Trad Gang

I was wondering if anyone here owns a Shrew Bow from Ron LaClair. If so i am wondering how they shoot(ie: smooth pull or if they stack up due to being so short). I am leaving for overseas next month and am looking for a new bow when i return as a little treat for myself. The Shrew line caught my eye because it is so short for a long bow and i thought it would be great for treestand hunting and all around stumping in general. Any insight ya'll can give will be greatly appreciated. Thank you guys for your time and help. HardWayMike

There are a whole lot of Shrew fans here including me. They are high end bows and wonderful shooting.  They are much sought after and the used ones do not last long on the market.  That having been said they are not for everyone, if possible shoot one before you lay your money down.

I got mine as a retirement gift to myself!

Be careful overseas and thanks for your service!

Steve AKA - Tillerboy

Mike, I think you would be very surprised at the smoothness and stability of the Shrew bows.  Most people pigeon hole them because of they are short.  The design of the Shrew is amazing and it throws all the old short bow wives tails out the window!!

I have a Shrew Samurai amd it is a very smooth shooter.  It is great in a treestand, in a blind or still hunting.  You will not be disappointed if you decide to get one.

You can't go wrong with a Shrew!!

javaman is a great bowyer

I have several Shrew bows, both longbow and recurve. They are smooth, stable, and quick. the best part of the Shrew design, in my opinion, is the ergonomics of the grip.

Awesome bows, you will love it.

Nobody has mentioned quiet yet, my super shrew 58" is the quietest bow I have shot.

A very good bow. A little extra attention to follow through and it will shoot as good as any.

Nope, they dont stack. I've shot the 54" bow at my 30" draw and its smooth all the way.

Eric

I just received a 56" SuperShrew from Ron two weeks back and the bow rocks. It shoots like it is a longer bow than it is and very easy to aim and hit with. Very Smooth draw and quiet I wish I had two or three Shrews.

QuoteOriginally posted by Steel:
I wish I had two or three Shrews.

Dont say that to loud.....before you know it you will have a bow rack full of them!!!  :thumbsup:

Yes I belong to the Shrew Clan. Samurai Shrew 2003. Mike

I have a original 54" Shrew and it's a great little bow...I'll never get rid of it...

thanks to all! i really apreciate the quick feedback and all of your help. by the way one of the votes for each answer are mine i dont know so i picked one each. thanks again all.

I just can't say enough good about my Classic Hunter. It is 54" @ 29 the riser is Bubinga and Cochaboa and the limbs are bamboo with Pacific Yew laminates. She is a beauty to say the least!

I have owned many custom bows but none compare to how I like my Shrew Classic. This is the smoothest drawing and hardest hitting bow I have owned. It is deadly silent and the handle fits me like a glove.

I always thought my Black Widow had a great point of aim but this Shrew is just like an extension of my hand. I am 6ft 2in and have a draw length of 30 inches and this bow pulls smooth from start to finish never stacking up anywhere in the draw.

There is no finger pinch at all with this little shooter either, when you draw it back you cannot believe you are pulling back at 54 inch long bow. As I said earlier I am a big guy and I can literally sit flat on the ground and shoot this bow without any troubles what so ever.

I am truly confident that you would be more than satisfied with this bow, matter of fact I am convinced you won't shoot another bow like it!

If it came down to where I could only own one bow it would be my Shrew Classic Hunter, I have shot the Shrew recurves and liked them and I have shot the Shrew longbows and liked them more, but as I stated earlier I have never shot a bow I like better than my Classic Hunter of any brand or bowyer!

One more voice singing in the Shrew choir. I have always shot 62" longbows, and my 54" Classic Hunter is smoother, quieter (with the little Shrew bowquiver I don't even need string silencers), more accurate and just as fast as any. And far more beautiful. And Ron and Gregg are great to work with and for follow-through after your buy. I'd take mine to bed with me but my wife wouldn't understand. dave

I have to join in and praise the Shrew Bows. I own 3 and they will be the last bows sold when my hunting days end.

