difference and is willing to do what it takes. As is the builder.

Back to strings - Winner's Choice can be purchased in what appears to be a custom build. If you want pure 452X, you can have it. You specify the bow, and the specs of that bow, and they'll give you a set that matches it. However, they've built a million sets just like it, and are more interested in getting them out the door than they are in eeking out the last bit of performance from your hunting machine.

Mike, on the other hand, is still interested in quality. He's also made a concerted effort to reduce volume, by no longer taking internet orders, in the interest of quality. The details I reference above are numerous. He starts with, typically, the same 452x, but he uses his own string machine. The machine was designed by him, and does what he knows, from experience, it needs to do (and cost him ~ $30,000, by the way).

When you tell him your bow specs, he builds not just on length, but on what works best in that rig. He takes rigs apart, measures a variety of things and experiments. One example is thickness of the cams - you may end up with a set of strings/cables that measures differently from the factory set in number of strands, or even lengths, in order to best meet the specs (such as the cam thickness and depth). You simply cannot get this level of detail from a large-scale builder.

Over time, he continues to make changes to the build for that bow, again based on learnings. For instance, my Omen was the first one he'd done. He's made several changes now, versus what he first built. Your bow may come from the factory with a floating yoke, but he may build you a static yoke. Again, you won't get this from Bass Pro.

Once your bow is set-up with his materials, it's not going to change. I've not yet found another string-maker to compare. It's good insurance knowing that all of the tuning, and all of your practice, are not in vain. You know that once it's dialed in (and Mike will do that for you, too, if you like), you're dialed in. No more wondering why POI changed in the summer, because of the heat, or the spring, due to the moisture, or winter, due to the cold. They just stay the same, no matter what.

Good advice, PS.

[PoisonSnake]

SAMCRO is right. I cannot recall the number of strands of 452x that Mike had indicated he used for most sets of strings and cables. But, that too made a difference in the grand scheme of things and was superior to other custom string makers. Furthermore, since the original set he placed on my GT500, he has now changed the serving size so that even that is new and improved. I knew my strings/cables were going to be top notch. But, truthfully, all I wanted to be gone was the damn popping noise.