Just bought a Parker Blackhawk (320 fps)

[kevinbrian]

I have long been a Parker X-bow fan. S.W., a long-time forum member and a great guy, turned me on to Parkers when he was posting about his Parker Safari Mags. Well, because of his posts, and the fact that I put alot of stock in what he says, I bought me one 3 or 4 years ago. I got the 175# (350 fps?). It was an awesome bow. I sold it after that year's deer season. The following year, I bought another. Killed several deer and a bobcat with it.
Last year, I bought a Bowtech StrikeZone 380 (again, after reading his reviews). Killed three deer with it. Best trigger I have ever seen on a X bow.
Alas....I sold it to fund another project. So, here I am...with bow season opening not this Saturday, but next. I decided to deer hunt again. Money being a bit tighter this year....I just went and bout a Parker Blackhawk from my dealer. I shot 8 shots through it at 25 yards. I could have covered the 8 shots with a silver dollar!!! (Preferably a Carson City minted one). This little compact bow is awesome. It shoots at 320 fps so I don't have to buy a Rhinehart target to stop the arrows. 320 fps....in my type of hunting, and in the area that I hunt, is more than ample.
If I have any problems with it....I will post it here for the benefit of those who are on the fence about buying one. Parker customer service is top notch. I broke a stirrup on my Saf. Mag one year. They had me a new one to my house in four days!!! In fact...they sent me two of them!! Happy Hunting everyone.
PS: This bow has spit limbs and weighs 6 pounds!!! And is as accurate as any I have shot!!! WITH the supplied arrows. I also bought 8 G-5 Crossbow expandable broadheads. I will be anxious to monitor terminal performance.

[ghost5]

Congrats on the new bow. I shoot a Ten Point myself and love it but I haven't had the chance to check out the Parkers. From what i have heard from friends they are sweet bows. Good luck and let us know how it goes this year. We open the same day here and I am still not as ready as I usually am. Might be shooting my crossbow since I have had shoulder problems the compound might be out for now.

[sw]

Brian,
I now have 2 SZs AND my Parker Saf Mag. I love the SFs but will still use the Parker some. Good luck!

[kevinbrian]

Thanks guys. My bow is accurate, but the string rides the rails a bit. The serving is beginning to flatten a bit due to the rail pressure. I have already smoothed the pawl, that holds the string in the cocked position. I am now going to disassemble the bow and try sanding (with a sanding block) the entire length of the rail, hoping to lower it a fraction and ease up on string pressure. Then again....I might not do this at all. I might just shoot it and when the serving wears out...take it to the dealer that I bought it from and let HIM re-serve it with some tougher serving. My hunting buddy has a bow like mine and his string makes no contact with the rail.....leading me to conclude that tolerances are not REAL tight at Parker. I have been a Parker fan for years. Last year I had a Strikezone 380. Should have kept it. But I ran through targets with that speedy thing. Season opens this Saturday. Plenty of white oak acorns. Excited.