I have noticed that most Trad Gang members seem to shoot custom bows. The older, vintage off the shelf Bear bows seem popular but I don't hear much about the new ones. I am wondering why pay such a high price for a custom bow if you can buy a quality off the shelf for half the money???
My first trad bow was a new (09) Bear Grizzly. Really nice entry-level recurve. Great track record and value for money. In fact, if I hadn't found this site and got the bug for other bows, I would still be happily shooting it as my only bow. Still have it and shoot it from time to time. Got mine from 3Rivers
10point,
I shoot a 50# PSE Sequioa and am very satisfied with it. I will however someday get a custom bow when I can aford one. I think for me it's partialy because with a custom you know that someone took the time and care to build it with thier own hands. and partialy because I can get one that is a one of a kind. and also I have shot some at the Archery shop to see the difference and SOME customs are alot smoother.
But once again I am satisfied with the production bow that I have now and am getting more accurate everytime I go out and practice.
I know from experience that my bow will kill an animal just as dead as a custom. Or hit the mark just as center.
Just remember that it is not just the bow, but your arrow and form are key to shooting well.
It's a blast watching your arrow hit the mark reguardless of the bow you used to put the arrow in motion.
This is just one mans opinion.
Some off the shelf bows are very good bang for the buck. The Hoyt Dorado, Hoyt Gamegetter, Dalaa are all very smooth drawing and good shooting bows. A good thing about off the shelf bows is that they are more readily available to try out instead of a custom order bow you will not know how it will shoot until you get it. Also if damaged, part are availble rather easily.
After you have been at this Trad game a while you may want to own a custom bow. First you MUST learn how to shoot the right way. That can be done with any "entry level" or "off the shelf" bow. In fact... When I was kinda new to trad and had my first $1000 jobbie, a fella with a yard sale recurve beat the pants off me at The Muzzy Shoot...
It's the man behind the bow and matching arrows that does the trick. After you go to some of the 3D shoots and Traditional gatherings the bug may bite and you will start spending more money than you have on stuff. :rolleyes: That can be fun too.
... mike ...
I have custom bows and off the shelf bows,I love my Martin bows.They are sweet shooting bows,and great performers in my opinion.
First of all, I like high quality. And what I like even better, is when the high quality product is made specially for me, and I know that I've played a part in the making of it by picking the woods and choosing the design.
I believe one of the major movie studios has a latin motto that translates "art for the sake of art" Custom bows are like that. bocote, bubinga or snakeskin wont make your bow more accurate or faster just better looking, and IMO there is nothing wrong with that. Its no diffferent then owning a gun with a presentation grade stock or a knife with a ivory handle. If you can afford it, why not( assuming you also set aside a portion of your wealth to give back, ie St Judes)
My 2 bows are bith older factory models, but I do have a display case of fancy knives.
Nothing wrong with off the shelf bows. As mike said above, its mostly the the person holding the bow. I'm pretty new to this, and I have bought three bows from other tradgangers for a total of about $600. My sons and I are into archery for few $$$ and have bows that are real shooters.
QuoteOriginally posted by mcgroundstalker:
After you have been at this Trad game a while you may want to own a custom bow. First you MUST learn how to shoot the right way. That can be done with any "entry level" or "off the shelf" bow. In fact... When I was kinda new to trad and had my first $1000 jobbie, a fella with a yard sale recurve beat the pants off me at The Muzzy Shoot...
It's the man behind the bow and matching arrows that does the trick. After you go to some of the 3D shoots and Traditional gatherings the bug may bite and you will start spending more money than you have on stuff. :rolleyes: That can be fun too.
... mike ...
Well said :thumbsup:
Take a look at 3 rivers catalog, off the shelf Bear 1399.99 plus shipping some custom bows aren't that much......stabow
Bear Montana slight R/D longbow costs $329.00 new and is a bargain. A used one can often be found for half that. Then again, base price on many custom longbows is under $500.
Like a few have said before, some off the rack bows are now as muck as a custom made to your spec bow. That being said what Mike said holds true, its not the bow but the guy behind it.
