Straw target boss life

RGrahamSmith

New member
Hi

Here's the problem-
How long ought a straw target boss to last? I've got through two in just a few months - the last only lasted a few weeks before the straw was belling out at the back and it's pretty much worn out in the middlle (!) I shoot maybe 500 arrows a week in practice, so is this kind of wear to be expected?

Is it just a pretty rubbishy boss? It's from Decathlon (yes, I know they have a poor reputation for a lot of things - but a target boss???) Trouble is, I don't have a lot of choice here in my neck of the woods, and even if I could get something sent from England to France, the postage would be prohibitive.

I'm coming back to England for a flying visit in early June, so could anyone suggest a source for a good target boss that I could pick up then? I could get something posted to a UK address beforehand, perhaps. I really need something that might last a while!

Thanks

Graham
 

grimsby archer

New member
We use quicks egertec straw bosses. We buy them in brand new and I reckon they last about 2 years with 4 people shooting at them for 6 hours a week.
We start them off as "tournament" bosses, mostly used indoor. They're good for perhaps 4 double fitas or portsmouths, rotating as necessary. Then we downgrade to "club" use for about 2 years. Then they downgrade to "beginners and haveagos" for another year or so casual use till they finally downgrade to "the bin"

Depending on the distance you are shooting and how good a shot you are, 500 arrows in the middle each week is a lot of practise. The middles are always the weekest part. Can you "offcenter" your aiming spots?

You might find a danage boss better value

Hi

Here's the problem-
How long ought a straw target boss to last? I've got through two in just a few months - the last only lasted a few weeks before the straw was belling out at the back and it's pretty much worn out in the middlle (!) I shoot maybe 500 arrows a week in practice, so is this kind of wear to be expected?

Is it just a pretty rubbishy boss? It's from Decathlon (yes, I know they have a poor reputation for a lot of things - but a target boss???) Trouble is, I don't have a lot of choice here in my neck of the woods, and even if I could get something sent from England to France, the postage would be prohibitive.

I'm coming back to England for a flying visit in early June, so could anyone suggest a source for a good target boss that I could pick up then? I could get something posted to a UK address beforehand, perhaps. I really need something that might last a while!

Thanks

Graham
 

Yorker

New member
Straw overall can last an obscene time if you get really decent ones, but what it falls down on badly is having holes blasted through the same place over and over.

This is one advantage of a Danage.
As for getting it delivered, Fedex and co will drive things halfway across the planet for cheaper than you would expect.
 

Teflon

New member
We also use Egertec straw bosses, we did try the Lyons straw but although initially very hard they seem to be loaded with the adhesive which comes out on the arrows this leads to leaking bosses in a short period of time.

We are alo trying a layered foam boss and a danages target, the layered foam needs to be re stacked from time to time, the danage needs the kevlar nappy on and the large depth centre cube for the compound archers.

with this maintainace we think that they will out perform the straw and they are better for the arrows.
 

Meddler

New member
By the look of the pictures in the "Share your world thread", it looks like your boss is 80 cm square by approx 5cm. This looks like the Rover bosses that Quicks sell in this country.

They are meant to be used with low poundage bows.

You can get better...

I know that you're in the Indre, but you don't say where...

There is an archery shop in Tours - STAR Archerie

STAR ARCHERIE - Sp?cialiste du tir ? l'arc sportif et de la chasse ? l'arc

Try them for some info re suitable targets.

Iain
 
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ASW1973

Guest
as you are in mainland europe get yourself a strammit board or two, will cost you about 30 euros a board (1.5m by 1m) and for individual use it will last a very long time. This is the material used by most all clubs in europe and easily sourced. pm me
 

RGrahamSmith

New member
as you are in mainland europe get yourself a strammit board or two, will cost you about 30 euros a board (1.5m by 1m) and for individual use it will last a very long time. This is the material used by most all clubs in europe and easily sourced. pm me

Um... Yes. What are Stramit boards? I did a search and found that they are something in the construction industry line.... Is that right? If so, are they of use? What would the French term be? Anyone?

Graham
 

RGrahamSmith

New member
Anyway.....

Anyway...

Got really FED UP with the leaking target boss, so I've decided to Evostick a piece of carpet to the back of it (after pushing the straw back in) Know it'll be a stop-gap measure, and intend to get something better ASAP.

Thanks to all those who have offered suggestions. I'm taking everything seriously and I'll be looking very carefully for the next target boss.

Graham
 

Meddler

New member
Um... Yes. What are Stramit boards? I did a search and found that they are something in the construction industry line.... Is that right? If so, are they of use? What would the French term be? Anyone?

Graham
Stramit is an insulation material made out of thick paper/thin card over compressed sawdust if I remember rightly - just watch out because some types of Stramit have cement dust in them which wears away the arrow. The French for Stramit is.... Stramit (pronounced "Strameet").

Have a look at Strawboard Solutions from Stramit International
 

Meddler

New member
How's about this one - STAR ARCHERIE - MC KENZIE - Blockbuster - a McKenzie target boss. Looks pretty good value for 56 Euros. Do you think this would last?
Alternatively - does this look like the kind of thing I should get - STAR ARCHERIE - BIG ARCHERY - Diam?tre 90cm
At 90 Euros a time that's pretty steep, but if it'd last.....

Thanks for all the help

Graham

The BIG ARCHERY target is more like the Egerton bosses you get in blighty. Although if they are the Italian ones, they tend to be rock hard, and you may have difficulty getting the arows out, but yes they would last.
 

clickerati

The American
Fonz Awardee
Ironman
American Shoot
Although if they are the Italian ones, they tend to be rock hard, and you may have difficulty getting the arows out, but yes they would last.
Our club has the thick Italian bosses and we had a lot of complaints at the Pagoda about how difficult it was to remove arrows, but then, they were new and got wet in the rain that day. We were lucky to have bosses at all as rats got into the store and gnawed up 16 bosses beyond recognition.
 

sp220

Active member
My home club bought italian bosses after using egerton bosses for years.

yes - they were much harder

But they did not last as long, as they had a much higher glue content and got softer much quicker than the egerton. It was a case of one extreme to the other, went from rock hard to pass through soft in no time...

So they may be cheaper, and harder at first, but not as good value for money.
 
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