All 3 are 58" and are a plesure to shoot and hunt with. No stacking,no hand shock just great little bows.

I would like to buy another but may have to go out and panhandle to raise the cash........

Recieved my first Shrew today.  I have shot a few in the past, and was impressed.  Looking forward to getting into the field with my Shrew this fall.

Reading these posts has changed my entire perspective on bows. I am currently looking for a 64" recurve to accommodate my 30" draw length. Now I am thinking about a 54" classic hunter. It sounds like the bow I am looking for. Smooth draw and points well. A short bow would make hunting out of a ground blind easier.   :bigsmyl:

I don't see myself ever getting another longbow over 58". I shoot a short bow very good and they are such much easier to use in a treestand or bush.

60 IN AND DRAW TO 29 1/2 AND VERY SMOOTH SHOOTER

Scott E -- I'd go with the 56" classic at that draw length. Still a really short bow!

If you draw 30" I would suggest going with at least a 60" Shrew (or Griffin) for a smooth draw in tight places/odd positions.  Shrews are great little bows, but even they have limitations.  

Have owned many bows over the years including five Shrew longbows.  I currently have two Shrews and they are among my all-time favorite designs, along with the venerable Howard Hills.

I'll second the advice above...its always best to try a bow before you buy.  What one person likes might not be what you are looking for.

Scott, Dave is right on the suggestion for a 56" Classic being a better choice for your 30" draw. The  Shrew Classic Hunter is different that the Super Shrew in that it has a shorter riser plus  the limb has more reflex on the end, with the result being a smooth no stack draw for a bow of it's short length.

The Classic is made in three lengths, 52,54 and 56" with the 56" being capable of long draws out to 31". While the 54" Classic will take a 30" draw, the 56" length would be my recommendation for best overall performance at that long draw.

Here's a 56" Shrew Classic Hunter being drawn to 30"

  (http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/56in%20Classic%2030in%20Draw.JPG)

Here it is at 32"

  (http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/56in%20Classic%2032in%20Draw.JPG)

I stand corrected, haven't tried the Classic Hunter and it looks like its a winner for a short bow and a longer draw.  Darned thing reminds me of two limbs joined at the butts!  

Whats next, a Shirt Pocket Shrew?  Maybe a Telescoping Shrew?  I could use one of those...    :clapper:

Ron L.,

Would you also recommend a 56" Classic Hunter at my draw length of 29 1/2" or would a 54" bow work about as well? I don't know how much difference that last half inch of draw makes in which bow to choose. Also, does the Classic Hunter work with the bow bolt? I just don't like to travel with full length bows and really need to have at least a two piece takedown. Another question -- how do I find out what riser woods would be available to use assuming I can get the bow bolt installed? I know that some bowyers are hesitant to use various woods because of the lack of thickness in the riser when the bow bolt is installed. I don't know if that is a concern on the Classic Hunter. Last question -- I just read a post on TradGang from a guy who said that he had chronographed a Shrew next to another make of longbow and the Shrew was about 20 or so feet per second slower -- is that your test experience or did you get different speed results? Speed is not everything, but it is a major factor to me when we are talking a 10% or more difference.

Thanks for your input. There is no one who knows more about this subject than you do, of course, so I thought I would try to get my information from the "horse's mouth".

Allan

Thanks for the feed back everyone I think the classic hunter is the bow I will choose for my first custom. Too bad I wont get until next year   :banghead:  I bet it'll be worth the wait though. sorry for hijacking the post by the way-Scott

hey no problem scott, it just helps me get more info about my question. and i need more help than i can get usually;)

I have 2 Super Shrew's [ not the Classic Hunter Series]a 58" 55# and a 56" 59# both are awesome and were built by John McColough [who makes the Griffins]. They are definately smooth and fit the hand Sooooo nice did I mention quite and fast !!! Hope that helps in your decision to join the Shrew Clan. I'm confident the new shrews are just as nice however have not been lucky enough to get to shoot one yet.
Gene

Allan, I think the 56" would be a better choice for you. Yes, the Bow Bolt can be installed in the Classic.

