Question on second or backup bow

[TSchirm]

I have a question for those of you with much more trad experience than I have.  I have a quality recurve that I really like.  I would like to get a backup or second bow when I can afford one (may be awhile, I need to sell my older one that is to heavy, which I will do when I have enough posts).  I actually have two or three questions.  First, is it best to stick with a recurve rather than a longbow to maintain consistency or familiarity?  I would want to be able to pick up the second bow and shoot it well without a lot of acclimation to it.  
Second, should the bow be about the same length as my first bow, or does this really matter as long as the bow is comfortable to me?  Third,  how close in poundage is wise?  I realize that fairly close in draw weight is probably important to use the same arrows (I'm very budget limited for awhile).  Would 2 or 3 pounds be just fine?  Would much more than that make things difficult?  I now shoot a 62" 52# bow, and was considering a 50# bow when possible, but wondered if a few more pound difference would be critical.  Thanks for any insight.

[Ragnarok Forge]

I would make the bows as close to each other as possible.  A couple of inches of bow length is not that important.  A few pounds of weight difference won't matter much either.  The key is to get the same shape grip on the bow.  I would look for a bow from the same manufacturer that matches your present bow.  

Your arrows should work if the bows match, this will depend on how well tuned the arrows are to your present bow.  If they are borderline on spine then a higher or lower poundage bow could find them not working well.

[rastaman]

If you really like your current bow, buy a backup one just like it. Then you won't have to make any adjustments.  If you can't afford that, then get one as close to that one as you can.  

[TSchirm]

Thanks for your thoughts.  I would like to be able to get another of the same, but can't afford it and the bowyer has a 2 year waiting list.  I can't afford anything right now, but hope to squeeze a couple hundred out somehow this summer.  I hope to find an inexpensive second bow but want decent quality so I can shoot it well without a huge adjustment from my current bow.

[tkytrac]

OK.  I'll throw a pipe wrench into this.  Devil's Advocate.....What is the purpose of buying a back up bow?  Is it just in case your bow breaks?  It could happen, but is not likely.  Especially if your bow is a custom under warranty. Why then a back up?  
Most of us own several bows of different weights, designs, lengths and materials. We buy/make them for a number of reasons. But mostly because it is part of the game called archery.  They are fun to shoot and collect. To sell and trade. To hold a new/different bow in your hand and take it for a spin on the range or hunt w/ it is what its all about. Romance of the traditional bug I guess.
We have a donated bow in our club that is sold at auction each year. It travels around from person to person so they can hunt w/ it for a year and send it on for the next fellow to enjoy. Its fun.
If you own a recurve, perhaps you would want to try a RF/DF longbow of the same weight(50#). This longbow design performs very much like a recurve. There will be differences but your arrows should shoot OK.  Much depends on the sight window and rest.  (How deep it's cut, etc.) Take your time.  Try some arrows through different designs and most of all....Have fun!

[TSchirm]

I know it is not likely to break, but even the bowyer who built my bow suggested getting an inexpensive backup in case something happens on a hunting trip, etc.  Besides, I am getting bit by the bug and would love to have several, but will have to settle for one, hopefully two, if I can afford another.

[widow sax]

I like to have a backup on everything and always for my hunting weapon. I think its good to have bows of different poundage one for bigger game and one for deer size game. Or shoot the lighter one at 3d shoots and shoot the heaver one to make it easyer to shoot the lighter one. I like to keep the speed about the same so I dont have any trouble with a different trajectory. I change the arrow weight to get this the same. I have no trouble changing between bows that are the same centershot but if they are not cut the same if they are not cut to center I will shoot left alot of the time. Its like anything else you get addicted and sooner or later you start to think I wonder what that bow is like and then you start to buy and collect them its great fun unfortunitly I have expensive taste.   Widow

[Longbowz]

For me I like to have a spare that uses the same arrows so I don't have to pack more with me.  The reason for having a spare in the first place is primarily on a trip that requires some travel.  Yes I could just take spare limbs(assuming a takedown bow) but what if your primary bow is lost or stolen?  A spare bow set up the same is the only answer in a situation like.  If it's a hunt closer to home then maybe a set of spare limbs is enough.

