Darton and Alpine bows question
 

I was curious of everyones opinion on Darton and Alpine archery bows? I have just recently heard of both companies, they are small, but seem to have some loyal followers. What do yall think of them?

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

Ive owed one of both this year , still have the darton , pro 2000 that is , excelent bow , my only gripe is it was around a 1/4 long on draw length , and with dartons new cams , they adjust in 1/2 inch increments , the cps was adjustable to 1/8 inch .

The alpine I owned shot very fast and was quiet and accurate , what else do you want might be the question , It would not stack fixed broadheads , and field tipped arrows together is the answer , I sold it .

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

where you can buy a Darton at, do pro shops carry them? or just online?

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

I have shot Dartons for years in fact ever since they came on the market over the years I have tried others but always came back to Darton I have 2 now and love them both are over 5 years old with CPS sysstem smooth shooters and forgiving. Check out dartons web site but I bought mine at a Darton dealer here in S WV

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

If you want to experience some good service even before you give them a dime, call them. You can also find dealers near you from the web site listed and some on line places sell them if you know what you want.

Here's a funny story I've told before. A friend ordered a high endMathews from a shop across the country. When it came there was an advertisment with it. It was a picture of all the guys at the shop. They were all holding Dartons.:D

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

I have seen Alpines customer service first hand and I can say without a doubt,among the best in the industry.


I have played with the darton cams and again,I would say they are among the best in the industry.


Although,I prefer the higher end Hoyts for various reaasons, youcan'tgo wrong with either of those choices.

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

Darton has been around for a long time---a long time. They just don't have 4 page ads in every magazine published. They were the original producer and patent holder of the "cam+1/2" technology.
Good, good bows.

Alpine probably makes good bows as well. I've never shot any, but have handled them and didn't care for the clumsy feel of their modular riser bows, but that's me. I won't say anything negative other than that.

Both bows are handled by various pro shops and in some box stores as well. Dealer locator on their respective websites is the best source for who sells them.

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

well for what i have seen darton is a good manufactur, but i havnt shot one, but i know two people who have alpine, they are both very nice bows and quiet.

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

Keep in mind that whenever you shoot a Bow Tech... you are really shooting a Darton....

Same goes for a High Country, Alpine's and I believe APAs... all using a differnt name of Rex Darlington's binary cam design...

Dartons have been around a long time... and if you bow hunted in the 80s or early 90s... you probably had, shot or hunted with someone who owned a Darton. They were a high end bow then, and really still are now. They are not quite as well known by some of the newer hunters we are fortunate to have entering our sport, but they are a big part of our pedigree. They don't advertise heavily (if at all), no big name hunting shows or anything like that. Just a good bow, with good service.

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

Darton is a great bow company, they've been making bows for along time(someone already mentioned), They make quality products with out all the hype marketing mumbo jumbo....
kindof like my other favorite bow company by the name of Martin....

i cant say anything about Alpine they seem very Gimmicky to me,for lack of a better term...wich kindof makes me not like them.(im sure they are a fine shooting bow tho, also they have a very different feel to them in the hand)

i havent shot a Darton for along time(because ill end up buying it if i shoot it). but i can guarantee that theymake some of the best hunting bows.
they offer 37" and 39"Ata hunting bows in the Pro 4 and 5 models, along with their shorter models. wich is something alot of companys dont offer.
wouldnt mind getting my hands on a pro5....the longer bows are SWEET shooters.

my very first compound was a Darton, id still have it if i didnt give it away...that thing shot great and never gave me any probs. and i was rough on it ...(got it new wheni was 9-10 years old, so it was a 91' model or so) i think the #age was adjustable from 25-45# and the draw went to about 25" (i think) i outgrew it by the time i was 13 or so.Got alot of trophys with that bow.
i wanna say it was called a Darton Scout but for some reason im not certain.

My current rig is a Martin prowler SE (an 04' model)...i like it.

next time ill read the thread so i dont repeat what others already said...not trying to be a copy cat, [8D]just goes to show you what been written is the way most that have shot a Darton feel about the brand.

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

I have been a loyal Darton shooter for about seven years now. When I outgrew my first bow, Bear, I decided to shop around. My father had a Darton at the time, new in 1992 and this was 2000, and had never had a problem with it. I researched and found a middle of the year make Darton for a great price. If darton had made it part of their line it would have been a $500+ bow. I got it for $250. It was ahead of it's time. The cam and 1/2 system on that bow is just now being challanged.

Fouryears ago I messed up and split the limb on my bow. I took it to the darton factory and they replaced it for free. Two years ago I got new strings on the bow, string leeches, new cable bar, cable slide, and string loop. With all that they charged me $45.00. Heck of a deal.

Last year my Pop wacked the bottom cam of his bow (same one he bought in 1992) and was told by archery shops that he could not have the bow fixed because that cam style was no longer in production. I talked to Darton and they said that they would fix the bow for little to no cost. I think it was around $40-$50 dollars. Beats paying $500-$700 for a new bow.

Even thoughmy bow is now seven years old, it contends with todays new bows.I am shooting at about 270-280 feet per second. I shoot a heavier arrow and the bow is only at 65lbs. If i were to shoot it at max weight (70lbs) and use a lighter arrow I would go way over 300 fps.

Also, I have never found asmoother shooting, more forgiving bow. I have shot almost every brand out there and can not findone that is as smooth as mine.

Darton stands behind their product and what a great product it is. If you would like to contact them check out www.dartonarchery.com In case you are close to michigan, their shop is located in Hale. Like I said, I have dealt with them several times in the past and they are great people.

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

You will find that most, if not almost all manufacturers make a fine bow today. Most will also have an assortment of styles to choose from.

In my opinion, what's more important than brand, is to choose a bow shop with the best reputation for good service. If you have a problem with the bow, they are the ones you'll depend on to help you. Even if it's just their ability to setup and tune it better, that will mean much more than the brand. A really good shop will be able to take literally any bow on the market and make it a tack-driver (if you can execute the shot). Shop for a dealer, not a bow. Then buy whatever bow they carry that you like best.

I have owned about 10 brands and I have shot them all about the same. If one was touchier, I could always pin it down to being a more unforgiving design (read - shorter and/or lower brace height or extreme reflex).

Good luck!

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

BuT not all manufactures will step in and take charge when needed. Dartons service is next to none. You can tell they really love what they do.It's almost as if they're waiting for someone to help.

Really good shops are hard to find. Just kills me that some manufactures leave it all up to you to find a good one and in the same breath say there's nothing they can do, you have to take it to a shop, they speak for us. Also kills me that there are many so loyal to a brand that they will make up all kinds of excuses for the poor service. You won't experience any of this with Darton.

Darton has proven that one way or another you will receive all the service and then some that's required. I like that very much[8D]Almost makes me want to add the to our christmas card list.:D

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

No doubt that some manufacturers are better than others, but who's "the best", is highly debatable. I can't think of one that hasn't dropped the ball on occassion. The top manufacturers don't stay in business by ignoring customer's needs, but no one is perfect.

The reason I say to choose the shop and not the brand, is because shop owners can have great influence over manufacturers when there's a problem, especially shops that move a lot of bows. A good compromise would be to pick the best shop and then ask the owner which brand's service is the best and why does he say that? If he carries 3 or 4 brands, I'll guarantee at least one of them has excellent service.

I've been saying this for years and I believe it - bow color is a more important decision than bow brand. If someone wants to ponder equipment, they should put their time into considering arrow options. Arrow components and design are far more critical decisions than bow brand.

RE: Darton and Alpine bows question
 

I'll give you that one. Straight Arrow:D