Trad Gang

Hey guys I have been for a while looking at buying one of the big name higher priced bows such as a black widow, Morrison, tomahawk and so on. In your opinions what is the best all around bow, as far as speed, stability, smoothness, power, and overall performance for this high amount of money, regardless of whether or not it is a recurve or longbow. And if you would like some pics of your bows. Thanks guys.

Crow Creek Blackfeather

Dale Dye Trails End

Buckeye,

Check out a TallTines.  All the performance and looks of the ones you are looking at(and more!)with a much easier to take price.

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Bows/BocoteTT12241.jpg)


(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Bows/PBZ1.jpg)

A&H's are hard to beat for speed, but Morrison has the looks and speed. I own both.  :thumbsup:

You're going to get responses that are all over the place on this one.  I would suggest that you make it to one of the large events with a lot of vendors. Shoot as many bows as you can before spending the big money on a big name. As much as I love some of the big name bows, I must say that there are as many "smaller" companies making as good of bows, or better! It is all about what fits YOU.
I will say that the big names have better resale, all about what you're wanting. IMO....Terry

JD Berry Appollo!

A lot of bows fit your description, but its usually not the same bow for everyone. You have to shoot them for yourself, when you find that bow you will know it. Might be a $500 bow, might be a $1500 bow.

Eric

BB,

These guys are right, you should come up to the Traditional Expo East in Kalamazoo, Mi at the end of the month and try all of them out first hand.

Schafer Silvertips are my favorite without a doubt!

Blacktail..............

Sometimes a big name bow company ain't so big. Like JV Outback (sorry to keep posting mine, but I'm a big fan). Right Steve!?!? LOL!

I literally can look at this bow and shoot it all day.

(http://i33.tinypic.com/694b54.jpg)

here we go yet again ....

these kinda threads always turn into a subjective, opinionated, crowing contest and serve no purpose whatsoever to anyone ... well, other than looking at purty bow pics.

the ONLY WAY to know what type of stickbow, what manufacturer and what model to buy/shoot/love is by trying as many bows as possible.  there is NO substitute for this strategy.  anything else is a crapshoot.  feeling lucky?  the classifieds are fulla bows from folks that weren't so lucky.

oh well, carry on i s'pose ...........

Any bow that my buddie has at the time is the best bow ever made. At least that is what he says.

QuoteOriginally posted by doowop:
Any bow that my buddie has at the time is the best bow ever made. At least that is what he says.

now there ya go - spoken like a true bow nut  :D     :thumbsup:

Hi ! I am a Black Widow advocate...those bows are beautiful tools - but you will have perhaps a different no.1 bow - test different models - you will find your "own" and then you will shoot it with confidence - and that is so important when you shoot a barebow ! You know you make the shot to score you are about to shoot....

You live close enough to Kalamazoo to make the trip at the last weekend of January. It is the very best way to test a bunch of the best bows and see what feels right to YOU. BW, Morrison, and many others will be there with not only their great bows but the bowyers themselves. Nothing like it. Don't miss out.

You'll have hundreds of different answer,most bows are excellent,you have just to find yours.Try as many boe you can and since you decide buy yourself a used honest bow. (http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx293/dazzafelix/DSCF0004.jpg)This is a Robertson Fatal Styk

I really enjoy my Widows.  I didnt buy them because of the name on the handle, or the price tag. I bought them because of the way they feel, and the way I shoot with them. I'm a believer that ounce you find one that "fits" you..STICK WITH IT, that is why I will never sell any of my Widows...I feel that the only way for me to be consistant in my shooting is  not to keep switching bows.  I have a friend whos bow costs alot less then my Widow costs, and one of  the best shots I know!

As far as preformance is concerned with my Widows versus other bows...I dont really notice any difference.  My friend's bow is equally good, if not better in preformance.( just being honest, dont shoot me Widow guys!)  Good luck in your search, and if you have any questions about Widows please feel free to shoot me a PM, and I will answer them the best I am able.

Very few bad bows made, just bows that fit you badly. Make a list of what's important to you from most to least, got to a show/shoot with the list and try everything you can get your hands on. Adjust your list as you go and find what fits you, your budget and style of hunting. You may be surprised by what ends up working best for you.

