anyone shoot one of these, what do you think of it?
I've never bought a brand new bow before, after pricing all I can say is :eek: WOW!!
I can get a new viperd delivered for $185. Sounds like a good deal, depending on what you guys think about the bow, I might get one.
Thanks for any all info
Ive got one ....
NOTE: Please do not offer gear for sale on the PowWow - directly PM or email the intended person offline, or use the Classifieds.
Thanks jacobsladder but I'm afraid I might have the same trouble. I've had the tripleb and both shoulders repaired so I'm topping out at about 50#s these days.
sounds good... If your are looking for a lower weight bow at a low price... you might want to check out the ragim little hawk... My son has one 68" at 45#... I bought it used for 125.00.. nice little bow.... Another option, if you dont mind buying used is to post on the traditional bow forum for what your'e looking for and how much you want to spend.... these guys on here have a bunch of bows hanging on their racks...And you might get a nicer bow for around 200.00... the only negative thing I have to say about the viper is that there was some flaws in the stain underneath the finish... not real even.Hope this helps .. have a good one!
http://www.tradgang.com/rob/viper-legend-reviews.pdf
Here's a review with some specs.
ine got one and i LOVE IT!!! its 45# @ 28" RH with a custom flemish Twist string (red and green) Coyote hair silencers and Limb saver String Leeches, Limb Savewr Trad bow vibration silencer on the limbs. good bow, and i cant tell the difference with or with out the Limb saver on the limbs.....
just my 2 cents....
Thanks for the replys and link, good review.
I went ahead and made the order, I figure for the money, I should be OK with it.
Yuh get a one year replacement warranty with it through AIM Archery. It'll come in a cardboard tube, half apart when you get it just like everyone else does :( Check it over real good. Just giving you the heads up. Otherwise, not a bad bow for the money.
I bought one in February and so far I really like it. It is my first longbow and I am new to traditional but it has been a pleasure to shoot so far. One thing about it, it is silent. I put string leeches on the string and man it makes ZERO noise. Mine is 45# @28". I purchased it because I didn't want to sink a huge amount of $$ in my first bow, and I am more than impressed with it's value. I'm about to dress mine up with some skin-eez so it'll look like it costs more.LOL
I shot one before buying my custom. I really liked it, however I honestly believe you can find a better bow built by a private bowyer for about the same money----that will outperform the Viper.
JMHO
Jeff
I really enjoy my Viper Deluxe. It will be my primary bow until the Striker Stinger that I ordered is received. For the price the Viper is a great looking and shooting bow. I would have gotten a Bear Montana for a little more, but its grip didn't feel as nice to me as the Viper's.
I had been saving for something special but because of things, it just never came about. Mostly because I just got tired of looking and trying, I decided to go for what I really could afford.
:scared: there aint none, this was as close as I could get to them paying me to take the bow. :knothead:
MO, the Viper longbows are well made and shoot just fine. The only differences 'tween the standard and Deluxe are cosmetic. The Viper will exhibit reasonably decent arrow speed only if you replace the stock 16 strand Dacron string with a suitable string of low count modern fiber (such as 12 strands of Dyneema or Vectran, i.e. - Dynaflight'97, 450+, Dyneema'02, FastFlight, etc). A good modern fiber string length for the Viper is 64-1/2". The long limbs offer good shooting stability, but will reduce arrow speed and are more difficult to maneuver in the brush or up a tree stand.
IMO, there are better (faster, shorter) hybrid hunting longbows than the Viper, but even if purchased used most of them will command about $100 more. It's all about trade-offs and compromises, when spending money is in limited supply.
Rob
I was thinking about the string when I read your post. You used a 10 strand, BCY, Dyneema'02, 64 1/2", endless loop bowstring and another review I read, a Flemish twist, 10 strand, DF97, 64", string was used, both with 50# bows.
Who here makes strings like these, cause I'll be wanting one?
I would recommend 12 strands of any standard modern fiber (Dynaflight'97 is great, but exclude the thicker strand stuff such as Vectran 450+) for a 64-1/2" endless string (spun flat - some rounding twists added later). Flemish strings have more inherent "coil stretch" because they're twisted, and endless will have less.
Besides twisting top notch Flemish strings, Chad Weaver also spins an awesome endless string and I highly recommend his string making services - Champion Custom Strings (http://www.recurves.com/Custom_Bowstrings.htm)
QuoteOriginally posted by JBiorn:
I shot one before buying my custom. I really liked it, however I honestly believe you can find a better bow built by a private bowyer for about the same money----that will outperform the Viper.
JMHO
Jeff
Really Jeff? A quality, proven, custom hybrid glass 'n' wood longbow crafted by a known bowyer for $200 or less? PM or email the answer, please.
