Hey guys, I have been pondering on buying a new longbow, but i want a short one (58" or less). There are 2 problems: 1st I have never shot one and don't know where i could. 2nd i am not sure what flavor(maker) i would like better. Do you guys have some picks of some short longbows?? Thanks
Shrew, Shrew, Shrew! Others will also recommend excellent choices.
BobW
Thats a question only you can answer.try to go to oberon nd and shoot a kota. Nice guy i was stationed in grand forks about 12 years ago. You need to shoot diffrent bows and see what you like.
Shrew is a superb little bow, got one myself. Can't think of a bow easier to hit with first shot than a shrew. Superb grip, graceful lines, great all around bow.
Bob Morrison makes the best bow there is, imho...his shawnee/Dakota takedown longbow can be had in 54-62" lengths. Give him a call, he has bows in stock he will send you to try out.
I would vote for a 56" Treadway...
A black creek banshee
I bought a 58" Horne Brushbow as my short bow for ground hunting. Works great. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v445/Drewsifer/IM000933.jpg)
One thing about the short bows, they are not as forgiving as the longer ones if you get a bad release.
Best of luck in your search.
A few others shorties I have shot are the Thunderstick Mag, and Striker bows.
This topic comes up quite a bit and if you want lots of reading do a search for this topic.
But like said above only you can make that decsion. Do some looking on the net and pick out a handful that look good to you and call the boyer and see if they have a demo bow you could try out. This is the best advise in my opinion anybody could give you.
Oh and by the way my vote is for Shrew as well!!
(http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/timf24/Picture029-1.jpg)
There are a lot of design differences in short "longbows." Keep that in mind when selecting one. Some just won't work well with a longer draw. Generally, the longer your draw, the more deflex you will want coming off the riser, and the shorter the riser. Though I don't own a Shrew, I've shot a few. Can probably get more draw length out of that design than most others out there. Good luck.
I draw about 27.5 or so. Thanks for the pics
My draw is a for real 32" on my Chek-Mate. I'm not sure if it is bad form or the bow (or both), but my draw has dropped with the Shrew. Ron has said it could decrease slightly. Since deer season ended here, I haven't been shooting, so form may be in the tank. The 56" Shrew Classic Hunter is a new idea from Ron/Gregg for a long draw.
BobW
Horne Has a new one that he is putting out
I draw 27" exactly and I just got a 40# @ 56" black creek banshee forward handle longbow and it shoots great you can look into it at sipsey riverarchery.com hope you find a bow soon!
I recently got a JK Kanati from Jason Kendall. I really like the way it shoots. It is 58" and there is no finger pinch at my 29" draw. It is super lightweight, very smooth and fast, and looks awesome. I can't post pics right now, but do a search for "Kanati" and you will see my bow as well as others that own Kanati's.
Great bow at a great price.
Does treadway have a website???
Shrew.....proven and tested!!!!!!
Risen son archery makes a short reflex/deflex longbow from fifty inches on up and they are ultra smooooth!
I'll add a vote for the Kanati. At your draw you could go with either the 56" or 58" without a problem. The Kanati is of similar design to the Shrew bows. The grip is somewhat different, but at just over half the price of a Shrew, the Kanati would be tough to beat. Jason is also great to deal with.
I haven't shot a Shrew, but I am sure they are fine bows from all that I have read and heard.
I also agree with the others, try a bunch and see what works for you. I love my Kanati, but you may not, same with the Shrew. Before you spend hundreds of dollars on a bow, be relatively sure it is the one you want. Another excellent way to start is looking for a used bow. There are usually several to choose from here in the classifieds.
Is it bad to have a bowyer send you a bow with the purpose of just trying different styles? and not buying
ttt
Great Northern Critter Gitter Special at 56". Mine's a jackknife. Shoots well and folds up nice for travel or carrying out.
Is it bad to have a bowyer send you a bow with the purpose of just trying different styles? and not buying
GRIFFIN
Going from a longer bow or a recurve to a short bow is a little bit of a process. It took me a while to be able to shoot one when I converted, but now I wouldn't have anything else. I have a 58 inch thunderstick that shoots excellent and Treadways are also top notch. I'm gonna have to shoot one of the Shrews, as much as I've heard about em.
I think i just need to get my hands on some to try but as i asked before- Is it bad to have a bowyer ship you one just to try with little intent on buying that particular one?
Check out Dan Toelke's bows. I just got one and MAN - great delivery of an unbeatable product. Check out my post....
Toelke Whip...My New Baby arrived early
for pics. Bow was in my hands in 4 weeks...
