Stan Sahara Review

[Marcus]

Mick
You put a review in on the Stan Sahara. I got the impression that it was the 2 finger model. Is that the orangy coloured one? I was close to buying one on the weekend as an alternative to my CNC? If it is the 2 I'll go and have a try, thanks for the great review. :)

[Eberbachl]

Nice reviews Michael :D

Hey Marcus, I'm pretty sure the Purple one is the original Sahara, and the Orange one is the Sahara II.;)

Which one do you have Michael?

I reckon the Sahara (Purple one) looks pretty nice, I'm realy enjoying my CNC at the moment, but I'd sure like to try the Sahara also. I had a few shots with David's new Mirage 2000 LR the other day (I think he's going to leave the body in his tollbox ha ha, he only bought it for the hinge:)), but it didn't feel so nice in my hand as the CNC does.:p

http://www.dva.asn.au/images/images/sahara1.jpghttp://www.dva.asn.au/images/images/sahara2.jpg

[Marcus]

Yeah I really dislike the handle on the Mirage. The 3rd and 4th fingers are too far back which stops you using them for leverage. A straighter design is better because if you let your hand move to a natural position it will trigger the release, while with the Mirage it is already in a natural position meaning to trigger you must make it un-natural.
Just my first impressions really.

[mike]

Yep, I use the purple one (I like the colour!)

Yes, the Mirage I think is an ungly handle, for my hand any way. I have noticed, however, after shooting the Mirage for months that if you get your fingers into the grooves so that the release sits really well in your hand at anchor, then it is a really nice release to shoot. Problem -- hard to get that feel consistently and for me that spells death for a release aid.

As I said in the review, this is why Stan makes so many different ones -- every one's hands are different and what feels great for one, is awful for another. For example, the Maxim is VERY similar to the Sahara, but it is overall bigger in design, making it just a little to bulky for my liking.

Look at the Luxor, it is tiny (I mean really small, I reckon only a small child could use it, and would you let your kids use a Stan???)

What I think is strange is the CNC thing you guys have. I reckon its a good release but it has to be the most painfull release I have ever used!!!

If you're thinking of trying the Sahara II, I recommend it to you because it is really comfortable and doesn't dig in to your index finger like the CNC. (the Sahara II is just a 'sawn-off' Sahara)

Again, thumbs up to Stan for this one.

:D

[Marcus]

Yeah the CNC needs some time to get used to. When I got my first one it was that or the black 2 finger (only 2 they made) and it shot alot better than the black one. Right now I have calises (spelling? :confused ) built up all over my index finger so it's no longer an issue. However it does put people off.

Would I have a kid shoot a Stan? Year ago I would've said no. However I have seen so many people get depressed and leave the sport because they shot trigger releases and developed such bad TP that they hated shooting. They would try the Stan but once you have TP it's alot of work to get yourself out of it with the Stan.
Also it's the only legal way to give a kid a good smack in the mouth these days. ;)

[Eberbachl]

I hear what you're saying about the CNC Mike. I bought mine a couple of months ago and when it arrived, I took it to the club, had a couple of shots and thought - ouch! this is horrible. I then threw it in my toolbox, went back to my Cascade, 8 and that's where it stayed until last week!

I do like the Cascade 8 very much, and it took me to a ceratin level, but the other week, a scary thing happend! I was shooting, and I don't think I really ever had target panic, but this was definitely the begginings of it and I think if I didn't take action I'd be in a sorry state now. What was happening was that I was starting to put in some pretty good scores, and everything was OK, but when I wanted to go to the next level, my brain was butting in 'cause I was getting afraid to miss and I was anticipating the shot quite badly because my subconsious knew when the trigger was going to be let go, and my brain was telling my bow arm to push the shot out of the gold.

As I said, if I had let this go I think I would have been in trouble, but I took out the stan and put the Cascade away (not just in my quiver, but in my toolbox!).

The first few shots really hurt with the CNC, but there is a particular way to draw it using your thumb and two fingers which for me is very comfortable, so after a couple of days, it feels actually very nice to shoot.

The great thing about the stan is that my brain doesn't know when the shot is going to go off, so if my form stays good, I drill the gold.

Anyway, a week of shooting the CNC and I've shot 4 Personal Bests! I can't argue with that :D

I love my stan CNC :D

...but I would like to try the Sahara also ;)

Would I let a kid shoot a stan? I think if the individual child shows enough maturity and control there shouldn't be any reason for juniors not to shoot back tension releases like the stan. But it would need to be looked at on a case by case basis.

Hey Marcus...is the pink one that Erika bought a Luxor???

Could you ask Erika bring it tonight for Hayley to try please?

Thanks :)

[Marcus]

Yeah I think it is a lUxor. It's with my Dad so I'll give him a call.
Yeah Lukes been shooting very well with the CNC. :( A little too well if you get my meaning (best Adam West Batman pose) :D

Yeah there is some video on the site of Luke with the Cascade (he can post the URL if he wants it out there) and the CNC has really improved the follow through. I'll have to get some footage and do a comparison film.

[Eberbachl]

Yeah, cool...NP

The URL is http://www.dva.asn.au/images/images/lukeform.mov

:D

Thanks for speaking to David re: the Luxor Marcus...was he going to butcher it fot the hinge?

I'm hoping Hayley will like it, if she can shoot it well and likes it, we'll look at getting one for her.

:eek The Stan revolution at DVA :eek