take down ILF system

Sheepdog

FNG
Joined
Aug 9, 2017
Messages
92
Location
littleton CO, missing AK
Hi guys I'm kicking around the idea of picking up a takedown ilf bow to have as a backup. The other reason would be to have two sets of limbs one lite for form work/bowfishing and the other a heavier set for hunting.

I'd also like to find one with a riser made from wood and a locator style grip.

any sugestions?
 
OP
S

Sheepdog

FNG
Joined
Aug 9, 2017
Messages
92
Location
littleton CO, missing AK
I have looked at some of the stalker bows. I like the jackal the most as it's handle is pretty close to the black widow i'm shooting now. I just don't think I can justify spending that kind of coin on a back up bow right now.
 

LostArra

WKR
Joined
May 9, 2013
Messages
3,435
Location
Oklahoma
If you are looking REAL inexpensive do a search for a Galaxy Sear ILF setup (Lancaster archery carries them)
 
OP
S

Sheepdog

FNG
Joined
Aug 9, 2017
Messages
92
Location
littleton CO, missing AK
have you shot that bow LostArra? I don't mind spending 5-6 hundred maybe even a touch more, but if this bow shoots well and is well made 300 doesn't hurt my feelings none.
 

LostArra

WKR
Joined
May 9, 2013
Messages
3,435
Location
Oklahoma
I have not shot the bow. I've got too many bows but due to a shoulder injury I was looking for an inexpensive takedown recurve to use for my annual elk hunt that would be right at the legal Wyoming draw weight.

My research lead me to this "family" of foreign made bows, both ILF and non-ILF. I was looking at the Big Rock Black Hunter (non-ILF version of the Galaxy). It looked to be an acceptable solution to what I wanted. They are available at Lancaster and thru a guy on Archery Talk who goes by strugglesticks.

Check out this torture test video which will make you cringe. Don't worry about the foreign language just advance to about the 1:00 mark to start.
Лук Bowmaster Black Bear- обзор достойной традиции! - YouTube

To make a long story longer: I was introduced to the Crossover Symmetry shoulder program and my shoulder problems are essentially gone or as gone as they can be for 66 year old shoulders. I'm back in business with my recurves and longbow and I've resisted the urge to buy one of the Big Rock/Galaxy bows but it still might happen just out of curiosity.

With a little patience and luck, you might find a used non-ILF Stalker in your budget but this might put your Widow at risk of becoming a backup:D
 
OP
S

Sheepdog

FNG
Joined
Aug 9, 2017
Messages
92
Location
littleton CO, missing AK
That torture test was ridiculous! I was sure it was done after he took the saw to it. I wonder how they are to shoot though.

Congrats on getting your shoulders better!

I'm not I a rush to get anything, so who knows I just might end up getting a Stalker. From what I understand Cox is making them in Colorado now anyways.
 

Beendare

WKR
Joined
May 6, 2014
Messages
8,247
Location
Corripe cervisiam
After shooting carbon foam limbs....I sold my other non ILF bows

I have 3 different risers; Morrison, Dryad and a metal Tradtech...and 4 or 5 sets of limbs including the Dryad RC longbow limbs.The versatility can't be matched...and you can go inexpensive....or pricey.Tuning is unmatched but it was how smooth and efficient those really good ILF limbs are that all of the customs I tried couldn't match.

Pictured the Morrison 17" w/ SF Elite plus limbs and Dryad 19" with WW Inno limbs both longs...makes a 62", 64" bow.
I bought the snake skins on ebay for $30
2 snakes in the grass lg.jpg
 

Beendare

WKR
Joined
May 6, 2014
Messages
8,247
Location
Corripe cervisiam
Those are very nice looking bows beendare!

Thx. The skinned limbs hurt performance a little....I lose a few FPS.

The mass of the CNC metal risers really makes for a quiet stable bow....thats why a lot of guys like them including myself. There are a bunch of them out there in 17" and 19"...plus of course the longer FITA style in 21" plus. You can usually find one in the classifieds of AT for about $300 or so.

If you want to see a bunch of ILF porn....check "ALT Services"...I've bought a couple sets of limbs there -good outfit. They have the whole spectrum of ILF gear.

I have not seen many of the custom bowyers that can match the performance of those high end ILF limbs...a couple like Dryad do. That SF mid priced line is fantastic for the price as its the generic line from Win and Win. Plus you don't have as many issues with limb twist and such...none that I've heard of. Even the cheap $60-$80 limbs are pretty good.
 
Last edited:

R H Clark

FNG
Joined
Mar 24, 2018
Messages
87
Location
Alabama
Personally, I would buy a metal riser ILF as they are all superior to the wood risers for an ILF design. The Trad Tech Titan III would be a good one.

While that Black Bear bow that LostArra posted looks fine,it is not ILF as far as I can see. The main advantage of ILF is the ability to use some of the world's best limbs. Even the cheapest under $200 ILF limbs are excellent quality rivaling some of the best custom bowyers limbs.
 

Beendare

WKR
Joined
May 6, 2014
Messages
8,247
Location
Corripe cervisiam
Personally, I would buy a metal riser ILF as they are all superior to the wood risers for an ILF design. The Trad Tech Titan III would be a good one.

IME, The metal risers work well for the guys coming over from shooting compounds....as they are still lighter than a compound.

The died in the wool longbow guys revolt a little as they are so used to carrying a feather light bow around....the metal riser feels like a brick to them.

Different strokes...no right or wrong answer.
 

R H Clark

FNG
Joined
Mar 24, 2018
Messages
87
Location
Alabama
IME, The metal risers work well for the guys coming over from shooting compounds....as they are still lighter than a compound.

