Bow recommendation and introduction

[Fisherking73]

Hey, new here. Great site, friend recommended me here. I currently shoot a bow with wheels on it (ok compound) and am in the process of trying recruve/long bow (not sure which I will get) I already have a Warf bow with 36lb limbs that I am going to use for working up my poundage to 45-50 ish hunting draw weight. What bows, long or recurve can you recommend that are forgiving for a new comer, and under $500. I liked my friends bow, a Centaur, just plain sick but over my budget for now. Also what is the main differences between a long and recurve bow besides the limb shapes? thanks in advance. Hopefully can get my first kill before the end of next year on trad.

[Mudd]

Welcome to the Tradgang family.

The best advice I can give you is to shoot as many different bows as you can at least to the point that you put your hands on the bow that says "I'm it!".

Enjoy your journey along with the rest of us.

God bless,Mudd

[Stumpkiller]

Check the classifieds.  You can buy and sell $100 to $150 bows to try various styles and you just might find a honey.  I have had new custom and top-shelf production recurves (Dan Quillion & Martin) but my hands-down favorite is a 1966 Browning Explorer I paid $115 for.  

Brownings, Bears, Ben Pearsons, Damon/Howatts, etc.  These were made by some of the world's best bowyers and a custom or modern bow offers little better.

[duncan idaho]

Hard to find a new custom under 500. Try 3Rivers Archery and Kustom King. I would check on a Martin Bow as a good quality beginning bow. Several of the sponsors list quality bows between 5 and 6 hundred. I am not very familiar with the rules here on buying used bows on the classified section, but, I am sure one of the other members will let you know. Welcome to Traditional archery and Tradgang.

[Fisherking73]

I wish I could try several different bows, but I have NO local bow shops, much less trad shops. Bass Pro and their 5 recurves is my biggest selection  :(

[El gran J]

Do what I did, if you really want to get into traditional.  Immerse yourself into it!!  Shoot a bunch of different bows.  When you find one you like, go with it, sell that compound, and don't look back!!  If you want to get good, you have to practice, with it, not switch back and forth!  You can't serve two masters is how it was explained to me when I started.  It's fun so don't get discouraged.  

David Oaks (Brush Country Bows) in San Antonio, Tx. makes a pretty good bow for $550.  I started with one of his.

[bolo7735]

Are you Gio from Boatless who builds custom fishing rods?

[SportHunter]

Stumpkiller has the right idea, buy and sell used or vintage bows until you find out what you like. Some of the vintage bows are really nice shooters. Go custom if you want but it isn't a necessity.

Bows I would recommend trying that are relatively easy to find used (and inexpensive): Kodiak Hunter, Bear Grizzly, Red Wing Hunter, Bear Tigercat. These are solid hunting bows with good reputations. I was just about to sell my Super Grizzly but I just couldn't part with it after shooting it again. Good luck.

[Night Wing]

Much depends on your draw length. Generally speaking; people with long draws, beyond 28", usually prefer long length bows.

I have a 30" draw length and I can shoot a 64" bow, but much prefer a 66" bow.

[WDELongbow]

The major decision point is recurve or longbow.  Many, including myself, feel the longbow is more forgiving.  No use to spend $500, you can find something quite serviceable for $200-300.

[KentuckyTJ]

Welcome from Kentucky

[Fisherking73]

Was looking as far as recruves go hoyt dorado or gamemaster as far as takedowns, the nicer one piece all wood recurves I know nothing about. But with the Hoyts I figure, like my Warf, I can change the draw weight easily. As for longbows, I have no clue. And for either I have no clue as to what makes them good, ok, or subpar. I really wish I had a local trad shop with a good selection. The other thing I forgot to mention that makes it tricky is, I am other handed (aka leftie)

[Gen273]

Welcome to the Gang!

I prefer Zipper Bows, but shoot all that you can to find what you like. After you find what you want just keep looking in the classifieds and you will find a great deal on the used bow of your dreams.

[Sixby]

Actually there are a lot of custom bowyers building onepiece longbows in the price range you are talking about. Then there are a lot more in the 600, price range. zipper is building a bow that is a no frills bow. Not sure how much it is but click on his site and check it out. I am building the Talon 11 in a pro hunter model that is 600 for a three piece takedown. Action wood riser and black glass.

Nice thing about the customs is that the bowyers build the lower price bows that shoot just as good as the higher price models.

I also would reccomend looking in the adds here for a really good used bow. I would bet you could find something fairly easy for that price. I have a Jim Jones Firefly Recurve that is really nice I took in on trade that I have not even advertised. I imagine there is a bunch of bows out there like that if you just figure out what you want.

God bless you, Steve

[stujay]

You might consider picking up some heavier limbs for your warfed riser. ILF setup I assume. If you like the riser a nice set of limbs gives you something that is top of the line. Also, welcome to trad gang!

[legends1]

Sent you a pm

[Fisherking73]

Yeah been looking at some limbs as an option. I like the WARF so far and it is shooting good groups for me out to 20yds, but have only shot it 3 times (very new at this)  While I like the feel of it, I love the look of teh trad longbows/recurves in all wood!!! Makes me drool a little LOL