Which Bear TD Do You Prefer?

[Nala]

Hey all,

One bow that I have always wanted is a Bear TakeDown recurve.  I want one even though I have never even had the chance to see one in person.  Just something about that recurve that draws me to it.

I'd like to know what your thoughts are about the Bear TD.  There are only a few models that I can picture in my mind because I don't have much knowledge about all the different variations along the many years.

I am curious about what Bear TD you would choose if you were given the choice to take one model over all the years they were made.

As for me, in my very limited knowledge, I think I would take the Black and Tan colored in the "A" riser length.  That's the short one right?  All the ones I picture in my mind are great looking bows, but I think that one is the best looking to me.  The Anniversary model in Rosewood doesn't count here.  I am talking about a bow you would use for recreation and in the field.

So what is your choice and why?  If you have pics of your bows or Bear TD's that you like, please post them.  Not only am I curious about what you would pick, but I am hoping to learn more about them and the differences over the years.

Thanks for your help.

Nalajr

[kibok&ko]

Hello NAla, Since years i was dreaming about a A RISER with the compass on the 3 Rivers catalog, i got one this summer from a french friend , shooting quite well with , but perhaps unfotunatly when the bow  was made by BEAR and sell by 3 rivers the Riser had a realy unique specificty nobody notified at this time ...

look here please :  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=107414;p=1

i'm afraid now about to put a FF pair of Limbs on to get a little bit more "punch" with my draw ... expect this big doubt for me on this one (i hope it's a unique mistake)  it's a fantastic bow for hunting

[Bowwild]

My choice would be the original woodie in an A riser. I like my A Mag and my A Supreme as well.

[William F. Adams]

Before trading for my "Green Strip" B-handle Gainesville woodie Bear Custom Kodiak T/D I read all of the old posts I could find here. Learned a lot.

When I got it, made a (prototype) case:

     

Finally tracking down materials and hardware to make a final version.

[Night Wing]

If I had a shorter draw length, I would go for a "B" riser with #3 limbs to make a 64" bow.

[park]

Nightwing what is your draw length?I was wondering why a B riser and #3 limbs are to short?I have a cousin how has a 31" draw and he is buying a B riser and #3 limbs.I see you have 66" bows.What are the recommendations for longer draws?

[cacciatore]

Fred Bear was a genius and designed in the Custom kodiak TD a system that could fit everybody. From 56" to 64".
I like both the A riser Type1 with Rose Oak #1 limbs and the Type 1B / Green Stripe always with the #1 Rose oak limbs.

[Blackhawk]

Getting an original A wood riser would be difficult and expensive,  :rolleyes:   but that would be my first choice.  

Bear's new TD for 2011 is quite an improvement in my opinion, and I recently got a new A riser with #3 limbs which make a 60" bow.  This length is plenty long for most shooters with 28-30" draws, but even #1 limbs on an "A" is comfortable for me with 29" draw.

Yep, tough decisions...but still fun.  

[Night Wing]

Park,

If there is one thing I can't stand, it's "finger pinch". I also have a 30" draw length and I shoot split finger with a tab (one over, two under).

My first "real" hunting bow (year 1973) was a one piece 60", 40# @ 28" Bear Super Kodiak recurve. When I shot this bow straight for 30 minutes, it gave me me a sore index finger because of my 30" draw length. It affected my accuracy because I started paying more attention to my index finger soreness than I was to aiming.

I ended up selling the Bear SK, but I regret that now since it would have made a great "wallhanger" for me since it was my very first hunting recurve and it was a "LOOKER".

I bought a Bob Lee 64", 44# @ 30" Signature Hunter take down recurve and after shooting this bow for one hour straight, I noticed the issue of finger pinch again, but not as severe as with the Bear. I shot this bow for a few years, but I ended up selling this bow too.

