The takedown feature is in the top 10 features I like about this thing. I’m really bummed that everyone is swapping it out. Of course accuracy is more important than being stealthy in urban environments. I really don’t want everyone to know what I’m doing in town.I don't think this is very far off. I agree with @EricS that this is the best designed crossbow for saddle hunting. I have only hunted with it once so far (got it for the late season when it gets cold) and I've played with it a good bit in the backyard.
Areas for improvement:
1. I would do away with the take down knob and just have it come with a lock nut on the front like we've been putting on. That was the key to gaining accuracy for me.
2. The swing weight of the bow is actually too light. I think it needs a stabilizer mount up front. I'm going to DIY something so I can attach it in front of the lock nut I put on (eventually).
3. The quiver blocks the foot stirrup. The first quiver I got had the ability to rotate the mount which solved this issue because I mounted it at maybe 30 degrees. The quiver sucked so I picked up a kwikee quiver to put on. I plan on DIY'ing a bracket to mount this on so I can rotate it.
4. I haven't run into issues with the stirrup yet but I've only used it in sneakers and light rubber boots. I'm glad that it has been brought up so I can check it with my late season boots and see if I need to address it.
All of that being said you definitely need to learn how to hunt with it in a saddle so I would recommend practice. I found that I could actually hang it on the right side of the tree and easily shoot on what would be my off side. If I have it on the left side of the tree I will probably have the stock and bow on my side of the bridge and have my right arm go under the bridge to hold the grip. I'm a righty.
If you'd quit shooting flappers you cpuld lose them in the dirt instead.Only issue I've had is a loose screw on the rest.
Oh, and I keep losing arrows in the bushes or inside ribcages
The takedown feature is in the top 10 features I like about this thing. I’m really bummed that everyone is swapping it out. Of course accuracy is more important than being stealthy in urban environments. I really don’t want everyone to know what I’m doing in town.
Maybe a larger heavier stirrup would negate the need for adding the stabilizer up front.
Im really torn between this and a gearhead for my next archery purchase. I don’t like the idea of carrying an 18” ata bow and still carrying 29” arrows. Not crazy about the fiddle factor with the mini and even less excited that I apparently need to know how to reinstall the string after derailment. U know it probably doesn’t happen often but it’s the first thing you see when going to the website. Apparently replacement scopes can be difficult as well as the quiver.
I really like the fact you can re string it without a press and how easy it is to work on. And let’s face the facts it’s a bad little setup. I just haven’t decided if the positives are enough to put up with the negatives.
Not everybody is having accuracy issues with the stock configuration. Several forum members have had no problem with it, and if you hop on Facebook there is a group with thousands of happy little fellers just using the thing as-is to kill critters.The takedown feature is in the top 10 features I like about this thing. I’m really bummed that everyone is swapping it out. Of course accuracy is more important than being stealthy in urban environments. I really don’t want everyone to know what I’m doing in town.
Maybe a larger heavier stirrup would negate the need for adding the stabilizer up front.
Im really torn between this and a gearhead for my next archery purchase. I don’t like the idea of carrying an 18” ata bow and still carrying 29” arrows. Not crazy about the fiddle factor with the mini and even less excited that I apparently need to know how to reinstall the string after derailment. U know it probably doesn’t happen often but it’s the first thing you see when going to the website. Apparently replacement scopes can be difficult as well as the quiver.
I really like the fact you can re string it without a press and how easy it is to work on. And let’s face the facts it’s a bad little setup. I just haven’t decided if the positives are enough to put up with the negatives.
So would you say those suffering accuracy issues that are repaired with a standard nut have a defective product?Not everybody is having accuracy issues with the stock configuration. Several forum members have had no problem with it
Please put me at the top of the list. I'll PM you.Anyone looking for a gently used one I’ll have one for sale as soon as my wife kills a buck. I shot a buck with it and she’s killed a button buck. Going to get her a compound and fund some other gear. This years model with an updated Excalibur scope.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Blue locktite on the loose boltsSo would you say those suffering accuracy issues that are repaired with a standard nut have a defective product?
I’m not bashing hickory creek. Heck I’ll probably wind up owning one. I’ll likely think it’s the best thing ever. Maybe the term prototype is a little harsh. I feel like it’s been in production for five years. In those five years the changes made seem to be more about sourcing parts than improvements. I read about the safety having to be tightened up after a couple uses. Then having to repeat the process over and over. Then there is the takedown knob, the quiver, and the stirrup. I don’t know what the scope issue is. I just remember reading that some will work and others will not.
Maybe fiddle factor should be called quirkinesses. Just stuff like removing the quiver to cock, having to put the string loop on the hook, the little mustache guard etc. Some of that is design and some is just the nature of the beast.
I get that they don’t derail often. But it’s going to happen more with the mini than any other design I’ve seen. Crossbow strings generally run against a rail and you cock them that way. On a standard compound you would almost have to be trying to grip and torque the riser enough to cause derailment. Sure a stick or rope can get in the cam groove on anything. The mini it would be easy to torque because of the stock and you have to take it out of alignment to hook the loop and remove. I still agree if it pops off it is your own fault.
I’ve been kind of waiting to see if they change the little things I do not like. But since I’m the only one that thinks that those little things are problems at all I guess I can’t expect it to get any better.
I would honestly not expect to see a huge change in the bow. Jerry seems quite content to be a small business and has declined offers to purchase his patents/product/business. He stays pretty busy with the product he has. Good or bad, the mini will most likely stay the mini for a while. I'd venture a guess that selling more of them would be a quicker way to get improvements madeSo would you say those suffering accuracy issues that are repaired with a standard nut have a defective product?
