Any issues with bulldog or micro 355? Which one to buy?

[L. E. Carroll]

Personally, I would lean towards the Micro as I like the size and handling of the smaller bow..... I suggest you also keep your Grizzly as a daily shooter if for nothing else just it's easier draw for long periods of pleasurable enjoyment. As you probably know from experience it would also be a great back up bow.

Gene

[snugs]

I just got to check both out, and shoot both.
How do you decock the bows with the guardian system? The guy at cabelas said he didn't think you could decock them? On my grizzly I just decock it using the rope. Could someone explain how the guardian works? Cabelas guy said he thought you needed to fire a bolt to uncock? I would prefer to decock by hand.

Initial impression. Unfortunately part of the time the bows had packages of paperwork with some kind of spare parts in the packages. Attached around the string area.
Cocking: both about the same. I'm 5'10" and used to do a lot of weightlifting. Neither one is too hard. The last inch or two of pull is the hardest. The micro 355 appears to be slightly heavier but also doesn't require as long of pull. They are basically the same. I guess I prefer the micro for the shorter length of pull but they are basically the same.

Size, weight, balance: I seemed to like the micro on this better. The bulldog seemed noticeable heavier but I'm wondering if that paperwork attached to it was throwing me off. The micro also had paperwork. I didn't think the balance was much better on the bulldog. I guess maybe the micro might have had a little more forward weight but it felt noticeable lighter, smaller/compact. I think I liked shouldering the micro better. Having the paperwork attached to the bows part of the time might have distorted my opinion.

The triggers felt the same, not sure if they are. Didn't pay much attention to the scopes as I was planning on replacing them, but they seemed very nice.

The bolt seemed easier to load on the micro as on the bulldog I was having to slide it in at an angle to get it under the holder. The micro bolts would just slide straight in while laying flat. Anyone else have to angle the bolts to load them on the bulldog?

It seems the stock might have been longer on the bulldog which might have made trying to get the cocking string onto the bow easier for me because I think I might press the stock again my shoulder while my foot is in the stirrup when I put the cocking string on. I think I might do this to stabilize the bow but this is a minor thing that I suspect I would adjust to on the micro. It seemed like the shorter micro might have been a little too short to do this as easy. I could be wrong about this since it happened pretty fast. The stock on the micro appeared lighter which may be why it may be slightly more front heavy. Being slightly front heavy did not bother me at all. I don't shoot off hand at all if possible. I keep my bow on a rail or shooting stick while hunting or target practice. Unless I had to take a offhand shot behind me I wouldn't shoot offhand. It seems the forward weight distribution might actually make the bow feel lighter while holding on a stick or rail but I'm speculating.

Not factoring in speed, My initial impression was I liked the micro better(cabelas guy agreed ), but it was also kinda splitting hairs. I think the micro will be just easier to carry around, through the woods, in the car. It just seems smaller and lighter and I liked shouldering it better. It seems the main thing I need to decide is if I want that extra speed of the bulldog???
My take from what I have seen is if you want the extra speed...get the bulldog. Other wise get the smaller micro. Do you guys agree?

[snugs]

Why do some of you prefer the 335 over the 355?
Have 355 and the bulldog been reported to both be about the same in terms of accuracy and durability?
These are both phenomenal bows and this is a tough choice.
Do you guys know if either of these can be bought without the scope?

[snugs]

Janesy you said the 335 feels better and is 1/2" shorter? Why does this feel better and I thought they were the same size as the micro 355?
What speeds are you getting from a normal hunting arrow weight for the 355 and bulldog?

Sew , you said the longer bows work better at 50+? Why is that and what is you experience with this? Do ou find the bulldog more accurate than the 355?

[Hunt it]

Accuracy wise all these bows are the same, they shoot very well. If you want flattest trajectory which will be more forgiving if you are off on your range a bit when hunting get the BD. I have both BD and 380x2, they all shoot 3" groups at 100 yards no problem if you do your part.

[janesy]

Not sure, the 1/2 for some reason makes it fit me just that much better than the 355. Not enough to justify one over the other, I do prefer the 355. The rail on the micro 355 is 1/2 longer than the 335. Excalibur claims a 400 grain arrow from a 355 will travel at 340fps. Search my posts, I chorny'd them back to back a couple weeks ago. However I have zero experience with a bulldog.

The Guardian system you simply push forward on the release button and decock as normal.

I have to ask? Did the Cabela's guy let you fire them with the tags hanging from the string??

[robertyb]

To answer the first part of your questions it is easy to decock using the guardian. You simply push in the lever on the back to deactivate the guardian and decock as normal otherwise while holding the lever in.

[snugs]

Haha no tags from string when firing- talk about a paper cut if that would have happened--jk. But I was only able to fire them one at a time so shouldering them one after another without the tags did not happen. I shouldered them several times one after another side by side when they had the paperwork attached. Not the ideal way to test this. When the paperwork was removed. Most time was spent cocking and firing. Both shouldered well but the micro was smaller lighter was my impression.

[snugs]

So you have to hold the metal tab that is near the safety forward while you decock the bow?

[Hunt it]

So you have to hold the metal tab that is near the safety forward while you decock the bow?

Yes, push it in using your thumb and hold it in when you pull trigger. You put both hooks on the string then pull one handle until tight then use other hand to flick off safety then push in dry fire device and pull trigger. Then lower down arm holding pully handle until string relaxed.

[SEW]

Sew , you said the longer bows work better at 50+? Why is that and what is you experience with this? Do ou find the bulldog more accurate than the 355?

I have only shot the Micro 335 (Gen 1) and not the Micro 355 either generation.
Accuracy: the longer the limbs, the more accurate. Very few M380s or M405s have the matched limbs, other accuracy enhancements, or scope quality as mine do. That combined with excellent custom arrows and using bench rest shooting conditions should yield extreme accuracy, and they do. However, when I shoot either an Equinox or a #200 Vortex, both perfectly stock, with my arrows, they both outshoot my Matrix xbows.
My Matrix bows both outshoot the Micro 335 with stock quills fairly significantly, especially at 50-70 yds. The quills were really opening up at at 50+ yards. Shooting my 18", spine indexed, helical Blazer, flat plastic nicked, 26g insert/170g field points arrows grouped somewhat better out of the Micro335 from 50-70 yds but no better at 50yds or less.
The Micro and Matrix series each have different strengths and weaknesses. These need to be recognized and then the appropriate choice made. If all my shots were 50 yards or less, I'd own a Micro. Mine aren't, so the Matrix series is better for me.
The Micro and Matrix (including BD400) each have their place.

[snugs]

Sew, do u remember what kind of groups you were getting on the micros at 75?
What about the bulldog?

[snugs]

If I got the micro which uses 16.5" bolts, could I use my 18" bolts on it? If so, would this be good or bad for performance/accuracy?

[SEW]

Sew, do u remember what kind of groups you were getting on the micros at 75?
What about the bulldog?

This was shot this evening with factory fletched arrows out of my M380 @ 60 yds. My BD is slightly more accurate. These arrows are factory fletched STs with 92g inserts, 100 g FP, 20" long, moon nocks for my defunct Sol 350. Just tried them a for a few groups. Surprised me. The Micro 335 Gen 1 was no closer than 2 1/2-3" @60 yds. This is with the supplied "Quill" arrows/150g field tip. With custom Zombies all 3 of my bows(380/405/400) will keep 1" from60-80 yds and 1 1/2 - 2" @ 100 under ideal conditions. A 200# Vortex, I use some but is not mine, will keep even tighter groups but is hampered by its original equipment scope. So haven't shot it past 60 yds either.

[snugs]

Wow nice! Thanks.

I'm guessing that the micro 355 will shoot 4" groups(or less) at 75yards? Does that sound right? I'm just extrapolating from the comments you gave me about the micro 335 shooting 3" groups at 60.
Just wanting to know what kind of groups people are getting with the micro 355?