November 15, 2013
By Jon E. Silks
Win & Win Archery is a Korean-based company that has a long and successful presence in the recurve bow and competition archery arena. Its advanced technologies and state-of-the-art manufacturing produce bows that have set numerous Olympic and world records around the globe.
With the introduction of W&W Black, the company has entered the compound bow market . The Shadow 32 features carbon technology in the riser, limbs, limb pockets and RF Shock Stopper. A one-piece, walnut grip, hybrid cam system and BCY Trophy string and cables round out the package.
Carbon Platform
The Win & Win Shadow 32 is a unique rig in many respects. Much of what makes it different is carbon construction. Win & Win has been perfecting carbon manufacturing processes for years in the recurve bow arena and its maiden voyage into the hunting bow market under the name W&W Black showcases this technology.
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While many of the details around the carbon molding process are proprietary, we can tell you that the riser is essentially made of a pure carbon internal structure layered with an overmold skin. This provides fiber alignment that generates a super stiff and strong platform. Metal inserts are built into the riser for secure attachment of a rest, sight, grip and stabilizer. Metal barrel nuts are also inserted into the ends of the riser to secure the limb bolts.
Shadow limbs measure 12.5 inches long and are also made of carbon infused with nano materials, which consist of carbon nanotubes and graphite nanofibers. Nanotubes are as small as one ten thousandth of a human hair and are one of the strongest, most stable materials available, greatly enhancing the limbs' strength and durability.
The three layers of the limb are arranged to complement the elastic movement of the limb (compression, tension) during the draw cycle. Limb sets are matched based on deflection values to produce consistency and accuracy. The straight limbs are solid in construction (not split) and are finished in either natural carbon or film dipped in Next Camo.
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The carbon limbs are attached to the carbon riser with a set of carbon limb pockets. The pivots are made of CNC-machined 6061 aluminum and black anodized. However, the cap portion of the pocket, which houses the limb bolt, is manufactured with carbon. Pockets are minimal in material while getting the job done in this critical area by precisely controlling the position and alignment of the limbs in reference to the riser.
Last on our list of carbon components is the RF Shock Stopper, which consists of a carbon attachment bracket and clamshell rubber end. The rubber piece is designed to allow the string to slip into the opening at the shot to quickly stop string oscillation and reduce noise.
Non-Carbon
There are a few components on this rig that are not carbon and they are very important to the overall package. First up is the TL-3 Hybrid cam system and string/cable material. The machined aluminum cams ride on sealed bearings for reduced friction and increased efficiency.
Three cam sizes, a set of modules, two string posts on the cam and an adjustable draw stop all work together to cover the entire draw-length range and customize the feel for each individual archer. System letoff is adjustable between 65 and 80 percent via the draw stop. Win & Win uses pre-stretched BCY Trophy material for both string and cables.
The one-piece custom walnut grip is designed for comfort and functionality with a neutral wrist position. It can be removed for a bare carbon grip, which gives you a low-wrist position — preferred by many target archers. The cable slide is last up on our non-carbon component list and it is made from Delron material and holds the cables free of contact with passing fletch.
Impressions
Super light carbon construction makes this bow easy to carry and excellent for maneuvering in tight quarters. Along with that light mass weight, the Shadow 32 produces a stout kick and louder than average noise at the shot. The addition of a quality stabilizer and string silencers made a significant difference in shot noise, eliminated the slight vibration and noticeably reduced hand shock.
The grip is comfortable and functional. The cam system is smoother than most, and the bow holds steady as a rock on target.
SPECS:
Manufacturer: Win & Win Archery
Model: Shadow 32
Cam System: TL-3 Hybrid Cam
Weight: 3.2 pounds (advertised); 3.1 pounds (as tested)
Brace Height: 7€‰1„4 inches
Axle-To-Axle length: 32 inches
Letoff: 65-80 percent; adjustbale
Draw Weights: 40, 50, 60 and 70 pounds peak
Draw Lengths: 26-31 inches, in half-inch increments
Riser: Reflex, all carbon
Limbs: Three-Layer NanoTech Carbon
String: BCY Trophy, 51.25 inches
Cables: BCY Trophy, 34.75, 39.125 inches
Grip: One-piece walnut or all-carbon riser handle
Finish: Film-dipped Next Camo or Natural Carbon
Advertised IBO Speed: 320 fps
Suggested Retail Price: $ 855
Comments: Light, compact and smooth drawing.
