Friday, October 5, 2012

Another Crossbow To Consider

This is a Crossbow that I have NOT seen tested in any of the outdoor mag's crossbow test and they are made by our neighbor to the south in West Chester, PA. Please examine the attached links. Ruger has decided to back and invest in the KODABOW crossbow. They are reputed to be very accurate, and feature a crisp trigger pull and low maintenance. You can change the string in the field yourself and DECOCK THE BOW without firing an arrow at the end of your hunt. You can check them out at kodabow.com or call then currently at 484-947-5471. One thing that impresses me is that these crossbows ARE MADE IN THE GOOD OL USA.

http://news.kodabow.com/2012/07/ruger-invests-in-kodabow-crossbows.html

EXCERPTS:


Ruger Invests in Kodabow


Pictured is our good friend, Rick, who lives in Michigan with a few of his favorite shooting tools. Nothing says Made in America like a Ruger .44 Magnum, a Ruger M77 in .30-06., and a Kodabow Big Rhino crossbow.

Long ago, when this writer was 16 years old, Dad and I walked into a sporting goods store and picked out a Ruger Standard Mk I semi-automatic .22 caliber handgun. I marveled at the design and how it always functioned perfectly. It was the first of many Ruger firearms that would grace my collection. A .22 handgun is an odd choice for a youngster but I was an accomplished shooter at 16. It was a simpler time with no Internet, Facebook, cell phones or text messages. The kids I knew best spent every moment camping, hunting or playing high school sports. Trust, Safety and Responsibility when it came to firearms was expected. Yes -- we actually left school and hunted on the way home. The 60's and 70's were just different. That Ruger .22 served me well and its a testament to its flawless design that it is still in production decades later. The next Ruger turning point occurred in the Navy when a fellow officer took me under his wing and taught me how to properly and safely reload ammunition. There was only one brand of revolver that he suggested I purchase - a Ruger .357 Magnum. Today, and many Ruger firearms later, one of my favorite Ruger pistols is the Single Six Convertible that allows the shooter to switch the cylinders between .22 Magnum and standard .22 Long Rifle. It is admirable when a company steps out and makes differentiated products they believe should be made. Bill Ruger took that approach and it was even recognizable by a 16 year old. After selling well over a million guns in the past year, Ruger continues to deliver innovative products that consumers demand. Rugged and Reliable Firearms - Ruger.

Naturally, the Kodabow Team was very pleased when Ruger chose to make an investment in our company. We do share common values. We make our product right here in the US and we are not afraid to do things differently. Bill Ruger dared to be different and you find that same spirit at Kodabow today. The same qualities you expect in a fine Ruger firearm are built into each and every Kodabow. Here is the announcement. Enough said.
My best,
Chuck

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. Invests in Kodabow Crossbows
June 26, 2012 Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is proud to announce that it has purchased a minority interest in Kodabow, Inc., a crossbow manufacturer based in West Chester, PA. Ruger's investment will help Kodabow accelerate its business plans and expand its infrastructure.

"This investment reflects our interest in participating in one of the faster growing segments of the hunting market," said Ruger President & CEO Michael O. Fifer. "Crossbows are increasingly becoming a new and exciting choice for outdoor-oriented consumers as they bridge the gap between traditional archery and firearms. Crossbows are gaining broader acceptance and more states are adopting crossbow hunting seasons. We have watched Kodabow make steady progress with its innovative crossbow platform and USA-based manufacturing. We expect that Kodabow will have a bright future and this Ruger investment will assist the company in moving forward," he concluded.

"We are extremely pleased to have an association with Ruger," said Chuck Matasic of Kodabow. "Ruger shares our vision that delivering dependable and innovative hunting products made in the USA will drive industry leadership and success. Ruger's investment validates our business model based upon high quality and customer satisfaction, and most of all, crossbow products that are accurate and reliable - qualities very evident in Ruger firearms," he concluded.

To learn more about the extensive line of award-winning Ruger® firearms, visit www.Ruger.com. To learn more about Kodabow crossbows, visit www.Kodabow.com.
(MY INPUT) I have long been a fan of Ruger firearms and have owned several of their rifles and handguns over the years. I especially appreciated their integral rings on their rifles which I have always said is one LESS THING TO GO WRONG in the field.
Kodabow's are designed and manufactured to be more dependable that the average hunter would ever need. This durability is important for those tough times in the field where having a crossbow you can count on makes the difference between taking home the game or going home empty handed.

History

In 2010, Chuck Matasic started Kodabow. Like most in the crossbow industry, Chuck began life as a vertical archer. A passion for the outdoors drove Chuck towards employment in the outdoor industry. Chuck had a great deal of experience with both archery and firearms. Several years ago, Chuck noticed that States were shifting to allow the use of crossbows as a viable hunting and game management tool. He also wanted to provide an exceptional youth model crossbow. He saw the need for crossbows that use more of the high quality/high tech materials available in today's world to provide a better product.

Made in the USA

At Kodabow, they also feel that "Made in the USA" is heard much less frequently than it should be. Hunters are defined by the sport they love and knowing how and where the components are produced is important. That's why Kodabow's and their components are "Made in the USA."

Technologies and innovations

Kodabow is gaining a following among hunters who want something that they can depend on no matter what the situation is. Their crossbows are fast and accurately built for the hunt no matter where the chase leads.

