I have a QAD on my hunting bow for a few more days then I'll install another Hamskea. Long story. I don't see how an arrow bounced off a properly setup Hamskea.

 

When I was crawling I like to keep my finger over the arrow near the rest to keep it in place. When I shifted my weight and took my finger off, the arrow shifted and nocked into the riser. I have felt along the riser but still was enough noise to spook the buck. Hope this helps, it’s hard to paint a picture on here lol. The biggest flaw is just not being able to fully capture the arrow when stalking

 

A lot of my buddies run various versions of a qad and beat the crap outta those rests without issue, so if you gotta tinker I’d say go for it and don’t worry. The hamskea will be “more durable”, but if you break a qad on your hunt odds are you broke something else along the way.

I'm curious though, what exactly did your arrow contact when it bounced out to make noise? Do you have felt on your riser shelf and the bottom of your sight housing? (Can’t see in your pic). I’m using an epsilon too, and I’ve got felt in all the possible “rattle” zones. My arrow can flop around and not make any noise.

Also do still have the little arrow guide on your epsilon-that stupid aluminum hump behind your blade is useless and just made noise for me, loose that thing and it cleans up the rest profile a bunch.

all of this said, I’ve used both, and recently went back to hamskea.

 

A lot of my buddies run various versions of a qad and beat the crap outta those rests without issue, so if you gotta tinker I’d say go for it and don’t worry. The hamskea will be “more durable”, but if you break a qad on your hunt odds are you broke something else along the way.

I'm curious though, what exactly did your arrow contact when it bounced out to make noise? Do you have felt on your riser shelf and the bottom of your sight housing? (Can’t see in your pic). I’m using an epsilon too, and I’ve got felt in all the possible “rattle” zones. My arrow can flop around and not make any noise.

Also do still have the little arrow guide on your epsilon-that stupid aluminum hump behind your blade is useless and just made noise for me, loose that thing and it cleans up the rest profile a bunch.

all of this said, I’ve used both, and recently went back to hamskea.

Yeah I run felt on the riser but I think you just nailed it on my issue. I never thought about taking that stupid arrow guide off. I like it for target but I’m wondering if that is what was causing the rattle!

 

I'm pretty sure that hamskea is so much more reliable than qad and you end up back to hamskea. After you realize that qad is not that good you can also buy a vapor trail. 😉

 

Used Them both a lot prefer a QAD just because I mainly hunt whitetails and like being able to flip rest up and ready. There’s no way for an arrow to fall out of Qad. I’ve had zero problems with either rest.

 

I have the MX2 and like it way better than there MX which I returned back to QHD after a year of hunting. Their customer service sent me the upgraded MX2 to my surprise and it is far better than I expected. The old MX had issues with the brake pads slowing down the launchpad and hitting the riser leading to pounce back, the newer MX2 is built a lot stronger. I’m sure you’ll like this better than the rest your currently using a lot quicker too.

 

For you wanting durability and going from a limb driven rest to cable. Your other statement of shift your knees, aka movement. Ever think it was the sound AND movement. Easily can put felt on if it’s hitting the riser. I’ve also learned to have my index finger on the arrow till right when I’m pulling back.

Let’s be frank. You have used Hamske for years now issue. You HAD ONE MISHAP, that may or may not just the arrow bouncing. You are just pissed that you didn’t get the deer and wanting to blame equipment. Which if we all did that and ditched it after ONE mishap. Well we wouldn’t be bowhunting.

It sucks you didn’t get the deer. All been there. But wanting to ditch said equipment on ONE and ONLY ONE issue in all these years. Is plain silly.

 

Couldn’t have been my movement. I’m ninja quiet there guy. Sneaky sneaky haha

 

I switched from QAD to Hamskea and haven't looked back.

 

Also depends how much you shoot. For some reason I tend to wear the brakes out and they get sticky after a few months. Maybe its reps plus TX dust, I don't know, but haven't had one last over 6 months. Have Hamskeas going on 5+ years.

 

This is a very valid point, I shoot a lot. Pretty much everyday so I’m going to take that into consideration. Thanks my friend!

 

I think it's just a matter of what you want. The ability of the QAD or AAE to capture the arrow even when not at full draw is really nice. The simplicity of the hamskea or trophytaker or vaportrail is really nice from setup to operation.

I don't think you can go wrong with either one. I've shot both and both are good rests. I like the AAE prophecy better than the QADs myself.

 

Something to also note... if you shoot a lot, felt on the QADs is a pain in the rear for me. Because you can't easily remove the launcher, work on it, and put it back, you're left trying to clean it up and put new felt back on it in place. The stock felt made it about a month for me. A lot of people who only hunt for 2-3 months a year, I guess that's an option. i hunt year round, so it was another issue. There are some aftermarket solutions that are supposed to be better, but I can't vouch for them.

 

Happened to a friend of mine that is also a member on here. He told me the steep angle of the shot the arrow bounced/moved a little and it made a ping sound. Off the deer went. I think he’s going to QAD as well. I have noticed my arrow does it as well with my Epsilon.

