[CGSteve]

I ordered the bow in early-mid May and was told that it would be 2-3 weeks according to Elite. It arrived on 27 July 2006...a little longer than expected.

I drove several hours to the dealer who ordered it for me to see and shoot the bow. It looked nice, except for the poor finish on the camo dip.

The BC stated that it left the factory shooting 332FPS, man that's fast. My impressions of the bows shootability were not positive. There was a large amount of hand shock and vibration after the shot. It was noisy too.

Seems it just wasn't meant to be for me. I've read many reviews here about the Elite line, and most have been very positive, but my experience wasn't. Needless to say I was very disappointed in the bow that was shipped to my dealer. I think I will stick with my '05 Allegiance for now and see what else comes along. Who knows, maybe next year will be right for me and Elite...or Ross, Matthews, Hoyt, Bowtech...

Congrats to those that have them (Elite's) and I hope your experience continues to be positive.

No sarcasm intended in this post, this is just an opinion. I hope in the future my opinion will be different because I feel that Elite has the potential to shake up the archery world a little.

Steve

 

[Jose Boudreaux]

At least you got to try it....gotta stick with what you like best...

I'm calling tomorrow to cancel my order...I think it's inevitable I will end up doing that anyway just to have a bow for bow season so I better get another brand ordered while I can

Might check on an Elite next year also....since I'll have a bow I can wait longer or put in sooner....

 

[meanv2]

Sorry for your bad luck!

 

[bornagain]

I try not to post negatives about any bow but when I shot one I felt the same way you did. It offered me nothing over my Bowtechs and Hoyts.

 

[Hemingway]

I can't speak for the Elite's shootability, but EVERY one I've seen had a poor finish...

 

[Daniel Boone]

LOts of shock

Surprise to me because the one I shot was smooth and quiet and had no stabilizers on it. It had the smooth mods on it, maybe that makes a big differnce.

Several in my area have these bows and seem quite satisfiad. I just ask a guy this weekend how he liked his and he said its the best bow he has ever owned.

 

[straitshot]

I can't speak for the Elite's shootability, but EVERY one I've seen had a poor finish...

yep, but we have sold a few at the shop.

my opinion

the draw felt harsher than any allegiance i had ever shot

i liked the slim grip. fit my hand well

it was fast

the finish is peeling a bit, but that camo does look great.

the strings (winners choice) are great.

i like the price tag


overall, i wouldnt buy one. i hope elite continues to be successful, and maybe they will some out with an awesome product for 2007.

 

[Chupacabras]

Both dealers in my area have received bows (Nightvision camo) Allthough I did not care for that camo the ones I looked at did not have any blemishes. Loved the way they shot, the grip is awesome . Draw cycle is just a bit stiffer than the binaries on the bowtechs. I've had one on order but probably will cancel , tired of waiting. Looks like I will be ordering a Darton 2.5

 

[kiser]

E500, my thoughts....

I too cancelled from the factory. I got sick of two more weeks, two weeks, two more weeks....
I bought mine from a dealer out of state.
The bow arrived last week....I was disappointed in the finish.

Camo finish was poor. The pattern (E-Leaf) is good, very detailed and crisp. But seems to have a poor bond to the limbs and riser.

The bow feels lighter in hand than my Allegiance and shoots very similar. NO hand shock, minimal vibrations. Any vibrations were gone w/ addition of stabilizer. Draw curve is a little more harsh, thus the increase in speed.

Factory BC on E-500 stated: 71.1# EZ3 mods 321FPS.

Set up w/ peep and loop @ 67#s, shooting a 3-49 A/C/C @ 350 grns, 310fps.


For the money, it was worth it. Its a hunting bow, after 2 wks in elk camp the finish will be worn anyways.....

 

[parkerbows]

I have never seen one so I can't comment on that. I will say the only local dealer of them doesn't want them anymore. I guess it's hard to sell a bow that doesn't exist for alot of dealers. I have a hard time believing that next year when they need to design something new their price won't be way higher if they can survive. hopefully they can

 

[bboswell]

CGsteve
Man your experience couldn't be any more different than mine with the exact same bow!!! But thats why there is more than one manufacture, because different people like different things.

Granted I have only seen three of these bows but all three had flawless camo dip work. I'll have to wait and see if it holds up??

 

[VorTexan]

I will see one Thurday, set it up Friday....kill and elk with it come September if I so choose. V2, I bet you are....sorry that is.

