To everyone who shoots a black widow, what do u really think of them. I hear alot of hype about them. Are they really worth the price tage?? What kind do u have and how does it shoot. Im really interested in buying one but wanna here what people say about em.
Hunter Smith.
only way you will ever truly know is own one made to your specs
Just got one this fall.(had wanted one for years) Received it on a Friday and was hunting with it on that Sunday....it was that easy to shoot! Dropped it twice out of the tree that week and it still shot perfect. Killed a mature buck with it a week later.
I'm not gonna say it's the best bow out there as I haven't even come close to shooting them all, but it certainly is a well built and quality bow. I'm not the kinda guy to legitimize a purchase by saying it is good only cause I have one...but it's a good bow. I'm also not the kinda guy to be loyal to only one bow, but I won't be selling the Widow. I will own plenty of more bows but now after owning a Widow will always have one....Ryan
I don't own one now, but I've had two of them. Only recurve that I've gotten good enough arrow flight off of the shelf to suit me, I always use a rest. Both bows were easy for me to shoot accurately, were smooth drawing and pretty quiet.
The only bow I had for 20 years.
I had Black Widow recurves for 18 years,they are very dependable bows,tough as a nail,accurate and forgiving,fast too.Sayed that, they are not the best bow on the market but they stay with the top end bows,they worth what you pay for and i think not more expensive than most top bows.I always had MAII and then SAII and X.For me a must have bow but I repeat not the only one.
Well ive got it narrowed down. Im giveing real serious thought to a black widow or another Hummingbird by Ben Graham.
Currently have a PL, also have a Griffin and Caribow Peregrin. The Griffin and Peregrin are easy to explain what I like about them. The PL is not the nicest looking, is about the same speed as the Griffin, not nearly as fast as the Peregrin. The thing is, it is so stable to shoot, the arrows come out so clean an nice. I tend to grab the Pl by far the most when I shoot.
BW PSAII, smooth as silk and plenty fast.
Killed my first trad deer (CA Pacific Hybrid) with it a few weeks ago and now am trying to get a few hogs and GA whitetails with it.
It is a hunting bow for me, beautiful and a work of art, but is a tool of my trade (so to speak).
I had always wanted one and when I dumped the compound, that was the only choice for me.
Simple, but advanced.
Fast, yet smooth.
I love mine
Currently I am "widowless". Not due to any problems with the bow, but I was shooting their longbows and had to drop in weight due to an injury and didn't have the cash for a new one or find a trade in the weight I was needing. Widow are not much, if any more expensive than some of the other BIG names. There many other bows that shoot right with a Widow, but not too many that shoot better. I had my first Widow recurve for over 12 years and I shot it alot with no problems at all.
Quick story-I had a Caribou hunt scheduled for 2003 and I had sold my Widow and bought a matched pair of ***** ******, same length and within 1.5# of each other at my draw weight. Got them a year ahead of time, determined to get my first caribou with a longbow. Practiced religiously for over 10 months with these bows and never achieved the accuracy that I was looking for. Finally, I decided to take the muzzleloader on the hunt as I just couldn't get it all together. On a whim, I called Ken Beck and asked him if he know of a used l.h. Widow recurve somewhere that I might trade one or both of my ***** ****** for. He said no, but that I could borrow a bow from Widow for the cost of shipping. Killed two Caribou with it!
Not saying that other bowyers might not have done the same thing, but that is an example of the kind of folks you are dealing with. Good Luck! Mike
I have a PSA-X its one of my favorite bows I shoot it and my Morrisons almost everyday.
Well built,bullet proof, customer service is second to none that I have dealt with. They are very user friendly bows. IMHO, Big Ed
I like my Dye to shoot but have been shooting so many bows since the 80's, usually always a Widow. If my life depended on it, I would choose no other than a widow. Over the years, I only blew one up and I had a loaner in two days within a pound difference. I really want a PA because that was my first expensive traditional bow. It was a one piece MA before the SA came out in the early 90's
I currently have three of them...a PSA Graybark, a PSAX Kingwood, and a PSAX Osage. They are durable, accurate, smooth, and built by people who have unquestionable integrity. You can't go wrong with a Widow!
Claudia
I have a one piece PL V 62" 57@28.
