BTDT, sold the Magnum and went back to it 2 case sizes smaller.
(Still own the .22, but this is CT where you need to have your fingerprints on file with the FBI in order to get an ammo purchase card, so I've pretty much quit....)
The Vibration that you feel is the result of limbs slamming into the travel limits imposed by the string/cables and the vibration of the string caused when it gets plucked by the nock as the arrow departs. In super-slow-mo, I've seen arrows cling to the string for a couple inches past brace height, which just hauls kinetic energy back into the bow. We have a world-record setting flight shooter on LW who says that most arrows (in his world) depart the string as it begins to slow down BEFORE the string reaches its original brace height, but I'd bet that he uses a looser-fitting nock than most hunters would want to deal with.
But... Truth be told....
All bows are inherently more accurate than the people who use them. Some designs (high let-off, riser design, etc.) are easier to shoot well than others, but JMO, "dead in the hand" is more of a set-up issue unless you are dealing with a really old-school design on your bow where the limb tips travel forward, rather than pretty much all vertically.
But I don't get noticeable hand-shock with properly setup recurves or long-bows, either, so we're back to set-up, rather than design...
If "dead in the hand" meant accuracy, pro archers would be screaming for their bows to be dead in the hand.
Anticipation of negative response and feedback is not a positive thing.
Here’s a little food for thought....
As mentioned above is a similar type comparison with a gun using a suppressor vs no suppressor .... I have been shooting a Remington 700 sps for several years with no suppressor and am a decent shot with it. During those years (with no suppressor or muzzle break) it kicked like a sob as it had a shorter barrel. Due to knowing how it will kick and to protect my shoulder, I would instinctively tense up/flex certain muscles in my shoulders and arms to take the kick/abuse easier. Doing this over time exerts the muscles quicker, which causes bad form and trigger pull. It’s all related from the mind executing the shot, including controlling the muscles actions to take the heavy recoil if I don’t want a severely bruised shoulder/injury after several shot. shooting a gun or bow to be most accurate through the whole shot process it’s best to have a steady firm base but to have a semi relaxed smooth trigger (and or release) pull at the shot for consistent accuracy. This will create correct muscle memory over time with a smooth shot execution. So a couple months ago I got a high dollar suppressor (yes legally) for my 700 and was amazed how it took away so much recoil and noise. Right away, it made the shot execution so much more enjoyable. After I got use to this over several shots, I noticed I had a much better and easier shot process. I was not tensing up muscles to take the heavy recoil and it made for a much easier and more consistent shot process as muscles in my upper extremities were more relaxed and not as tensed up. I noticed this made each shot process and trigger pull more consistent especially over time, which resulted in better accuracy. I went from a consistent 3/4” 3 shot group at 100 yards to nearly a 1/2” 3 shot group with the can and after several shots my accuracy is more consistent in the long run as my muscles aren’t getting tired. I know the recoil of shooting a gun vs the vibration (recoil) of shooting a bow is much more but it has the same effect but on a smaller scale. So imo a bow with noticeably less vibration at the shot will be more enjoyable to shoot, which will make the shot process easier, form better and more accurate especially after several shots. I just got a new bow with less vibe and after two weeks of shooting it I went back and shot my older bow with more vibration and it was noticeable in a negative way for me. This is just my experiences..
And remember guys target archers are shooting those giant tuning forks usually in the easy 50-60 pound range ;-)’
How about this?
If the handshock is painful or unpleasant, very few shooters will be able to shoot that bow on a regular basis without developing some bad habits which will compromise accuracy sooner or later.
Mind over matter - if you don’t mind, it don’t matter.
100% B.S. and hype used by bow manufacturers to help sell their product and is AT BEST 100% purely a matter of SUBJECTIVE personal opinion and nothing more and has no real world affect on compound bow accuracy unless the archer THEMSELVES allow it to, hence the SUBJECTIVE part. Bow manufacturers found a unavoidable totally harmless characteristic that is common to all compound bows and some savvy sales exec ran with it. To ME compound bow hand shock and vibration have as much impact and importance on my shooting a bow well as the comfort and ride of my vehicle as I drive to and from my hunting area. One might prefer a vehicle that rides smooth as silk others like me it doesn't matter even 0.0001% both of us will get to and from our hunting areas 100% successfully every time and in the totality of the hunt it mattered exactly nothing in our success or failure.
100% marketing hype nothing more.
In my time developing archery equipment I've watched and produced a lot of high speed camera footage. Its amazing to see what happens at the shot to rigid metallic and non metallic parts. One thing I've never had at my disposal though is an anechoic chamber to accurately measure sound output. I would venture to guess many archery companies (smaller ones especially) don't utilize the aforementioned equipment during R&D, product development, and testing. With the exception of a high speed camera... since those are easy to get ahold of.
So back to the original question. No, the dead in hand or vibration free claims of a bow don't directly effect accuracy, but they do tell you a little bit about the bows efficiency. The geometry of a bow has much larger impact on inherent accuracy, not to mention the tune, shooter, grip, etc. Another thing to consider is that vibration in any mechanical system can be detrimental to fastened joints and material fatigue rates. But take that with a grain of salt :)
