Stalker vs Satori/Uuhka?

[goodolehunt]

Finally going to upgrade from my bear Kodiak and wanted to see if anyone has shot both of these and has any opinions. I’m a lefty and there aren’t many trad shops near my house so it’s hard to get an idea of what I’d like

 

[Trey Arentz]

I would recommend starting with some sort of ILF system riser and limbs. Play around with grips, limb styles, rests, etc until you find something you really like and that fits you. Makes getting a custom bow so much easier and better. I've been through the ringer of ILF systems and finally bought a used custom bow and it's about perfect.

 

[goodolehunt]

I would recommend starting with some sort of ILF system riser and limbs. Play around with grips, limb styles, rests, etc until you find something you really like and that fits you. Makes getting a custom bow so much easier and better. I've been through the wringer of ILF systems and finally bought a used custom bow and it's about perfect.

Kinda what I’m leaning towards. I’ve seen some good looking used bows custom bows for sale recently but like you said the amount of riser, limb, grip, etc. options is honestly crazy.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I went from Satori/Uuhka to a stalker and much prefer shooting the stalker. I’m not a hardcore trad guy but the satori had no soul

 

[2Stamp]

I started with a Satori. Being able to swap limbs around is great. I've since picked up a couple Stalkers (non-ILF) and a W/W Black wolf (also ILF). I sold the Satori , not because I didn't like it, I just don't need 2 ILF rigs, and there was more value in the Satori. I'll probably sell one of the Stalkers this coming year. I just don't shoot it as well as my other.

 

[Beendare]

Lefty here....I shoot both. Well actually I shoot the metal riser clone- F261 a knock off of the Satori. My Stalker Riser is an ILF so I can use any one of thousands of limbs on either.

Heres my 19" Stalker with Uukha SX 50's (right) and an older pre South 19" Dryad riser with Uukha Selenghas

I'm a big fan of the ILF system. I have shot and owned many customs- none have shot as well as my ILF's.

Lots of good advice on starting out; the primary factors being start light and develop good form. The problem for many is they develop bad habits and never really learn good form- thus their accuracy is inconsistent and when you can't hit anything missing animals- you get frustrated.

The Stalker ILF riser is a little bit heavier than the Satori. Heavier- within reason- makes for a more stabile platform less hand shock. Both are good.

I think the 2 best strategies to start out are;
1) Buy a cheap light bow 30-35#, then sell it for what you paid moving up to what you like
2) Buy a good riser, then cheap starter limbs- easy to move up.

You can ping me if you have specific Q's. I'm in the SF Bay area and if you are close are welcome to shoot anything I have or even borrow my F261.

 

[CodeMonkey]

Be aware: the Satori is a gateway drug.

 

[Beendare]

That picture makes my Dryad look like a 17"...nope. I have a 30.25" DL so I like the 19" risers over a 17" even though I can shoot either, I prefer the better string angles of the 19" with longs (=64" bow)

Edit; I should have added that to get a riser like mine built I would expect a 5 month wait- minimum. Call them, South answers the phone. I think you can get his bulk produced version from Tom Clum....I don't know if it's as nice as his customs.

With you coming from a Bear bow, you might like the shorter risers- 15",17". The Uukha and Nika limbs along with some others don't stack that bad at longer DL's or on a short riser.

FWIW, I have a set I bought used of the patented limb South is making now they push pretty hard- they are OK but not in the same class as the Uukha or Nika.

 

[CodeMonkey]

I will add that the Satori is like the Glock of the trad bow world. It's functional, modular, but soulless and not particularly pretty. Said differently, you're not going to have your grandkids fighting over a Satori riser.

The modularity seems like a great idea, until you spend more time tinkering with it than actually shooting. I spent way too much time messing with rest options when the factory shelf system is bombproof and gives me near perfect arrow flight.

Despite all its faults, I find myself shooting my Satori well enough to justify investing in a higher end set of limbs. Worst case scenario, I'll have a bow that can serve as a back up.

 

[SnakeEater]

My stalker is hands down my favorite bow, they’re beautiful and shoot great. If you want the best of both worlds look at the P2P riser by RMS gear. Stalker makes them for RMS and they’re a wood ilf riser. The grip on them, the clum 3.0, is my favorite grip so far. My stalker wolverine has that grip and it’s been excellent.

 

[minas stiris]

Mine is my Bear Takedown. "There are many like it, but this one is mine," so the saying goes. My first glimpse of a Bear TD was when I was 13, and it became THE quintessential "trad" bow in my mind ever since, despite there being many that are prettier, faster, cheaper, or whatnot.

Mine is an A riser in Bubinga and black phenolic, and I've got 3 sets of limbs (two #3 and one #1 set). The grip feels like it was made for me, and the balance, sight picture, and overall fell are just right.

 

[Beendare]

I will add that the Satori is like the Glock of the trad bow world. It's functional, modular, but soulless and not particularly pretty. Said differently, you're not going to have your grandkids fighting over a Satori riser.

The modularity seems like a great idea, until you spend more time tinkering with it than actually shooting. I spent way too much time messing with rest options when the factory shelf system is bombproof and gives me near perfect arrow flight.

Despite all its faults, I find myself shooting my Satori well enough to justify investing in a higher end set of limbs. Worst case scenario, I'll have a bow that can serve as a back up.

There is a lot of truth to that comment. With ILF you have so many options...then add the temptation to try to find nirvana and you end up with a lot of options. Personally I have about 7 sets of limbs but part of that is thinking I wanted heavier- then I realized I don't need it.

I've shot enough of them now to know that what I have is about as good as it gets. I haven't bought a set of limbs or riser in many years. I will try a custom here and there when I attend a shoot and I find another lefty that lets me try his bow [all do]. It only confirms that my setups are about perfect for me.

It's good and bad as a lefty- you don't find as many lefties at shoots- thus less testing. The good is that once you have your riser, you can put any ILF limb on there- literally thousands of options.

One key factor; I can tell you that even the cheap name brand ILF limbs are good. Something like the WNS C3 or C5 at about $100 are pretty amazing. You only get small incremental improvements with the more expensive limbs- until you get to Borders which are in a separate class.