I love it. It zings a heavy arrow like nobody's business, it's built like a tank by a company that made bows since 1957, and kept making traditional bows while everyone else was trying to cash in on the wheelie craze. That, my friend, is as Pinecone said: unquestionable integrity :notworthy: :clapper:
If you think a Widow may be something you want take one for a test drive...or buy a used one to help you make up your mind. I've had my MA IV for about 6-7 years now and have told many guys that I'll never sell it...ever. It's not pretty by no means as it's dipped in MossyOak Break-Up, but I can't ever imagine walking into the woods w/out it. I'll hunt w/ other bows, but when I have a buck tag in my pocket this bow is in my hand. It's hard to explain, but it feels more of extention of me than my other bow.
If you keep your eye open you can find an extra nice BW used in the $500 to $600 range. When you do rest assured that you'll get your money back out of it when it comes time to sell. They hold their value awesome.
I have owned three PSA versions. There are some faster, some lighter in hand, and some fancier. They are solid performers, and I don't remember anybody complaining about the service. They are expensive for sure but both of the bows I own now are more. The PSA and PMAs are a bit heavy in hand for my taste, but no more so that other recurves. I am sure that another Widow will be in my future. Try some, shoot some, do a test drive whatever to get one in your hand.....Then decide.
I have owned and sold quite a few widows,as well as some others,widow bows are very consistant,the factory will work with you to give you what you are looking for,and stand behind their product 100%.
I have a MA11 grey bark, and a SAX kingwood. Have shot other bows and always come back to the widows.
Pretty much what everbody else has said. They came down to Alabama this year to the Howard Hill Shoot so i was able to shoot all there bows. I own a ACS, Morrison, Bear Paws Bow and sold another Morrison because i didnt like the Mini 14in riser. After shooting all there bows for 2 days and believe me i didnt need to buy another bow the PSA X osage kept calling my name.
With that being said i wasnt really in the market for another bow but let me tell you those guys were so dang nice i just couldnt say no and man am i glad i didnt. I got the PSA X osage with copperhead skins and you cant imagine how beautiful and well built this bow is. And it took me no time at all to get it tuned to where it was spitting bullets.
Just as soon as i get my divorce behind me and get back on my feet im for sure going to order another one. There bows and bob Morrisons bows and the ACS are the best shooting bows i have ever shot but that widow just feels bomb proof. Trust me and order that PSA X and i promise you will love it, and if not give me a call in a few months and i will take it off your hands.
I don't think anyone who owns a Black Widow is going to tell you that they aren't worth the money or they wouldn't own one.
I've got 6 friends that shoot BW. All of them swear by them - its a Widow or its just another bow to them. They all shoot great and they rave about the kinetic energy. Beautiful bows.
Their great and all but I can't buy into it.
A lot of people complain about the price but, with that price, you get the best customer service around. Not that you need it, they are about bullet proof.
I had a MA11 recurve and sold it . Just couldn't get used to it. Like the Brackenbury better.
With that said I have a PL longbow and will never sell it.
John
I currently own three and have another one order. They are very smooth and stable. Widow customer service is second to none!
I had this PLX made for me and if I had to get rid of all my bows but one, this beauty will never leave my side! I am a long bow person and this is the best bow I've shot to date.
Good luck on your decision. :thumbsup:
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Recently bought a PSA III off the classifieds. Couldn't be happier with it. Within three weeks of receiving the bow, I took my first whitetail with it.
I'll be hunting with it during the next two weeks as I still have two tags left.
It's a 2005 model... and I just can't understand why I am the third owner. I'm happy and can't imagine ever selling it.
With that said... I've only shot a handful of custom bows, so can't do much comparison.
Good luck with your decision.
As you can see, there is a lot of personal preference and taste involved. On the other hand, you also see that a lot of folks have been very consistent in their praise for Black Widow bows - bullet-proof, superb-shooting bows with top-notch customer service.
Personally, there are a few modern bows that I have shot and that I could say are my "favorite" - I enjoy shooting any/all of them; three are made by Wes Wallace, Palmer, and Black Widow. I cannot consider any of them being a great choice!
So, my recommendation for you is to shoot several and choose what suits you.
Ray
I have a PSAX. LOVE IT.
Here's a customer service story for you. I saw the Widow boys at the Howard Hill shoot in Alabama as I have the last three years. I was chatting with Roger and mentioned to him about my Ironwood (bamboo) limbs that I had owned a full year. I was curious about three little white lines in my limbs. They were literally 1/8" in length. I asked him what they were and should I keep an eye on it or what? He said it was nothing important just cosmetic.