 

[GVDocHoliday]

So you ordered a bow from a shop, the shop then purchased it to sell to you, and then you say you don't want it and am making the owner eat it? Kinda sucks for the shop owner. That's why I'd ask for a 25% down payment on any bows ordered...a non-refundable restocking fee so to speak. That's BS how you just screwed that dealer over.

 

[bowhuntrrl]

All I can say is that the finish on my E-500 is as good as or better than the Hoyts and Matthews I compared them with at the shop. I do feel the draw curve is stiff, particularly with the 500 mods, but the bow is the fastest bow I've had to date. I also have no hand shock and all I have on it is a stubby stabilizer. I have nothing but a D loop on the string and it does twang a bit, but only until my E-Supressor gets here. The only negative I have is that I don't care for the grip, but I will be getting a one piece for it. All in all, I'm very satisfied. Too bad you've had a different experience.

 

[Jose Boudreaux]

well my Energy is on the way.....it is all black...limbs and riser....smooth mods....

 

[pdq 5oh]

So you ordered a bow from a shop, the shop then purchased it to sell to you, and then you say you don't want it and am making the owner eat it? Kinda sucks for the shop owner. That's why I'd ask for a 25% down payment on any bows ordered...a non-refundable restocking fee so to speak. That's BS how you just screwed that dealer over.

Did you stop to consider that the dealer may have ordered the bow understanding that the customer had the option to not accept it? The shop as an Elite dealer, should have no trouble selling the bow. What would you do for a customer that ordered a bow from your shop that had an unacceptable finish on it? Make them take it? Hit them up for 25%? BS splatters both ways.

 

[Meleagris1]

I can certainly see how one particular bow did not meet someone's expectations. Just look at the 2006 Outdoor Life bow test. I mean really, they said their Tribute was noisy? None of the ones that I shot were, just like all 10 or so Elites that I have shot were smooth quiet and fast. However, I can see someone getting a bow that isn't set quite right or needs some fine tuning. Probably just the way the bow was set from the factory, its hard to say for sure.

I will say that all the Elites I have had in my hands had awesome finishes, including the one I bought. I think it has the nicest finish I have ever seen on a production bow, and that is no exaggeration. This bows shoots fantastic and I am thrilled with it, I can't wait for IL . . .

 

[GVDocHoliday]

Did you stop to consider that the dealer may have ordered the bow understanding that the customer had the option to not accept it? The shop as an Elite dealer, should have no trouble selling the bow. What would you do for a customer that ordered a bow from your shop that had an unacceptable finish on it? Make them take it? Hit them up for 25%? BS splatters both ways.

He wanted the bow...he had the shop order it..."I ordered the bow", "dealer who ordered it for me"...If it had an unacceptable finish on it, then it would be going back to the factory for a replacement. However, I believe that the finish was fine...just that he didn't like the camo pattern itself. I'll admit...that green or whatever camo pattern is nasty. But you get what you order.

 

[VorTexan]

I can certainly see how one particular bow did not meet someone's expectations. Just look at the 2006 Outdoor Life bow test. I mean really, they said their Tribute was noisy? None of the ones that I shot were, just like all 10 or so Elites that I have shot were smooth quiet and fast. However, I can see someone getting a bow that isn't set quite right or needs some fine tuning. Probably just the way the bow was set from the factory, its hard to say for sure.

I will say that all the Elites I have had in my hands had awesome finishes, including the one I bought. I think it has the nicest finish I have ever seen on a production bow, and that is no exaggeration. This bows shoots fantastic and I am thrilled with it, I can't wait for IL . . .

Good stuff and darn good looking bow even if you are from the Northeast!

 

[Rocket21]

I love mine

I have been very happy with my E-500, but I will say my pro shop owner said that it was noisy when he first got it but string leeches took care of that problem. My brother has an 06 Allegience and I shot both of these and I honestly cant find too much difference. It does have a little shock in the riser but I have not shot a bow with this type of speed that didnt have some shock to it?? Its a give and take situation here.......alot of speed, some shock. My Elite is shooting 290 fps with string leeches and a 1/4 size peep (no tubing), 70# with a 28.5 inch draw. The mods say ST-4 on them. My arrows weight 422 grains. I think this comes out to be around 78# of KE. This speed with a 7 3/16 brace height is pretty good for what I need. My switchback shot the same arrows with no leeches, same poundage and draw lenght at 273 fps with a 7 inch brace height. Needless to say, this bow has more noise and shock than my Mathews but I really dont care! All this bow has to do is hit where I aim and kill deer.