Doug
It depends on how much you want to spend and how long you want to wait. The Three I would recommend A Shrew[one year wait]great bow have a 58"er. A Treadway[also a one year wait]another great bow very resonable at 500.00 with all boo limbs. I had a 54"er and shot a 58"er both excellant at my 27" draw. No he doesn't have a web site Mike told me he wouldn't even know how to start a computer , and a Jim Reynolds Thunder Stick Mag.I own a 56"er smokes an arrow, smooth, quiet, no hand shock .For a 56"er it draws like a much longer bow. A bargin at 475.00 and I think Jim's up to a 6 month wait. This is coming from someone that has 62" and 64" longbows. My 2 cents.
Horne Brushbow and Treadway. I own one of each and love them both. :goldtooth:
Bill
hey check out the Dryad bushwacker as well. I have one and it's now the only bow I shoot. 58" of hunting death. Beautiful lines, beautiful woods, fantastic bowyers. Mike and Jason are great to work with. Most amazing thing is their bows are made with all natural materials. I can't recomend them or their bows enough.
Derek
Here's a shot of me and the bow in action!
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/bard51/Scan0001.jpg)
I was impressed with the looks and performance reports of Kanati owners. The price of $450 is also a head turner. For the price of a Shrew I can buy a bow, bow quiver and a bunch of arrows. I'm not putting down the Shrew in fact I have never heard anything bad about it. I just think the Kanati is a better buy.
Toyrecurves, I don't think it's bad to try a bow to see if you like it or not. There are enough people buying bows anyway, if you don't buy it someone will.
Besides it's good advertiseing when someone asks to try their bows, they know the word is getting out there. Good luck and have fun.
Alan
Shrew!
I'm another Kanati owner and I think dollar for dollar, Jason Kendall has built the most phenomenal bow around.
Plus there are a few bowyers out there that will send you a demo bow as close to what you're looking for as they happen to have already available to see if it suits you or not........then you can decide to have one made to your exact specs.
I have a 56" Kanati and absolutely love it. It is very similar in design to the Shrew. Turn around time is extremely fast, especially considering that Jason Kendall is a part time bowyer. Price is also fantastic, with standard limbs of action boo, and muliple grip and tip overlays. These would be considered optional upgrades on most other customs, and would result in increased price. Kanati's got to be one of the best buys on a custom out there. Jim
I like more of a recurve grip but not a huge one. I have shot one other longbow with a skinny grip and did not like it that much
If you want a short longbow with a recurve grip, then Fedora bows is worth looking at. Jim
toyrecurves
Here's a pic of the Kanati grip.
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o232/Ottodude/PICT3156.jpg)
Centaur! :thumbsup:
So,
Which sponser sells shrews?
Brian Gillispie
QuoteOriginally posted by Brian Gillispie:
So,
Which sponser sells shrews?
Brian Gillispie
Ron LaClair's Traditional Archery Shop.
www.shrewbows.com (http://www.shrewbows.com)
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned Jim Neaves Centaur. I have two Selway Lil Mags, which are early Centaurs and both are great bows. 56", 49#@27", and 58", 56#@27". I used to have a Jason Kendall JK Traditions that was also a very good bow. Jason's new Kanati and the Jim Renoylds Thunderstick III and MOAB have to be some of the best values in stickbows today.
If a bowyer offers a trial bow, it isn't wrong to accept the offer. You are going to pay the postage both ways and he wants to get the bow in your hands. He is well aware that you may not buy it.
Hey thanks guys. I just shot and looked at some kota bows in Bismarck,nd. Nice but not for me. I like the grip on the fedora. It looks like what i am looking for
Kanati...not fedora. sorry
Is there a phrase for having the shooting shelf higher away from your hand than a shelf that sits right at the top of your hand????
My son has grown such that we now share all the Shrews we have. I bought him a 54" Chameleon to match my 56" to make our second father/son Shrew set.
When it comes to shooting those two bows, the draw weights are pretty much the same...and I was surprised that I actually liked my son's 54"er better than mine. Which is why there is a 54" Classic Hunter on order to make the third set ;o)
The grip on the Shrew is unmatched.
jack
Looks like the word is getting out on how great the Kanati longbow is. Just checked the website, current delivery is Sept. used to be 12 weeks. Still a short wait for an outstanding bow. There is one on e*** at a very cheap price brand new. Jim
My Kanati is due the first of June. Time is passing soooooooo slllllow.
I purchased a kanati on the auction site for my wife (38lb) and it was too much weight for her.I have a 32" draw length and decided to give it a try.Bow is 58" long and smooth and throws an arrow.I cannot figure out how this tiny bow shoots so well at my long draw length but I am keeping it. It is perfect for hunting the thick Missouri river bottoms and is a beautiful bow to boot....