First Impressions of my Patriot

JeffB · 02-22-2002, 07:39 PM

HOLY CRAP-ARONI!!!!

Winger · 02-22-2002, 07:51 PM

I just gotta laugh every time I read it ...

ArcticBowMan · 02-22-2002, 07:57 PM

The Patriot is Crap??? <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> Wow, you heard it here first folks! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Glad you like it Jeff! Good shooting!

JeffB · 02-22-2002, 08:04 PM

OK..Seriously...

I bought a 60 Lber. 29" mod on the Infinity cam. I bought a 60 Lber cause I'm switching back to righty shooting and have to be careful w/ the back problems I have (long story).

Set at 65% letoff the bow measures 29" AMO on the money. At the factory setting (75-80%) I'd say it was close to 29 1/2" AMO.

Fit and finish as w/ every other BT I've owned is darn near perfect (one tiny little scratch on the bottom limb pocket..could have been done by the dealer for all I know). Limbs track straight and are well sanded. NO slop in the axles, pockets to riser, or limb to pocket.

Grip is not great as I've said, but I'm starting to like it a bit more than the MM: It's the same cut, but the riser spine on the PAT is a bit less angled so it feels a bit different..lower wrist than the MM.

Birth certifcate says it shoots 298 FPS at 60.4 Lbs w/ a 300 grain arrow and the brass nock. W/ a fletcher tru-peep, and nothing else besides the brass nock it shot a 323 grain ACC 3-28 at 289 FPS through the dealers chrono at the 65% letoff setting. I have it set up for now w/ the brass nock (no loop),peep, NAP 3000, SME Spike Millenium, Limbsavers, and my X-Ring Sika-Flex stabilizer. The bow balances incredibly well: best I've owned in a long time.

There is a slight vibration..very slight, and it's from the string. I put one leech on the string and it was gone. I took the leech off as I saw no real need for it. I shot a 395 grain Goldtip 3D-PRO 55/75 w/ vanes through it when I got home and I'd say it was almost as quiet as my Pearson D-back (which is the quietest bow I've heard in a long long time).

One negative: due to the cut-out hole in the arrow pass section, you might have a hard time if your rest uses a set-screw...I couldn't use the set-screw for my NAP-3000. I think my Cavalier Shadow might work OK though, I'll ahve to see tomorrow.

I only had time to run about 10 shots through it at home w/ severely overspined arrows, So I don't have much to say about how it groups yet.

I'm going out tomorrow to buy some properly spined arrows....

Anyone want to buy a lightly used Mighy-Mite?<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

HOLY CRAP-A-RONI!!! <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

JeffB

Winger · 02-22-2002, 08:20 PM

Hey Jeff,
Do you know if a Golden Premier with a Hoyt mount will mount up on the Pat?

JeffB · 02-23-2002, 07:23 AM

Winger,

I don't see why not. The rest moutning area is flat. As long as the rest can come far back enough so the prongs can move up and down freely it should work. I tried my Hoyt mount QT3000 last night and it seemed to work fine, but it's noisier than the universal mount QT, so I took it off.

All,

I got out this morning and did some initial "serious" shooting even though I'm still going to be running some different shafts through it.

The bow does seem to like stiff arows though. The GT 3D PRO 55/75 w/ Duravanes and 100 grain point really shoots like a dart, even though it's really overspined for a 60 LB bow(especially since I put Redline 410/360 unibushings and G-nocks in the back end). It could be because I'm shooting straight off the string and not a loop. I also tied in an eliminator w/ FF serving ( for the life of me I just dont have the patience for tie-in nocks..it's all mangled looking).

The bow holds extremely well. I was putting em in there at up to 30 yards. I'm still getting used to the lower draw weight as I tend to manhandle the string a bit(torque) on a lower poundage bow. I'm also finding the feel of the grip makes less difference than on my MM, because the bow is so solid, and balanced. I can understand why Matt says it has that "target bow tumble" depending on each individuals shooting form, but honestly in my hands it doesn't move...PERIOD.

Speaking of the riser, the riser is really beefy. It reminds me of the old Hoyt risers like the 2000 Defiant and Striker/II. The bow truly feels like a 38" or longer bow. I had a hard decision as I shot the new PRO-38 as well, and It almost came down to a coin toss..they were that close... I chose the Patriot simply because I knew it was a 60 Lb bow and I wanted the extra speed and energy (though it wasn't a huge difference..5-6 FPS).

As I said before, I'm not bothering w/ string silencers, as it's extremely quiet..just a teeny bit of string vibration.

I did notice (and again this could be because I'm not shooting a loop) that my sight pin is quite low, even though my peep is quite high from the nock point, but I still have enough adjustment.

all icans ay is if any of you are looking to purchase a new BT, you should really look into the PRO- series riser bows. Even though I love my MM and my Extreme Solo option 2, there is no comparison to the PRO-38 and Patriot. I can imagine that the BKII will be a much nicer shooter on this riser as well.

HOLY CRAP-A-RONI!

JeffB <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Winger · 02-23-2002, 10:08 AM

Jeff,
Does it appear that the rests will stay put okay without set screws?

Winger

Kanga · 02-23-2002, 12:20 PM

Thanks for the report Jeff
I went to a BT dealer yesterday and they still dont have the PAT in stock as yet
I cant wait to get my hands on one

PABowhntr · 02-23-2002, 02:00 PM

Winger,

The Golden Premier Rest with the Hoyt mounting adaptor fits just fine on the Bowtech Pro Series risers....<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

JeffB · 02-23-2002, 02:05 PM

Winger,

Sorry, I misunderstood your question. I haven't run a ton of arrows through it yet, but so far, no problems.

There is so little vibration that I don't forsee it being a problem. I don't know about guys shooting at 70 Lbs or w/ 30" draws, but I'm getting no vibration whatsoever except from the string at 29"/60. These ACCs are at about 5.5 grains per LB as well.

All,

Of course I will be giving a long, boring report after I've shot it quite a bit.

It does like stiff arrows. I went to the local shop today and picked up some ACC 3-39's. I fletched one up real quick w/ some flo yellow 4" AAE vanes, made a slight adjustment to my rest to bring the arrow up a tad to cut through the center of the berger button (the 3-39's are pretty small in OD..about 17XX aluminum size),and went outside. The shot was perfect left and right but a bit low and the arrow flight seemed perfect.I dropped the sight a tad, and stuck one exactly where I was aiming at 23 yards. Stepped back to 30 held my pin about 2" or so high,and dropped it almost the exact same hole as the first.

You know your "on" when the lighting is right and you can see the fletching rotating, and that's the way it has been so far with this bow. I'm truly impressed, and really the bow has exceeded my expectations so far.

OK..going out to eat some ribs..see y'all later

JeffB