My next purchase was the right purchase, for me, because I finally beat the issue of finger pinch when I bought my first 66", 42# @ 30" Blacktail take down recurve. I could shoot this bow for three straight hours and never noticed any sign of finger pinch. I loved this bow so much and without the issue of finger pinch, I bought a second 66" Blacktail, 37# @ 30". I've shot this bow for five hours straight one day. I couldn't stop shooting it and didn't want to quit shooting it. My wife literally "dragged" me into the house and that's when I quit shooting it. No issue from finger pinch either after this long shooting session. I might add since Norm Johnson, who builds Blacktail recurves, has a 30" draw length like mine and Norm's bow is a 66" Blacktail take down recurve, Norm suggested the 66" length because of my dislike for finger pinch and he was right on the money with his suggestion for me.

Let me also say I'm a small framed guy, 5'9" weighing 160 pounds (on this morning's bathroom weight scale) with long orangutan length arms which gives me my 30" draw length. My fingers are small like a young girl's. My middle finger is 3 1/8" long and my index finger is 2 7/8" long. Since my fingers aren't long and they're skinny, my index finger notices finger pinch first and lets me know about it.....real quick. I think someone with small fingers, like mine, will notice the issue of finger pinch sooner rather than someone with much longer (and fatter) fingers than mine.

This is why when I said "if" I had a shorter draw draw length; say 29", for the Bear TD, I would choose a "B" riser with #3 limbs for a 64" length. In closing, finger pinch always occurs after long shooting sessions.

   

[Hud]

The older Bear TD's Type 1, then the Type II for the quality and appearance, next the early Bear Green-Stripe for the slim smooth lines. Limb choice would be Brandon Stahl's #1 limbs in clear glass, bamboo and matt finish, or black glass, and the early Bear WT limbs.

[jcar315]

Supreme Riser in either A or B length with Rose Oak limbs in #1 length.

Nothing better!!!

[Cherokee Scout]

I like the magnesium takedowns best because I can change the grip to my liking. As far as the "A", "B", or "C" length, I like the "A" to hunt with, the "B" for 3ds. The "C"s sure are smooth.
I have tired all limb lengths, I like them all. I was stuck on the short #1s as my favorite, but I have drifted to the #3s, all are good. I have some of everything and shoot them all from time to time.

[OldSkoolArcher]

I really really like the Green Stripers from the 80's and early 90's. I am partial to the A length risers though. My perfect handle would be an A length Green Striper. Those were never made so I am shooting the closest thing I could find to one of them. It is a 2004 A handle. Nice narrow grip with a low shelf.

[bianchijon]

I shot my magnesium B riser with #3 FF lims last night and it was a joy to shoot. I have a 29 1/2" draw length and there is no finger pinch, no kick, is very quiet and easy to tune. I love the looks of the wood handles and have all three sizes of risers but when I just want to shoot and enjoy it I take the B handle.

[smokin joe]

Fred Bear's favorite bow was a B riser with #1 limbs -- and he could shoot any Bear bow he wanted.

I currently have 4 Bear TD bows, and the one I like the most, because it fits my hand the best, is a green-stripe from the early 1980s with Rose Oak limbs (51# at 29"); a SBD six-strand FF string; and a Bighorn bow quiver.

I am shooting arrows that are 9.5 gpp at about 200 fps. When I do my part, it is a very accurate bow.

Don't be concerned that the sight window of the riser does not seem parallel to the arrow. All that counts is the contact point at the side plate -- the rest of the sight window is not relevant to performance.

[hayslope]

This one:

 

Type 1 "A"

Someone made this one to fit my bow hand perfectly!  Mated with #1 limbs at 50lbs.  Got lots of other bows.....none of them hold a candle to this one!  Did I mention it shoots like a dream?

[kuch]

Tony, are you sure they didn't make that one to fit MY bow hand perfectly ??

[hayslope]

Chad - they may have.......

Interestingly.......I have a couple of used Dale Dye takedowns that were made for the same guy.........both of these bows fit my hand exactly......just like the bow that Dale made for me!  He uses a drawn outline of your hand when shaping the grip.  Probably many of us have similar sized/shaped hands.

That "A" handle is scary though......fits so well!!!!!!!!!!!!