I have owned many of the bows you named as well as other brands. There is no "best bow". The are bows that fit one guy better than another, some that one guy can shoot better than another, but it varies from person to person bow to bow.
The Black Widow retains its resale value better than most. The A&H may be smoother than most, the Morrison and Tomahawk are also very good bows.
There are also a bunch of other very good bows out there, made by some real artists.
Some to consider are, Mike Treadway bows, BlackCreek bows and Big Jim's bows, if you like great quality at an affordable price. The Belcher bows are very good, he now has a very nice metal riser bow. Great Plains bows are as good as any. There are plenty of others I have not listed, but the point is, try before you buy, it will save you some money.
And beware of any bowyer who has reported to have failed to honor their warranty or failed to deliver on bows. There are a few bad apples out there.
Before you buy one shoot as many as you can.
What someone says is their favorite may be your worst.

the best bow is the one that fits you best...there are plenty of bowyers out there who make excellent and beautiful products.  Shoot as many as u can and see which one u prefer the most...at the end of the day it really is personal preference and not much more

I have no name bow at half the price!

Are you planning on hunting/target with the bow or do  you simply want to hang it on the wall and show it off to all your buddies?  If your answer is both buy what you like and fits you!  

Dont even look at name brands!

All of the photos of the fancy woods, and expensive veneers mean nothing to  the guy who has not shot or even held that bow.  You live in S.E. Ohio and your are not far from several shoots that will have vendors whose bows you can try.

I wouldn't spend $300.00 for a bow I never even had in my hand....that's asking for a trip to the classifieds.  You may find the Black Widow is just the perfect bow, or you may, like me, not be able to shoot that style very well at all.
It may be beautiful, but if it don't speak your language, you might as well not have it.

Look around and see who is within a day's drive of your home.  I'm sure you will find a few.  Just don't make the mistake of buying before trying.  The classified section is full of bows that probably were bought like that.

You have to try a bunch out and see what you like...the best one in my opinion is the one you shoot well.........

I own a lot of different bows, some "pretty" and other no so fancy.  Aesthetics is a very personal thing, as is what feels and shoots right.  I agree with those who advise going to a big show and putting your hands on different models.

....ditto on shooting a bunch and finding the one that shoots best for you. Dont pass up some of the smaller bowyers and take a good look at the craftsmanship involved. Some of those guys are producing real works of art that just flat shoot as good as they look. Kalamazoo would be a good place to start as well as any of the big shoots coming up this spring and summer(ETAR,ATAR,Balt,Sawmill, and I think a few in Ohio.....) I have yet to ask someone I met on one of the courses that wouldnt let me shoot their bow a few times once I said I was interested in getting one. And some bows you can tell in the first few times that it just isnt for you. It'll save you money and grief in the long run.

I guess if you want to spend the money, the Widows are some of the quickest bows I've seen. Durable as all get out.

I'm probably not the one to listen to though. I never buy the bow for the price tag. At least not in the higher-end direction lol.

Be sure and try carbon from the bowyers if the $ does not shock you, I love my new Morrison with double carbon.  I would love to try the same model of recurve or longbow w and w/o carbon.

somebody has to say it,....

Daala, I love mine.

But,... what the wise people said here, find a bow that fits and,...... shoot the limbs off of it!

The best bow for you is one that you hit with. Find it and ask the maker how pretty he can make one for you. That way you can be assured you will have a "high dollar" bow.

Ever Hear the saying:  "It Aint the BOW, Its   The INDIAN."??  :readit:  
  Not Trying To Be Nasty so No Offense Intended. Its just The Way A Man On A  VERY  Fixed Income Has To Look at Such a Situation!!  Used Bows  are Just Fine By Me Too, Because they Are  NEW To ME!!   :goldtooth:

A better thread title might be "quality bows that won't disappoint?".

While there are lots of favorite bows, cheap and high end, for lots of guys for lots of reasons, there is a smaller list of bows that, whoever your are, when you shoot them, they make you think inside your head "yeah, I'll be getting of of those one day".
They are usually extra pleasing to the eye too.

For example, the Toelke Whip, Thunderstick MOAB and Whisperstik Mojostik come to mind. While I have other bows too, most everyone who's shot those 3 at my house all agree that there's something else about them.

Maybe it's a universal grip that's easy for more people to like? Maybe the smooth draw/lack of stack is picked up by more people? Maybe the lack of shock and noise is something that's hard to describe, but you know it when you shoot it.

There is no such thing as a "best bow", but I do believe there are craftsmanship/design/quality levels among bowyers.

