What type of arrow rest do you use?

[Stéphane]

On my quest to buy a new bow, I'm also trying my a decision regarding the arrow rest. On my prehistoric bow, it's only a plastic tab, but I'd like to get on with the program and get better technology.

I would like to know the reasoning behind your choice.
For example
Martin has the"Mantis" which is a containment rest that doesn't damage the vanes like the whisker biscuit, but keeps it in place like it.

Also, how much did it cost you? Do you use one type for target practice and one type for hunting?

Thanks,

SG

[Bowzone_Mikey]

I like the APA twister ... Containment/dropaway built into one, fairly bullet proof , No brushes to wear like the Octane Hostage ... expect about a hundy price tag

That said I personally use a Trophy Taker Original on my hunting bow, Reason being its tried tested and true, they are simple, for a dropaway they have little moving parts and they are tough, Trophy Taker has several differant models to choose from including some containment models. My original will set you back about 60 bucks ... other models can go up from there


The Mantis looks interesting ... Like a re-vamp of an old Bodoodle design, being full contact rest thou it wont be as forgiving as a dropaway ie: shooter induced tourqe will show up in your shot with that normally woudnt with a drop away

[tinhorse]

I use the whisker biscuit and it seems to do the job just great. I have never had a problem over the 5 years and have taken several deer. seems to be consistant when practising and I love the fact that you can have an arrow knocked and it wont fall off the rest.

[springpin]

whisker biscuit..full containment, does not affect arrow flight.

[greybark]

:-D Hey , What about "Off The Shelf"? :-D
Cheers

[Bow Walker]

I voted for the "Shoot through" because I use the APA Safari Twister on both my hunting bow and on my target bow. Both bows are compound bows. Expect to pay $100 - $120, depending on the retailer.
http://www.apaarchery.com/arrow-rests-twister.html

The Safari Twister - as BZM says is a full containment/drop away rest. Technically it's a "twist-away" rest that offers full containment and zero fletching contact. It is a breeze to set up and to maintain.

The only other rest that I'd consider is the QAD Ultra-rest (about $130 - $150).
http://www.qadinc.com/shop/index.php?cPath=21

[Bow Walker]

The Q.A.D. Ultra-Rest

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/QAD_Ultra_Pro_HD_arrow_rest.jpg



The Safari Twister by APA.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Safari_Twister.jpg

[325]

I use the Trophy Taker Extreme TS FC. I also have another bow with a Wisker Biscuit. I really like both.

[The Hermit]

Off the Shelf!!! ;-)

When I had a compound bow I used the whisker biscuit and loved it. Functioned perfectly overtime.

I have a couple new compound bows on order from Limbsaver, the Proton which is back ordered till the new year, and a Deadzone Lite 30". I am going to try a drop-away rest on these bows and see how it goes. Ordered up the Limbsaver Fall Away rest.

https://www.limbsaver.com/store/images/P/3761-3762.jpg

[Ike]

I am using dropaways on my two bows.

I had bad luck with the QAD Hunter model on my Axe6, so I replaced it with a Trophy Taker Smackdown FC. TT works well.

I put the QAD onto my older (slower) bow. It works but on it but it is starting to stick badly during the final last bit of cocking movement, seems it might be packing it in after only 6 months of use :( If I went with QAD again it would be the Ultra

BZM and BW where do you get the APA rests from?
Cheers

[Bowzone_Mikey]

........
BZM and BW where do you get the APA rests from?
Cheers


they have several dealers ... or you can order direct from them
http://www.apaarchery.com/

[oldtimer]

Trophy Taker Drop Away. virtually trouble Free for a lot of years. Mike

[Bow Walker]

.....BZM and BW where do you get the APA rests from?
Cheers
Try our newest sponsor - Hardcore Archery. He's an APA dealer - he should carry (or can get) the Twister.