I’m not bashing hickory creek. Heck I’ll probably wind up owning one. I’ll likely think it’s the best thing ever. Maybe the term prototype is a little harsh. I feel like it’s been in production for five years. In those five years the changes made seem to be more about sourcing parts than improvements. I read about the safety having to be tightened up after a couple uses. Then having to repeat the process over and over. Then there is the takedown knob, the quiver, and the stirrup. I don’t know what the scope issue is. I just remember reading that some will work and others will not.
Maybe fiddle factor should be called quirkinesses. Just stuff like removing the quiver to cock, having to put the string loop on the hook, the little mustache guard etc. Some of that is design and some is just the nature of the beast.
I get that they don’t derail often. But it’s going to happen more with the mini than any other design I’ve seen. Crossbow strings generally run against a rail and you cock them that way. On a standard compound you would almost have to be trying to grip and torque the riser enough to cause derailment. Sure a stick or rope can get in the cam groove on anything. The mini it would be easy to torque because of the stock and you have to take it out of alignment to hook the loop and remove. I still agree if it pops off it is your own fault.
I’ve been kind of waiting to see if they change the little things I do not like. But since I’m the only one that thinks that those little things are problems at all I guess I can’t expect it to get any better.
As far as accuracy, I had to buy some more arrows, I William Tell'd one so only had two left.
I made it just east of Columbus GA last week and that will likely be as close as I venture to Alabama this year. I have no doubt it’s a killer.I would honestly not expect to see a huge change in the bow. Jerry seems quite content to be a small business and has declined offers to purchase his patents/product/business. He stays pretty busy with the product he has. Good or bad, the mini will most likely stay the mini for a while. I'd venture a guess that selling more of them would be a quicker way to get improvements made
I do kinda think the safety is a con. But, when you think about it, you have 3 safeties. The trigger safety, the anti dryfire safety, and just taking the arrow off the string. I don't see it as a safety concern. I put a small nylon washer on mine, tightened it once, and have been happy with it.
My mini shot fine for hunting purposes bone stock. I did not value the takedown feature and the nut was an improvement for me. I'd agree with those who said the joint is not ideal. But I've got a pickup bed of dead deer that wish it was less accurate.
The quirkiness you describe is to me about like the "hassle" of using all them dang ole silly ropes and biners and straps when saddle hunting. Yes, you have to cock it (remove quiver and hook d loop). If it makes ya feel better though, you can take the lip guard off? I've shot it plenty without remembering to engage it.
I'm not sure what exactly has to happen to derail one because I've never had it happen and honestly can't imagine what I'd have to do to make it happen. Folks have done it. Folks short-shuck shotguns too. All the time. Deal-breaking design flaw or completely avoidable but commonplace operator error?
If you were closer, I'd encourage you to come shoot mine. I would literally set all of my saddle gear on fire before I parted with mine. I think it will be the single greatest gear-related advantage I have on the 20 deer quest this year. Way ahead of saddles, huntstand, boats, ghillies, and all the other junk that cost me more money and kills me fewer deer.
It's weird to me that folks will buy $300 worth of sticks and then promptly tape, wrap, saw, and file at them and be happy as clams, but get weird about a few dollars worth of hardware and 10 minutes tinkering with screws. Or spend hours "super tuning" compound bows but won't do it with the mini. I can almost guarantee that if you bought a mini and:
you'd be happy with it and think it was the single greatest way to fling an arrow at a deer.
- put a nylon nut and locking washer on the riser joint
- put a nylon or lock washer on the safety screw
- bought the quiver adapter and/or new stirrup Dano is working on (or just tied a piece of paracord to the stock stirrup)
- bought a decent scope for it like you would any gun/bow that came with a junky, $30 stock scope
- spent an afternoon drinking a couple of beers and paper tuning with the same enthusiasm you've done for your current bow
I know I sound like I'm being too enthusiastic and borderline weird. I hear it in my voice. But this thing is a good idea of a rarely seen caliber. It just doesn't have the fanboy base saddle hunting has and is fighting an uphill battle because it's a "crossgun." Once you get it in the woods it just makes sense and kills deer, man. It really does.
It's not you, brother. I always get antsy when my reality doesn't seem to jive with other folks'. I start 2nd guessing myself and wondering what I'm missing.I made it just east of Columbus GA last week and that will likely be as close as I venture to Alabama this year. I have no doubt it’s a killer.
I’m not going to provoke you anymore today. If you can hear the enthusiasm in your voice that means you’re already talking to yourself.
I'm the same. I prefer rifle hunting because I am much more confident that a trigger pull will have the desired outcome. I have killed probably close to an equal amount with a gun and a bow by now, but I cannot look at a deer when an arrow is involved and think, "He's already dead."You’re not any crazier than the average saddlehunter when measured on a curve based on your location.(actually based on last weeks voting results I’m kind of digging bama)
Like I said earlier I’ll probably end up with one. I feel two ways about equipment. I’m either 100% confident in it’s ability to perform as needed or drowning in a sea of doubt. I would change the knob for a locknut right off the bat because I would always wonder if today was going to be the day it shifts. Until the last decade or so I would sell a gun if I missed a deer. Like standing shooting with my off hand 200 yards crouching to shoot under a limb and miss. I knew it wasn’t the guns fault but I was no longer confident with it. I also sold my pretty guns because I cringed every time they got bumped or rained on. As far as wrapping and silencing 300 dollar sticks it’s not happening here. I’m sporting hawk minis. No wrap, still full of shavings with crooked steps. I did whittle on the cups to get them to function properly but I wasn’t at all happy about having to do so.