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IslandmanDan
07-31-2018, 03:40 PM
My experience with Hardcore Archery

I called Hardcore Archery up the beginning of July to talk about having my bow restrung.
I talked to Ken and he asked if I wanted factory strings or Hardcore archery strings. I asked what the benefits of each were and he went on to tell me that they stretch their strings for 24hours under the same weights as the Hoyt factory, but that they only stretch (HOYT) theirs for 1hour. So I was like sounds good, lets get HA strings. And I asked that he could just reference from the old string where to put the peep and the kisser knot. And he said absolutely thats how they would put in the new peep and kisser.
I live on Vancouver Island and remotely at that, and can't just run down to Cabelas, etc. So I mailed it to Kelowna via bus for $66 one way. The cost of the HA strings was $180, and I asked them to cut some arrows for me as well. So the following day their employee Krista calls to get payment info and I ask about the cams being timed and the peep being aligned and I get a delayed, "yes" answer.
Today, I get the call my bow has come back and another $55 for transport. I get it home and unpack it and as sure as the sky is blue, the peep I can visually see, even without getting my bow out of the case, is not aligned. Awesome. $121 in shipping. $228 in string and arrow cutting cost later and peep is not aligned.
The previous place I took to get restrung 2 years ago, Buckys in Duncan, also sent my bow back, peep unaligned. WTF???
I don't know anything about being a bow tech, but I do know that when I called HA this afternoon that Ken was not there and I talked to Chuck, that he told me to take 30 shots and put it in a bow Vise and turn the bottom string left or right or something. I DONT HAVE A BOW PRESS otherwise I would have changed the strings myself. So now I'm upset. Seriously.
Why would they not have done that already?
Chuck told me the peep was centred when it was sent and theres lots of reasons why it could have turned or blah blah blah. Well for one the D-loop wasn't aligned with the peep so, how could that be? I asked. He said theres lots of reason why it could turn. Even if the serving was melted to the d-loop and locked in with the melted string material. OK then.
Honestly there has got to be a bow technician out there that stands behind their work and sends the item back as it should be, Peep centred.

So I am sure some of you think Hardcore Archery is the bees knees. Which is why I sent it there in the first place. There was numerous good things mentioned on HBC. Now I have to retune my bow, unbeknownst to me how, and get this peep sorted out. Chuck did mention to put my release on the string draw the bow and put a screwdriver through the bottom cam and then switch the string left or right or whatever, and Im sure I'll do that wrong. Because oh, did I mention, I'm not a bow tech. And why wasn't this done?

Super frustrating, has anyone got any ideas on a great Bow tech that stands behind their work and doesn't make the customer have to finish their job for them?
So far I know that Bucky's doesn't .
And now, I know Hardcore Archery doesn't.
I know I have read where people move the d-loop to the same as the peep, but I don't want to do that. I had to do that for the last set from Buckys. Im over it. I know that it can be done, and don't think I'm asking for the world here. Just a properly tuned bow, with aligned peep. Oh and the kisser knot would've been nice to have been re-set like the old string. So now I get to learn how to serve in a kisser knot and turn my string, I guess. Sure hope I don't get hurt trying to get the string right.
Anyways thats been my experience with Hardcore Archery. Hopefully yours is better. I wish them continued success. But I won't be going back there.
Regards, IMD

dapesche
07-31-2018, 03:53 PM
you're not alone with bad experiences. I've had issues with Valley Firearms. For me it's nearly a 2hr round trip. The bow tech there is a very nice guy but his care level seems to be extremely low. Very frustrated with him and his inability to get me setup properly after a restringing.

My hunting partner had the same issue and now goes to Obsessed based in Montrose.

