Starter Bow for Wife/Daughter

[eminart]

Hey guys, it's been a while since I've been around here. I kind of went through a lull where I haven't done any archery. Some elbow problems slowed me down, then I picked up other hobbies for a while. But, I've dragged out my longbow again, and started flinging some arrows in the back yard.

Anyway, my wife and daughter are both getting interested, and I want to encourage them all I can. So, I'm looking at getting a bow for them to try. I'm just going to start with one bow for them. If it looks like both of them will stay interested, I'll pick up a second one.

I was thinking I'd pick up a relatively inexpensive takedown recurve with a light set of limbs. Then, if either of them continues, I'll eventually get heavier limbs.  I'm thinking something like a Samick Sage, but I thought I'd ask you guys if there are better options. About $200 is the max I want to spend initially.

[smokin joe]

If you look at the big auction sites, you will find used, good-quality bows like a Bear Polar in weights like 30 pounds for less than $200. This is an option that I would recommend -- bows that are easy to shoot well for very affordable prices.

My 2 cents worth.

[The Whittler]

Black Hunter from China I believe. Less then $200 and a great bow, you will look far to find a better bow. Hitman Archery and Twig Archery sells them.

[McDave]

They'll be more likely to stay interested if they aren't overbowed.  A 25# takedown recurve is a good choice.  It doesn't have to shoot like a dog.  PSE Razorback 1000 spine carbon arrows are light weight and economical and will zip right along out of a 25# bow.  Samick doesn't make the Sage anymore in a takedown recurve, but 3 Rivers has the Edge takedown recurve for about $160, which appears to be about the same thing.

[frank bullitt]

Check out the St. JUDES auction #1.
Black Rhino bow, arrows, and case.
29# @ 28".

[Witherstick]

I would be mindful of the bow’s actual weight and not just the draw weight. Ladies tend to lack upper body strength and can tire trying to hold a bow that has some weight to it.      Takedowns tend to have a little more weight to them. My wife has shot 40 lb plus draw weight bows for 20 years but hates bows that weigh a little more.  My daughter grew up shooting and echoed the same thoughts.

[Stinger]

This probably doesn't help much but I bought a light weight Old Mountain Edge off of xxBay in 2018 when I was looking for an inexpensive bow to work my shoulders back into shape.  They were selling them brand new for $80 shipped.  The bow is every bit as nice as the Samick Sage but the grip is smaller (tighter throat).  I swapped the limbs off the Edge with my wife's Sage and we both had perfect bows.  The limb fit was identical. 

I started my wife out on an old Bear Cub recurve and then a Shakespeare Yukon one-piece, but that bow was not nearly as smooth to shoot as the Sage.  I happen to like old bows but for my wife, the newer bows just fit better and had a smoother draw curve.  With FastFlight strings and light arrows as McDave said, the low poundage new bows will zip an arrow just fine.

[Bowguy67]

Are they dominant in the same eye?

[eminart]

Thanks, everyone. I've been looking into some of these Samick clones. It seems like every company is selling one. I haven't decided on the exact "brand" yet, but I like 3rivers, so I'll probably go with the "Edge" they sell now.

[Friend]

You may wish to consider a Black Hunter...

My shooting and hunting partner,, who has actually won the world in the traditional bowhunter class has a stable of hi end bows. He is hunting with a Black Hunter.

[mangonboat]

All three of my daughter, now all adults, and my wife all decided in time that they wanted to shoot with me with their own bow  and I learned a lot about how that interaction is filled with surprising priorities. In addition to getting a good draw weight and a comfortable grip, it seems that some ladies are as particular about having a pretty bow as many of the guys on here, others are just shooting machines, regardless of how a bow looks. After working through many possible contenders, they are shooting a 1962 Howatt Ventura, a 1962 Browning Diana, a 1962 Browning Apollo and a 1962 Corky Johnson Custom Shawnee.

[eminart]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

 He is hunting with a Black Hunter.

Just ordered one of these, with the longbow limbs. The reviews were all stellar, for a sub $200 bow. It seemed like the best choice as far as versatility, economy, and shootability. Limbs (both longbow and recurve fit the same riser) are readily available if I need to change anything. Hell, if neither my wife or daughter stick with it, I might buy some limbs for myself.

[Terry Green]

Test

[mahantango]

Perfect choice.