Archery Accessory Box ols, you'll realize that they are easy to misplace, which is why a storage system like the
Archery Accessory Box from
Plano Molding is a good idea. The Archery Accessory Box is designed with a see-through top, one lift-out tray, up to 16 adjustable compartments, and is compact enough to throw in your vehicle when you hit the road in the fall.
Price: $ 20
Archers Allen Wrench Set If you want to boil down tool needs to a granular level, the jumping-off point for all bow work involves a quality set of Allen wrenches. I emphasize the word quality because I've had sets completely explode on me the first time I've used them. I don't know why it's so hard to make a set of Allen wrenches that will last, but a lot of companies seem to have trouble with the task. Fortunately,
Pine Ridge Archery has it figured out with their
Archers Allen Wrench Set . This set has all of the wrenches you're likely to need, and it contains them with a bolt and nut assembly that doesn't allow them to flop all over the place like lesser-quality sets. I keep a set in my shop, my truck and my daypack, so I'm covered no matter where or when I hunt.
Price: $ 10
Bowsmith Another tool that has found its way into my shop is the
Bowsmith from
Real Avid . The Bowsmith contains needle-nose pliers, a string spreader, knife blade, fletching stripper, nock crimp, string loop setter, and a bevy of other tools (28 in total). This handy tool set is small enough to stow away in a pack as well, and it can be invaluable in bow camp when the nearest pro shop is far away.
Price: $ 50
Allen Company Compact Bow Tuning Kit I also used my
Allen Company Compact Bow Tuning Kit . Since I had to redo my center serving, I also needed to tie on a new string loop, which necessitated the use of the contained bow square. Although I didn't use a nock set, the Compact Bow Tuning Kit comes with nock pliers and three nock sets.
Price: $ 15
Digital Bow Scale An often-overlooked tool that is simple and can be used by every bow owner is a bow scale. I like
Cabela's Digital Bow Scale , which features a backlit LCD screen and automatic weight lock, and is accurate up to 110 pounds in case you plan to shoot deer hiding behind concrete walls. It amazes me how often I talk to bowhunters who simply guess at their draw weight after cranking their limbs in or out a few turns. It's much better to know exactly what your bow is set at, especially if you're getting close to either end of your bow's recommended weight spectrum.
Price: $ 20
Pro Archery Pliers If you're in the market for a pair of pliers that will last longer than any bow you're likely to buy and features a nock set crimper and remover, a D-loop stretcher and scary sharp side-cutters, look no further than the
Pro Archery Pliers from
Easton Technical Products . These needle-nose pliers are extremely durable and can make home bow fixes a breeze.
Price: $ 22
Bohning Mini Server Considering potential bow fixes, it would be wise to not ignore serving issues. Last fall I was sitting in a treestand in north-central Wisconsin, when I happened to glance down at my nocked arrow. The angle looked off, and upon closer inspection I realized that my center serving had slipped and my entire string loop had crept up my string, throwing my entire bow tune out of alignment. Back at the cabin, I busted out my
Bohning Mini Server and re-served my string. The Mini Server is perfect for the home bow mechanic because it eliminates the need for a cable spreader and is extremely easy to use. However, that wasn't the only tool I used to get back to shooting.
Price: $ 19
Economy Vise After putting the above tools to good use at home or in deer camp, it's inevitable that you'll realize something is missing — a vise. The option to clamp your bow into a quality vise and work on it with both hands free is important, which is why I've started using an
Economy Vise from
Apple Archery . Plastic-coated jaws provide a secure grip on your bow's limb without causing any damage to the finish, while the Economy Vise allows for 360 degrees of left-to-right and front-to-back rotation. Just like using a lineman's belt to hang a treestand for the first time, when you use a vise like this to work on your bow, you'll wonder how you ever functioned without it.
Price: $ 81