As for the 20fps difference,  I don't believe that.   :readit:

Thanks Ron. That answers most of my questions. I had a hard time believing the 20 fps difference too. I would really like a shorter bow since my shortest ones currently are 60". I did wonder about what riser woods are available with the bow bolt. What is the best way to get that info? Should I just pick up the phone and call your shop? I probably need to get on the list so I can get a Classic Hunter sometime next year. It sounds like the line is only going to get longer.

Allan

Ron,

Here is the link to the page where the comparison was made of a Shrew being much slower than a Morrison.  http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=062739

Allan

Allan ,
I think you should give Ron a call on the phone and he will awnser all your questions . Hes a heck of a nice guy to talk to and its much easier that doing computer tag when asking questions about building a custom bow . Ron and Greg are first class all the way so you wont regret your decision to buy a Shrew .

Mike

My 54in Classic Hunter is my favorite bow. I also have a 54in PSR Widow. Both bows are within 2 # of each other. Shooting the same arrow I can not see a diffrence or tell a diffrence in speed. The Shrew Classic is the smoothest drawing bow I have ever shot.My 56in Chamelon shoots great but I KNOW the Classic Hunter is in a class all its own. There is something magical about this bow. I just can't figure out what it is.  :archer:

I have a  56 SuperShrew and am getting around 168-170 FPS With 475gr arrows 47lb@27 through my Chrony. Thats pretty darn fast for a 27" draw and under 50lbs plus the Shrew bow is flat out my Favortive bow at this time. It's short,smooth to draw and easy to hit with I really wish I had another one it a best designed longbow for my taste I have owned. I also Just received a New 58" Morrison Dakota carbon foam core limbs and I am pulling around 51 Lbs at 27" I shot it yesterday through the chrony same 475gr arrow 181 FPS average over 5 shots not bad but all things fair it is 4lbs heavier than my SuperShrew. My Friends 58" 48lb @ 28" draw Morrison Shawnee carbon foam core limbs hit 187 FPS to 190FPS over several shots(notice he has longer draw) with around 470gr arrow. One most Remember all bows have different performance even the same model same woods and so on. After all they are made one at a time. Also draw lenght,Lbs,arrow weight will all effect the FPS. I could go to a 540gr arrow and my the SuperShrew could like the heavier arrow and be faster than the my Morrison it happens. In the end I do think carbon foam core limbs will improve the performance on a longbow Vs wood but you would only be looking at maybe 5 to 10 FPS from what I have read. I would not buy a bow just to have carbon limbs. I would be looking at design,style,eye pleasing and so on first than carbon limbs once I found the bow if avaiable.

When comparing bow performance/speed, a very important factor to consider is the difference in the "shooters" themselves. Some people get off the string cleaner resulting in more fps from a given bow that another person, same bow, same arrows, same draw length, who's release will for a better word, "drag" off the string. A difference between a tab or a glove or the type of leather on them can also make a difference of 10fps more or less also. The best and most accurate test would be from a shooting machine.

Personally I want a bow that is stable and will shoot "line" To me it's not a race to see who's arrow gets there first but rather who's arrow hits where it's supposed to.   :archer:

I think you right there are so many things affecting arrow speed It's hard to see the whole story when compareing in the field. Plus I would rather have a bow that hits where I aim Vs one thats fast to miss the whole target!

(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m193/robertwestfall/DentonHill2008.jpg)

That is a 56" Classic Hunter drawing 32" (yes, 32")  Bow is 59#@32, and if i remember correctly, it was only gaining 2.5#/in the whole way back (hasn't stacked yet).

