Take down bows

[Jaydub]

So I'm not sure if this is the place to post my question, but here goes.  

I've been a traditional archer since the Boy Scouts, and I've shot all kinds of one piece bows.

I was thinking about getting a Take Down.  Someone told me that I could get limbs of different draw weight and use them on the same riser.  Is that true?

[Prairie Drifter]

Yes. I have several bows with different sets of limbs at different weights.

[Archer1019]

Jaydub, you can get diff weight/length limbs for the riser from the same bowyer if you're talking about a standard 3 piece takedown. If the person you were talking to was referring to an ILF set up then you can mix and match ILF limbs of various lengths and weights from other bowyers with any ILF riser.

[Paul_R]

A lot of custom bows aren't made on precision CNC machinery or popped out of a mold which means limbs are often contoured to a specific riser. A "mismatched" limb should bolt on ok and the string should line up on center and be shootable but the edges/lines may not match the riser in a way that will make you happy with a bow costing hundreds of dollars. Best to ask the maker before spending money...

Your best bet is to go with an ILF set up. That way mix and match is guaranteed.

[Flatshooter]

Good advice from Paul.

[elkken]

You can also have longbow limbs and recurve limbs for the same riser on some bows along with different weight configuratons

[damascusdave]

Or you can have a set of longbow and a set of static tip recurve limbs that are the same draw weight...that is how my RER LXR was ordered by the original owner...my favourite out of the thirty plus bows I have owned

DDave

[Flying Dutchman]

If you own a cusom bow and you want an extra set of limbs, it is always better to send the riser to the bowyer. This assures you have that perfect fit.

[Jaydub]

Fantastic information guys! I will definitely ask the bowyer or go the ILF route.  I'd like to get 2 sets, one at 40 for practicing my form and another at 50 for hunting.

[nineworlds9]

From a competent bowyer a set of limbs made by them for a specific model riser should fit any riser of that model very well without issues as long as there is no stipulation that it is 'right hand' or 'left hand' set of limbs, i.e. 'keyed' to fit that particular hand riser.

Just as two examples, I have owned risers by Toelke, Bob Lee, or Leon Stewart that have taken other sets of limbs they made purchased separately with ZERO issues.  Of course custom fitting a set of limbs to a particular riser can't be beat in terms of perfection.