Bear Kodiak

[Irish]

I have been looking for an older Bear, and did find one.   Problem is it is 60lb at 28.   How much weight can those old bows be reduced without really effecting performance?  Bow is a 60 inch 1971 model.  Hoping to get to 53 or 54 lbs.

[raghorn]

Maybe 5 lbs, I have done it a couple of times and just not happy with the results. Some guys have taken off more than 5 lbs but I think you either end up with a narrow limb which loses stability or thinner glass which means that the wood core is doing more work, which can result is some limb follow. It is better to find the weight you need. My opinion.

[cacciatore]

I second Raghorn,usually a 71 Bear is rarer in 60# thatit is in 50#

[Steve95]

I would not look to change a older bear bow to your desired weight but look until I found a bow that was made to your weight. Lots of bows and most guys have to drop weight with age. Young guys going elk, moose or bear hunting can still use that 60#  SK.

[d. ward]

those bows were built using a formula of the glass and corewood thicknesses.If you change that formula to much you'll end up with a bow that does not shoot as well as it did originaly.I've done several myslef and have had a couple done by another and as mentioned above I was never as happy as I would have been with the correct draw weight bow ... just some food for thought bd

[shick]

I believe the recurves don't fair out as well as the deep core longbows with weight reduction.  Just my experience.  It takes more than weight out of them.
Shick

[Irish]

Thanks guys!   I will keep on looking.

[SportHunter]

I would wait for a bow closer to your target weight. Plenty of Bear bows out there.

[Widow's Son]

Lots of old Bear bows out there. I had to quit looking at them. My credit card can't take anymore. LOL Good luck on your search.

[Blackhawk]

I have a '68 Super kodiak at 52# that showed some hard use, so decided to have "Whip" do some refinish work.  During the process, Joe found some problems that required some weight reduction which put it at 48#.  

It now shoots better than ever and looks like new.  Joe says he can safely remove 10% from most bows, so if you find one that you just have to have, but want the weight a little less, "Whip" is your man.