Prioritizing Trad Bow Expenditures

[klr650Teach]

Hey All, I have a couple trad bows now.......an older Bear take down recurve and a new Bear Montana. I can't help but think that a bow with the new ILF system would be a great way to go. You want a heavier set of limbs, you just buy the limbs and not another whole bow.

So the question arrises, where do you put your money? In the riser or limbs?

Ideally I think if you could afford to spend the money you'd go with both the pricey riser and limbs in a complete bow. But if the ILF system is pretty much the same with most risers, then why not buy a cheap one if it can do the same things as the expensive ones?

Buy a cheap riser and expensive limbs? OR, Buy an expensive riser and cheap limbs? How would a person be better served?

[Roy from Pa]

Buy the best and only cry once.

[Yooper-traveler]

If I was forced (thankfully not the case) to pick between the two?  The riser wins every time.  A cheap set of new or even cheaper used ILF limbs like the TT black max work just fine for hunting.  I doubt most folk could tell the difference between the very cheap vs the moderately priced limbs anyway.  Although, you can pick up cheap and good ILF risers and limbs now so.....

[toddster]

Don't take my word as I am an addict for bows,  but to me the price of limbs, might as well get a new bow.  I just never buy a bow unless I have shot it.  Once I have one that I shoot great (anyone of them is enough with practice), I stay with it or def. in that poundage for arrow flight.  Then I buy a matching one (back up), then rest of my money goes into the arrows, just the best.

[nineworlds9]

A Black Bear 'warf' with a set of mid grade to premium ILF limbs is hard to beat.

[old_goat2]

Some of the cheap risers will flex on you with hunting weight limbs, buy used and you get high end for lot less!

[Gdpolk]

I prioritize a riser that fits my hand, then arrows, then limbs.  That said some inexpensive bows out there are quite phenomenal. Don’t let pricepoint alone determine what you view as quality. My favorite bow of all time is an average cost bow, despite having owned and used several top end, ornamental bows in excess of $1500

That said if your really trying to get bang for your buck, I would look to the used market. Bows consistently sell for half of their retail value in good condition on the used market. If you don’t like the bow you can get all of your money back out of it after your “free” test drive. I’ve bought and sold well over 100 bows. Only two have been bought new, one was my Sarells Sierra that I had the chance to shoot for a few days before buying it over a decade ago. The other is a matching 2-piece Sarells Sierra that’s on order now with Bob. I can’t recall ever loosing more than $50 including shipping to buy, try, and sell a bow used and the vast majority of them I broke even on after shipping. After trying all these bows over the years and having only one keeper that stood the test of time, my one piece Sierra, I feel quite confident that adding a second Sierra for backup in a 2-piece takedown configuration for ease of travel and packing in will be an absolute excellent value FOR ME even at retail with several upgrades because I know before I bought it that the design of this exact model is what works FOR ME and will be a lifetime keeper.