The died in the wool longbow guys revolt a little as they are so used to carrying a feather light bow around....the metal riser feels like a brick to them.

Different strokes...no right or wrong answer.

I don't have any problem with a well designed wood riser. From what I've seen the wood riser ILF's are usually a cheaper alternative and not the same quality as a metal riser. Most of them are oversized. Some are not even cut past center, and sometimes the limb pockets and attachment are something less than desirable. I don't know what Morrison uses now but at first he made his own ILF attachment from phenolic that was less than desirable IMHO. A good riser is a good riser no matter what it is made of. I do think however that you can buy a quality metal riser cheaper than a quality wood riser.

Weight is subjective. I thought I liked as light as possible until I shot heavier risers. Most of the ILF's aren't all that heavy. A 17" TradTech isn't as heavy as a take down Black Widow riser.
 

Beendare

WKR
Joined
May 6, 2014
Messages
8,247
Location
Corripe cervisiam
I don't have any problem with a well designed wood riser. From what I've seen the wood riser ILF's are usually a cheaper alternative and not the same quality as a metal riser.
.......

I would agree with most of your comment...but not this. Now if you are talking about the tradtech mass produced wood risers then sure. There are some high quality wood risers out there.

The one thing you realize with shooting a stick bow....mass in the riser helps stabilize the shot. That is why the old target bows of the 50's and 60's had such big risers.

I agree, those metal risers make shooting a stick bow really nice. I do prefer hunting with something thats a bit more Traditional...thus the wood riser.

IME, There is a significant increase in the degree of difficulty when you go to the thin profile wood riser longbows. I have bad elbows...and the thump for those [big Jims Buffalo] is probably what put me on a downhill spiral elbow wise. I have seen a few guys at tourneys that can shoot those incredibly well. A couple guys at the Trad nationals a few years back shot the longer Fox or Liberty style longbows pretty good.
 

LostArra

WKR
Joined
May 9, 2013
Messages
3,435
Location
Oklahoma
Personally, I would buy a metal riser ILF as they are all superior to the wood risers for an ILF design. The Trad Tech Titan III would be a good one.

While that Black Bear bow that LostArra posted looks fine,it is not ILF as far as I can see. The main advantage of ILF is the ability to use some of the world's best limbs. Even the cheapest under $200 ILF limbs are excellent quality rivaling some of the best custom bowyers limbs.

They make both ILF and non-ILF

One ILF example is the Pharos



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

SHTF

WKR
Classified Approved
Joined
Feb 4, 2013
Messages
5,094
Location
Colorado
I shoot a trade tech Titan 3 riser with Dryad Epic 52# limbs Im a 31 inch draw so I pull around 58-59# with this setup its 64 inches long and shoots like a dream. I agree with alot of what has been said. I find the metal risers with a wood grip are the most comfortable and stable for me to shoot with. Absolutely love this setup.

Jfi2FCO.jpg


Plx7RQV.jpg


B31QPyJ.jpg


VAGCfUN.jpg
 

R H Clark

FNG
Joined
Mar 24, 2018
Messages
87
Location
Alabama
I would agree with most of your comment...but not this. Now if you are talking about the tradtech mass produced wood risers then sure. There are some high quality wood risers out there.

The one thing you realize with shooting a stick bow....mass in the riser helps stabilize the shot. That is why the old target bows of the 50's and 60's had such big risers.

I agree, those metal risers make shooting a stick bow really nice. I do prefer hunting with something thats a bit more Traditional...thus the wood riser.

IME, There is a significant increase in the degree of difficulty when you go to the thin profile wood riser longbows. I have bad elbows...and the thump for those [big Jims Buffalo] is probably what put me on a downhill spiral elbow wise. I have seen a few guys at tourneys that can shoot those incredibly well. A couple guys at the Trad nationals a few years back shot the longer Fox or Liberty style longbows pretty good.

From what I've seen, people who don't like metal risers prefer wood because it seems more traditional to them. I don't even think about what's traditional or not. It would be kind of silly for me to want a wood riser for tradition while using carbon foam limbs and a high tech string, and shooting carbon arrows. After all, I didn't arrive at the shoot on a horse wearing buck skins either, so does it matter at all that my riser is made of metal? LOL

I've shot those Fox tournament longbows but not the Liberty. I had Black Widow make me a PLX a few years ago and had them make the riser completely from laminated black glass. There's no red glass in the bow at all and the only wood is the Olive Ash limb veneers and it does use bamboo laminations in the limbs. It's not at all heavy, but it has more mass than any other PLX I've seen.

I also compete with an Italian barebow risered bow with a 5 lb riser.
 

Beendare

WKR
Joined
May 6, 2014
Messages
8,247
Location
Corripe cervisiam
. I had Black Widow make me a PLX a few years ago and had them make the riser completely from laminated black glass. There's no red glass in the bow at all and the only wood is the Olive Ash limb veneers and it does use bamboo laminations in the limbs. It's not at all heavy, but it has more mass than any other PLX I've seen.

I would sure like to see a pic of that BW...sounds cool.
 
OP
S

Sheepdog

FNG
Joined
Aug 9, 2017
Messages
92
Location
littleton CO, missing AK
Hey everyone, just thought I’d put in an update. I ended up not going with an ilf system like I originally planned. I did, however, pick up a southwest archery spyder. I’m pretty happy with it an can order new limbs from them for 70 bucks. Right now I’ve got a set of light limbs for form work and shooting carp. It’s really helped me in my shooting this past week. I switch and shoot a few arrows from my longbow then shoot the next set from the spyder. When my form gets bad with the long bow I immediately switch if my form is still poor of the next shot

I appreciate all the helpful info you guys took on he time to post. I just couldn’t pass up the price point on this setup.
 
Top