[xtremearchery]

I use the Qad Ultra hd. Very much recommended for high speed bows. My trusty back up in the Whisker B. I shoot Pse Axe 6 as well Ike. You need to contact QAD, they will send u out the updated spacers and hardware that u need to set up your center shot. Last time I checked QAD will send u what u need at no charge. The speed bows like ours plus the Matthews and bowtech require these additional parts. Once u have that on tuning is very easy. U'll find it will shoot bullet holes through paper. Thats what we've found at our shop. We all shoot PSE. Omen, Dream Season and Axe. they all have Qad HD's and they all fly true from 20-80 yards.file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/ADMINI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.png

[Ike]

I use the Qad Ultra hd. Very much recommended for high speed bows. My trusty back up in the Whisker B. I shoot Pse Axe 6 as well Ike. You need to contact QAD, they will send u out the updated spacers and hardware that u need to set up your center shot. Last time I checked QAD will send u what u need at no charge. The speed bows like ours plus the Matthews and bowtech require these additional parts. Once u have that on tuning is very easy. U'll find it will shoot bullet holes through paper. Thats what we've found at our shop. We all shoot PSE. Omen, Dream Season and Axe. they all have Qad HD's and they all fly true from 20-80 yards.file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/ADMINI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.png


I tried that with QAD, I'll send you a pm to discuss off this thread.
Cheers

[Vader]

Never had the urge to nock an arrow and carry my bow upside down. Too dangerous to walk/crawl around with them blades on.
IMO the whisker biscuit costs you speed and can disguise a poorly tuned rest that takes energy out of the arrow, as well as damage fletch over time.
I use a limb driver and it absolutely gets out of the way of the arrow. I have tried QAD and Trophy taker, didn't like them as much and had flight problems. Maybe the way I was setting up these rests on my APA Boa, but I always had fletch contact. Some reading pointed to the possibility of rest bounce off the shelf making contact but as soon as I had the Limb driver on I had no problems. Paid $100 for the limb driver.

[aggiehunter]

Seal Fur..

[ghost]

whisker biscuit has worked well for me . I like to still hunt and not have my arrow flopping around.

[Onesock]

Latigo leather.

[MikeH]

I like the whisker biscuit.

[Stéphane]

Thanks guys for all the info. After tons of research, I have come to a realisation that the whisker biscuit isn't for me. I shoot a lot, so having to replace the vanes on a regular basis has no appeal to me whatsoever. I checked a coupled that holds the arrows with 3 brushes, but they seems very high maintenance if you shoot a lot.

Drop away seems to be the way to go and to cater to my needs. Again there seems to be 2 or 3 very strong front runners. According to a poll on another site, QAD led, followed by Trophy Taker and Ripcords.

I really like the QAD, but is it worth buying the HD or LD (2X price of the Hunter) instead of the Hunter? If you got the Hunter, did you ever have any issues with the "bounce back"? (which should be prevented with the other 2 models)

[ribber]

I'm pretty sure I'm the only guy that uses one of these but I shoot with a Muzzy Zero Effect drop away that uses the cable to pull down the rest , not some spring. I love it !!!!!!!!!!

[Stéphane]

I just bought of ebay a Mantis for $35 shipped. I'm still thinking about getting the QAD and put the Mantis on the old bow (sporting a top of the line plastic tab at the moment) if I 'm not thrilled about it. Time will tell. Hope to get my new bow soon!!!!

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc77/yol68/Picture1-1.png

[gibblewabble]

I have been using a whisker biscuit for 7 years or so and I haven't ruined any vanes on my arrows.

[Bow Walker]

Stephane, I hope you aren't using feathers or fletching that is 4" or longer with that rest. I can see that there might be a "tuning" issue with it. The arrow starts to rotate as soon as it leaves the string, hopefully the fletching won't contact the arms that support the arrow shaft.

Although, there are a few rests out there that are based on that very same principal that your Mantis uses. Good luck.

[Stéphane]

Stephane, I hope you aren't using feathers or fletching that is 4" or longer with that rest. I can see that there might be a "tuning" issue with it. The arrow starts to rotate as soon as it leaves the string, hopefully the fletching won't contact the arms that support the arrow shaft.

Although, there are a few rests out there that are based on that very same principal that your Mantis uses. Good luck.
That why we pay you the big bucks. I don't have much arrows yet, so I can buy shorter vanes. I think the 3 I have are 4". Like I said, it's a cheap option until I buy the QAD HD.

[Derp]

RIP CORD OHhhH YEAHHH!!!