This is a great bow.  It needs you to do your part (form, release, etc.), and will not cure ills in those areas, but is a real pleasure to shoot one.

Gregg builds a great bow for Ron.

And for you speed junkies, this bow is throwing a 675g arrow 168 fps....... not sure why I even ran it through a chrono, but it was there..... I'm more impressed how it drives an arrow half way through a McKenzie 3-D target - much to the despair of the guy who has to pull them...

Well, I am convinced!!! I called Ron today and he helped me find the perfect Shrew for me. I ordered a 56" Classic Hunter with the bow bolt option. In about a year I should be getting a superb bow delivered to me -- hopefully in time for the fall hunting season. This will be my short hunting bow that will be particularly useful for hunting out of commercial ground blinds where long limbs can be a problem. Ron thinks it may become my favorite bow, but it will face some very serious competition.

I have spoken to no finer gentleman than Ron LaClair. He absolutely deserves his sterling reputation.

Allan

Congrats on a fine choice.  I know you will be happy with it.  Now the wait is on!!!   :banghead:

Great choice and I know you will be impressed as the Classic Hunter is just plain FUN bow to shoot!

Welcome to the club!   :thumbsup:

Thanks guys. I am not sure what club I am a member of yet -- maybe the "People Waiting To Be Shrew Owners Club"! I will be glad to join you in about a year, but right now I am like an expectant father with a long gestation period yet to go. If I don't like the bow, I am blaming all of you. Just kidding. I am sure I will love the bow.

Allan

Allan, the good thing about it is if you dont like it I am always willing to add another to my collection!!    :goldtooth:

depending on the specs, many of us will be in line behind Tim......  :saywhat:

Tim and Bob,

There is probably no way you are going to get the bow unless you buy it from my widow, but here are the specs anyway: 56" Classic Hunter, black linen phenolic riser with the bow bolt takedown option, brown curly birch limb veneers, stag limb tips, 50 to 52 pounds (I gave Ron a couple of pounds to work with) at my draw length of 29 1/2". That would be about 58 pounds at Bob's draw length and I don't know Tim's draw length, not that it matters since neither of you are likely to ever get it. :-)

Allan

You know, I could have a talk with Gregg..... darn, it missed weight.... what a shame (for you)....  :saywhat:

Allan, that sounds like a beaut!!  Good luck on the wait ahead.  I know it seems like a long time but it will be done before you know it.    :thumbsup:

Cool bows for sure....I think you'll really like it.

I've got a 64# Samurai TD...its my thicket and blind bow....great all around grip as well.

Well my wait is almost over, I talked to Ron last week and My Classic Hunter is being glued up this week.I ordered the 54" Classic Hunter with the Fall Brown Chameleon veneers,black leather grip and stag tips.I can't wait to get it.

I can only hope Gregg hits the weight right the first time so BobW doesn't end up with my bow. :-) I appreciate all the encouragement. It ought to be a great bow. Like Terry, I expect it will be my thicket and blind bow also. Ron LaClaire thinks it will be my everything bow. He may be right. He certainly helped me pick nice looking bow. Of course, his personal Classic Hunter looks a lot like the one I ordered, so he had some time to think about what he thought looked good in a Shrew. I hope all of you enjoy your Shrews, and I look forward to joining you as an actual owner next year.

Allan

Hey David,
My 54" Classic Hunter in green chameleon will also be done soon.  I also ordered stag tips as well.  What draw weight is yours?  Do they all come with a leather grip or is it an extra?
Ron

Ron, Your bow is getting sent your way today.   :readit:

  :archer:

YEEE HAAA!!!!Thank you Ron.

Lucky David!

Hello ronp,
I ordered my Shrew @ 43#@26" give or take a few pounds.They come with the leather grip.I had Gregg put a black one on my Fall Brown Chameleon.I just talked to Ron LaClair tonight,I should be recieving mine the first part of next week.