Bear bows and a 30in draw

[joevan125]

I have a question and keep in mind i just took up trad archery 7 months ago and have been collecting for only 3 months. A guy that has been collecting for many years told me when i am shooting Bear bows i should not draw them 30in. He stated that they would perform better when shot from 28in and that they were not made to handle such a long draw length. It kind of got me to wondering if i am going to snap one in half and possibly end my short trad career. All kidding aside would someone help me out with this.

[PAPALAPIN]

Ask this long time collector why is it that that the old bear catalogs list their bows as

"Draw limit:  NONE"

Shoot the crap out of them at 30 inches plus.

[SlowBowke]

No offense but Fred Bear online in the bow identifier lists some of the 50s era bows having 30 and the three years of Alaskan listed as 28 for maximum draw.

Evidently it depends on the model but most were 30 inches unless later one when, as papalapin says, they quote it as "unlimited".

I dont think Id worry too much about anything after 1960. That said, these are old bows and several have had em blow, regardles of draw length.

Like anything, as it ages, any issues will magnify even at 28 inches.

[joevan125]

The kodiak magnum and the kodiak hunter stack bad around 30in.

[cornfed]

Joe,yer right those do stack,before 30 IMO ( I pull 30 as well). However pull 30 on a 62" Griz or Alaskan and yer gonna get alot out of those limbs.With 30" draw I personally wouldnt look for anything under 60".Even 58" to me is not that fun compared to 62 and 64 bows.Now thats not to say that you may or may not like a 58" Griz.that is always possible.Depends alot on you and how you shoot.That said you can always sell or trade away short bows to obtain longer ones.Enjoy yer collecting, cornfed

[Jeremy]

I stick to old Bears that are over 62".  Mostly that's for my own comfort - I don't like the finger pinch of the 60" and under bows.  Most don't start stacking until after 30", but that finger pinch gets to me.

The other reason I like the longer oldies is the pucker factor is a whole lot less when I'm drawing a longer bow  :D   It doesn't feel like it'll fold up on me  

[PAPALAPIN]

Ya wanna experience "finger pinch"...try a Super Magnum 48".

As far as shooting or not shooting them...these old bows were meant to shoot.

The only Bears I would be concerned with would be the '63 Kodiak Magnum dogleg 52" Types I & II.
These exploded when they were brand new,  Bad design.

Don't ever believe anyone that tells you the '63 Kodiak 60" dogleg should not be shot.  That bow only suffers from the reputation of it's li'l brother, the magnum.

[Grant Young]

Good advice, Jack. That being said, and as much as you guys know I love these bows, I'd have to admit that my 60" Bears "stack" a little. An honest draw force chart will short a substantial jump in poundage after 28 1/2 or 29" and it may be uncomfortable for some shooters compared to the longer offerings from Bear and others. I've shot them so long that I kinda like it but I can see why others may not. If you are worried about the bow- it should withstand 30" as well as 29" draws.  GY

[Don Stokes]

I wondered why I seem to be shrinking... next I'll be eating bugs.

[bowhawk archer]

I gotta see that!