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I met Cracker/SR-71 Review

Hardcorehunter

Hardcorehunter

UL Shelter/Stove Geek
I took the 3 1/2 hr one way drive down to Carter Archery in St. Joseph, MO yesterday. I ordered this bow, sight unseen 6 months ago, when Kevin Strother announced his new company. The bow had been at Mikes for a week and half, and snow storms, work, and a wedding had derailed me from getting my new bow. I left his shop, and after an hr, I was in heavy snow all of the way back to my home last night, but I arrived safely. What a winter. OK, onto details. I have owned many of Kevin's designs, starting with the 2006 Bowtech Tribute, then the Elite 2006 E-Force, E-500, 2008 Elite GTO, and 2009 Elite GT500. I was not worried about buying a bow design of his, sight unseen, as I love the bows he creates. This is his best yet, and I would go as far as to state that there isn't another bow brand out there, that is as smooth, fast, quiet, and as dead in the hand after shot, as this SR-71 is. Alright, onto the bow, but 1st, it was a pleasure to meet Mike and his wife Gail, who run and own Carter Archery. Super nice people and they have a nice pro shop. It was great visiting with them, while Mike setup my bow. Mike and Gail are the type of Midwest people that give you a warm welcome and you walk away as friends. Mike took the time to help me with improving my grip, and he wasn't in a rush to get my money and get me out of his shop. They kept their shop open an hour and half after closing time, while they took care of me. I purchased a Q.A.D. Ultra rest and a Armortech Axcell 5 pin sight from them, and Mike installed them. Then it was time to shoot. The bow was paper tuned in 2 shots and then it was onto the chrono. The string had a 3/16" peep and a D-Loop. The bow is peaked at 71 lbs and is a 29" draw. A 352 gr shop arrow ran through the chrono at 342 fps. Then onto my two hunting arrows I brought. 1st was a Carbon Express Maxima, weighing in at 375 gr, and ran through the chrono at 332 fps. Then my 2nd hunting arrow, a 422 gr A/C/C ran through the chrono at 312 fps!! I don't know how Kevin did it, but this is one FAST, QUIET, SMOOTH drawing bow. Simply dead in the hand after the shot. The back wall is solid, doesn't want to take off prematurely on you, and there is no annoying hump in the draw cycle that wants to rip your shoulder off. I hadn't shot a bow in 3 months, and yet, it was easy to pull back. The fit and finish on this bow is beautiful, and as many know, Mike is building all of the strings for these bows, and they are really a great looking and performing string.

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Mike and I

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I got a free mug from QAD for buying their rest and Mike through in a window sticker for me.
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Then, it was time to shoot it after church today. There were two Hoyt guys shooting at the range today, and I let them shoot it. They were awed and couldn't get over how quiet it was and dead in the hand after the shot. My girlfriend says she has never seen me shoot a faster or quieter bow. Thanks Kevin, for making a great bow and pushing the envelope. Everyone else, I challenge anyone to shoot one and not walk away Wowed. Bring on turkey season!!

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Glad you like the bow. I like the Predator and the invelvet feel of it. I had a Strother rep stop in the shop a couple weeks ago. We shot the SR and the Infinity. I agree that they are dead in the hand on the shot and quiet. The three bows I shot all had a little less valley than the Elites I have in the shop. This probably could have been adjusted with the stops. Overall they are a nice shooting bow. Hopefully Kevin will stick with it this time around. Have fun shooting your new toy. Justin
 
Almost looks like the bow that i'm gonna order!
But I'm gonna pick up an Infinity instead.

Sweet lookin rig :way:
 
Hardcore,

Sweet set up but I have a question just for a general FYI for me. I have noticed that your peep isn't served in top and bottom, however is around the peep. I have tried this in the past with the same set up and kept having problems with the peep sliding up and down on me. I am questioning whether my peep had been tied in incorrectly. Have you ever had a problem with the peep sliding up and down on you?
 
Liv4Rut said:
Hardcore,

Sweet set up but I have a question just for a general FYI for me. I have noticed that your peep isn't served in top and bottom, however is around the peep. I have tried this in the past with the same set up and kept having problems with the peep sliding up and down on me. I am questioning whether my peep had been tied in incorrectly. Have you ever had a problem with the peep sliding up and down on you?
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Thanks fellas. Liv4rut, This is the 1st time I have had a pro shop set my peep up like this. I shot approx 100 arrows through it yesterday and it hasn't moved any. Comes back and is perfect each time.
 