[Steelhead]

I would find something in similar length,grip,poundage,riser length and mass weight of the bow.If your bow is cut to center or past center it might nice to have one with the same centershot or past center if thats how its cut.Then the switch should be easy if you need it and the bow should feel similar.The difference between a 52 and 50 # bow is negligable.I would not sweat that.

[walkabout]

i have a recurve im very comfortable shooting...and a horsebow.. and a few longbows.. and ill be making a few more soon..point being, shop around and try diferent things, you may find you like one type or other for certain situations/reasons. for example, if im taking a fast shot for say wingshooting, im going with my longbows because theyre more forgiving of release errors. groundblinds ill take my recurve or horsebow. keeping the weight the same will help, although i find myself wanting heavier draw weights lately and have to accomadate. for consistency you could stick with a similar grip/ same arrow setup if need be, although youd surely be able to find something else that would shoot your arrows for your other bow.

[Thumper Dunker]

I sometimes take more than one bow. Start out with one and end up hunting with the other.

[firsted]

I take 2 bows hunting because I'm likely to hunt various environments - some densely vegetated, some not.  So I have a short shooter and a longer distance shooter (well, not REALLY distance).

[Pack]

If you are very budget limited I would really try to get a recurve with the same centershot and close in weight to increase the chances that you can use the same arrows.  You don't want to have to have another set of arrows or even broadheads if you don't have to.

[LimbLover]

If it is a backup for a hunting trip, I would order a similar bow. At least something of the same design with a similar feeling handle.

[TSchirm]

Thanks everyone.  I kind of thought the general ideas running through this thread were what I should consider.  I wish I could buy a bunch of bows, 'cause there are so many I would like to try, but not for quite awhile anyway.  Any other thoughts welcome, and thanks again for your input.

[Bobby Urban]

I use many bows of different lengths, weights and designs throughout a hunting season.  Some times I do not know what bow will go hunting with me until right before I walk out the door?  There is the old saying, Fear the man with just one bow, he probably knows how to use it!"  I am not that guy.  Pretty much at hunting distances I can hit what I am shooting at with any of my bows and I have dozens of arrow made up so I just get a good vibe about a particular bow and take it.  This is all about going out the back door to go hunting.  

If I am traveling to hunt I like my takedown recurves because I can have a second set of limbs to back them up that take up no space at all.  I could beat deer to death with any of my Bighorn takedown risers and not damage them.  I am quite certain you could drive a truck over the riser without functional damage so it is the limbs alone that need backing up.  If you can ever afford to, or you see a good deal in the classifieds for a takedown it is a good investment for just such hunts.  You then just look for used limbs and pick a few sets up along the way.  That is how I did it and I am not wealthy by anyones standards - just obsessed and it is tough to beat singleness of purpose.  

All that said - I have never needed a back up bow or limbs for any reason other than I like them.  Point is, I have never broke a bow in a lot of years of hunting so I am not sure how important it is.  I do like to leave my bow in the tree when I am hunting in the remote UP and with multiple stands I often have multiple bows hanging around the woods.  

The other option is to make a bow for a second shooter - I have a bunch of those too.  Trad archery is kind of addictive??

Have fun - Bob Urban

[Zbearclaw]

Is your current bow a takedown?  Buy extra limbs.

A huge factor in using the same arrows is where the riser is cut, hard to estimate what a differently cut riser will need in the way if arrows.  Having to buy new arrows, heads, etc makes that cheap backup expensive quick.

I got a takedown, and more importantly a custom take down from a bigger company with a long history because I can't afford another bow right now, nor do I have any urge to collect them, but I would bet a few fingers that BW will do anything possible if "it" happens.

[mahantango]

You leave several bows hanging in trees?!!! WTF

[Bobby Urban]

At different stand sights.  No need to carry the bow in everymorning in the dark - just climb up into your tree and grab your bow.  If you wake up in the morning and the wind is not right for the stand you left your bow in the night before, you choose another stand with another bow waiting for you.  Make sense?

[Steelhead]

You never know when bow a could fail.So it is a good idea to have a backup.Limbs can delaminate.Glue lines can seperate and they can flat blowup.Risers can blow in half as well or crack.Woods can have flaws that dont show up when a bow is 1st built.You just never know.It happens!We have all seen the my bow blewup threads,my limbs laminations are seperating etc.Heck you might even run it over with your truck or slam a limb in  the car door.

Its best to be prepared for those unfortanate scenarios with a backup plan in place.