Broken limb, new limbs or new bow?

[usmcdeerslayer]

I purchased second hand Great Plains Rio Bravo take down recurve about 9 months back. I am atleast the third owner and the bow is atleast 10 years old. The top limb recently broke, but I hold no remorse towards Great Plains. I have honestly dry fired the bow myself as I'm sure many of you have done from time to time. I pinched the knock off of the string on draw and let go without knowing. This did not break the bow but caused a unseen crack that eventualy cause the limb to fail. So now I need a new bow or a set of limbs. I really enjoy having a custom recurve, but to get a new set of limbs is costly and timely. $410 to be exact. I have considered just getting a Hoyt Dorado or somthing similar that may make life easier in situations like this. I have heard good things about their reliability and I like the fact that limbs wouldn't be an issue and would be much more affordable. I know alot of you will say stick with the Great Plains on the fact alone that it is a more traditional option, but consider that if I did go the Hoyt route I truelly gain no advantage because I will not be using a site or anything like that. On the other hand I myself enjoy the beauty of the Great Plains. Any suggestions, input, or advise is much appreciated.

[GRINCH]

Check out the classifieds they have a variety of of bows at good prices including great plains.

[Thebear_78]

+1 on checking the classifieds here.  Its almost become an obsession for me   .  There are lots of great bows on here all the time at great prices.

[joekeith]

Personally, I love my Great Plains and would think hard on new limbs.  $410 for a $900 bow.
But.....I'd hate the wait.

Keep an eye on the classifieds.  A nice one pops up all the time, and ya can't beat the prices.

[Jason Kendall]

Check with Maddog archery, Mike use to make limbs for other bows I think.

[Lechwe]

I'd be guily of doing both. Get a new set of limbs and then find another good bow just for a back up or just because you want one.

Good luck,.

[Recurve50 LBS]

Few years back I had a 3 piece recurve. I had an accident and steped on the upper limb causiing it to de-laminate. I was not the original owner of that bow but I called the boyer and he said to send it to him and make a new set of limbs for my bow. He offered to send me a loaner bow to use while mine was getting new limbs.

When my bow returned a month later, I noticed that the limbs were a diffrent design than the old ones. They didn't even blend in with the riser and it shot real hard. I didn't like the way it was. In essence it was a diffrent bow. I wound up putting it up for sale on Trad Gang and someone quickly bought it and then quickly sold it after about a week with it. I sometimes wonder where it wound up.

[xtrema312]

If time and money are short I would get a use bow. Maybe sell your riser. A used Predator is a good value.  Limbs are not too hard to find used for them, and the limbs need no fitting. Metal or wood ILF risers are the way to go for low cost limbs with all kinds of options.

[30coupe]

It sounds to me as if the Great Plains was not "the One" in your mind anyway. If the bow/riser were the perfect fit, I'd go with the new limbs. Well, I'd probably also buy a used bow to use until the limbs were ready. If this bow was the perfect fit for you, you wouldn't be making this post though, so maybe selling the riser and going with a whole new set-up would be the best for you.

I know if my Kanati were to break, I'd be in tears. I truly hope it outlives me, because we are a perfect fit.

On the other hand, I like the riser of my Orion, and did have a set of recurve limbs made for it. If it were to break, though, I'd probably wait for Jason to build me one of his three piece bows (something that is nearing production).

[Lost]

Get the hoyt and head to the woods. A bow is a bow in the end. My passion for hunting superceeds my love for a nice custom bow.

[Shawn Leonard]

Buy any good ILF riser, like Zipper, Belcher, Dryad, Morrison, Border and get two sets of limbs. This way you will always have a back up set. If you can only buy one set of limbs that is fine, you can get another set in 2-3 days if something happens. Someones T/D bow is no more traditional than an ILF set-up!!  You can find a used ILF riser and limbs for 3-400 bucks!! Shawn

[usmcdeerslayer]

I really did love my Great Plains. I shot it very well and I am upset it is busted, but I do feal like these custom bows can become a major expense. I've always felt that having just one bow and shooting it well makes for a better bow hunter and I need to be able to rely on that one bow. I shot the hoyt dorado yesterday for the first time. It shot pretty good. It seamed a little thuncky though, but thats not a huge issue for me. I was also a little disapointed in the cosmetics of the limbs. they seemed very cheap, but on the other hand I have only heard good things about these bows and at the end of the day all I care about is that the bow performs. Is there a better production bow for around the same price? Does anyone have the dorado and want to offer any opinions? If I sold the riser what is a fare price?

[tecum-tha]

Pick up an older Bear for $100, while you wait or save up for new limbs.

[spike buck]

There's a B Model 1 piece for sale right now in the classifieds at a great price!

[usmcdeerslayer]

spike buck, I saw that bow and it is an amaing price for such a beautiful bow. I have actually considered it. A take down is nice, but to be honest I don't ever take my bow down in the first place. It seams like I rarely have a reason to. I wish my longbow was a takedown though, I have trouble getting it in my truck. I am leaning towards using my longbow for a while and possibly selling the riser. I have been in a gun buying spell for a while and have a hard time investing that much money in a new bow that will eventually fail when I can buy a handgun that will last me forever.