Liv4Rut said:
Hardcore,

Sweet set up but I have a question just for a general FYI for me. I have noticed that your peep isn't served in top and bottom, however is around the peep. I have tried this in the past with the same set up and kept having problems with the peep sliding up and down on me. I am questioning whether my peep had been tied in incorrectly. Have you ever had a problem with the peep sliding up and down on you?
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I've tied a ton of peeps in this way with no problems. Only way to do it wrong would be to not use a press. If you tie it in like this with a relaxed string, then take it out of the press it really tightens up. I can still tweek my peeps but they're tight enough to not slide. Some still ask for two knots above and below so they can adjust the peep turn.
 
A few more comments. How many bows I have said or read about where the owner states, "It was a barebow, Once I get some limbsavers or a stab on it, it should quiet it down and take some hand shock out of it.."

I honestly strictly put the doinker stab on for 2 reasons.

1. I already owned it.

2. I tie a piece of dental floss to it during bow season so I always have a wind indicator.

Kevin is obviously onto something with these No-Glove Oscillation reducers that double as a speed nock, and reduce string oscillation at the same time. His newly designed Hybrid cam gets extreme speed and a smooth draw, with high efficiency, as you will feel NO vibration.

The bow needs nothing to make it quieter, and it shoots and holds awesome without a stab.

I will be curious to hear what the actual noise DB test results are when all of the 2010 models are put through their paces. The Strother line up, imo, will be the top finisher when noise, speed, and hand shock are evaluated. The bow I just bought, has an MSRP of $790. Pretty reasonable price, and well below the costs of some of the other top of the line bows that are put out right now. I honestly was floored by the quality of this bow. I didn't expect it to be as good as it is. This is light years ahead of what I have shot, and I have shot a lot of new model bows. I Don't want people to take my word for it, go shoot one.
 
Look'n good HCH! Cant believe you got Mike for a photo op :) Usually a busy man and he is the reason I drive the 2.5 hrs for all my archery work! Cant find a nicer couple or a guy who will answer all and every question you have and treat you like a person instead of a customer who has money to spend. He worked with me for 2 hrs on my form and release point and didnt charge me a dime. His free time bought a customer for life.

Glad you had a great experience! And great review!
 
Mike has set up my last 2 bows and will be doing all my new bows from now on. Looks like I might hang up the Mathews and look at some of these others.
 
Alright, these pics are to show off Crackers work and to answer the PM's that I have been hit with questions and wanting pics. This should answer your pms.

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Hardcorehunter said:
Either, the Vanquish or the low priced price point bow, the Valor, would be my bow, if I didn't want a speed bow. Justin, did you shoot the Valor?
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I wish I could have shot the Valor. He didn't have one with him. Although he did say he thought the Valor would out sell the Vanquish once their all on the shelves. Basically the same speed and feel without cracker's strings, fancy cut-outs in riser, and solid limbs instead of split limbs. Retail on the Valor is $550 I believe. I may pick them up yet. ;)
 
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Looks like a sweet shooter to say the least...just too bad nobody handles them around here. Sure would like to take a closer look.
 
JakeWym said:
Looks like a sweet shooter to say the least...just too bad nobody handles them around here. Sure would like to take a closer look.
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Yea, I had to drive, but Crackers shop was well worth it. Girlfriend and I went to the local pro shop the other day and shot our bows. My bow is shooting amazingly accurate. AMAZINGLY. Crackers helped me on my grip, and I must say, I have never shot as accurately as I am now. I really like the new Armortech-HD 5 pin sight, and the Q.A.D Ultra rest. This setup is a tack driver, and is so quiet and fun to shoot. I am very glad I went with the SR-71. I honestly would not know I was shooting a Speed bow, except for the arrows shooting so fast, with so much kinetic energy, and the fact that on several occasions, my 422 gr A/C/C's go through the shop's layered foam, full wall target,and go into the wood backstop. :thrwrck: The shop only has a 20 yd range,so I haven't got to shoot farther, and we have butt deep snow outside. :rolleyes:I have owned/shot a lot of bows in my days, and there is nothing that I have experienced in the archery world, that shoots like this Strother SR-71. I know I was getting a little impatient on delivery, but as a bow hunter knows, patience pays off. Glad I own this bow. Mr. Kevin Strother, you sure make a great bow!!!
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