Choosing a birthday longbow, what do you think??

[danshao]

Ok maybe it's just an excuse to myself for buying a new toy.. I've been shooting my ilf recurve so far and with the longbow limbs (had them for 4 weeks before I returned them because of a cosmetic flaw) it is SWEET! shoots straighter arrows than my recurve!

But I know that was not a real longbow so that's why I am looking for a real one and hopefully settle on it for years to come. Preferably I need the bow to be reasonably compact (under 64" and perhaps even better, 60") for the ease of travel and tree stand. My drawlength is 28ish so shouldn't be a concern in most cases. The bow has to be tough and last long too.

I hope I'm not offending any sponsor here so this is not much of a which-bow-beats-the-others kind of discussion, but more of a which-bow-is-like-what or which-bow-do-you-like-better-personally kind of thread..

So far I've narrowed my choices down to the following 4 longbows:
Bigfoot flatliner, whippenstick longbow, thunderstick mag (or moab), and northern mist baraga. They will be all in base models, no fancy upgrades, so the prices are comparable.

Wonder how people compare these 4 longbows and which one would you choose out of these?

-Dan

[awbowman]

Never shot any of the rest but if the grip on the 60" Mag fits you well that would be my choice.  Personally I love a TS Mag.  Bows are personal things, I think even more so with a longbow.  For me the grip has to be right to avoid torquing.

[Cavscout9753]

Your list is great and I bet more folks suggest others. The one thing that makes a bow for me is the grip, and longbows surely have several styles of grips. Have you held any of these or is that not an option?

[danshao]

Originally posted by Cavscout9753:
Your list is great and I bet more folks suggest others. The one thing that makes a bow for me is the grip, and longbows surely have several styles of grips. Have you held any of these or is that not an option?

Never held or seen any bow in the list in person  
The only longbow I held before is a bear patriot and an English longbow (74") from fellow archers. I'm very impressed by the bear longbow but the low grip I'm not very used to and it keeps bending my wrist (maybe it's supposed to do that  :D  ). I seem to shoot somewhat equally well with the patriot if not better than my recurve after several shots which got me really into the whole longbow thing.

So about the grip.. I haven't used many kinds of grip but I prefer to have some sort of shape in the grip instead of just a flat one (I guess it is called a dished grip??).

[danshao]

Originally posted by awbowman:
Never shot any of the rest but if the grip on the 60" Mag fits you well that would be my choice.  Personally I love a TS Mag.  Bows are personal things, I think even more so with a longbow.  For me the grip has to be right to avoid torquing.

Thanks for the reply. I have been lurking online for reviews about TS bows for months as a matter of fact. Do you have the same kind of grip on your longbows? And what kind of grip is that?
Thanks

[awbowman]

My TS Mag is a little beefier than my Super D.  My Super D is my go to bow.  I have 100% confidence when I drop the string that I will be within a 4-6" circle.

20 yards and in I'm within 2' - 3".  It's all about confidence

[Wannabe1]

As a new owner of a new to me, Liberty longbow, I say don't overlook Allen Boise of Liberty bows! His locator grip is just awesome. Of course, that is just my opinion.   :D

[Tajue17]

hmm I have a Baraga and its nice but I think where your liking a ILF model now I think the MOAB is the choice I think it has the edge in speed that should come close to the ILF,,, personally if it was me I'd get the Thunderstick 3 but that's me.

are you ordering new or looking for a "in stock" bow to avoid the wait,, if new consider the long wait on some of these bows there's a risk you'll like something else by the time its ready.

[DennyK]

How 'bout a Great Northern Bushbow with the Jacknife hinge?

[nineworlds9]

Out of those you mentioned, I would go for the Thunderstick or Whippenstick.

If I may add suggestions to the list, all cover various styles of longbow with different models and the price-points vary. so in no particular order, though I have a special affinity for Java Man, Leon S., Toelke, and Centaur   :D  

Java Man
Toelke- Montana Bows
Leon Stewart
Centaur
Fox
JD Berry
Liberty
Seven Lakes
New Wood

[Scott E]

I'm going to say the thunderstick of the ones you listed. But I'm going to throw another one in the mix. The Toelke whip. It is an awesome bow and it'll be ready about a month after you order it.

[ermont]

I had a Thunderstick mag....I have and will keep my Baraga.

[Blessed One]

So many great longbows out there I am just partial to Dan Toelkes take down whips. But now days there are lots of incredible bows

[danshao]

Thanks for all the great input. I'm now on the fence between TS and WS. I guess either one would be a good choice here.. unless if anyone have shot both could chime in  :D

[joe skipp]

I'm partial to Jack Kempf bows and the more I shoot this Kempf longbow aka "JK" the more I'm impressed with it's performance shooting both Doug Fir and Aluminum.

[danshao]

Thanks for everyone's input they were very helpful. Since almost everyone has recommended me TS and I noticed that I still couldn't decide between the TS and WS, I realize that maybe Whippenstick is what I truly want the most. Well the heart wants what it wants  :D
Anyway I'm going to put down an order for a whippenstick longbow next Monday and the ziricote is now looking better and better to me. Will post pics in 6 months when the bow arrives  

[mec lineman]

Whippenstiks are serious longbows, customer service is elite. I have a Thunderstick Moab and a whippenstick. BOTH are great bows. As others have said, the fit of the grip is very very important.

[grayfeather]

the bow you describe is a Thunder Child by Big Jim