3 Piece recuve help

[rluttrell]

I was told that this subject would be better here.
I am looking for a 3 piece recurve with switchable limbs. I have just started shooting a recurve and had a blast. I want something that will allow the bow to grow with me.  Please remember I am new and no acronyms. On the other post someone suggested IFL. I have no idea what he meant I am looking for a quality bow. Please instead of just throwing out names give me a reason why you like. Thanks
I should also mention I am looking for a wood riser

[rluttrell]

[bigugly1]

Just browes through the tradgang sponsors list and you will find something to fall in love with.

[Steelhead]

I believe you will find most bowyers offering a 3 piece recurve will have 2,3 or 4 different length limbs.

They sometimes have 2 or 3 different riser lengths as well.From short to long and light to heavy in feel.Depending on which length you get.So thier are a  few things to consider thier to meet your taste and requirements.Almost all offer wood risers and or a combination of wood and phenolic.

I would just search the sponser classifieds and see whats available from the bowyers offering a 3 piece recurve and start narrowing it down to some you feel you like the look and design of and then do some further research on those in narrowing down your decision.

A T.D recurve is certainly a very versatile design with all the lengths you can come up with and the different poundages you can have for different applications.

You might keep in mind some bowyers offer longbow type limbs for the same risers that accomidate the recurve limbs.Like Bob Morrison for example.You may want to try some of these style limbs as well someday to go with your recurve limbs possibly?

[Gen273]

I would say look at a Black Widow or a Zipper. They are both top end bows that will allow you to switch limbs. I think these are two of the the best take down recurves maid. That is just my 2 cents. Good luck with your search.

[Txnrog]

ILF is a standard attachment arrangement for limbs. I have no Idea what the acronym stands for, but basically, and ILF riser is interchangable with any ILF limbs - regardless of the manufacturer/bowyer.

There are TONS of options out there, and if you're like me, once you choose one, you'll find another you want.

IMO the best thing you can do is get your hands on a couple different bows to shoot. Perhaps there's a member on here near you, or there'll be a trad shoot somewhere in reasonable distance.

One thing about this group of folks I have found is very few are stingy about letting someone else shoot their bow. You'll figure out what you like and don't like fairly quick, but you can't do it on this forum (granted, there'll be plenty of folks willing to steer you in the right direction, but nothing beats hands-on)

[L. E. Carroll]

Before shopping and spending that hard earned cash... some things you need to determine.

1. Have someone who knows what they are doing, measure your draw length.        .. Give them a call and talk all of this over if you have the slightest questions. Keep in mind however, that as your strength increases, which it may well do with practice, and as your "form" improves, you may actually gain a bit in draw length..If you order a bow designed to be usable up your your draw length but not much farther... say a 28" draw which you have been measured at, I would opt for the next size up that may allow your draw length to increase to the 29" range.  This will save the cost of a longer set of limbs right away.        


2. Determine which eye is your "dominate eye"...It's very important when shooting a traditional bow.  If you find out after buying a right hand bow as a right hand shooter, that your actually "Left Eye Dominate".        ...You could have bought that Left hand bow in the first place... and started to learn, along with train those muscles from the start.. Many guys have eventually found that this is the case for their poor, erratic shooting, and had to change shooting hands and learn those basics over again but from the "Other Side"... this can be expensive.    :rolleyes:    

3. Find the weight of draw that you can comfortably handle and still maintain some "form", as a new shooter.. You can always buy heavier limbs if your bow is still in production, at a later date as your strength builds.  Over-bowing your self "right off of the get go" does nothing for the joy of shooting, improving your form, and accuracy.  In many cases this causes a new shooter to lay down a traditonal bow.         You'll be back here with some more questions..

 That's perfectly acceptable here and we love to help.

I highly encourage all of these steps before spending a penny.

Gene

[Elkchaser]

And then talk Gene into selling you one of his bows, because he has a stable full of beauties.

No, good solid advice here.

[buckeye_hunter]

If you are already certain that you want a 3 piece takedown....

Timberhawk Bows by Scott Mitchell are quality. His base 3 piece takedown recurve is $550. That is a very good price. He will make the grip to your liking and will accept the bow back (in unaltered condition)for a FULL refund minus shipping if you don't like it.


Quality guy with a fail safe policy. The riser for his base level bow only comes in one wood, but they are beauties!

[riverrat 2]

rluttrel, ILF stands for International Limb Fit.
it is a standardized method of limb to riser
manufacturing that allows the use of different
manufacturers limbs,on different manufacturers
risers. So you can use whatever ILF style riser
you wish on any variation of ILF limb. Longbow
short,medium,or long recurve limb etc. I shoot
a Morrison wood riser on Dryad static tip long
recurve limbs on one,and a Morrison phenolic/wood
riser with Morrison carbon foam Copperhead longbow limbs on another. Not every bowyer is
doing ILF set's. But some who are -- Dryad,Morrison,Zipper,Border,Tradtech. ILF
allows you to have a lot of choices on your set-up,and allows for a general 5 pound weight adjustment also. I love the ILF for interchange
ability. Others hate them. But look into it before you cast any stones.

[Jedimaster]

ILF is the ultimate in versatility and availability.  Many (if not most) manufacturers keep stock limbs and riser on hand - therefore there is no wait time for a custom build.  With all the different companies offering this option it would be hard not to find a style, length and weight to fit you specifically.  Something to consider in a grow-as-you-go bow.

As stated before, with ILF, you can mix and match to your preference.  Definitely get some guidance before pairing limbs and risers as the length of the riser will affect the stated draw weight of the limbs.  

In a wood riser, I like the previous mentioned suggestions "Dryad,Morrison,Zipper,Border & Tradtech".  I'm sure there are more but my mind fails me.

If you want a one-of-a-kind custom bow then just look through the sponsors at the top of the page.  Many of them offer ILF bows as well. Be sure to ask questions.

[Lechwe]

The best advice I ever received was to shoot as many different bows as I could before going out and spending a lot of money on one. I found that many of the bow I really like the looks of and wanted I just couldn't shoot well. Much of that was my form but once I found a bow I could shoot reasonably well I was able to advance a lot easier and can now shoot some of those others better. You'll never see me in the Olympics but I'm at a point I am really enjoying trad shooting now.

Good luck

[George Vernon]

Three piece take downs are versatile.  ILF is one way to go and you will have access to limbs from a number of vendors that will fit your bow with no modifications.  Please note a few suppliers talk about ILF type fitments, but are not true ILF.  ILF hardware can be added to limbs made for DAS, DALAA, and Hoyt and they will then fit any ILF risers.  A set of conversion hardware is under $20.  If you go with 'conventional' limbs you will typically be locked into the original bowyer for additional limbs and won't be able to order from stock.  A few bowyers like Morrison and Black Widow (I'm sure there are more) machine risers and limb butts with CNC equipment so you can just get the limbs and they will fit.  Hand finished bows usually require the riser to be sent back to the bowyer for best possible hand fitting.

There are a lot of good, used bows in the classified area.  Start there and save time and money.

[rluttrell]

Wow, I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to respond. I have learned a few things from reading what everyone has written. I have read each one a few times.
I am going to take my time and touch as many bows as possible before committing to one.
Thank you all again!!!!
Robert