Maybe looking at a "D" style longbow this summer or fall.
Looking for ideas; Dwyer, Kota, Great Northern, Northern Mist...
I don't have set price I'm trying to stay under but would like something in the $450-$650 dollar range. I want it to have a locator grip though; I guess that is my only requirement.
I'd like to say around 62" in length also...will that be okay or should I extend it to 64", I draw to 29".
Please post pictures of what you have and what your experiences with them have been.
Thanks,
Josh
Hey there Josh,
If you are looking for a true "D" style look no further than Howard Hill archery. Give Craig a call and have a chat with him about what you want. He is a great guy to talk to and will take the time to really get a feel for what you want. The prices are right in the neighborhood of what you want as well. As far as length of the bow, I personally would go longer, to me the longer they are the smoother and more forgiving they are, a lesser angle of the string and less limb deflection, equals a more forgiving bow...and oh so quiet. Just my opinion. Hope it helps.
-Hillbilly
dwyers are great bows. i have shot a couple.
i like long "longbows" i draw 28 and everyone recommends me 64 or 66. i always stick with 66".
just my 2 cents
I would advise shooting at least one of whatever you choose.I just don't buy bows any more I haven't tried.I've sold too many that way.
Great advise E. Texas HillBilly gave you. I love D style longbows. I also prefer longer D style bows of 66 to 68 inches. I shoot a Liberty English. I also like Northern Mist and Hills. There are several good D style bows being made.
the horne taditionalist is slightly reflexed/deflexed when untrung, but is a d shape when strung, and, imo, the horne bows are some of the best out there. the traditionalist is not a "true" d bow like the HH's, but is has the traditional shape.
The bows the others have mentioned are all good, but take a look at a Mahaska also. I just got one recently and have shot another, I really like them.
Man Josh there are alot of bows that fall into that catagory. First I would decide if I wanted a true D shaped Hill style bow, or a mild r/d that approximates the D shape. If you like the Hill style then either Hill, Northern Mist, Great Northern, Belcher, Toelke, and St. Charles all make excellent bows in your price range. For mild r/d, Mohawk, Northern Mist, Liberty, Yellowstone, and Great Northern are the ones I have experience with and recommend. For Hill style your probably going to be happier with at least a 68" bow and 64-66" with a mild r/d but talk with your bowyer of choice and listen to thier recommendations. If your the least bit handshock sensitive but like the Hill bows best then go with a Northern Mist Shelton, Sunset Hill, or David Miller string follow bow as they have virtually no handshock at all especially with FF strings. As you can see this is going to be a hard decision - better go shoot some bows to see what you like!
3 Hills and a Pete George.
(http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj125/kbneal2002/IMG_0144.jpg)
Northern Mist Classic
(http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj125/kbneal2002/IMG_0162.jpg)
Miller Old Tom string follow.
(http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj125/kbneal2002/MillerOldTom001.jpg)
To name a few :)
for a true 'd' shape look no further than a Hill and go longer in length...66". For mild r/d the Liberty Contender and the Mohawk are the best bang for the buck out there and both shoot like a dream. Ben
Does a "D" bow mean that it has no r/d and is straight when unstrung?
Bakes 168,
For the most part yes, it is straight when unstrung. My Hill is about 3/4" past straight, on the limbs when unstrung.
Hillbilly
Spanky pretty much sums it up. Lots of experience with these style bows and good advice.
Bakes: Pretty much. It's actually the strung profile that yields the D shape, but straight and/or slightly setback limb bows usually form the "more perfect" D. However, bows with a little r/d also form a D, just not as pronounced as the former.
Thought so. I have a Bear Montana that has some r/d but it forms a pretty good "D" when strung.
With that said, I would highly reccomend a Bear Montana Longbow. They are not too expensive, very tough and dependable, and VERY quiet. Although they do not have a locator grip like you want. It's a straight broom handle grip with an ever so slight dip, not like the Hill's pictured above. I shoot a 55#er and it's pretty quick. For the price you can't beat it....JMHO :archer:
Bakes
John McDonald Big RIver Bows builds an awful nice Hill Style bow. The one I currently own has the classic deep core, narrow limb design. It features four laminations of bamboo under clear glass. John builds his to take FF strings and they are very fast and have no handshock. I am selling off all my recurves and plan to buy every used Big River I come across.
One with a locator grip:
(http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc333/jcj138265/BigRiverHillRiser.jpg)
One with a straight grip:
(http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc333/jcj138265/BigRiverRiser.jpg)
bakes, ive heard nothing but good about the montana, and at 280-320$, they are a steal. next bow i get the montana will be on the list.
If you do not mind a mild r/d unstrung that has a D shape when strung look into the Mohawk. It fits your price range too with $ left over.
All of those mentioned aboove are great bows - and a fair price for the look of them.
Are you wanting the modern glass backed materials?
Have you considered and all wood or wood laminated bow of a more primitive style?
They may not have the full cast that a bow with a back and belly of glass, but they do work well and can be a lot less expensive. If so send me a PM
I recently had Dan Toelke make me a 64" "D" bow of Texas Ebony/Myrtlewood and I could not be more satisfied. On top of being beautiful it is dead quiet and though Dan told me I might feel a tiny bit of hand shock I cannot detect any. The bow is 57 lbs.@ 29 1/2" and I am shooting 655 gr. Douglas Fir arrows with "cat whiskers" and B-50 strings. It shoots superbly and Dan's delivery time is weeks and I am sure he can provide you a "loaner" if desired. Contact him at www.montanabows.com (http://www.montanabows.com)
Oliver, you goin to K'zoo? There will some dandy LB's there to try. N.Mist, Dwyer, Kohanna, Fox, Great Northern, Robertson and some others.