He then said what kind of limbs do you want? any kind, pick one, even any exotic, tell me what you want and you will get a new set in 8 weeks. I tried to tell him no, no, that is not why I am asking you this. There's nothing wrong with these limbs. It is just a little white mark. He then said..When the new ones arrive just send me the old ones.
He gave me a stinkin brand new $700 set of limbs at my specs for free. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the ones I had...I had just shot a 261 out of 300 at the tournament. They were perfectly fine.
Exactly 8 weeks later my Kingwood limbs arrived. Fine as wine.
Black Widow Bow Company will never have business trouble treating customers like that.
They know exactly who is in control of their company and their lives. Their priorities are in order and they are blessed because of it.
As do other bow companies...Black Widow makes a fine weapon.
I have a SA111 and a New to me PMA11 absolutely beautiful.I've got 20 recurves of all makes ,last year my SA was my go to bow for all the reasons everyone has stated.
I had 8 Widows...sold them all and bought some Shafer Silvertips. Sold all my Shafers but one(gotta have at least 1 Shafer in the herd) and I'm starting to build up my Widow corral again. My go-to bow is a 58" PSRV t/d and my favorite longbow is my 64" PLV. I just haven't owned and shot anything that shoots as well for me as the Black Widows
(http://i47.tinypic.com/jpuh4w.jpg)
I just traded for a PSA II 56@28 this past October. It's a good bow and I shoot it well. I like the slimmer riser and it balances well.
I currently own three widows. Two are take downs, and the other is a PTFV. I will soon own the new Compact Hunter.
Are they the best bow out there? It is all subjective, but for me, they rank right up there at or near the top. It is also hard to argue with their resale value.
I have two right now but have had many over the years. John, Roger and Toby are tops. No letdown from a customer service standpoint when they took over and the bows are better than ever.
My Juniper longbow should be here today :-)
If they weren't on the top of the heap, why does everyone use them for comaprison?
Biggie,I love Juniper,if you post some pics of the coming bow I send you some good Parmigiano-Reggiano DOC.Felix
I will give the folks at BW props on another point - their marketing.
As a marketing professional I am very impressed by their branding and their campaign. I have their ads pinned to my cubicle wall and I don't even OWN one of their bows. I always flip back to the back cover of Traditional Bowhunter to see what the new ad will be.
I consider them to be the Harley Davidson of traditional archery. They have the marketing, the brand, and the following.
I've had several...Right now I have a PSRX 58" 48#@28"..I really like the bow..It is a very good ground blind bow..Mike
Biggie, I'd really like to see that juniper one. Hope you post some pictures of that bad boy when you get it!
cacciatore, it's a deal, I'm a cheese FREAK.
Varmint101, what will YOU send me :-)
At the present time I have 1ma---3pma--1ptf--- all lefthanded and if I sell some other stuff-I am thinking of maybe a new compact hunter sometime in the future. Love my WIDOWS.
(http://www.buffsblackwidow.com/images/cape3.JPG)
i own 2. the psa recurve and the pl long bow. they are awesome bows. like others have said, you need to test drove one or go to a trad shoot where you can shoot all their models
In a nut shell, Yes they are.
I've been shooting traditional archery for over 60 years and have owned just about every good bow made, many of which have gone by the wayside. I have 3 MAII bows and have shot Widows from when the Wilson Brothers made them to now. There are a lot of good bows out there but to answer your question of whether they are, yes they are. A bit more info than my short reply earlier.
I have an MAII that was a gift from my father. He bought it in the early 90's and it went several years without being shot due to a shoulder injury he sustained. When I got it I lived within a couple of hours of Nixa, Mo so I drove up and the guys at the shop graciously helped me get setup again with a string and checked the bow out to make sure storage didn't take a toll on it. Couldn't have asked for a nicer, easier group to deal with. When I got it home it shot every bit as well as anything else I have ever shot and felt like a natural extension of my arms. I don't get to shoot it enough but when I do I love it. Looking forward to being able to buy my wife one as well.
Chris
I have 2 Widow longbows that I will NEVER sell! Im so used to shooting with them that it feels like an old friend when I pick the up and shoot them.
If they ever broke...Well I would go buy another one. Exactly like the one that I was replacing.
