New bow, need stabilizer and sight recommendations (Need a rangefinder now)

[John B]

I bought the Hoyt Defiant Turbo today, swapped my accessories over from the old bow but thinking I should upgrade my stabilizer and possibly the sight.

Stabilizers I'm looking at are Fuse carbon torch, Bee Stinger and Limbsaver Hunter Pro
I like the idea of a stabilizer with the option of adding weight to the end, the new bow is top heavy, especially with the bow mounted quiver
I'm thinking 10" stabilizer

I like my sight, but it is a 3 pin. I'm trying to find 2 additional pins and keep it, but if I can't I'll probably buy a new sight. Any recommendations?

[Wolfdog2314]

I've been looking at the Stokerized SS1 G2 stabilizer for my new Halon.
http://www.stokerized.com/products/acrylic-ss1-g2-series

For a site I've been looking at a 5 pin Montana black gold ascent slider site. Really just want the ability to practice longer range shots.

Good luck!

[Smossy]

Stabilizer, You have a few great options depending on your method of hunting....
The few Id recommend. 

In order...
1. Trophy Ridge 9 Static Stabilizer.
2. Beestinger 8 Pro Stabilizer.
3. Trophy Taker Quivalizer (Depends on your hunting style and quiver option)

[BULLBLASTER]

I've got a 10 inch Doinker dish is make you a good deal on. It has 8 stainless steel weights and a quick disconnect. Shoot me a pm if your interested.

[Dr. Death]

Doinkers are very adjustable stabilizers and you can add or decrease the weights on them.

Sights, many good ones out there these days. I use a Trophy Taker Option 8, built like a tank, has fixed pins and a single mover. Shot my elk with the fixed pins, opened up the sight and used my mover on my mule deer at 76, just dialed it up and let him have it.

[pianoman9701]

I have the 10" Stinger for my Hoyt Turbo Hawk. It works great.

[X-Force]

Its all about price, size, comfort etc.

couple decent options..

Spot hog Hunter
http://spot-hogg.com/sights/
and
http://www.stokerized.com/products/hd2-and-hd3

[RadSav]

I have a lot of different bows.  Enough the wife is constantly complaining about them.  I use a half dozen different arrow rests, arrow shafts and sights.  But there is only one choice of stabilizer that I have used for the past decade - Sims Modular.  I can adjust the modules and add length to fit every single bow I have perfectly.  Hoyt, Bear, Martin, G5, PSE, Elite, Sims, Bowtech, Blacks, Xpedition...doesn't matter to me.  I still use the same stabilizer and support a local Washington company.

https://www.limbsaver.com/product/aws-modular-stabilizer-2/

[raydog]

I use Limbsaver stabilizers and Spot Hogg sights. Both Pacific Northwest companies that stand behind there product!

[theleo]

What are you wanting to achieve with the stabilizer? Are you wanting to take some vibration out of your bow? balance it out a better? Slow down your pin drift? If you are looking to offset the weight of the quiver you might want to consider something like a Doinker Tactical stabilizer. Off set the weight of the quiver and be able to adjust the weight forward or back of the riser. I was really eyeing them before I got a Quivalizer. My backup bow has an 8" Fuse Carbon Connection on it and it does take vibration out of my bow, but doesn't do much else than that. For a fixed 5 pin sight I'll always love my Armortech HD. Tons of adjustments on it, easy to use, easy to fine tune, and have never had an issue with it. Lots of options to choose from and the only person that knows what will be best for you is you. Have fun finding the perfect setup! 

[John B]

Thanks for the recommendations, I just ordered the Limbsaver AWS. Still hoping to find two additional pins for my Hoyt pro series sight, if I can't I'll probably get the spott hogg

[RadSav]

 

[MLBowhunting]

I have the black and carbon fiber AWS.   

[John B]

I have the black and carbon fiber AWS.   

I will too in a couple days 

[SGTDuffman]

I like Spot Hogg for sights and releases. I've had a couple Axion SSG style stabilizers on the last couple of bows and am pretty happy with them. If you're a Veteran you can get a lifetime Professional Bowhunter account on Eders and you'll get a 30-40% discount on Spot Hogg stuff and about 20-25% off Axion.

[John B]

Got the stabilizer last week, very happy with it. Now I'm looking for recommendations for a decent rangefinder. Is it worth spending the extra money on a unit with angle compensation? What do you guys use?