The first thing that you notice about Kodabow's is that it uses a high-tech recurve design. This Dynamic Flex Energy Storage uses new concepts in physics to create a better transfer of power. These limbs were chosen for their dependability and durability. Its proven design works everywhere every time. After picking it up, you get the feel of a finely crafted hunting tool.
Another innovation is their advanced trigger group, the Cam Following Trigger System. This system provides an extremely clean crisp trigger break. It's the same kind of trigger you would find on a high quality firearm.
The Kodabow uses a machined riser with anti dry fire mechanism. It also has a Solid Rail Technology, which allows you to use more accessories are standard on Kodabow's.

Quality product line

All of these features are built into this premium crossbow line. Four different draw weights are available from the Alpha Strike at 155lb draw weight shooting 272fps to the Big Rhino pulling 225lbs and shooting 355fps. Priced from $800 and up Kodabow's, are quality products for hunters.    
EXCERPT:
Accuracy Basics
Accuracy Basics
Some shooters are very focused on accuracy. Here is a checklist that might help your shooting results.
1 - The scope must be mounted correctly. One quick way to check your scope is to place a carpenter's level across the top of your limb pockets and orient the crossbow to a perfectly level position. Use gravity to help by tying a string with a weight from a tree limb about 20 yards out. Determine if your vertical crosshair is aligned "up and down" with the plumb bob hanging from the tree. (We have tied our cocking rope to a tree in camp when in a jam.) If not, loosen the scope rings and rotate the scope until you achieve perfect alignment. Your shots will move either left or right as range is increased if the scope is not 100% vertically correct. Naturally, hold your crossbow level when shooting. Target shooters will mount a leveling glass on their crossbow to ensure the bow is absolutely horizontal.
2. Pull your limbs back evenly. When cocking the crossbow, make an effort to pull both limbs back together using the cocking rope without twisting or loading one side of the crossbow more than the other. If you have left and right variance with the same arrow, the cocking procedure is suspect. If there is "up and down" variance with the same arrow, check to see if your scope or fasteners are loose in any way.
3. Use a rangefinder. Until laser rangefinders made their way into the commercial hunting market about 15 years ago, archers had to visually estimate range or pace off distances in advance to shoot well. Today, for just slightly more than the cost of a full tank of gas, a laser rangefinder can be in the backpack. For crossbow hunters who are also rifle hunters, obtain a rangefinder with a rating for 1,000 yards and it should work perfectly well for both archery and firearm requirements.
4. Know your crossbow ballistics. A crossbow is a system consisting of the crossbow, the scope and the selected arrow. We are often asked what is the best crossbow. The answer is one that you can cock easily without creating variance and have the confidence to hit your aim point regularly. For most hunters, this is our 185 lb or 200 lb crossbow. After the trigger is pulled, it is all about ballistics. Typically, the 200 lb Bravo Zulu will shoot the 6 aiming points in our scopes very precisely when using the supplied arrows with 100gr heads. (There are 4 crosshairs in the scope but the top and bottom posts provide 2 additional aim points.) It works out nicely for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 yards. The Koda-Express works equally as well with a slight adjustment. For this 185 lb bow, typically sight in 3/4" high at 20 yards and the ballistics adhere to the scope reticles at 30, 40 and 50 yards with the last aim point coming in at just under 60 yards. Confidence goes up as yardage decreases for most hunters. There are less obstructions to deal with (trees, bushes, twigs) and fewer environmental effects (wind, sound, animal movement) so a 20 to 30 yard shot with a Kodabow should be a deer hanging in camp 100% of the time. That is providing you take your time, know your deer anatomy, and avoid a case of "buck fever." Remember when shooting uphill or downhill, your aiming point must be lowered vs. the normal flat, level surface that you might have used in practice. Study your angle/ballistic charts or use one of the compensating range finder devices that calculates angle adjustments.
5. Shoot from a rest. Even the best rifle shooters avoid taking game without using a rest. Shooting sticks are the norm in Africa. Smart rifle hunters will find ground or external support to steady their aiming point. Crossbow hunters should do the same. For this hunter, the last three animals taken were from these positions: - Prone, - Sitting with knees as support, and again, Sitting with knees as support. We love that sitting position!
For tree stand hunters, consider using your rail or a monopod.
6. Think about what you are doing. A good friend called one morning complaining about his crossbow. He said the crossbow shot fine last year but now he can't get the crossbow scope sighted in at all. He pulled his bow out for the upcoming deer season and it was shooting way off. He said he required some major scope adjustments just to get on target at 20 yards but when he stepped back to 30 and 40 yards, it was no where close to the target (shooting very low) until he finally gave up in frustration. It seemed the more he shot, the worse it all became. We spoke for a few minutes until it became clear that the poor fellow started the morning off using the bottom 50 yard reticle at 20 yards.
(He got mixed up should have been using the uppermost reticle.) Every adjustment he made after that was hopeless. After the few dozen clicks changing his former 50 yard aim point to 20 yards, when he stepped back to 30 yards, he was even further off because he was basically using his scope upside down. We had a few laughs. Take your time. Don't rush to judgement and if something isn't acting right, also consider that the shooter just might be the problem. Looking forward to a great season! Another friend said, "Be early to rise and stay in the woods until last shooting light if you want to take the the big buck." Good advice..... My best, Chuck

1 comment:

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