Are Kodiak Doglegs still shooters?

[Elmer Keith]

After watching "Land of the Tiger" with Fred Bear in India in 1963, my year of birth, I found out the he had used a Kodiak Dogleg for hunting the tiger and other game animal in India.

Are these bows still shooters? Somewhere I found out in an forum that some of these bows should not be used.

Now my question to the experts:
Which of the Kodiak Doglegs should not be used and which of them can still be shot and what is to consider when shooting them?


Thank you!

[d. ward]

1963 Kodiak Magnums type one were recalled.But the actual 60" 1963 Kodiak never had any problems.Very good shooters,I have a 55# probley shot at least 10,000 still rock solid shooter....great bows,bowdoc

[PAPALAPIN]

As Doc said, the '63 Kodiak Magnum 52" Type I was recalled because of crackup problems.  There was not enough glass to wood contact where the limb meets the riser.  It was replaced with the Type II.  That model also had some crackup problems so Bear issued the Type III.  It does not have as dramatic a "dogleg" design as the Type I & II models did.  This seamed to solve the problem.

The 60" Kodiak Dogleg, the "tiger Killer", never did have any real issues with it.  I have three of them and all solid shooters.

The problems with the Type I & II 52" Magnum gave the Type III and the 60" Kodiak and undeserved reputation.  Many uninformed enthusiest will tell you to never string a dogleg of any length, much less shoot  them.  This is what Doc would refer to as "Bull Shrimp"

If you are ever fortunate enough to get your hands on a '63 Dogleg Kodiak, shoot he crap out of it.  Many Bear enthusiest hold a three way tie between the '59, '63' & '64 Kodiaks as being the best shooting hunting bows that Bear ever made.

My favorite is the '64 with that  distinctive "Thunk" it makes when shot.

[Blackhawk]

It may be a shooter, but as ugly as the red-headed step-child.  :p  

(Of course, I thought the same about the Black Widow MA recurve until I shot one.)

[d. ward]

Now now boy's you know,If one of our children was a little bit let's say butt ugly...they would still be our child right ??? and we'd still love and nerture them right ??? (until they wreck your friggen car bouts 3 times).Even though they are a little ugly,but have a great heart ??? ya gotta love em....bowdoc

[PAPALAPIN]

I don't see the Dogleg as an ugly bow.  I like the cut of it.  maybe because they only made it one year but I consider it "Classic Bear".

Oh well, they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I'd love to be holdin' a "Dogleg"

[Horney Toad]

I never minded the dogleg kodiak, but think the dogleg grizzly is ugly with the funky color glass.

[ckruse]

I've always liked the dogleg design. I think the zig zag riser shape is cool. I think they may have a little more forward set to the limbs, because most seem a little faster for the weight than other Kodiaks I've shot. CKruse

[Precurve]

The '63 Kodiak is a very nice shooting bow.  Very similar in feel and performance to the '64 I believe.

Dave

[PAPALAPIN]

Ditto (without the "thunk")