[Stéphane]

Bow Walker[/B] http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=791472#post791472)
Stephane, I hope you aren't using feathers or fletching that is 4" or longer with that rest. I can see that there might be a "tuning" issue with it. The arrow starts to rotate as soon as it leaves the string, hopefully the fletching won't contact the arms that support the arrow shaft.

Although, there are a few rests out there that are based on that very same principal that your Mantis uses. Good luck.


Stéphane;791544]That why we pay you the big bucks. I don't have much arrows yet, so I can buy shorter vanes. I think the 3 I have are 4". Like I said, it's a cheap option until I buy the QAD HD.


Bow Walker, your one of the guy I respect the most on this forum, and I always value your advice and opinions. I have to say that you really freaked me out with the spinning of the arrow. So I went to do some research, and not much on that. However, I did find several videos showing arrows leaving the bow in slow motion.

I can't see the arrow rotating before it actually leaves the bow all together. Am I watching the wrong ones? If these videos are right, then I can breath a sigh relief.

On the Martin forum, one guy mentioned his friend swears by Mantis rest. The big issue seems to be the coating wearing off. Hopefully by that time, I'll have the QAD waiting for me.

Again Bow Walker, thanks in advance for any advice and/or comments.

Here's links to some videos I watched.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZK7O_s1Rq8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzWrcpzuAp8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qDdAzw_vY0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5ufRhljKrc&feature=related

[Bow Walker]

Bow Walker, your one of the guy I respect the most on this forum, and I always value your advice and opinions. I have to say that you really freaked me out with the spinning of the arrow. So I went to do some research, and not much on that. However, I did find several videos showing arrows leaving the bow in slow motion.

I can't see the arrow rotating before it actually leaves the bow all together. Am I watching the wrong ones? If these videos are right, then I can breath a sigh relief.

On the Martin forum, one guy mentioned his friend swears by Mantis rest. The big issue seems to be the coating wearing off. Hopefully by that time, I'll have the QAD waiting for me.

Again Bow Walker, thanks in advance for any advice and/or comments.

Here's links to some videos I watched.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZK7O_s1Rq8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzWrcpzuAp8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qDdAzw_vY0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5ufRhljKrc&feature=related

Stephane, I'm sorry if I've mis-lead you into thinking that there is a lot of rotation when the arrow leaves the string. :cry:

There actually is only a fraction. Check out this example...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzWrcpzuAp8&feature=related If you look closely at the feathers in the third bow shot of this video clip you can just see the beginning of the rotation of the arrow. It happens before the riser. Granted, it is a traditional bow, going much slower than a compound bow but I think that the same principle applies to both cases.

My statement that "I can see that there might be a "tuning" issue with it" was meant as a caution against having the support (or contact) arms of the arrow rest too close to the vanes when at rest. Sometimes the support arms are a tad wide and could come in contact with the fletching - if the fletching is overly long, say in the 4" or 5" range.

Please don't get too upset about my concerns. I'm obviously getting too anal about the issue. I'm not trying to push you away (or steer you towards) buying any particular brand. I'm just over thinking this issue waaay to much.:confused:

I'm sure that the Mantis will operate just fine for you. Hell, you may even prefer it over the Q.A.D. rests.

[Stéphane]

Thanks, Bow Walker. I was watching these videos and unless it is a drop away, it seems that all rests are subject to the "archer's paradox". And I thought it was all my fault when I couldn't group well. :-?

Damn you, Paradox! Damn you all to hell!

[Ike]

I just put the third rest in 6 months on my PSE Axe 6, (yes I have had bad luck but I will post that story another day) and this one is definitely my favorite so far. I had to send my second rest to the factory for a replacement but knew it wouldn’t be back in time for Dec 1 bow season. Since this will be my only hunting this season I didn’t want to miss it and picked up the G5 Expert 2.

Installation was dirt simple, I used the ‘eyeball’ method of setting the rest parallel to the alignment marks on the bow‘s shelf adn adjusted 1/8” nock high.

Maybe I got lucky in my setup but it took me only a few shots to zero the bow. My field points and broadheads shot exactly to the same POI out to 50m (as far as I have tested it so far) without any additional rest tuning. I will walkback tune tomorrow and shoot broadheads out to 80m to be totally sure it is in tune but I think this rest is going to stay on my bow even when I get my other replacement!


