dual or solo cams

PSEsniper · 11-19-2002, 08:16 PM

what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of solo cams.

Edited by - mdbohuntr on 11/22/2002 00:54:29

Stealth_Force · 11-20-2002, 12:35 AM

Advantages of solo cam. No TIMING. you still should do some optimizing of the cam, but it is less important.
All else being equal, solo cams seem to be quieter, and less recoil, and aims easier.
Advantages of dual cam. Easier on harness. Unless you get wide groove cam/wheel on a solo, it will wear the serving...not so on a dual cam. Faster...but only VERY slightly. Less worries about string stretch.
Other than that, it's a feel thing. There is NO differance in accuracy!!! Anyone who tells you that must think people can hold a bow steady as well. Solocams, and dual cams have BOTH won huge tournaments (Vegas etc) with the solo cams winning the vast majority of 3D (cause the have the most people shooting solo cams...2 cams CAN win 3-ds as well)
Let me say it again, so everyone is sure what I said and can flame me for it.
THERE IS NO DIFFERANCE IN ACCURACY!!!

ijimmy · 11-20-2002, 07:04 AM

I believe dual cams are more forgiveing of creep therefor more accurate for the average shooter . They also have level nock travel when they are timed properly ,that also improves accuracy [over solocams ] especialy with broadheads .

If information provided by the members of this board have helped you please let us know .

Edited by - ijimmy on 11/20/2002 08:12:26

Stealth_Force · 11-20-2002, 10:29 AM

NOT to argue about a small point, but in a series of tests with a shooting machine, Randy Ulmer (I am pretty sure it was him) found the MOST UNFORGIVING bow in his creep tests wasa 2 cam bow!!! He actually UN-timed the cams (got them a little out of synch) to help it shoot more forgiving.
Again, I say there is NO inherit advantages to EITHER style of bow.
REALLY worried about level nock travel? MOST 2 cam bows do NOT have LEVEL nock travel! Darton is probably the best in this area, maybe the Bowtech Gen3 could be close as well. Even the Mathews with "straightline" cam is NOT Perfectly level.
How important IS level nock travel, ask the guys who won Vegas the last 2 years...not even using the "straightline" cams!
MY Final words on the matter (unless drawn out by someone

) If it makes you more confident to have "level" nock travel...go for it. If you think 2 cam bows are MORE accurate/forgiving...buy one. Confidence will make you more accurate than whether or not you buy a 1 or 2 cam bow.

Remy 15 · 11-20-2002, 11:10 AM

I know Hoyt is abandoning single cam bows all together. Their new line of Bows are all dual cam… What does that mean, I don’t know, But it does seem like they are putting all their eggs in one basket. To me dual cam bows increase the chance by 100% from single cams of something going wrong. I will stick with my single.

KIDD642 · 11-20-2002, 05:01 PM

I did not check yet, but maybe you shuld post this in the TECHNICAL forum for some more help. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

LIFE MEMBER: United Bowhunters of PA., NAHC

Frank

PSEsniper · 11-21-2002, 08:08 PM

Thanks for the replies I still cant diside if I should get dual cams or stick with my dolo cams.

BOWFANATIC · 11-21-2002, 10:09 PM

Dual cam bow benefits? ijimmy summed it up!
Level nock travel and smooth draw cycle are the biggest benefits.
Those are two pretty big factors which in most cases will create better accuracy.

Stealth_Force , I'm not sure I follow your "solo cam. NO TIMING" statement. Could you explain the timing issues that dual cam shooters have to deal with , that solo cam shooters do not?

I'll give the solo cams the edge on noise (not by much) , but the recoil edge I have to give to double cams. My newest double cam has less hand shock than any of my solo cams.
The difference in accuracy is more of a repetitive thing. The harsh draw cycle of a solo cam will wear out your arms (and shoulder) alot faster. From what I've seen lately on the professional level , the double cam seems to be the most popular. I'd be willing to bet it has something to do with draw cycle(less fatigue) and level nock travel equaling better accuracy. I also dont recall seeing Randy Ulmer do a creep test(<?and unforgiving? doesn't make sense). I do recall a level nock travel test he did with the double cam bows winning hands down.
Keep in mind , I'm not knocking solocams (I own 2) , I just dont understand why the hardcore solocam shooters get so defensive when they hear the truth about double cams<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

<---Doug---<<<

tschaef · 11-21-2002, 11:51 PM

As a complete newbie I can't give any opinions to you experts, but I'll tell you that when I went looking for my 1st bow I knew I wanted a single cam because experiance with other mechanical devices has taught me that less moving parts = less stuff to break.
Archery is suprisingly in depth with lots of things to learn, the last thing I need is to have to calibrate 2 cams to work together.

"guns aren't for killing people, guns are for killing dangerous and delicious animals"
- Homer Simpson

Stealth_Force · 11-22-2002, 12:01 AM

dual cams normally, should be timed to rotate in synch. also called synching the cams. solo cams do not need to do this. Solo cams CAN be OPTIMIZED, but this is a performance (read speed) tunning subject, and doesn't affect accuracy much if at all.
The article was one of Ulmer's "Secrets of a shooting machine" articles which one, I cannot say...he had a series of them a while back.
Dual cam bows do NOT have LEVEL nock travel. YES, they are MUCH closer than 1 cam bows, but they do swing down on the shot. Again, this doesn't seem to matter much in the real world.
New advances in bow technology mean NEW 2 cam bows can have less shock than current 1 cam bows....ALL things being equal, the 1 cam is usually less recoil (Shoot my Martin Firecat 2 cam some time...just hold on TIGHT

)
My intention was NOT to be the hardcore solocam defender, but there always seems to be the guy out there that claims 1 cam bows are less accurate than 2 cam bows. History has not borne this out.
MY opinion is to shoot what YOU are confident in.
When Mathews started winning lots of shoots, everyone wanted a solo cam, now a couple of REALLY good 2 cams are out there, so now everyone wants a 2 cam bow (everyone being an exageration of course).
Look at the results, 2 cam bows do NOT have an advantage in accuracy. NOR do I beleive 1 cam bows have an advantage.
Bows are still shot by people. You will shoot best with what you like. I shoot my newer solocam MUCH better than I shoot my 2 cam bows. I just have more confidence in the solocam bow being consistant as I don't worry about the cams comming out of synch (which MINE did...not much...you had to REALLY look to see it, but I knew it was there...enough for me)
MY bet on the issue of Hoyt going to all 2 cam bows is that they don't feel like paying someone else for a licence to make solo cams.