Bear Montana Bamboo

[Rob DiStefano]

Always liked the Montana longbow and have had more than a few over the years.  They were always on the money with their listed draw weight @ 28" and always pulled smooooth with little to no hand shock as long as the arrow weight was in the 9gpp and up. 

Just received the newer Montana (45.6lbs @ 28", same 64" ntn length, riser looks like a black dyed Dymondwood) with bamboo limb cores instead of maple that are under clear glass instead of black.  I pulled off the leather arrow plate and replaced it with Teflon tape and Velcro loop rugged the shelf.

As a fan boy for bamboo, this bow was worth the added $75 to the price tag (paid $500/shipped - ouch!).  The supplied string was too short so I spun up an endless with BCY 652 Spectra and got the brace height to my liking, a low 6-5/8".  The lowered brace height shows more emphasis of the mild r/d limbs.  Is it better than the maple core version?  To me, there's a slight edge to bamboo cores but that might not be appreciated by other folks.  Either Montana version, maple or bamboo, are fine American made longbows.

[Friend]

Appears to be an improved gijp and the dymond should have added some mass wt. Both are big plusses per my desire for improvements over the previous Montana design.

Hope you find that she is a gem after you two have had time to get acquainted.

[frassettor]

 Nice looking bow rob! Will you be shooting alluminum wood or carbon? Is it cut to center.?

[Rob DiStefano]

As with all Montanas and most other longbows, the shelf is cut 1/8" proud of center shot.  This has worked well for arrow paradox with 35-40lb spine shafts.

Strictly Surewood 11/32" Doug Fir shafts with plastic nocks - 420 grains (28", 3-1/2" feathers, for World Archery and 3D games) and 525 grains (29", 5-1/2" feathers for hopefully killing kritters). 

So far this longbow is the cat's meow for me.  Life is good.    

[frassettor]

As with all Montanas and most other longbows, the shelf is cut 1/8" proud of center shot.  This has worked well for arrow paradox with 35-40lb spine shafts.

Strictly Surewood 11/32" Doug Fir shafts with plastic nocks - 420 grains (28", 3-1/2" feathers, for World Archery and 3D games) and 525 grains (29", 5-1/2" feathers for hopefully killing kritters). 

So far this longbow is the cat's meow for me.  Life is good.    

Awesome Rob!

[Rob DiStefano]

For a stock USA built 1pc longbow with bamboo cores under clear glass, I don't think there's any choice available other than the Montana Bamboo.

This bow is quite perfect on a hunt or World Archery Longbow 3D comp.

[Maclean]

I'm also a huge fan of bamboo cores. I bought a Bear Ausable longbow in 2022 specifically for that reason. It was before they started using bamboo in the Montana. All but two of my bows have bamboo limb cores, and I love the way they shoot.

Nice looking bow Rob.

[trad_bowhunter1965]

Thanks Rob my nephew is looking for a Longbow I think this bow will fit the bill.

[Kelly]

According to the Bear Archery website the handle is made from black phenolic. That should be an improvement over the original actionwood material. I like my black glass Montana, looking forward to getting one of these.

[Rob DiStefano]

According to the Bear Archery website the handle is made from black phenolic. That should be an improvement over the original actionwood material. I like my black glass Montana, looking forward to getting one of these.

Whatever material used in that riser, only the arrow plate side shows definite striated layers that are indicative of a laminate of some type.  Works well!

[Steelhead]

Looks good.The grip appears a more indexed.

I saw you were using Spectre Rob.Are you still using B-50 and or B-55 for strings?I remember you liking it awhile back.

[Kelly]

Phenolic is a laminate, could be paper or fabric.

[Rob DiStefano]

Phenolic is a laminate, could be paper or fabric.

Yep, phenolic can be either solid or laminated - I've installed laminated phenolic limb tips on longbows.  That kinda laminate is just for show/looks.

[Rob DiStefano]

Looks good.The grip appears a more indexed.

I saw you were using Spectre Rob.Are you still using B-50 and or B-55 for strings?I remember you liking it awhile back.

Pretty much a typical longbow "locator" grip, which I've always preferred.

Yes, I prefer B55 Flemish strings and will twist one up for this bow.  It was just faster to spin up an endless to get a lower brace height and better check out the bow.

[Blackstick]

It is good that Bear is practicing their clear glass skills on a cheaper line of bows, instead of their high dollar Limited Edition Series.

[Possum Head]

It is good that Bear is practicing their clear glass skills on a cheaper line of bows, instead of their high dollar Limited Edition Series.

Agree! I often wondered why they didn’t venture in this direction.

[Brockett]

Great looking bow, glad Bear brought out another model of the Montana. Now that you have been able to put a few arrows through it,what's your opinion compared to other production longbows?

[Rob DiStefano]

Great looking bow, glad Bear brought out another model of the Montana. Now that you have been able to put a few arrows through it,what's your opinion compared to other production longbows?

In terms of mass produced production line mild r/d longbows, I dunno for sure, haven't sampled them all.  However, for those I've had or tried, from both onshore and off, I like the BMB best for smoothness of draw, really good cast of heavy arrows that are well over 10GPP, and little to no hand shock. 

[RIVERWOLF]

Beautiful Bow Rob !
Longtime Bear Montana owner myself . EXCELLENT Longbows imho. 
I've been emailing Bear Archery for something like this for a good number of yrs. Just a little nicer riser wood or green glass would have been nice ;^) 

This one looks really nice and fixing to get one soon as I can find one ;^)))

I was in wheeling Cabelas a while back , and they had about 8 or 10 Montana's , in what must have been a special build for Cabelas...standard black glass , but...with a Micarta riser (like these New Bamboo Montanas)and standard maple cores. It was hard not to buy one of those ,and waiting for a New Bamboo Montana ;^'     


Don't know who the "grip guy"(or gal;) is now for Bear Archery , but everyone of those Montana's I picked up not only looked GREAT , but the grips felt excellent !   

This thread has me "itchy" for my New Montana ;^)

Thank you for the post/review my friend .....

[M60gunner]

I must say that new bow is a vast improvement over the original. Is there anything saying one couldn’t make that riser more center shot? Like we did with the original model modifying the grip and those God awful limb tips? Enjoy.