I have a PSE Blackhawk off the shelf bow.It shoots fine.Will I get a custom made bow?Yes at some point.
I don't shoot production made bows because the poundage is always measured at a 28" drawlength. I have a 30" drawlength so I want the poundage to be at my drawlength. In other words, I want the bow to fit me and not me having to fit into the bow.
Also, many production made bows start at 40#. I like to shoot bows where the poundage at my 30" drawlength is between 37#-42#. With a production made bow say, 40# @ 28", that would really be 46# at my 30" drawlength.
One last item, most production made recurve bows, the longest length they make is usually 62". I tend to favor 66" recurve bows. With the longer length, I avoid finger pinch. So I spend the extra money on a custom bowyer to get the bow I want.
The guy behind the bow. So true. If one has a pretty bow, there's more pressure to shoot it well, I'd think. Everyone's looking. That's what the tuning process is about, isn't it. Most every bow surely can be brought up to snuff. Somewhat at least.
I've been a little psyched to get a new bow, been to the websites and sent out some questions. then I just went into the basement to take a few shots with my somewhat drab Chekmate Falcon recurve and I'm drilling the bull!(for this session at least). What to do? - I had plans to spend some money I don't have. Will have a custom at some time though. Sooner than later.
What Night Wing Said. I too have a 30" draw and custom bows just fit better when made too my specs. Kinda like custom flyrods over production
flyrods, they feel better.
I don't mean to offend any Bear fans, but I really think the quality of the current Bear bows is very poor compared to yesteryear's and the price is a bit much for the lack of quality. You can get a custom bow for what the mid-range Bear bows are being sold for and that custom will be a lot prettier. $1,400 for a Fred Bear Takedown supreme - sorry I just don't get it. That being said, it still boils down to how well you can shoot a bow and I'm sure that for the majority of shooters, they would shoot a Bear just as well as some other custom. But if you have $500 to spend on either a Bear or a much prettier custom, and you shoot both equally well, why wouldn't you choose the custom?
I'm not sure what you mean by off the shelf bows.
Basically every bowyer that I have researched has at some time posted "Bows in Stock".
In my opinion that is not a custom bow, although most of this particular bowyers bows are special order Custom Bows.
I'm also not a fan of the New bows available from Wallyworld, Cabellas, and other retail giants across the country. But I also believe they serve a purpose.
My custom bows hanging on the rack were originally purchased by someone else.
I guess you could say mine are all shelf bows.
I've owned several customs,but I'm currently shooting a Hoyt Dorado riser with Tradtech limbs and it shoots just as well if not better than any of the customs I've had.
In fact,other than after markets limbs on my two take downs,all my bows are now off the shelf production bows.
I personaly don't see much value in pretty bows,or bows with really flashy finishes an such.
Plus a big one for me,most so called customs don't seem any more "custom" to me than the average "custom" Harley.
Their all just the standard model,,,with different levels of finish,,,stuff like different veners or checkering and inlays are just bling,,,their higly personalised,but their not custom.
Just like you buy the standard car,,,or you buy the one with stupid wheels an a few tacky decals ect,,,,it's still the same car,,,just has some extra fruit for those that need it.
To each his own,but don't BS me about your custom bow when I can buy an identical one myself.
... As a follow up to my first post... I own more than a few Custom Bows that I purchased from this site. They are what ya would call "new to me" bows and cost 30%-50% off the retail (new) price! :D
That makes me happy. :jumper: My wife too......
... mike ...
mcgroundstalker and I have the same desire to hunt and shoot from when we have talked in the past. All but one of my custom bows have bought or traded on the classifieds here. In some cases more than 50% of the retail price. One of my favorite longbows was purchased for $ 160 and was custom made for someone else, his name is still on it!
The prices are about the same for what you get.......a top of the line Bear TD with wood veneers in the limbs is more than an equivalent custom-over 1000. Entry level customs can be had from many bowyers for 400 dollars.
Resale is important too.......second hand that Chinese off the shelf bow is not going to hold its value.
And it really is an individual taste thing anyway, a 'want' thing. We are fortunate to have so many choices today.