PM sent
Rob
Thanks, I'll be ordering a string from Chad today.
Jeff
I spent some time looking and couldnt find anything anywhere close to the exact $184.95 delivered, that I payed the fella I ordered the viper from. The closest I could get is the bear montana and with shipping it was just over $300. I couldnt find a bowyer who could match the price of the bear.
I have the standard 55# Viper and have been shooting it for a year now. The bow is fast, quite, and I've not had a single issue with it. Mine still wears the factory string.
What would I do different if I ordered the bow today?
I'd replace the string.
I'd order one 5 pound lighter so I could shoot it all day long.
I'd probably order the delux 'cause it's pretty.
:)
I think you did good.
Hey Rob, great string information for the Viper. Thanks!
Harold, as Rob said they are not a bad bow, but I agree with some others. If ya keep looking ya can buy a nice used mild R/D custom for close to that and I mean very close. I just sold a Bamboo Longhunter(semi-custom) for $200 and a Roy Hall Cherokee (very custom) for $275. If ya can wait and save a few pennies, I would go the used route. Shawn
What Shawn just said.
If you have time, yer patient, and can cruise the classifieds religiously, you'll definitely find a gem of a deal on a hybrid longbow that's a better performer than a Viper, and with a shorter length which is better for hunting.
I bought a near-new Bear Montana on our classifieds a year or so ago for $150 shipped, and no question that's a faster longbow. It's not a big deal to alter the Montana handle, and I even lopped off the huge limb tips that took the LOA from 64" to nearly 62".
And as Shawn sez, there will be other good bows at good prices cropping up almost every week or two. Ya just gotta spot 'em quick so ya can get first dibs.
All that said, if you've got a Viper coming, congrats!!!, it's a good mild r/d longbow that's got a lotta built-in stability and forgiveness. Enjoy! :thumbsup:
Harold ya better go thru the classifieds again. There are 5 pages ya know. I just saw several very nice customs for between 200 and 300 hundred and ya can make an offer on some. I see a Big River and Missippi Lakes ya could probably get for $225 or so. Shawn
I've been looking at the classifieds and waiting for things to come together on my end for awhile now. I did see some but either the weight would be off for me or the price off. If I could handle another 5 or 10 pounds I would have one off the classified right now. I love looking around there.
BUT WE NEED MORE PICTURES in the classifieds!!!!
always wanted to say that
I guess I just ran out of patience and figured I better get while I got. :biglaugh:
I have one and I like it very much.
(http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h21/VAbowbender/Hunting/BowCollection.jpg)
VA
very nice :thumbsup:
Rob
I ordered my string yesterday from Chad. I can tell from his emails and questions that he does top quality work.
Yep, yer gonna love yer new string and what it'll do for yer bow's performance - guaranteed!
I have a viper and it's ok. It was my first longbow. My mistake was getting a 55#. Should have gotten a lighter one. A boyer friend was able to reduce the weight to about 50# at my 27 inch draw. It still pulls harder then my 50# Quinn recurve and my friends 55# longbow. I did replace the string with a flemish. If I had been more experienced and had shot more bows I would have looked around a little more before I bought the viper. I managed to take my first bow deer with it. Take the advise of others and do some more shopping. I will soon be shooting my second new bow since the viper. I think if you are patient and look you can do better and not pay a whole lot more.
I found the Viper to be a smooth shooter once it had a better matched string. It's not at all a "bad bow", but it does lack some speed due to the long limbs and mild r/d, and the 68" length will hamper some folks when hunting in the bush or up a tree stand. Other than that, the bow is a keeper, IMO - and a valid bow for a newbie considering the price tag. And the longer limbs will offer more shot stability, particularly for a newbie to trad.
Yes, with patience and time a better used longbow will pop up eventually, for sure. And then the Viper can be a backup bow or a loaner to someone looking to get a taste of trad archery/bowhunting.
hs6181,
I didn't mean to make it sound negative about the viper. For the money it's a good bow. I think I payed about 175.00 for mine. You will be happy with the new string. Make sure you check that the nock grooves are smooth. I had file mine some, because they started to cut my flemish string. Might not be a problem with yours, just a heads up.
Thanks for that little piece of info guzzi, I'll be sure and check the string grooves real good.
I think I'll be happy with the bow. I've been shooting a long time, off and on 30 yrs, just never bought a new one, always been used. I know some of those from the past were much nicer (got it from a Tradgangr) then the viper. I can't help it, the last couple of years have made me a cheepskate.
I've always liked the longer bows, if I was paying $1000 for a bow it would still be at least 64"s long.
Now its time to buy some arrows :thumbsup: