Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: hawgslayer on May 02, 2008, 07:34:00 AM
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:wavey:
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For me the best bow is one that I felled the tree, split out a stave and turned that stave into a bow for myself. I only have one primary bow at any given time and shoot it for as many years as I can. My primary bow now is osage, copperhead backed with windshakes, a plugged rotten knot near one end, one punky, super glued knot on the edge, 64", 58@25, with 3/8" tips.
A wonderful bow, I could spend thousands on a glass bow and wouldn't like it near as much as I like my osage bow with all it's warts and imperfections.
Instead of dollars I have invested a bit of my soul as a worker of wood in this bow. It started as an awful, nightmarish stave with perfect rings. Doglegged, propellered and deeply checked I caressed it with my heat gun for weeks to to turn it into a gem. Layout, floor tillering and the progression to it's first arrow all were done with a soft hand.
This in not just a bow now but my hunting and shooting partner for years to come.
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I have shot and owned quite a few bows. The best in my mind I have found so far are Shrew Bows. The longbows and recurves Ron has designed are great although I seem to be a little partial to my Shrew Samurai. The bow is smooth drawing and hard hitting. All of the Shrews feel great in your hand with the contoured grip. I am not saying they are the best out there but in my mind they are top of the list.
My bow is 58" 54#@28"
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I tried shooting but do not own wes walleces, habu, I do have a black widow. I dont have a ton of experience. But as of right now I favor my Black Widow PMAV recurve. 64 inch 54@28 and is very smooth.. I have ordered a BW plx osage long bow 64 inch 58@28. I would personaly like to stick to a couple of "go to" bows and try to shoot them well./ GREAT THREAD! :thumbsup:
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Nearly every bow out there is a best bow for someone, especially when you make a memory or two with it. I got a heck of an animal with such-and-such a bow, and it is really special to me, and in that moment of connecting with that animal, it was the best bow in the world; if I'd purchased and practiced with and hunted with a different bow, then that one would've been the best one on that occasion. A fellow needs at least a dozen best bows...
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Originally posted by Ben Kleinig:
Nearly every bow out there is a best bow for someone, especially when you make a memory or two with it. I got a heck of an animal with such-and-such a bow, and it is really special to me, and in that moment of connecting with that animal, it was the best bow in the world; if I'd purchased and practiced with and hunted with a different bow, then that one would've been the best one on that occasion. A fellow needs at least a dozen best bows...
Well said. That's one of the things I love about this forum compared to some of the others I belong to-- no one judges you based on what you shoot, or for what reason. There is simply respect for anyone who has, or is developing, a passion for stickbows. :campfire:
I'm trying to convince my wife that I need "at least a dozen best bows..."!
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I agree Ben. I've had a few "best" bows. My current bests-with the exception of a Saxon Kadiak- are all pushing forty years old. My main shooter is a 60" 1969-70 style I Bear B riser TD, 66#@28, around 68-69# at my 29" draw.If I could only keep one bow or choose one to hunt with for the rest of my life, this would be it. This riser has been pretty extensively modified to a lower wrist, virtually no shelf, and isn't really collectible (my others are the same) but the bow will never be for sale in my lifetime anyway. It is not the fastest bow or the best bow for anyone else that I'm aware of but I've been shooting these bows for over thirty years and I kinda like knowing what to expect. Grant
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Bought and sold alot of bows, but I keep going back to my Centaur D/C longbows. Light in the hand, no hand shock, quick and nice to look at. Jr.
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Recurve- Great Northern Ghost
Longbow- Hill
All my homemade bows.
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I love my Morrisons and my Brackenbury Quest. They are the bows for me.Course' my Blacktail is right there with them.
Danny
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Good post!
I'm one of the guys who stands to gain a lot from it. I'm currently shooting a Bob Thompson (no relation) Zipper recurve 48#@27" the bow shoots very well for me but it stacks pretty bad at my 29 3/8" draw length (nock valley to back of bow). I'm just getting back into traditional archery and bought the bow used. I'm saving up for a new set of limbs but also thinking I could get another pretty nice bow for what the limbs will cost! I like the looks of a bunch of different bows old and new, production and custom as long as they feel good to me and I can shoot them I'm not too picky.
I would really like to build myself a bow some day too, just don't have the nerve to jump in yet!
Bob
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I wouldn't trade my 68" Howard Hill Big 5 @82#. Not only a mystical connection to the past as well as the exceptional performance & confidence with this bow.
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I have two, one 3pc TD longbow and one TD recurve.
The LB is a Jeff Carter Southern Draw, 64" and 46@28. It just plain draw smooth as silk and is fast for a low poundage bow. It is the easist drawing bow I've ever shot and now matter how long I am away from it, when I pick it up... I hit what I'm looking at. On top of all that, it's light and beautiful. Can't beat that.
The Recurve is my Marriah Thermal. It's 58" and 53@28. In the words of my buddy, JL (who I got the bow off of)... this bow is a freak of nature. It is the quietest bow I've ever shot and it is still really fast. The performance I get out of this bow is just leaps and bounds above anything else I've shot. I wouldn't get rid of it even if it meant starving for a week.
My two...
Greg
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I shoot my Hummingbird Kingfisher more than any other I have. it is 41# @28" it is a very smooth bow.
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For a longbow I love my Frank SanMarco 69" 80# @ 28". Still looking for my favorite recurve and Hybrid.
So the jury is still out on those two, but I lean toward the Blacktail one piece for a recurve.
Several out there in the Hybrid category. Will have to ponder a bit more before I speak out on them.
Oberon
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I haven't had my bows long enough to share the experience with them, having said that, I have had the experience of having bows that were too much poundage for me, overbowing myself, was a real education, I learned more from that in what not to do.
Both of my new custom bows, Bob Lee and Whip, are 43 lbs., from what I do know, they are smooth, quiet, and fast. Starting out with a bows thae had a lot hand shock gave me the experience and education to know what to look for. And the best thing you can do for yourself.
is listening to the people on this threads, "they" have educated me, and saved me money. So I guess the one bit of advice, ask a lot of questions before you take the leap, get a mentor from this site. There are plenty of wonderful people here.
Thanks everyone
Pastor Carl
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I've lost count the bows I've had over the last three and a half decades, but my two favorites are a Jack Knife Critter Gitter Osage/Cocobola longbow Jerry Brumm made for me over a decade ago, and an osage self bow made from a tree I cut down as long ago. Both are my hunting bows to this day.
Daddy Bear
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My new and bow-t-ful BW SAX. The reason I love my BW is I have an older one which spoiled me.
Black Widow with out a doubt.
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Been shooting a shrew for 3 years now... I just finished a nice 53#@24.5" 70"n2n selfbow.
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It's at the bottom. I need to shoot more recurves though. Morrison's look interesting. Love my ACS.
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It's hard to imagine that everyone posting has a different favorite, right? :thumbsup:
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Wes Wallace Mentor: great bows, great guy.
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I've owned and shot bunches over the years, but I still like and prefer a Robertson Mystical/Purist longbow. Smooth, quiet, quick and with no bad habits. I've been dropping weight a bit and recently picked up a used 62"er that is right at 55lb at my 26" draw. Like my other one, it feels great to me and I think I'm set again for a while.
Good luck to all in your search.
Hawgslayer, where in IL are you?
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I have owned many but my go to bow is still my Kemph Stealth 58" 54lbs@28" it is smooth quiet and fast shoots where I look :archer:
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John Shulz Legend 64#@ 261/4'' 66'' long. Fastest, most accurate, best handling, durable, and bloody bow I have ever owned. It is the standard by which I measure all bows.
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My alround goto bow and good friend is a Black Widow MA3 64" 62# at my draw of 31". I named it "Wild Thing".
Tim
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These days I play around with a 64" Thunderstick MOAB and a Black Bear Warf. My Chek-mate Hunter II gets a little workout too.
I'm picking up a slightly used Titan riser shortly and can't decide on limbs. I'll probably go with long Winex ones though.
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I have only been shooting a month now. I have a Blacktail Recurve VL Elite that I have started to shoot primarily. It is 46# at 28".
I also have a Bear Kadiak Magnum that is 40# at 28", but I hardly touch it now that I have learn to shoot a bit.
I plan to sell both of these and purchase a take down that is at least 54# at 28", so I am legal for elk and can travel with it easier as well.
I got the trad bug. Much more fun than shooting the compound.
I plan to visit Wes Wallace soon and try a couple of his bows. He lives 12 miles from me.
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The next two I have on order.. :biglaugh:
Most accurate recure BW PSA3 54@28 but loud..
Best feeling and quietest Whisperstik.
Prettiest recurve was a Robertson.
Longbows??? Prettiest was a Morrison.
Best feeling and most accurate with is my Yellowstone 50@28.
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My favorite bow of all time is a one piece Sovereign Trident, 60", 62# at 28". I have a take down of the sam model, weight and even though I have killed deer with it, it doesn't compare in the way the one piece fits and feels. The one piece is the smoothest bow that I have ever owned. Unfortunately or fortunately, I end up comparing all other bows to this one.
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I haven't shot a lot ton of longbows but my favorite recurve is a Border Black Douglas "Swift"-fast, smooth, quiet, forgiving-the best intersect of all those qualities and real purdy too! :goldtooth:
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I shooting a Bernardini cobra riser with Samick extreme limbs. 48#@28" at 10gpp IM getting 186fps with a 8.5" brace.
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I have shot many,many bows over the last forty years. For me Black Widow Recurves and longbows are my go to bows. All between #47 and #52.
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Whatever's in my bow hand at the moment is "best". :D
Currently, a very special MOAB, a Firefly TD hybrid, a "new" Troy Breeding hybrid, and soon enuf a coupla classic Mohawk longbows.
In the long run, there really is no best bow, just best friends and best memories on the hunt. :campfire:
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Agree with Rob, whatever in hand is the best. Have had many and am trying to whittle down some.Enjoy my RER Vortex, Border 1 piece recurve, and probablly the Blacktail that my wonderful wife bought me for our 28th, that will be here next week.
Definitely a bow junkie and hope to be til the end of my days.
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Originally posted by Tom:
... Definitely a bow junkie and hope to be til the end of my days.
Yep, I'm with ya podner - a bona fide glorified bow junkie, just lookin' 'round for my next fix. :D
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The only NEW bow I ever owned was the one my dad gave me when I came home from the marines after my tour in SE Asia in 69. That is and will be the best bow I have ever owned. Bear Kodiak Hunter 40#.
Semper Fi
Jon
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Great Northern Critter Gitter Jackknife 57#
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Horne's Traditionalist 64"s and 50#s at my 27" draw,Saxon American Longbow 64"s and 47#s at my 27" draw. The Horne's is my go to bow and the Saxon is just plain fun to shoot!I have a Lewis Hollow 3 piece takedown Longbow on order that I can't wait to get my hands on. I shot Chris Sparks Demo Bow and Fell in Love, again.
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Longbow-Griffin
Recurves-Wing P11 & Quinn Stallion
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Brack Quests, Morrison Cheyennes, ACS CX are my current favorites, but I just got my Shawnee riser and am waiting on the Dakota limbs, and I have a Brack Non-Typical on order, so who knows what my favorite will be this time next year. If I had to limit myself to just one bow, at this point I would have to pick a Quest -- but I don't have to, so I won't.
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My one and only bow is a Widow PMA II, 64", 49 @ 32. I read something about 'fearing the man who owns only one bow'........so watch out. :)
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:thumbsup: Mikuta longbow
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Just put together a Shawnee with carbon/foam dakota limbs yesterday. I'll be shooting her at least through our honeymoon phase. I hope we fall in love. :D
Also have an Orion with recurve limbs coming soon and I plan on wringing that one out real well. :help:
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My Firefly Longbow. 58" 60@28.
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Treadway longbow 58" 50@28.
Mike
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favorite longbows-pretty much anyone
I own RER Vortex, CM Crusader, HH Big Five,Sentman
Competition model
recurves- RER Aroyo and a 48" Bear Super Mag
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Like my Massie "Longhorns". Great craftmanship, superb grip, quiet and dead in the hand. Jeff stopped making bows three years ago. Turned the "Longhorn" over to Jim Belcher of Belcher Bows. Jim is an outstanding craftsman as well. Look forward to shooting one of his bows at the Texas State Longbow Championships in Ft. Worth over Memorial Day. Saving my penneys as we speak.
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Great Northern Jackknife Bushbow...'cause I shoot this bow better than any other I've tried. Not the fastest, easily the quietest, surely the best crafted.
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I think it's bad karma to pick just one. I like them best when they are 60"-64", 50-55#s with curves on the ends.
Trap
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wes wallace, bob lee, abbott, hoyt gamemaster...the list goes on... :thumbsup: :archer:
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I own only two bows. I owned my Black Widow for three years now and my Centaur for two years. Although I like my Widow, I shoot my Centaur a lot better and more consistant.
-YAAK
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I really enjoy shooting all my bows. but when hunting season gets close, or if I really want to hit what I'm looking at I find myself picking up my Treadway.
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Eric Krewson and I are of one mind when it comes to our favorite bow.
Selfbows just seem to have soul. They are not just a hunting instrument but a hunting partner.
Osage longbow 68" 58@27" bullsnake backed, floppy rest, braided fishing line handle.