I cannot recommend anyone to you, but just know that I have had a similar experience. misery loves company ....?

walks with deer
07-31-2018, 04:54 PM
what a big baby...

i hope you dont hunt with that thing if you dont know how to make such a basic adjustment...
twist peep until where desired..add glue or thread to hold straight...
also wayne big game archery is great tech

Spy
07-31-2018, 05:17 PM
Just set up an appointment with Joanne at Island Outfitters and you will be golden :-)

Rackmastr
07-31-2018, 05:22 PM
Shooting a bow is like playing a guitar. At one point if you really want to understand it and be comfortable with everything, you need to learn how to tune it yourself and do some basic modifications or alterations. Even the best strings need a peep adjustment after a bit of shooting

russm
07-31-2018, 05:25 PM
what a big baby...

i hope you dont hunt with that thing if you dont know how to make such a basic adjustment...
twist peep until where desired..add glue or thread to hold straight...
also wayne big game archery is great tech

I dunno if I’d call him a baby, if you paid for a job to be done a certain way wouldn’t that be your expectation?

Brez
07-31-2018, 06:06 PM
Shooting a bow is like playing a guitar. At one point if you really want to understand it and be comfortable with everything, you need to learn how to tune it yourself and do some basic modifications or alterations. Even the best strings need a peep adjustment after a bit of shooting.
Agree with Rackmastr. Bows are or can be finicky and you should get some degree of proficiency in maintaining and tuning it. There is usually no archery shop near elk, moose, sheep camp and you have to do your own. Having said that, like anything finicky, it will be difficult to find someone to meet all of your expectations. someone mentioned Obsessed Optics and I know that Steve is able and dedicated but he's a hell of a long ways from Van Isle. I have had no issues whatsoever with Ken at Vlley firearms either. Good luck to you.

JKerr
07-31-2018, 06:35 PM
Buy a portable press, they're somewhat cheap, I use a Synunm, it's great, there are others that are well reviewed, make sure you get adapters if your bow needs them.

Start watching youtube videos on what you want to do, knockon has pretty much everything covered, but there are a ton of others as well. To be honest it's not as hard as you might think.

Rackmastr
07-31-2018, 06:42 PM
Buy a portable press, they're somewhat cheap, I use a Synunm, it's great, there are others that are well reviewed, make sure you get adapters if your bow needs them.

Start watching youtube videos on what you want to do, knockon has pretty much everything covered, but there are a ton of others as well. To be honest it's not as hard as you might think.

Synunm is an amazing piece of gear in my toolbox!

walks with deer
07-31-2018, 11:41 PM
my first post may have come off wrong..i agree with all of above comments...you should no your gear yourself was my point...dam 42degrees celious make me short worded..being a commercial builder we can not realy on any body...a true trade should do it better but you have to know the fundamentals and be able to jump in yourself on the rough times...maybe not as good as the pro but basic.
i have had peeps twist on me twice (string twist)slow down look and adjust..
my dad had a scope mounted by a smith..after 10 days in the kolpin case she was out of line...upon inspection on a elk hunt after a messy seen it was apparent no lock tight was used...on screws..i was pissed but that is not going to get dad back in the game..lock tight was applied..resighted and back at it...spare gun stayed locked away..your tools maintence basic requirments is always on the operator of the tool or he is at the mercy of mechanical failure..

walks with deer
07-31-2018, 11:47 PM
all that said i have been putting off string replacment on two of my bows because i do not have time to retune...lol

Hunter gatherer
08-01-2018, 05:11 AM
My experience was similar to yours and I also live 3 hours from a shop. You would think if a customer was shipping their bow to them they would actually make sure it was perfect when shipped out . But I have to credit them with forcing me to learn bow tuning. Now I order way and I mean way better strings from JBK , tune the bow and no peep or tune issues in a year. Strings landed in my mailbox are about $110 .
The baby remark by a poster was out of line ,maybe she's a HA fanboy and you got her panties in a bunch lol

walks with deer
08-01-2018, 06:13 AM
ha never been to hardcore archery...first time i was in big game archery i was 4 years old wayne treats all his clients well..

a string can slightly twist off line. seen it time and time again...you should go to some 3d shoots and learn basic tunning.

greybark
08-01-2018, 07:42 AM
Yuppers , see Wayne at Big Game Archery in Abbotsford !
Cheers

Busterpayton54
08-01-2018, 08:26 AM
Perhaps they did the job assuming the owner was aware/capable of performing the required adjustments that come with shooting a bow.
I thought it would be fairly common sense that all a shop can do is set these up within an approximation.

Strings twist after shooting. Pre-stretched or not. That means the peep sight and d-loop is going to rotate until the string takes its final set positions. That can only happen after repeated firing. You can't expect a bow tech to shoot your bow all day long.

All he can rightly do is install them at the same height, then it's your responsibility to shoot our own bow and make the final adjustments.

Imo it's crazy that someone would use such an item without the slightest clue how to maintain it. Everything about archery is very personalized. No one can tune a bow for another shooter. The shooter effects how the bow is to be tuned. That tuning is a hell of a lot more than setting pin heights.

I suggest you learn how to set it up. Archery isn't like picking up someone else's rifle and pulling the trigger.

silvertipp
08-01-2018, 09:56 AM
Well you know what happens when you assume
i can tell you one thing I have used Wayne on several bows and never had to tune a string when it arrives
as has been stated hear several times it's not hard to do and should of shown up they way the customer asked
just my two cents

donny.brooke
08-01-2018, 10:46 AM
Send it to me I will retune it, shoot it a bit and set it up for you no charge.

bownut
08-01-2018, 05:36 PM
Try Dave at Backcountry Sports in Penticton.

walks with deer
08-01-2018, 06:50 PM
missing point boys...you have to know basic maintence on your equipment...i live very remote and going to a shop isnt a option..oh know i lost a fletch...lol

walks with deer
08-01-2018, 06:53 PM
the offer to tune a bow is generous but..its no different than me setting the hook on every fish for my kids and wife...if i teach them to the gain is better..op if you pm me phone number i will talk you through adjustment....while you do.

Spy
08-01-2018, 07:41 PM
Perhaps they did the job assuming the owner was aware/capable of performing the required adjustments that come with shooting a bow.
I thought it would be fairly common sense that all a shop can do is set these up within an approximation.

Strings twist after shooting. Pre-stretched or not. That means the peep sight and d-loop is going to rotate until the string takes its final set positions. That can only happen after repeated firing. You can't expect a bow tech to shoot your bow all day long.

All he can rightly do is install them at the same height, then it's your responsibility to shoot our own bow and make the final adjustments.

Imo it's crazy that someone would use such an item without the slightest clue how to maintain it. Everything about archery is very personalized. No one can tune a bow for another shooter. The shooter effects how the bow is to be tuned. That tuning is a hell of a lot more than setting pin heights.

I suggest you learn how to set it up. Archery isn't like picking up someone else's rifle and pulling the trigger.

X47 ;-) It helps to have a mentor to show you the ropes when you start bow hunting ;-)

donny.brooke
08-01-2018, 08:15 PM
In my opinion based on 60 plus restring jobs it should only take 10 shots to settle the strings into the cams then the peep shouldnt rotate anymore on a good quality string.

IslandmanDan
08-04-2018, 10:25 AM
Thank you everyone for your help and advice. I had a bow tech in Parksville that had my bow wicked tuned. That was two sets of strings ago, and he no longer tunes/works on bows. This experience will FORCE me to work on my own equipment. I have been hesitant to try and tune my own bow because of the knowledge required to touch this state of the art technology. But I will learn, now! I was happy to pay a bow tech with 35years+ experience to apply their craft to my equipment. But when it seems that all HA did was slap the new strings on and slide a peep in (not with a rubber band style either, otherwise I wouldnt be disappointed) and not even shoot the bow and ship it back without also serving in the kisser knot. Seems like I got rushed out the door.
If I spent 2+k in their store, I'm sure the peep would be aligned!

Donny.Brooke that is super generous of you to offer your services and help for a fellow hunter. I sure appreciate all your help guys.
Less than a month now till the bow opener. Good luck you guys!

To his credit, Ken did call me, and offered to pay to ship the bow to and from HA from my location to finish the job. I think with the limited amount of time till the Aug 25th opener, that I will take my chances and YOUTUBE the rest of my tuning to completion. And forego the potential issues with shipping and waiting and needing to practice before its Game ON!
IMD