Ausie-guy-

I think the Max 2000 makes a great "all-around" bow. It'll hunt, shoot spots, Fita, indoors, and yes, it has plenty of speed for 3D. You'll find that TOP shooters do NOT shoot radical setups and speeds in excess of 300 for 3D, they use forgiving and stable setups and work on their numbers. Gotta be able to hit what you're shooting at, and you can't do that CONSISTENTLY with the 34-36" ATA and 6 or 6.5" of brace that you need for 300+ speed. I've won an IBO World title myself (over a decade ago) and did it at 284fps with a 41" ATA bow with 7.25" of brace. HMM, the Max 2000 is 41.25" with 7.25" of brace. Coincidence?

I use the Max for all applications, and it handles everything without a fuss and is super accurate, the most accurate bow of it's configuration I have ever put into my hands to date. (Yes, I use mine for 3D, shooting 3-28 ACC's at 60lbs, 29" AMO drawlength, right in the 290fps range) In fact most of us Factory Merlin shooters that shoot 3D's are using this model. Gene Witt just placed in the top 5 overall in Men's Semi-Pro in the IBO National Triple Crown using this bow, and won Bedford, the first leg, in BOTH 2001 and 2002.

The Lite Storm is great if thinking about a solo, it has 305 speed, yet still offers 38" ATA and 7+" of brace. I've found this bow to be quite accurate also.

Bowfanatic--

Don't fool yourself. I'm as patriotic as the next guy, but after shooting darned-near every bow made at one time or another, have to agree with Sag and Tom on this one. The Merlins have the tightest tolerances, greatest attention to detail, and are the best handling bows I have shot to date. Yes, of course SOME USA bows are top quality, but some are complete junk also, and as stated before, there are alot of "good" bows out there, but few "great" ones, ANYWHERE! Might as well broaden your horizons, right? If you feel what you are shooting is "great", that's fine by me and your opinion,(at least you're shooting something, that's what it's really all about) but to say that you "won't" because it's "not USA made" or that you cannot hold it first is like slapping all of us in the face who went out of our way already. We stepped up to the plate and basically stuck our necks out first, and after doing so and running the bows through their paces, now are trying to relay the message that they are worth it for others to buy sight unseen and are some of the finest-built bows on the planet. I don't know about others, but I will NOT steer someone away from what I believe to be the truth. If you don't want to believe us, especially those of us who HAVE shot every brand, HAVE won many titles and Championships over the years and HAVE been working in the industry for over 3 decades, then I guess that's your choice, but I'm not following this type of thinking, really.

That's the problem with this world today, everyone is getting too independent. Kids don't listen to teachers or parents, people won't listen to those that have "been there and done that", they have to stick their foot in the same chuckhole to find out for themselves that it will give you a broken ankle! I learned from the great techs before me, and did it the HARD way, before computers with info at your fingertips, and altho you can gain lots of knowledge here, NOTHING beats hands-on experience over many, many years with hundreds of brands of equipment of all types. I'm telling you from this experience that the Merlins are in the top of their class and sit on the pinnacle with only a few. No BS.

BTW, Most "BIG" USA manufacturers' bows are NOT on that pinnacle either, IMO, sorry.

Good shooting, Pinwheel 12





Edited by - Pinwheel 12 on 09/01/2002 07:15:11