[RadSav]

Is it worth spending the extra money on a unit with angle compensation?

Absolutely yes!!!

[John B]

Thinking about picking this one up, thoughts?

http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/nikon-products/rangefinders/prostaff-3i-laser-rangefinder.html

[RadSav]

I'm hot and cold on Nikon rangefinders.  On the plus side they are probably the most accurate rangefinders I've used.  They have been good in fog and better than most in snow. 

On the negative side they lose their clarity faster than any rangfinder I've used and they fog easier than most. I was buying the wife a new one every few years.  Finally got smart and figured it was cheaper to just get her a Leupold.

[John B]

If I do go Leopold, which one should I be looking at?

[RadSav]

The old cheap ones were the better rangefinder.  Worked well in rain and fog.  Even acceptable in snow.  But the best performing ones did not have TBR and range accuracy would often vary by 3 yards.  The first TBR models did not calculate past 60 yards.  Once they went DNA the ranging accuracy improved, but function was still a challenge on anything other than completely clear days.  With the improved sensitivity even the slightest of fog causes a complete failure.  That is where the Nikon and the non-TBR Leupolds really became a better product.

I have taken a crap load of animals using an RX-1000/TBR DNA on nice days and the older model on poor weather days.  But I loaned the older model to a member and could never get it returned.  After that I tried just about every high end angle comp model I could find from any manufacturer from Vortex to Leica.  None of them have worked in various weather any better than my RX-1000.  I think the wannabe sniper demand for further and further range distance has just made them all too darn sensitive.  And that doesn't help the bowhunter at all.

Leupold was beside us at the ATA this past year.  I went over and asked them if there was anything us western bowhunters could do to get better performance in more variety of weather without losing the TBR.  They claim that the new FullDraw2 is designed for just such tasks.  Less sensitivity to fog rain and snow for more reliable performance for bowhunters, but they also claim it works better on targets of all different colors than previous models.  TBR accuracy in 'Bow Mode' to 175 yards.   IF true, and not just a bunch of salesman marketing spin, it could finally be the answer western bowhunters have been waiting for.  Especially those of us who embrace those wet stormy days of November and December on the westside.

I have not yet ordered myself one.  However, I fully intend to have one for the 2016 season.  Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I felt those guys at the booth were being sincere.  I'm certainly hoping so!!

[raydog]

I have an older Nikon archers choice. Its a decent rangefinder, but I can't get the damn thing to work in the fog to save my life. Even may have caused me to miss my opportunity on a bull. It wouldn't range in the fog and I didn't feel confident enough to guess. I ranged it later and its a good thing I didn't shoot! I would have missed by 15 yards! Anyhow Like Rad said, Nikon isn't the most clear rangefinder but gets the job done. I now have a vortex 1000 that I picked up from Elknut. I like it a lot, because I can use it for rifle hunting too. Has a red display that I love. Only complaint I have is it takes a second or 2 longer to range than my Nikon. Hope it does good in the fog!

[John B]

FullDraw2 on the way. Thanks RadSav, you really know your stuff. 

[RadSav]

Raydog makes a good point about the red display.  I used dark displays for years before I got my first Leica.  There were a lot of times I would range an animal in the dark timber and then have to point it to a hole in the trees so I could see the light sky and tell what the distance was.  I will not use a rangefinder that does not have the red.  Just be careful not to have it turned up too bright.  That can cause problems in dark timber too.

[Special T]

I use a Nikon Rifle hunter its simple only has 3 modes works well fro both rifle hunting and archery. Most people cannot shoot past 550yards with a rifle cold bore including me so thats what i went with and have been very happy. Im now the happy owner of Bull Blasters Stabilizer. I mist say it is very nice to have one that has a quick disconnect so that its easier to get into/ out of the hard case.

[GrampasGuns]

Loving my vortex rangefinder. Clear and quick. My only gripe is the button makes a small audible click when it's depressed. Can't beleive they overlooked that

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[wt]

2* on the archers choice not working in the fog. Mine won't read in the fog either. Last year, opening day, light fog, in the elk, call up a bull..... range,range, no friken range. Bull comes up I shoot high, spine shot .   Two miles later I get another chance, and double long it. Moral of he story fog no range. I hunt I'm Western wa almost exclusively to so I'm following this thread for ideas on a new unit also.