Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Tradcat on August 17, 2020, 02:43:47 PM
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Hey gang, does anyone have experience shooting either or both of these bows ? If so, which one has more radical limbs? Which one do you prefer and why ? I’m considering both of these as my next purchase for hunting out of tree stands and tight quarters such as ground blinds. Thank you
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Steve try this link, I'd suggest you look at the Classis Hunter II ,they come in 52 54,56"
https://www.kustomkingarchery.com/Shrew-Bows/products/140/
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56” Super Shrew Classic Hunter II with it’s shorter riser and longer limbs is a wonderfully smooth bow and accurate shooter. I’ve also got a 58” Super Shrew Samurai. I’d pick the 56” Classic Hunter II over the Samurai, it’s that good and two inches shorter.
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Thank you Ron & Ray
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I have an older 58” Super Shrew Samurai and a 58" Whistler each 60# @ 28". The Limb profile on the Whistler is a little more aggressive. I like the grip on the Whistler better but to each his own. You wouldn't go wrong with ether they are both great bows.
PS I have taken deer with each at 25 yards with complete pass through using a 610g arrow.
Dave
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Dave, just as a point of clarification, my Samurai is from 1999 back when John McCullough was building the Super Shrew for Ron. It’s 58” and has a longer riser than the new Classic Hunter II. Bodnik Bows is making the new Super Shrew bows and he’s reworked the limb design and it’s certainly more aggressive than my era Super Shrew. Matching your draw and needs is really easy now with the Classic Hunter II that is being produced. The draw force curve is published right on the Super Shrew link in Kustom King website. Henry Bodnik has also done some nice write ups on recommendations of length depending upon what you are looking for in a bow.
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Ray,
I have followed all the posts with the improvements of the Shrew line. This is why I stated that I have an older Shrew. I guess I should have mentioned this happening.
Thank you for the clarification. Ether way the Shrew and Whistler are both exceptional performing bows!
Dave
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Thanks guys
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I think I’d lean towards the toelke. But either are great bows with huge followings.
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I've tried a lot of the short R/D longbows, and there are many good ones, but the Toelke, IMHO, is the standard.
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Hey Rocketman, pika or whistler?
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Ferrari vs Lamborghini. Good luck! 😁
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I have ALOT of experience with the Toelke bows--- mainly 56" Pikas. There's a reason for that. Ive shot the shrew bows, no complaints, but i just like the Toelke bows so much better than anything else out there.
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Thanks Rifleman
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Everyone has personal preferences, as it should be. Depending on other's opinions for best bow is like asking a hundred people what their favorite color is. They'll all be right for them but that's no reason they won't be wrong for you. But I'll add my $.02. Having owned both Toelke and Shrew longbows (not the Bodnik Shrew, just the McCullough and Javaman Shrews) the Shrew is the best bow I've ever had the pleasure of hunting with, and I've owned ALOT of excellent traditional hunting bows over the last 30+ years. I still own a dozen bows of different designs and brands but my 'redliner' Shrew is still my #1 choice when hunting season roles around. It simply works. I have not shot the new Bodnik Shrew design but if anything like it's predecessors it should be a great bow. For me, the Toelke is a beautifully-made and fine shooting bow but the grip feels smaller and less comfortable in the hand than the Shrew, and the bow doesn't feel as quick/natural to point in cramped quarters. For you it may be just the opposite.
Before you buy it would be a good idea try'em both. Heck, try as many different bows as you can. That's the only truly reliable way to really find what suits you best. Besides, it's more fun that way.
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The solution for your "well we can't call it a problem" is buy both and be very happy. :-)
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Between those two options, Toelke.
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Thanks guys. Please keep the thoughts and input coming
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Tradcat, I actually have both the Pika and the Whistler. They are very similar, but I usually shoot the Pika, mainly because it's a few pounds lighter draw weight and also takes better advantage of my short 27" draw. If you are ever trying to decide between the two, I suggest you first look at his Resource page on his website, and then give him a call. A few minutes with him on the phone can be very helpful, he's extremely knowledgeable.
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By the way, when I said give him a call, I meant Dan Toelke of course.
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Welcome Tradcat! Give Dan a call--- you won't regret it.
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I've owned and hunted with a Toelke Whistler, Shrew Classic Hunter (Coffey era), Caribow Wolverine, Centaur triple carbon (60"), and multiple Thunder Child(ren?) 56 and 58".
I got my Whistler last winter just after I'd finished up most of my hunts but rotated it with a few other bows all winter and into the spring for daily shooting. When it was time to commit to one for some high stakes hunts, I chose the Whistler. At my draw length (30.5") it's the smoothest of the bunch, has the least hand shock and Dan made the grip just to my liking (resembles a Jager or BEST style grip in some ways). Pound for pound, the Toelke isn't the fastest but it is the smoothest and most comfortable and the one that I consistently shoot the best. It also seems extremely well made and has already held up better than most to some very tough mountain hunting conditions. All the above bows are excellent and I've happily carried them all into the mountains but I'm stuck on the Toelke at the moment. The Thunder Child would probably be my second choice. That Classic Hunter was my least favorite for a variety of reasons but the bow I had may not be at all representative of the current generation.
Also, for what it's worth, at this point in my archery path, I am not interested in any bow that can't be built with a flattish, Jager feeling grip and I don't believe Shrew will do that for you. Big Jim, Toelke and Centaur will happily accommodate that and other grips requests but my understanding is that custom grips are not an option with Shrew.
PS. I have demoed but not hunted with an all glass 58" A&H one piece that was also very impressive and handled my draw well. There might be one of those on order someday for me. Even with the all glass construction it was remarkably quick with a heavy arrow.
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Hey skookuminak, I’m not sure what you mean by jager grip? Can you please explain? Thanks for your input. Tradcat
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a quick google search will show some pics but basically it's a style of grip that has a flat surface against your palm and a well defined edge that hooks into your thenar eminence (into what some people call the "life line") of your hand. it doesn't change the appearance of the bow much at all but Big Jim, Centaur and Toelke have all made nice examples of it for me. It makes the grip very repeatable and should reduce bow torque. jager/BEST style grips are preferred by olympic and barebow shooters
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Paul, you just described the Shrew grip.
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Hi Ron, I'm probably not explaining it very well but, based on the Shrews I've shot, (none of which are the current model) the grip is very different from what I'm trying to describe.
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"based on the Shrews I've shot, (none of which are the current model"
Over the last 25 years the Shrew bows have continued to evolve