It's no different with firearms. I was a Jr. state champ in skeet years back. While I was blessed that my dad had a great collection of beautiful old Browning O/U's, my first 50 straight with a .410 came from a borrowed 870 pump, of all things. Now, the reason being that that particular 870 fit me perfectly. Stock length, comb, height, trigger pull, etc. In fact, I wanted to but THAT 870 right there on the skeet field, but the owner wasn't selling.

But while that 870 .410 fit me perfectly and I shot the lights out with it, I still can't compare a run of the mill 870 to a Belgium Browning Pigeon grade. The key is, get the specs perfect on any shotgun and you'll be stunned how much better you shoot. Trad bows are no different in my opinion.
But if you can do that, a beautiful, quiet bow is always better.

Then again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Yet, 8 out of 10 guys can typically agree on who the prettiest woman in room is too. LOL

Does that make any sense?

I would also check out mohawk bows.   http://mohawkbows.com/

And Centaur bows
http://www.centaurarchery.com/

Great bows for the price!  In fact I think that the owner of Centaur might send you one to shoot!!

I have my favorites, and for the most part they are among the "big name" bows. There is a reason why some bows become immensely popular. But there are also many lesser known and less expensive bows out there that are of excellent quality. As others have said, try as many bows as you can and see what feels good to you. Even if a bow is not as fast or smooth or does not excel in some other attribute to the extent of the "big name" bows, it may feel and shoot better in your hands. Any good bow will kill game animals, so don't get carried away by a few feet per second of speed, or some minor improvement in performance or looks. If you don't have access to many bows to shoot, buy a used "big name" bow at a lower price from the classifieds so you can try it out and get most of your money back if it isn't what you wanted. Lots of the people here have done that. Another option is to buy a new bow from a bowyer who offers a trial period during which you can return the bow for a refund and only be out the shipping costs. I know Bob Morrison has offered that arrangement and some others do too. Enjoy the search.

Allan

:saywhat:        You might shoot a low priced not so famous  bow better than a high priced famous  one. Go to shoots, try before you buy. It's the only way to find the one that's correct for you. You want a hunting tool that you can shoot accurately consistantly.

Everyone has said it...and I'll say it too.TRY LOTS of bows before buying.

I got lucky.I knew the specs I wanted,bought a Silvertip TD recurve off the classifieds and found my true love.Not to say it will be the last bow I own,as there are LOTS of bows left to try,but it's going to be hard to replace my 'tip.What a SWEET shooting bow (For me).The one other bow that came close was a Morrison ILF recurve. :thumbsup:

I like my Widow PSA because of her smoothness.
I liked my GP for her overall performance(not the fastest, not the smoothest, but very good in everything an archer love)
I liked a border because of its speed and smoothness.
I love my Zipper sxt foam/carb because of her smoothness and incredible speed(the fastest bow I ever measured!)

GET A HILL!!!

The price of a bow will not make you shoot better than a bow that fell good in your hand and you are comfortable shooting.


The price of a bow won't make it shoot better for you than one that feel good in your hand and is comfortable to shoot. Speed is no good without accuracy it just makes you miss faster.

Where in southeast Ohio are you from? PM me and we can get together to shoot. I have a Morrison Shawnee Recurve, a Thunderstick MOAB longbow, and a Whisperstik longbow you can shoot until your hearts content.

Mike

The MOAB:

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd312/sargeyriley/018-1.jpg)

Now the Morrison. This is my go to bow:

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd312/sargeyriley/011.jpg)


   (http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd312/sargeyriley/MRizzo.jpg)

   (http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd312/sargeyriley/010-1.jpg)

That looks like the towel I had in the Corps!

General issue brother, general issue!!!lol  :biglaugh:    :biglaugh:

Heres another I sold earlier this year after I bought the above one:

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd312/sargeyriley/DSCN0188.jpg)

I have many favorites but the ones I shoot most the last year have been my Morrisons and Widows 3 piece recurves. I still have a love of longbows can't believe I am mainly shooting recurves right now but the Shrews,Centuars,Toelke longbows still have a place on my bow rack.

We've got 3 GOOD bowyers here in NC. Cold Mountain, which I shoot and shoots better than some BW's and other 'big name bows' that I have shot; Mike Treadway, one was for sale on the classifieds; and Hummingbirds by Ben Graham. All 3 top notch. Cold Mtn's you can get for less than $650. Pm me and I'll give his info if you want. Awesome quality for little money. I'll put some pics of my new one by Cold Mtn. They are a little blurry though.
(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/cachambers/Photo341.jpg)
(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/cachambers/Photo340.jpg)
(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/cachambers/Photo339.jpg)