My favorites are N.Mist, Robertson and Dwyer.
Eric
Thanks for the replies...I'm looking at all options. I currently do not know if I want a true Hill style or a mildly reflex/deflex bow that is still a D shape when strung. If I go with a Hill style I'll try a longer 66" or so maybe even a 68".
I'm going to the Traditional show in Kzoo here in a couple of weeks; I'm taking Friday off and will make it back down on Saturday for a while also. I had a lot of fun last year but could only spend time there on Friday, this year I will also be going on Saturday for a while. I plan on trying several again...this time I have some money saved up. I've shot Great Northerns and Northern Mists and looked a Dwyer's on several occasions, I love traditional shoots.
I don't know when I'm going to make my final decision...I'm keeping an eye on the classified section; maybe one will catch my eye.
Josh
Northern Mist Baraga. Mild R/D, locator grip, 62". Quiet, no hand shock, plenty fast. I have one and I have a Bear Montana. No question about which is the better bow. Baraga hands down.
I really like my Toelke. It is 66 and is very smooth and has very little handshock. I think it is pretty too. It looks like a big ole corn stalk.
Chris Kiefner
Here's another vote for the HH. I love mine.
Have a J.D. Berry Rennassaince 62" 58# coming for my son, looks great and from what I have done in my research they are a great bow.
Take a look at the Longbows that Mike at Maddog Traditional Archery has. I have one of his BBO longbows and love it. From the quality of it, I can only imagine his laminate longbows will be excellent bows.
Dan
do at least 64in. @ 29
QuoteOriginally posted by Jim Wright:
I recently had Dan Toelke make me a 64" "D" bow of Texas Ebony/Myrtlewood and I could not be more satisfied. On top of being beautiful it is dead quiet and though Dan told me I might feel a tiny bit of hand shock I cannot detect any. The bow is 57 lbs.@ 29 1/2" and I am shooting 655 gr. Douglas Fir arrows with "cat whiskers" and B-50 strings. It shoots superbly and Dan's delivery time is weeks and I am sure he can provide you a "loaner" if desired. Contact him at www.montanabows.com (http://www.montanabows.com)
I just cruised around on the site and like the D-Bow a lot. Might have to give them a call.
I think if I'm going to get a D style I should try a bunch.
Thanks,
Josh
QuoteOriginally posted by centaur:
Northern Mist Baraga. Mild R/D, locator grip, 62". Quiet, no hand shock, plenty fast. I have one and I have a Bear Montana. No question about which is the better bow. Baraga hands down.
I looked at a Baraga II this summer in Hastings...he almost had me. I have the money for one at the end of January so Kzoo may be fun.
Josh
QuoteOriginally posted by GingivitisKahn:
Here's another vote for the HH. I love mine.
I'm going to cruise over the HH site, I've been there in the past and liked what I saw...then I think I'm going to jump to the Dwyer site again.
Might even hit a few more mentioned in these posts and then hit the bed...I'm getting tired.
Josh
I liked my RER. Had a D shape and was a smooth shooter. Not a super fast bow but the quietness and forgiveness made up for speed.
I Love my Mahantango. It is a great shooter, handles quite a range of arrow choices. Jim can make them with a locator grip as well as the straight grip.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/Mahantango01.jpg)
for the money hard to beat Howard Hill by craig. NOrthern Mist is a great bow, Mr. Miller's makes another great bow. So doe the new sponsor on here I am told.
If you want a D bow without the handshock it's hard to beat a Mohawk. The price is right too. Fast, quiet and Vince is one of the best.
Don't mean to throw a monkey wrench in your thoughts but Bob with Kohannah bows is gonna have a new 3 peice at that show in a couple of weeks. Not a D bow but it is sweet. Be sure and check that one out.
Northern mist are great bows
I have a 66 inch Apex Predator I bought second hand that is a great D style bow. I notice no hand shock. Marty is on this board under that handle and can make you one at a good price.
i own a dwyer original longbow 64" and it shoots great...very slight ref/def when unstrung and D-shaped when strung...GREAT locator grip. I think their base price is $465 for a brand new bow.
i have also owned/shot 7-lakes and deathwish longbows. they also have great locator grips, very slight r/d unstrung and D profiles when strung.
stan
QuoteOriginally posted by Jerry Jeffer:
I Love my Mahantango.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/Mahantango01.jpg)
I like this photo...is there a website?
Josh
Be sure to take a look at Great Northern's Bushbow.
Right here in MD, we have a great bowyer, Tom Parsons of Kim Sha Archery. He make a Howard Hill style "D" bow. I have a Mattawoman II deflex-reflex longbow. It is a great shooter, 45@28" and 62" long. He also makes a traditional reflex longbow called the Mattawoman. Very fine bows and he really is a good guy to work with. He'll set you up right.
QuoteOriginally posted by Magwa45:
Right here in MD, we have a great bowyer, Tom Parsons of Kim Sha Archery. He make a Howard Hill style "D" bow. I have a Mattawoman II deflex-reflex longbow. It is a great shooter, 45@28" and 62" long. He also makes a traditional reflex longbow called the Mattawoman. Very fine bows and he really is a good guy to work with. He'll set you up right.
Just went on the website...wow are they nice.
Tough choice ahead...
Josh
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f301/jillanmike/Osagenboo001.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f301/jillanmike/Yewboo.jpg)
Here's a few I made, the first is osage and 'boo the second is yew and 'boo (second one I hunt with sometimes.)
Well, I just bought another one. Mahantango 70" 55#@28
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/WengeRiser.jpg)
DWYER DWYER DWYER gets my vote. Great people to work with and EXCELLENT workmanship.
DEATHMASTER