QuoteOriginally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
cacciatore, it's a deal, I'm a cheese FREAK.
Varmint101, what will YOU send me :-)
LOL Uhh, I can't really send it, but you can come down and turkey hunt in the spring in beautiful Brown County Indiana. ;)
Beautiful well performing bows... Even better service from Black Widow. I've owned four BW recurve bows and they have exceeded expectations in every way.
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m123/JDS3_2006/Bows/100_0951.jpg)
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m123/JDS3_2006/Bows/Widow1.jpg)
I had the same questions about BW's until a couple of months ago. I found one in the classifieds here that spoke to me when I saw the pictures. The price was fair and now the PSA V is mine. I shoot better groups with this bow than any other I own. I would not say that any of my trad bows "stack", but this BW has the smoothest last 3-4" of pull of them all. All I can say is now "I get it" when folks talk about the way a BW shoots.
Best of Luck.
Varmint 101......nice offer!
Black Widows are just what they say they are, well designed bows. I have had a couple,still have one and really like it. One of the things that Ken Beck did and did very well was to create a cult following to his product.They are great bows and I'll have more I'm sure......
Just a opinion from one shooter.
Have owned and shot a lot of bows .
For a longbow Crow Creek or Hummingbird 3 pieces are the best.
For a recurve it is hard to beat the PSA Blackwidow.I have a PSA111 with low grip and no phenolic in the limbs . Light and easy to shoot.Roy
hard to beat, and the price is no more than others and a lot less than a bear takedown or ACS.
And their service is second to none, period
I have a PLII and a new PSAX right now. Have had a PSAIII and a couple others. Love them. Customer service has been great. Maybe not THE best bow, as I like Schafers and Allegheny Mtn and Pronghorns, etc. but none better...if that makes sense.
I hear they are great....but I'm biased. I started off trad only, broke my Bob Lee the first day I had it, and bought a PSAV to replace it. Never looked back. My fatheinlaw introduced me to archery and BW. He has quite a few SA2/SA3 and BW longbows. Schaefers, Great Northern longbows, you name it.
I always looked at them and drooled over them and now matter what other bow i was looking at I always came back to them.Untill this passed summer I got a SAX bocote it is the best recurve I have ever shot. I shoot it better and more constent then any other one I have owned. They are as good as any highend bow and did I say it is a real looker. I will always have that bow in my house. Widow
I've had Black Widows off and on for the better part of 30 years. I currently have a PTF. Excellent bows and even better customer service.
John3,what wood combo you have on the first pic?
Loks like an MAX Osage?
That is a PGA golden anniversary bow, nice,aren't they?
I've got a SAIII Autumn Oak 58" and as far as recurves go its as good as any I have shot--They make good solid bows and stand behind their products.
rick
A couple years ago I messed up my left arm (old fat people should not ski fast). I ran into the Widow boys at the Missouri Bowhunters, and mentioned that I had a hog hunt scheduled with Ray Hammond, but did not know if I could go because of the bad wing. They asked what weight I could draw, and I was able to pull about 42 lbs on one of their test bows. They loaned me a set of limbs so I could make the trip. FOR FREE!!!! Not a better bunch of guys in traditional archery - right up there with Bob Morrison. My personal hunting bow is a Widow PTFX, for me the best hunting bow....and I have shot most of the bows out there.
I love my Widow and I have many bows, but the Widow is my go to bow. They are worth every bit of the money.
I bought my first one in 1964 and have not been without at least one ever since! The customer service is second to none and you will never meet a finer bunch of people in your life. You won't be sorry!!!
I have a PSA that I have had two nocks break on release, a string cut by broadhead, and this weekend dropped my bow from the stand 20 ft up. It landed directly on the lower limb, coming unstrung. So in theory it has had 4 dryfires. It shoots and looks like the day I got it. They are in a class all their own.
Myself and 2 of my hunting buddies stopped by Nixa yesterday to check out their operation and take the tour.
I have owned several of BW's and they are some of the best made and hardest hitting bows around. For 2010, they are introducing a new short risered bow that I shot yesterday that is quite sweet. I'll probably order me a lefty at 56"!
We were really treated with kit gloves and the entire operation was extremely impressive and gave me an even greater appreciation for the quality of their bows. Their warranty is indicative of their reputation and as others have stated, are TOPS!
QuoteOriginally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
Varmint 101......nice offer!
