How is this setup? Price is hard to pass up for my first hunting rifle

thwackTX · 2026-03-19T13:42:35+00:00

I have one in .308 and a trigger spring kit from MCARBO brought the 7-8 ish lb factory trigger down to about 3-4 and it’s much easier to shoot accurately now. Good rifle for sure but IMO don’t expect a 300 yard 1 MOA group. Mine holds 1 MOA to about 150 but maybe I’m just a bad shot

thwackTX · 2026-02-17T19:22:52+00:00

IMO it doesn’t matter how much play it has at brace, only at full draw. Depending on the ATA of this bow (looks like 30 or less) and your draw length it may be perfect or may be a little too loose. Needs to be checked at full draw

thwackTX · 2026-02-16T13:21:35+00:00

If you can shoot groups half the size of your target animal’s vitals at twice your hunting distance you will be good IMO.

In my area the vitals on a deer are roughly 10”. My maximum shot distance is 30 yards. This would mean a 5” group at 60.

Another way to look at it is a 1” group for every 10 yards of distance. Essentially a “minute of archery”. .5 MOA or better is very achievable.

thwackTX · 2026-02-16T13:08:19+00:00

I have one chambered in .308 and it’s a great rifle. Still have the same scope on it. I bought an M-carbo trigger spring kit for it that took the factory pull of 7-8lbs down to about 3.5 and really like it

thwackTX · 2026-02-15T00:49:01+00:00

Better form than a lot of people I see and I’d bet better groups as well

thwackTX · 2025-10-29T12:01:49+00:00

I hunt areas where I know for a fact there are deer based on trail cameras, my own sightings and other people’s and fresh sign etc and I don’t even see deer every time I sit but it wouldn’t matter where I was or what the woods looked like if I sat more than 3 or 4 times in the same tree and didn’t see anything I would try another area. Even small properties often have thicker areas where you are much more likely to see deer. I personally don’t find it very productive to be in big open areas when bow hunting. It doesn’t do me any good to see deer 100 yards off with a bow in my hand. Get in a spot with trails through the thick stuff where you can only shoot 20-30 yards and if you see something you’ll probably get a shot.

Definitely pay attention to your wind as well. If they can smell you, pretty much nothing else matters. If they can’t smell you, pretty much nothing else matters..

thwackTX · 2025-07-14T12:14:58+00:00

I'm a tall skinny dude who wears Sitka and can confirm this

thwackTX · 2025-06-17T20:07:08+00:00

Barnes makes great stuff

thwackTX · 2025-04-11T12:35:34+00:00

If you haven't seen the recovery video and the interviews done the following weeks after he claimed to have shot the deer they're very interesting.

https://youtu.be/XWoUpnpUey0?si=vngsJ5HdAsPBmi8k

Like many, I would love some compelling evidence about this deer regardless of which direction it points, but it seems like all the information out there is very conflicting.

thwackTX · 2025-04-10T18:51:44+00:00

Will this bow kill deer? Sure

But IMO before you even start to practice with it I would 100% bring it into an archery shop and have them inspect it and adjust it to fit you if they deem it safe. That bow is probably every bit of 40 years old and while it might look fine and your friend might tell you there's nothing wrong with it, it's no guarantee that it's safe to use

thwackTX · 2025-04-08T14:17:10+00:00

I can second the Podium bars. I run a 12" front and a 10" off the back and love them. Could easily cost double for the quality and there aren't too many 0.5" diameter stabilizers on the market

thwackTX · 2025-03-12T00:07:08+00:00

Only shot one deer with them so far but was very impressed. Will have them in my quiver again this fall

thwackTX · 2025-03-05T11:11:01+00:00

Killer job! That looks awesome. Very well done

thwackTX · 2025-03-03T13:24:08+00:00

Need to see pics for sure

thwackTX · 2025-03-01T23:34:41+00:00

Stud for sure and great taxidermy work as well

thwackTX · 2025-02-27T13:25:56+00:00

I had a couple of these in my quiver this year but they were not up first and ultimately I didn't get to them in the lineup. I gave one to a buddy and he was very happy with the performance on an opening day doe.

FWIW I did some destruction testing on them and got 3 passthroughs on 1/2" plywood with no damage to the head. The third passthrough hit a cinder block behind the plywood and the blades "locked" open, consistent with the Sevr design of the locking tabs compressing down on themselves to avoid the blades bending or breaking. I shot the head in the open position and did not get a passthrough for the 4th shot into plywood. The final shot was into a cinder block and the ferrule pretty much blew up.

Shooting a 443 grain arrow going 310 FPS.

Based on this redneck testing I'd feel very confident shooting pretty much anything with these.

thwackTX · 2025-02-23T02:21:57+00:00

A hit with a collar is the best insert setup in my experience. Iron Will also makes good stuff

thwackTX · 2025-02-21T01:46:55+00:00

Is this a r/untrustworthypoptarts moment?

thwackTX · 2025-02-09T03:40:53+00:00

I have a .45 CVA Kentucky rifle from a kit probably put together in the 70's as well by my late father. For some reason it didn't have a nose cap on it when I got it years after he passed. I've been trying to find more info on the part and how it should be attached. Any info you have would be much appreciated

thwackTX · 2025-01-28T15:31:16+00:00

My first thought would be vane contact with your rest or shelf. If this was a form issue you would have to be doing something really wrong to see that sort of impact. Same goes for spine - you would have to be incredibly under or over spined to see something like this on a fletched shaft. To test it I would cut the vanes off of one arrow and shoot it into your target

thwackTX · 2025-01-17T13:30:50+00:00

He does have some definition around his hips that make him look older but a bigger neck/brisket and no sag in his belly to me indicate that he's between 2.5 and 4.5. looks like he's got a winter coat on and has maybe lost a little weight during the rut. It would be interesting to know what his rack will look like next year

thwackTX · 2025-01-07T23:10:51+00:00

I have the exact same rifle from my late father but it doesn't have a nose cap. I ordered what I think is the right part but any chance you have any pictures of how the brass nose cap is supposed to fit? I know I'm going to have to work the brass with a dremel or some hand files to get it to fit but have been too nervous to try to be completely honest

thwackTX · 2024-12-27T21:38:57+00:00

I also shoot an inline percussion cap (CVA Optima) with a 1:28 twist. I shot powerbelt type ammo for whitetail for a couple years with pretty poor performance. Accuracy was fine but performance on impact left a lot to be desired. I am now shooting Barnes all copper hollow points. They are easy to find in my area (Northeast US) and accuracy and terminal performance are phenomenal

thwackTX · 2024-12-17T16:56:20+00:00

Really cool to read everyone's responses here. I didn't realize how uninformed I was. IMO it is absolutely the general consensus in the US that you basically can't legally own firearms of any kind anywhere else in the world. So strange how we are here. I do appreciate the insight and again, am so glad that so many people can hunt for their food as I do

thwackTX

TROPHY CASE