This rest is super accurate, extremely quiet and smooooth. The stick-on arrow retainer is easy to load and it holds the arrow tight, and the arrow doesn't jump off the launcher when I draw. Overall this is my favorite rest so far and definitely worth checking out.

Cheers

[RoscoeP]

[que=Ike;798321]I just put the third rest in 6 months on my PSE Axe 6, (yes I have had bad luck but I will post that story another day) and this one is definitely my favorite so far. I had to send my second rest to the factory for a replacement but knew it wouldn’t be back in time for Dec 1 bow season. Since this will be my only hunting this season I didn’t want to miss it and picked up the G5 Expert 2.

Installation was dirt simple, I used the ‘eyeball’ method of setting the rest parallel to the alignment marks on the bow‘s shelf adn adjusted 1/8” nock high.

Maybe I got lucky in my setup but it took me only a few shots to zero the bow. My field points and broadheads shot exactly to the same POI out to 50m (as far as I have tested it so far) without any additional rest tuning. I will walkback tune tomorrow and shoot broadheads out to 80m to be totally sure it is in tune but I think this rest is going to stay on my bow even when I get my other replacement!


This rest is super accurate, extremely quiet and smooooth. The stick-on arrow retainer is easy to load and it holds the arrow tight, and the arrow doesn't jump off the launcher when I draw. Overall this is my favorite rest so far and definitely worth checking out.

Cheers[/quote]
What were the first two that did not work out?

[Gumsehwah]

I just bought of ebay a Mantis for $35 shipped. I'm still thinking about getting the QAD and put the Mantis on the old bow (sporting a top of the line plastic tab at the moment) if I 'm not thrilled about it. Time will tell. Hope to get my new bow soon!!!!

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc77/yol68/Picture1-1.png

I use a Hostage, but only because nobody around me carries the Mantis, and I'm too cheap to pay more for postage than for the product. :-/
If anyone knows someone who carries Mantis in the Skeena area. . . :-?

[aggiehunter]

Seal fur....dont' tell Paul Watson..

[bugler]

Stephane, everyone here is assuming that you intend to use a release aid with your new bow. If that is the case then some form of containment drop away is probably your best bet. If you still intend to shoot with fingers from your compound (Chuck Adams and I are two of the few that still do) then you want a long ata bow and a side pressure rest. I use the NAP centerest.

[Riverbc]

I love my NAP Apache drop away with great containment!
http://www.amazon.com/New-Archery-Products-Apache-Arrow/dp/B003K27A8K/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1322201143&sr=1-1

http://www.newarchery.com/images/catalog/47/main.jpg

[Stéphane]

I use a Hostage, but only because nobody around me carries the Mantis, and I'm too cheap to pay more for postage than for the product. :-/
If anyone knows someone who carries Mantis in the Skeena area. . . :-?
you can have mine. It has been in my tackle box for almost a year, and I can't see myself using it.

[RoscoeP]

The rests on my bows are an APA Twister on my Maxxis 31, a Fuse Acculaunch blade rest on my Maxxis 35, and a Hoyt Tec prong rest on the Alpha Max 32 which I just put on today. I may pick up a whisker biscuit just to have around, I had one on my Martin bow and had no problems with it, would be great for hunting.
The Fuse and Hoyt rest are made to fit the newer Hoyt risers perfect, they just mold around it. Well Cheers guys and Gals. Roscoe

[stixnstones]

i use a drop away/capture rest. its the cats a@@. its a 360 capture rest as well as a drop away rest. its called a scizzor rest.

[Foxtail]

Wb here, After a few thousand shots through it I have never had to replace fletching due to wb wear. My groups touch at 40 yards so I shoot spots, I did have to replace a few fletches when I was shooting groups only because they got knocked off by the next arrow not the wb... I do use blazers which are more durable.

[uraarchr]

One thing I noticed since I got my new bow and got new arrows for it is that there is no noise drawing.Today at -10 degrees there was no noise whereas with my old arrows(different brand) there would have been noise for sure.

[uraarchr]

OOps.forgot to mention that this was with a WB rest

[BlackwaterHunter]

Im shooting an APA twister cd rest, but im moving to a limbdriver rest