 

Question why would you want to hold your arrow with any finger to keep it steady on the rest in any situation when drawing your arrow back makes no sense it’s just another thing to go wrong, you need to focus on your target not your arrow and then have to reposition your finger to get a proper grip. No thanks.

 

pretty sure he meant keeping his finger on the arrow when stalking, not drawing

 

You can switch to a QAD, I just recommended putting their customer service number in your favorites on your phone. You WILL have to use it.

 

That’s what I’m afraid of, I’m unintentionally hard on gear and hunt a lot. Decisions decisions… appreciate your input

 

Don’t do it. All I have to say.

 

I’ve warranties many QADs, never had issues with a hamskea.

id call my hunting conditions tough, wet and cold environment regularly. But my cycle count is higher than most, I shoot a significant amount of arrows.

 

There's a theme.....

 

If you’re rough on your bow in the field, chances are (from personal experience) the Hamskea will hold up better. But really my concern isn’t the rest itself but the fact that a limb driven rest is better for tough conditions than cable. Reality is, it’s a “when” not “if” something happens to the cable. Big plus being able to fix it in the field

 

I wouldn't get another QAD if you paid me

 

Yep, I think that about sums up the conversation! lol I think I’m sticking with my epsilon

 

I have a QAD, and have been problem free. My conditions aren’t the same as yours though. I think you’re blaming your equipment for your failure.

 

Not blaming the equipment more just reflecting on the experience and fine tuning my gear to be a better hunter

 

I’ve got a QAD on the bow I whitetail hunt with and a hamskea on the bow I hunt out west with. The QAD is quieter on the draw. I’ve yet to find a quiet solution to for the hamskea launcher that lasts more than a few weeks.

I think it’s half a dozen in one hand, six in the other. I like the weight savings of the qad. I don’t like cocking it. The hamskea is definitely better built than the QAD, and it’s got the weight to prove it. Does it need to be that over built? I’ve yet to break a QAD, so probably not.

 

Horribly bad idea! There’s like a 99% higher chance you’ll have an issue with the QAD vs the Hamskea. You are already using felt on riser - smart. Do yourself a favor and put an AAE launch pad on your shelf and yes, get rid of that little Hamskea arrow guide. You won’t need it with the launch pad and I can tip my bow 90 degrees left or right with the launch pad and arrow doesn’t fall out of that groove. If you had it in the groove and holding with your finger there’s almost zero chance you’d have had the issue you did. It’s an easy and cheap solution. Lancaster carries them.

 

I have been doing the same thing with the Trinity’s for the past couple of years. Removed the arrow guides and using the AAE launch pads. It works!

 

I’ve always ran QAD rest intill just recently. I have hamskes on both my primes but a QAD on everything els. I have only had one failure with my intergraded model. It took 2-3 times to get the launcher to stay up. And it got worse in the cold. QAD took care of it tho ad. Fixed whatever the problem was. I’ve noriced when i run 4 fletch on my qads I get bad paper tears, which doesn’t make since really because I fletch the standard X 4 fletch and can’t see how I’d have any fletching contact but anyways, I run 4 fletch on my primes and 3 on everything els because of that. I love QAD, always will. I think you will really like their rests

 

Here you go. Pic of my Levitate with launch pad. I actually trim down the little fins a bit because I was once paranoid of vane contact. Probably not necessary and without doing so it will cradle arrow even better.

I’ve been shooting Hanskea since first gen and always have used this launch pad. Makes a huge difference and eliminates the concern you have.

 

Do you heat up the adhesive on the bottom of the pad before sticking it on or just wipe with alcohol and then stick? Looks durable too!

 

I’ve decided to go back to a QAD after having limb driven rests forever. Another cable driven rest I’ve tried that I like a lot is the aae prophecy. That things built like a tank for a cable driven rest. Anyways I couldn’t find another prophecy and had cabelas gift cards so went with the QAD. I’ll tell you that I set it up just as fast as my limb driven rests and when attaching the activation chord to the cable I used a half d loop method that way if for some reason it breaks or gets snagged on something which it won’t I can replace it quickly pull back tighten down the screw good to go. Won’t be putting my activation chord through my cable again. When I get a new bow I’ll be getting the Mx2. Thinking I may pick up a new hoyt and go all out on this bow build.

 

You have pics of the way you attach the cable?

 

I lined my riser shelf with a thick nylon *material *that allows no noise to be maid. The arrow can bounce around and it's just dead.

Your issue is exactly why I stayed with a whisker biscuit. Zero noise

My Apache let's the arrow move around and the pad fixed that issue.

 

On another note, i got some velcro pads and used the soft side anywhere an arrow could contact anything solid. Works much better than felt. Also really like the vaportrail rubber pads for tying in limb cords for a couple spots on the riser. They're quiet and soft.

 

No need to admit you're sorry. Your experience and exposure does not mimic mine. The rests I shoot, limb driven or otherwise, reflect that I've seen different than you.