winstar II/agulla vs winact

[recurveG]

Ladies and Gents,

some help please. I am about to rejoin the archery world after a considerable gap and am deciding on equipment to buy. I want a setup that will last as i expect to progress quickly. The retailer i visited suggested a better/more expensive riser as i will retain this and cheaper limbs initially with upgrades as i improve. My question is this... as an intermediate archery will i appreciate the finer points of a winact over a winstar II or agulla. i.e is it worth spending the extra £100. Also if i am intending to shoot for the foreseeable future is the winact the one to go for as i won't outgrow it? Whilst money is not the main issue i am not a kit geek and want value for money (i am an average archer and will never make the olympic squad!!!!).

Sorry about the long question. Your thoughts are appreciated.

[Thunk]

Hmm...long question - long answers!

The Winact is a much better buy than either the Winstar or Agulla. I still have an Agulla although I no longer use it, and can testify that it (and presumably the Winstar also) are very good value for money, but as in all things you get what you pay for. As Dr Johnson observed, "the cheapest of anything is but rarely worth buying, whereas paying only a little more gains much in the purchase."

Of the risers you have listed, I'd definitely get the Winact. But bear in mind that if you are going to spend the £170 or so that a Winact costs, you have a choice of several other very good risers for about the same price. Do make sure that you try all the risers you can - the right one is actually the one that feels right to you.

[jet186]

Originally Posted by Thunk

Hmm...long question - long answers!

The Winact is a much better buy than either the Winstar or Agulla.

Have to agree with Thunk on this one RecurveG, the Winact is superior in so many ways to the Winstar and the Aguila,and will last you a long time, quality doesn't cost, it pays.
Best Regards

John

[Cimbian]

I shoot Winact though this is not a recommendation in itself.

I have setup all three bows for various archers and have found that the Winact is easier to setup (I know the limb bolts are the same design as the Winstar). The Winact seems to be more responsive to changes.

Agulla machining is, IMHO, quite poor ie. pressure button drilling is not always perpendicular to the riser, limb alignment is tricky and tillering adjustment seems to have a mind of its own.

The Winact is not brilliant in its scope of adjustment but is by far the best of this bunch.

[jules]

I bought a winstar II when I took up archery a little over a year ago thinking that it would last me a very long time. I must say that it is a very good riser, it has got me from novice to 1st class, bordering on bowman, in a year, however I have now progressed to the stage where I know that good kit performs so much better. I am now in the process of gradually changing all the inexpensive kit for better quality items that will last me alot longer. I have just replaced my arten summit II sight for a Shibuya ultima and i can't tell you how much differnce that has made to the performance of the bow and the reduction in vibrations.

Money was an issue when we bought our kit however if I had known then what I know now I would definately bought the best riser I could possibly afford. I've got my eye on an inno when I can afford it, hopefully in time for the beginning of the outdoor season.

Let us know what you decide to get.

[ironmonkey]

i too have set up at least one of each of these bows
a winstarII is perfectly good (as is even the venerable GM), if you get a straight one!!
winstars don't have a limb alignment adjustment, so check it in the shop before buying

agullas do though, i had an agulla and it was very nice. i think the only reason it isn't often considered an 'intermediate' riser is cos it has no holes in!
still i've seen a couple a bad agullas, so have a look at it carefully if you buy it in a shop. (as always, in fact)

winacts are nice, but be aware that you can probably get a Matrix or Exfeel at a clearance price (not much more than a winact) from here!
Alternative Sporting Services Archery Shop - Marketplace
both are thechnically superior to winacts, and there should be a fair few archers around who own them, so you can get a feel for them first!

another mention should go to the new Samick Athlete riser; technically similar to the Winact, but IMO nicer looking

[Little Miss Purple]

I have a matrix for sale

(it will make it onto archer's mart eventually!!)

[numpty]

Awwwwwww. Tracey you've not gone over to the Darkside have you.

[worthipa]

Originally Posted by Thunk

Hmm... As Dr Johnson observed, "the cheapest of anything is but rarely worth buying, whereas paying only a little more gains much in the purchase."

Ha, nice one, more like a Thunkerism than Samuel Johnson.

[icatenej]

winstars don't have a limb alignment adjustment, so check it in the shop before buying

Winstar II has limb alignment system (as well as tiller and weight adjustment) exactly the same as all other Win&Win risers I ever saw, except Ino (Ino has different limb alignment system).

WInstar II is a good riser and good value for money, but Winact is better... If money is not an issue, I would go for Winact.