12 replies to this topic

[milanvresk]

Hello there!

My previous crossbow was Bowtech StrykeForce. The bow was great...And now i wonder if darton Lightning modell 2011 has a "better" trigger than StrykeForce 2009 has?...

Thanks a lot!

milan.

[Mike]

I'm close...

I have the Desert Stryker (and the original Stryker) and three of the previous line of Darton bows.

That said, in what I have...they are close..
The Bowtech trigger is "slightly" better overall...BUT....I understand that Darton has made their triggers better than the previous (version I have) design.

I did rework one of my Darton triggers.  Slightly lightened, lessened the takeup and overtravel and polished all sliding parts, which made that...Darton trigger very nice and on par with the Bowtech, if not just a hair lighter.

My sorta educated guess, I'd say they are most probably pretty close.

Mike

[milanvresk]

Thanks for help!

The Desert Stryker and Stryker, those 2 bows probb have a better trigger than StrykeForce has?
Probb the main reason for what i sold my StrykeForce is trigger...now i am looking for crossbow
with a better trigger and speed nearly to SF.

Thank you! Milan.

[Mike]

I really don't think Bowtech has a seperate trigger for the Strykeforce vs. their other bows.  Cost is a major factor here.

Are any of the crossbow triggers like a Match rifle trigger...no.
Are some better than others, yes.
Are the current line of Darton bows triggers better than most, maybe not as good as one or two, most probably.
Is it a reason to not buy a bow because its trigger isn't perfect or like a high grade rifle...in my opinion no, of course not.

On the other hand, can a Darton, Bowtech or other higher grade crossbow trigger be worked on...just like a rifle or hand gun to be made better...sure.
Like I said, I worked on one of my bows trigger mechinisms and made it better...and I'm not a gunsmith..

Maybe not be quite so critical on a single part of the bow and buy for the whole.  Then rework the part(s) you may not like so much.

Mike

Edited by Mike, 03 November 2011 - 10:50 AM.

[milanvresk]

On the StrykeForce, there is "nothing" you can do to make the trigger better, right?

When i sold StrykeForce, i was pretty sure, i'll take StrykeZone 380 - trigger, speed, light weight,...But everything about the limbs "things", i can't afford that - I don't have bow-shop near (i am from Europe)..so, i am also looking for reliable compound crossbow (i made my own bow press, i can reserve string, change cables..). And i am quite sure that Darton is one of good quality bows. If there can be done something about the trigger on Lightning 2011-than this is great thing..I am also looking at Scorpyd telson 130...

Thank you for tips Mike!

milan.

[H&S Archer]

"My previous crossbow was Bowtech StrykeForce. The bow was great...And now i wonder if darton Lightning model 2011 has a "better" trigger than StrykeForce 2009 has?..."
The Darton Lightning trigger platform is better than the average StrykeForce trigger. That being said if you go to a gunsmith they can make the trigger WAY better than factory production. I own a StrykeForce and can hold a 3" group at 80 yards.
The Darton Lightning platform had never needed servicing.

Edited by H&S Archer, 04 November 2011 - 09:45 PM.

[milanvresk]

Thanks for help Archer!

I've read "here and there"...that, Serpent ltd 2 2011 has better trigger pull, than Lightning 2011. Is this true? Because i don't understand...Both has the same "trigger box"? and the draw weight on the Serpent ltd 2 is havier for 5lbs...

Thanks for explanation.

milan.

[Brendan]

Triggers are able to pick up 'single return stroke' strikes, even when they are fast - well to be technically boring - there's often multiple return strokes moreso with negative flashes than positive ones but what the trigger picks up is what's known as the continuing current in the channels.  I posted two images on the forum in the cafe thread with two return strokes from one at Noon amah which was a surprise to even myself when downloading as I saw the second return stroke but not the first and the camera had fired three times for that flash!.  Pays not to delete your photos all the time because you may get lucky!

You can in fact capture leaders and branching during daytime flashes.  I've gotten several branched flashes with my cheaper trigger and branch component leaders with no grounding, so it really depends on the distance you are from the lightning.  It's a luck of the draw concept with these devices re nabbing something that grounds and as William mentioned, all of them have their pros and cons.  I use the Patch master which has been re-chipped and is now a little less sensitive but gets closer CG's compared to the other brand I have which tends to fire willy-nilly at the hint of field changes.  So I alternate between the two depending on what type of lightning is being produced for daytime storms.  

Your AEOII is a good choice, a happy medium by the looks from William's comparison post.

If you are photographing lightning  especially in the U.S. I strongly advise you NOT to be anywhere outside whilst doing so.  Leave the camera outside and you stay in the car or at least be under a well covered area. The lightning produced by storms in the US is ballistic.  Their storms produce so many CG's that it puts even Darwin to shame even on a good night.  They don't put lightning warnings in their forecasts for nothing!  One storm system across Florida over a period of 2-5 hours produced 370,000 lightning flashes and most of them were ALL CG's (cloud to ground strikes).

I'm visiting Florida next year for three weeks for a lightning research/photography project and I can assure you I won't be standing outside in the open at any stage!  I just push the safety aspect especially with what I have learned over the months, whether one takes the advice is another thing!!!!

[SPECIALIZED]

Brendan, good info for sure, but we are talking crossbow triggers here on this thread.

[milanvresk]

hehe ...

Anyway, i made decision for StrykeZone 380 with black limbs - I'll try my luck with that

Thanks for help!

milan.

[Moon]

I've never seen  a better trigger than the 380's but the Serpent I tested last summer was not bad.....better than most IMO.

[H&S Archer]

Moon, on 04 December 2011 - 05:25 PM, said:

I've never seen  a better trigger than the 380's but the Serpent I tested last summer was not bad.....better than most IMO.

The Serpent LTD II is considerably better than the regular serpent trigger.

[cw98ci]

H&S Archer, on 05 December 2011 - 10:15 PM, said:

The Serpent LTD II is considerably better than the regular serpent trigger.

  strongly agree with you Sir.....had the standard serpent...great bow.....bought the ltd and the difference was instantly noticed. Sold the standard to my brother, I dont see the LTD leaving my collection anytime soon as it is my favorite.