Rig Refit

[OXN939]

Got a Mathews Z3 I've been shooting for east coast whitetail for the last 6 years. With an elk tag in mind for fall '26, I'm looking at a few upgrades and would love to hear any input yall might have for getting things squared.

Arrows: currently shooting Easton Carbon Raider Platinums in 340 spine, 9.3 GPI. With 100 grain mechanicals, the entire setup weighs out at 399 grains. My initial thought is Iron Will S series 125s- good fit for the Eastons I have, or would an upgrade in the arrow department help those broadheads out?

Rest: been shooting a whisker biscuit forever just because it does fine for at my 35 yard east coast MER. Obviously very different game for elk. Hamskea Everest a good start? Any tips for someone new to the drop away world?

String: got a 2 year old Zebra that will be getting replaced. Between Mathews tending to run long and that Zebra, I've been using a cam that's a full inch shorter than my measured draw length and my anchor point is probably still 1/2" past optimal. Recommendations in that department?

Everything else I think I'll probably keep how it is- I know 5 pins are old school, but I'll be stoked if I can get everything dialed to 50. Thanks in advance for any input getting this figured!

 

[CJ_BG]

If the iron will shoots well then that's all you'd need to do for arrows.

Try the whisker first, if it shoots good enough to whatever distance you want it to then why change?

Catfish custom strings are my favorite but I will say I haven't used a ton of different strings.




425gr arrow with an iron will that shoots good is plenty of lethality for elk. I'd make the simplest changes first just to see what if anything really needs to change.

 

[billysmals]

Arrows: What are they cut at? The total weight at 425 will be fine if you go to 125's on the front. I shot 428 this last fall for elk. I didn't get one, but my set up was fine. If your arrows are longer at 340 spine, you may have to up spine, but try it first.

Rest: Your whisker biscuit can work fine as long as you can tune a broadhead with the arrows and bow out to 50-60. In severe cold, rumor has it they can freeze with moisture. Depending on where the weather sucks and can get cold for elk. I was in Wyoming and several days it was under 30 in the mornings and it did rain and sleet as well. As far as an Everest, it's great. I run one now. They are on clearance used for $129 and that's a smashing price. It just doesn't have micro adjust, but I didn't care and it shouldn't keep you from buying it if you like it.

Strings: Everyone will probably have their own flavor. I've used GAS and 60x and it was fine. I was going to look at Unbound archery in the Vec 99 string for my next set. Honestly I prioritize a string that won't stretch and won't twist. I don't go too far into the rabbit hole on materials 452, 452x, Vec99....ect....

If you do get a new string you may need to adjust your cam again. Especially if there is no stretch in the new one.

Your sight will work fin as a 5 pin. In my experience most elk shots are 50 and under. Yes there are some times you can stretch in longer, but that's not that norm. Most of my shot opportunities were under 50 easily.

Have fun!!

 

[OXN939]

In severe cold, rumor has it they can freeze with moisture.

That's one of the big ones. All my buddies who shoot competition say your groups will tighten up quite a bit, too, and it's a lot easier on the fletching. Looks like both the Epsilon and the Everest on sale right now, and reason to wait for the newer version?

 

[billysmals]

The new Epsilon is called the R7. It's does everything the epsilon does, but now is dovetail integrate mount compatible and supposedly the adjustments are easier to access. They both do the same micro adjust though. The R7 is $329 compared to the clearance Epsilon. The Gen 2 Everest is $199 and lacks all the micro adjust of the R7 and doesn't have the fully capture bearing arm the R7 does. I don't think it matters though personally. The hamskea rests are bombproof. It really comes down to how much that the micro adjust matters and how you want to mount it. If you cant do an integrate, then its just paying for the micro adjust. That's up to you if you want it.

I didn't pay for an epsilon and bought the Everest gen 1, but I used it for the COR mount that hamskea was using before switching to the dovetail inegrate.