Season starts April 21st Biggie!
John, that PGA is really sweet! I like the arrow combo you have with it to. Very sharp rig.
Been shooting them for 13 years, they are quality in every aspect.
I have owned dozen Black Widows over the last 18 years. I keep getting ride of them for something some other kind of bow and before you know it I have another Widow in my hand.
I have a PSAV (Asbell) and PLV and love them both. The PSAV is my go-to bow and honestly have never considered trading either. Yes there are more handsom bows but the solid form and function of my widows are all I want and need.
From all the other fine posts, I doubt that my two cents will mean anything...That said, I own two Black Widows, both longbows, a PL III and a Kingwood PLX. I love both of these bows but the PLX is simply the finest bow I have ever owned. Smooth and quiet... Definitely worth every cent. T
For my money......yeah they are the best!
Smitty...I suggest going to Black Widow website and check out their test drive offer. You can shoot the bow you are interested in before you buy it.
I have owned three, have a 58" PSAlll which shoots sweet as they all have. My first was a MAlll and took my first Trad Bull Elk with it. 12 yds complete pass thru, 45# at my draw!
I have owned 3, an SAG, LOA and a PTF II. They really are something special. The workmanship on all three were top class and I loved every one of them. I eventually sold the SAG as it was too short for my draw length and I also sold the LOA as I needed to fund the purchase of another bow. However I still have the PTF II.
I have shot a few but never owned the 3PC bows, I'm not a fan of the larger riser, just too much weight for me.
Are they worth the extra, for me they, but thats really build quality and style, I'm not sure they shoot much better than other bows around.
I really want a PCH X. Thinking of selling my Morrison Shawnee to get one!!!!!!
I have two now, PSAV and a PLV and love them both. In the process of selling off all the other stock and order a PURDY PTFX, then a PCHV for blind hunting. I have found what I'm looking for, quality craftsmanship, very well built and durable and the Asbell grip fits my hand like it is custom made for me and the craftsmen are more than helpful when help is needed.
But like most people will say, thats me and what melts my butter may not melt yours
I have shot several of the takedown recurves and they are well built. I really like the mass weight of them but I'm a longbow lover. I like my Hummingbird better.LCH
I recieved a used MAII and I'm in love! It is all up to the individual to decide what a bow is worth. For some absolutely worth it some absolutely not.
I think it is entirely likely that this bow will be shooting 50 years from now.
I always promised myself that one day I would get a widow and two years ago I made it happen. Once I shot it there was no comparison to all other bows that I own or have shot. I still love shooting all of my other bows, but my PSAX is the most sweetest shooter. It's not the fastest, but definately the smoothest. As others have said, opinions will differ. Take one for a test drive and then decide for yourself.
I have been shooting longbows for most of the past several years, which led me to the point last year where I sold my SAIII and TFII bows, both of which I bought pre-CNC (1999 and 2001) from the Widow Works. Held onto my LAG. I just bought my 4th Widow - a PCH -- from a member here. It is a 56", 44#@28, PCHIII. I am a recurve fan again--smooth, quick, an intuitive joy to shoot. Nothin' like a Widow!
I've been shooting my SAII since '96. Its the only widow that I've ever owned. It's also my main bow. Its a smooth shooter and durable as anything. As several of the post had said, take one for a "Test Drive".
In the late 80s,when I bought my first Widow, they were just very good dependable,fast shooting bows; in the last few years they have changed look becoming outstanding.Everyyear there is always a pleasant improvment on their bows.
I prefer Habu bows, and I also love the Dakota built by Rick Welch. Having said that, if I were not able to get my hands on another Habu (I'm on the list for a new one) I would be ordering a widow.
i saw my 1st widow in 1988 & wanted 1 ever since ,i finaly got my saII in 1999 58" 55@28 ,had a limb repaired & a facelift in 2009 she looks better than new & shoots like the day we met .ive had bear`s border`s checkmate`s & all sorts of recurves & longbows since but ALWAYS GO BACK TO MY WIDOW . shoots fast hits hard & puts game down ,i love it
I dry fired my PSA X this weekend and it jumped out of my hands and landed on the limb tip then bounced off my friends deck. He had a big pile of gravel that he was getting ready to spread out and my bow landed on top of it.
NOT A SCRATCH
I shoot a little bit of everything around the house, but when I get on that airplane there's a widow in my duffle bag!