Contributors to this thread:
So, I'm going to take the plunge and get a new bow. As exciting as that is, I'm not looking forward to setting it up. To be very clear, I'm not a "tinkerer". I will have a local shop set it up, and the bow, once shooting well, will be just that a bow ready to go.
I have shot a trophy taker pronghorn for 15 years and still have a new in the box rest I was hoping to use but I'm not sure they will fit on the new bow. Simple question, what is a good rest these days for a guy that hates to tinker, want's to set it up, let the screws rust in place and be done with it if I can't get the TT to work?
Upgrade to the Trophy Taker Smackdown Pro limb driven and don’t look back. Can’t say enough good things and advantages of this type of rest.
Another TT fan, although I prefer the cable driven. Hate the name, love the rest.
Although new string technology has gotten better, they all still require a break-in period to settle into a length that they will stay for a while. Therefore, no compound bow will be a "set it and forget it" type deal when new. I'd recommend at least 200 shots before you get serious about fine tuning your new bow.
IMO, you really should learn how to tune your bow yourself. Every bow should be tuned to the shooter. There's no magic tune that will shoot perfectly for every shooter. So, if you're not comfortable with tuning, hopefully your shop tech will tune your bow to your specific shooting form. If he simply sets your bow up, then hands it to you claiming it's tuned, I'd be very leery.
There are a lot of rests on the market that should provide trouble free operation for a long time, if set up properly.
Matt
@ GG, that's not what's happening. I get the break in period (just replaced string on my old bow) and I paper tune, bareshaft and all that. I have no issues at all getting BHs and FPs to fly well and hit the same at the ranges I shoot.
What I'm looking for is once the rest is on, all set and broke in, I want to forget about it. That is achievable, I have a bow that hangs on a peg in the garage sights and rests pretty much rusted so nothing moves from from salt water etc. It's pretty much pick it up, and it shoots the same year after year hence the reason I've kept it.
Those TT Smackdowns are the new as good as the old? Guys that are hard on their bows, how do these limb driven strings hold up? I hunt very very thick areas for elk and deer, bears etc. It seems like it could be a liability, but maybe not. I know with the short length of cord on the TT type rests, when it gets real bad, I have my hand over that small 5-6" place where the cord could get ripped off the cable. It seems the limb drivens there would be more exposed.
Sorry for misunderstanding, Caz.
I have 3 bows with different models of string attached drop-away rests. I haven't had to touch the rests on any of them for 15-20 years. Sorry I can't offer advice on any of the new rest offerings. All my old junk is still working well, so I've taken the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude with respect to bows and accessories.
Matt
I like limb driven. The Vapor Trail is about as simple and trouble free as it gets in a drop away.
If your limb driven string ever loosens or breaks, you just pull it tight and tie it in again. You can even use your shoelace (for real). Simple. Bullet proof. So easy. No timing issues. I use a long piece of D Loop material.
For your rest, get some good cord and it won't move. I haven't touched the cord on my hamskae in over a year. And hunting with a limb driven rest is no issue.
Hamskea hunter pro x3 here. I haven’t touched my rest since I put it on the bow over a year ago. Also I got rid of the stock football thing and use their cord tensioner. The string hasn’t loosened yet.
Whisker Biscuit. Yes, you have to replace the brush disc once in a while but no adjustment will be needed.
Another vote for Hamskea. Trinity pro hunter.
Another Hamskea user here, Trinity Pro Hunter.
If you don't like to tinker, DO NOT BUY A CABLE DRIVEN DROP AWAY!
Limb driven drop away rests could not be easier to set up and maintain.
Sounds like a few options are available and Hamskea is right here in CO.
Hamskea gets all the rage now days and they sound very good. I've had QADs for a long time now and love them. I've also had two TT Smackdown Pros and they have worked great. Never had a Vapor Trail but never heard a bad thing about them. Lots of good choices mentioned above.
Hamskea is built like a tank and can be mounted using top limb, bottom limb, or cable.
I saw where Allen Bolen had his hooked up to both limb and cable so no matter what, the rest will raise at full draw and will drop when released. lol
I see where you can take the cage off of them so there is less "Stuff" up around the shelf. I've never used a full capture rest so I will take a look at that. I like a simple fork for simple arrow on rest and done.
Hamskea Hybrid Hunter is reasonably priced and is solid as a rock.
Vapor Trail Limb Driver has worked for me for 10(?) years zero issues. Have heard good things about Hamskea also.
I like my Hamskea, it seems very durable.
Hamskea Hybrid Hunter Pro. Super easy to set up.
I used Ripcord on five bows over 15 or so years and had zero issues. Ive used QAD integrated on my new Mathews the last year, zero problems. I shoot a lot.
I have the QAD ultra on my Halon. I set it and forgot it 5 years ago and this year it bit me in the butt and cost me 2 big bucks because it failed to drop. I shoot a lot too and have shot thousands and thousands of arrows through it. The problem is, how do you know when a rest is worn out and/or about to fail? I have a Trophy Taker Pronghorn on my Mathews MQ1 back up bow and it has never failed me. I've been shooting it lately until I replace the rest on my Halon because I can't trust it anymore. I'm looking at the Hamskea Trinity as a replacement.
If you want simple, been using this one for 10 plus years. It’s been great!
Vaportrail Limb Driver Pro
Whisker biscuit won't freeze up
Nick, that looks pretty close to the old Trophy takers. I like that style I don’t need that “cage”
The cage sucks, agreed. The Limbdriver is as simple as a drop away gets, and has been extremely reliable.
Longtime QAD user, but switched to Hamskea last year. I like the Hamskea much better. Solidly built xl and work everytime.
Hamskea is the best. Currently use the Trinity. They are bombproof and won’t fail
Cazador,
That Limb Driver Pro is also on all of my bows. Nothing like the Trophy Taker though other than "looks". This one is limb-driven. I have my prongs cut off at the end of that black teflon wear material, just a personal preference.
The problem with a lot of the older rests, is the string that attaches to the cables comes out of the center of the rest not the side like they do these days. With bows with larger brace heights, its a non issue, anything 6 or under it's a problem as the string comes right over your hand with little if any clearance. Looking at the Hoyt's, I don't see how one could run the cord to the cable as there is "Too much" in the way.
Anyways, a lot of good options. I have to buy the bow still, we'll see how that goes!