Trad Gang

O.K. guys Im thinking of buying some new bows after the holidays and I really like reading about others opinions of what they have shot, becuase I cant get my hands on all of them.I looking for something @56" or shorter and I have heard good things about all of these bows. So which recurve would you prefer and why?
I used to have a widow SAII and it seemed a bit loud so I got rid of it. Now I hear that they are quieter? I am looking for something fast and quiet.

Can't speak for any of the bows except the RER. Have shot many of them and they all shoot great. Current bow is a 54" Arroyo 1 piece Recurve and it shoots very well. Static tips make it very quiet and no finger pinch form such a short bow.
Also have a 58" LXR takedown on order as well, loved that bow as well even though I have not shot many 3 piece bows I really liked, this one is different. Draws and shoots very nicely.
Can't go wring with a RER in my opinion, Kevin and Sue are great people to work with (they put up with me, so they must have some patience;)

I've got a whisperstik on order, I have heard they are a very quiet shooting recurve.

RER would be my pick of the litter..

Any bow that you love and cherish will be a deadly bit of gear. Buy the one you like - it will work!

Of the three you mention, I have shot Black Widows and RERs.  I like all of the Widow recurves that I have shot with the exception of their short one piece models.  I am also not that big of a fan of their longbows.

The two RER bows that I have shot were also great bows.  One was a longbow and the other was a recurve.  They were both one piece models and they both shot exceptionally well.

QuoteOriginally posted by Ben Kleinig:
Any bow that you love and cherish will be a deadly bit of gear. Buy the one you like - it will work!

I agree with Ben

Having only shot 1 Widow and 2 RER's (LXR and Arroyo)...my choice would be the RER. Just an outstanding bow in all aspects and excellent customer service.

Widow PSR in 54in or a Shrew in 54in are the best I have found.

my #1 recurve is a BW SA III 56"s.  

my #1 longbow is a RER Vortex also 56"s.

I LOVE them both! best bows (for me) so far and I've owned/shot a BUNCH.

I think my next big purchase is gonna be a RER LX.

I'm shooting a 58" Vortex now with a new LXR soon to arrive. They shoot great ! They're a terrific family to deal with and know personally!!
P.S. That 58" Vortex has the infamous D.A.M.grip!

I can't say enough about my RER XR... A buddy of mine has a BW that got me interested in traditional, but I went with the RER.  Kevin and Sue are great to work with too!

If that D.A.M. grip is as good as that D.A.M. guy, you got a good one there!

I've shot a number of bows from all three of the bowyers you mentioned.  They're all good, but I'd personally rank them:

#1 - RER
#2 - GP
#3 - BW

My 2 cents.

I own a heap of SA Widders.  I also own an RER.  I can't speak to a GP.

If you have a long draw...go with the Widow.  I pull 29 inches and IMNSHO, BW makes without a doubt, the smoothest drawing bow for a given length.  I can shoot a 58 inch Widow.  I cannot shoot a 58 inch RER.

If you have the need to have a bow that stands out in the crowd, RER will build a bow that will make your eyes pop.  BW will build what you want but in terms of flares, saddles etc.... in the riser, RER will provide more options.

I've had all three and like all three.  The above opinions are pretty accurate to my way of thinking.  The bow I've shot best with was an RER takedown recurve.  The bow I shot most consistently with was a PSA Widow.  The GP was probably as good as the other two but I wasn't          .  
This is my opinion, the Widow is a smooth bow and the GP is a quick bow but the RER allows you to have both of those things and make it as pretty (or as ugly) as you want.  I have had wonderful experiences dealing with all three companies but, Kevin and Sue at RER will make you feel like they work just for you.  Unfortunately the RER will probably take longer to receive if you want a made to order, custom job quickly.  As for me, I'd like to have any one of them back.  No complaints with the ones you've chosen.

If you are going to order a Widow i would highly suggest you try before you buy. I ordered a PSA and hated it. I currently have a PSR osage that is one sweet bow. That is a lot of money to spend on something that might not agree with you.

I will send you a PM on my suggestion to look into.

I have a Black Widow, a RER, and a Great Plaines.All shoot well but I feel RER and the GP give the best performance. My BW graybark is one of my favorites but I think the RER and the GP are a bit faster, they are all near the same poundage. With a bit of work they all can be made silent.

RER!  Kevin and Sue are standup folks and will do you right!

go with the Widow, call them up and take one for a test drive.

widow's for me

doug77

I have several Black Widows 2-PSA's, 2-TF's, a MA and a PSR. I also have 2 RER Arroyo's. the Black Widow guys and RER (Kevin and Sue) are top notch people both very easy to work with. I am currently hunting with my 56" 1999 Black Widow TF III. I shoot this bow better than any bow I have ever owned. My one piece Widows have more mass weight than the one piece RER Arroyo's. Kevin (RER) made my 58" Arroyo in Tiger Ebony with bamboo cores and it's a looker. Buying a bow is a personal choice, in the last 4 years I've bought and sold a few good ones...

I own a GP red river grey and a BW PSA V, the GP is a very good bow-fast,smooth,without handshock, but the Widow is faster(5fps),smoother,more forgiving!
My 3D scores are by far better since I shoot the Widow.

If you're considering a 56" Widow PSR.... try out the 56" PTF.   If I had to have only one bow for everything, that would be it.

Wow! Thanks for all of the opinions guys.That is exactly what I was looking for. Sounds like they are all good bows. I should have told that I draw 28" and I want the shortest bow that I can also enjoy shooting. I dont care about looks. I dont want a pretty bow. I really like the looks of widow graybark and the finish seems the most durable too. I just want something fast and as quiet as possible. I know I can get grey wood at all of these builders also.
  What would you choose for limbs? Bamboo, carbon strips, actionwood? I have owned a lot of high end recurves but I bought them all used. This will be the first one that I buy new and built to my specs. I just want to make sure I do it right so I dont hate the bow.

Again, I dont' think you could go wrong with any of the RER bows. His static limbs allow a longer draw shooter to shoot a shorter length bow. In addition they are very quiet and quick. I like both the RER Arroyo's I've owned (a 60" and a 54"), but I liked 54" bow for Turkey hunting so it is the one I kept. You won't have any problems shooting his 54" bow with a 28" draw, I have a 27" draw and have not problems, I know others on the board shoot the 54" Arroyo up to a 30" draw with no problems.

Personally, I like the Action Bamboo for a core limb wood.  The carbon can add a few more feet per second, and if that is important enough to justify the additional cost is up to you.

Shot a GP swift the other day. The quietest bow I have shot.