Home Forums Bows and Equipment 'Nother Thunderchild

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    • William Warren
      Member
        Post count: 1384

        Well Smithammer was right when he said in his recent thread that a friend just recently got his call from Big Jim. I got my call today. Mine will be 56″ about 47# @ 26″ and made with bocote veneers and a shedua riser, antler tips and the beaver tail grip. Needless to say I’m pretty excited.

      • Doc Nock
          Post count: 1150

          I kinda envy you shorter draw guys with shorter bows. I was “gifted” a Lost Creek once, that is 56″ and 48#…I can shoot it ok at my 28.75″ draw, but it’s not something I’d want to shoot 30 targets with…but it surely is SWEET in the woods!!!

          I bet you’re excited! All that hog hunting Big Jim did got him fired up to come back and get them bows building!

          Spring and a new bow coming. Both wonderful. I know I’m tired of winter big time

          Congrats

        • Bruce Smithhammer
            Post count: 2514

            Congrats, Duncan. Can’t wait to see it!

            Doc Nock wrote: I kinda envy you shorter draw guys with shorter bows. I was “gifted” a Lost Creek once, that is 56″ and 48#…I can shoot it ok at my 28.75″ draw, but it’s not something I’d want to shoot 30 targets with…but it surely is SWEET in the woods!!!

            Doc –

            I’ve never shot a Lost Creek, but there would be no reason with your draw length that you couldn’t shoot a Thunderchild or a Kanati (the two short bows I have personal experience with), or a number of other short bows available these days. Big Jim has a 30″+ draw length and I believe he shoots a 56″ Thunderchild. And I have a friend with a 29″ draw that shoots a 54″ T-child, and he says he doesn’t feel any pinch or stack with it at all. It sounds like Greg Coffey’s ‘Elkheart’ or the Thunderhorn ‘Coup Stick’ would be in the same category.

          • Doc Nock
              Post count: 1150

              Good points, SH!

              I never shot any of those you mentioned…check that…I did shoot the chicken farmer’s bows… think that is who makes the one you said about. Couldn’t get into that grip size at all!

              Lots, and lots of great bows and bowyers out there. Took me a good long, long time and lost $$ to find a bowyer who had both the motivation and the talent to diagnose my shooting issues and build a grip that fit ME!

              At this age, I’ll be satisfied with my custom (truly) Sasquatch LB and be grateful to have found a man who can / will take time to go thru videos of my shooting from a bunch of angles, frame by frame, and diagnose my grip challenge, and then create a handle that fit me to a T.

              The Lost Creek, was a gift… won it actually in a drawing… I NEVER win stuff! It’s a cool bow but I had to put an ugly patch of shaped leather under a leather wrap I put on it to actually shoot that low wrist design…but it works. I just hunted it once and noticed how easy it was to slip thru the woods!

              My 60″ “Sassy Lady” serves me fine… just had that dance with the “short gal” and realized she has nice moves! 😆

            • William Warren
              Member
              Member
                Post count: 1384

                Update! Well Big Jim called last week to firm up the draw weight and how I wanted it recorded on the riser. Decided I wanted it 47# @ 28″. He has it ready for the final tillering, sanding and finish work so it could be ready to ship soon. I’m getting kinda excited! 😀

              • Bruce Smithhammer
                  Post count: 2514

                  Nice! Can’t wait to see it!

                • James Harvey
                  Member
                    Post count: 1130

                    Can’t wait to see it Duncan!

                  • William Warren
                    Member
                    Member
                      Post count: 1384

                      Had a little time this afternoon to try out the new Thunderchild on a couple of stumps. Punky stumps around here are real trophies!

                      This one was just right

                      My photography is not that great on the close shots so I had to show what I got

                      String silencers are a very nice touch

                      Antler tip overlays

                    • Col Mike
                      Member
                        Post count: 911

                        Wow

                        that is a beauty.:D

                        congrats Duncan

                        Mike

                      • Brennan Herr
                        Member
                          Post count: 403

                          I second that!

                          Simply gorgeous and I really like the beaver tail grip.

                          Looks like a good shooter as well…enjoy!

                        • Mark Turton
                            Post count: 759

                            Very nice.

                          • Bruce Smithhammer
                              Post count: 2514

                              Another great looking Thunderchild! Congrats, compadre. Any thoughts so far on how it shoots?

                            • William Warren
                              Member
                              Member
                                Post count: 1384

                                Smithhammer,

                                It came set up except for the rest material which I added. I have not messed with the nocking point or the brace height but my standard 45-50 spine cedars fly nearly perfect in it. It is slightly heavier poundage than my Super Shrew but as usual my first few groups are good but then I start getting a little shakey and then they are all over the place. But to answer your question I think it shoots very well, points well, love the very solid grip, and it has a slight thump at the release yet is very quiet. The thump might change with a heavier arrow.

                                Duncan

                              • James Harvey
                                Member
                                  Post count: 1130

                                  Looks beautiful Duncan, I bet you’re a happy man 😀

                                • tailfeather
                                    Post count: 417

                                    Very nice, Duncan. Jim’s right up the road from me…..I order all my arrows from him and use his quiver, etc. Great customer service. I intended to already have a 60″ Buffalo Bow on order in January, but held off since I’m monkeying around with selfbows so much these days. But You and Hammer are really making me regret not already getting on the list.

                                    Congrats on a very nice bow!!:D

                                  • tailfeather
                                      Post count: 417

                                      Really nice woods in the riser, btw.

                                    • William Warren
                                      Member
                                      Member
                                        Post count: 1384

                                        Thanks Tailfeather. You are lucky to be close to a Trad shop like that. I’m about 30 minutes from Eagles Flight but have not been by there. Guess I need get by there and check them out. You’ve been making some nice selfbows and it makes me want to get back to making shavings again. I have a few staves in the shed and I should get busy on one now that the weather is getting nice out.

                                      • bruc
                                        Member
                                          Post count: 476

                                          Great looking bow Duncan !!! Gotta admit,in the first picture, it’s that quiver and cresting on the arrows that really caught my eye 😉

                                          Bruce

                                        • Bruce Smithhammer
                                            Post count: 2514

                                            So I know we all “love” a new bow when we first get it (I’m as guilty as anyone), but now that you’ve had that T-child for a while, what are your thoughts on it, Duncan? Has it become your ‘go to?’

                                          • William Warren
                                            Member
                                            Member
                                              Post count: 1384

                                              Smithhammer wrote: So I know we all “love” a new bow when we first get it (I’m as guilty as anyone), but now that you’ve had that T-child for a while, what are your thoughts on it, Duncan? Has it become your ‘go to?’

                                              Smithy,

                                              The Thunderchild and the Super Shrew are the bows for this season. I think I could actually let the rest go and be happy. Well, might have to keep my Big 5 and the Hoyt TD, but only 4 bows? I think I could. And then there’s the…. Nah. 😀

                                              Duncan

                                            • Bruce Smithhammer
                                                Post count: 2514

                                                Ha. Good to hear. I certainly love mine. A pretty amazing little bow design Jim has there.

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