Trad Gang

Can't get em to last so want to gauge your all opinion and compile a list of heavier 70#-90# recurve or long TAKEDOWN bows that u beleive are real durable. Heavy hitters please advise me what u have that lasts the course of treatment u put on them. Extra points for description of feel or performance.
Cheers

What's yer drawlength?
After reading your other thread I think that the strength of the limbs is possibly outweighing the strength of the take down systems available.

If you're drawing 29 or less, you may want to think about a 60" 1-piece bow. Yes, I know the shipping to Oz is a bugger (I had the same issue before I moved here from England) but a 1-piece of less than 62" really isn't a problem to fly with & it's under the maximum shipping length for the post.

M'self, I used to shoot a Pronghorn 1-piece. 60" & 86# at my draw. Man, I battered & abused the heck out of that thing. I used to shoot several hundred arrows a week & many 3-D & field tournaments of 3 shots at 40 targets with no problem at all. It's still going strong now, 4 years later. It was 3 years old when I bought it.

You can occasionally find one used for around the $350-$500 (US) mark. If you buy new, Herb Meland is an awesome guy to deal with.

Performace wise IT was certanly up there witthe best of 'em. I don't have figures because I never chrono'd it, but shooting a pine shaft with a 125gn point, I didn't have to aim any differently from 15 to 40 meters. It was really smooth out o 29", but stacked a bit at my 30" draw. I really should've had a 62 or 64"

28-28.5
Cool, pronghorn, check. Ta m8

I have an 83# Schafer Silvertip take-down recurve. Some bowyers have a lot more experience than others in making heavy bows, and Schafer and Black Widow are two of them that make take-down recurves. Howard Hill also make a lot of heavy longbows, but I think their limit for their take-down is 70# or 75# (I could be wrong on that). These three companies make a bomb-proof bow.

Good point on the Silvertips Ben. Really top-shelf bows.

Goodo the silvertip Ben! Checked BW and Hill yesterday. Cheers.

BW
Brackenbury
Dakota
 I have owned and shot all 3 bows that were 75# +   bomb proof IMHO.  Plus if you blow one up they will take it back and find out why?????  Also owned a 125# Tomahawk.  Wish I still had it/Very smooth but it did wear on me after 20 shots.

Dakota & Tomahawk a Jake? Ta. That 125#'s a fist full!

Divecon- what is your draw length and desired bow length?

Bigjim

ive had 80#+ pound ballistiks, salukis, howard hills, john schulz, black widows, martins, bears, sentmans, leon stewarts, robertsons, lightnings, harrisons, saxons, brownings, elburgs, 21st century, fedoras, great northerns and im sure im leaving some out.  they all held together pretty well!
ps...the 88# saluki ibex and the 82# and 90# ballistiks  AND the 80# harrison el lobo are still on the rack!   ;)

Border can do it as well. They reinforce their risers with several lams of carbon etc.

Divcon,

I had a Bear Custom Kodiak TD with 70# limbs that drew 82# at my draw.  I was in my early 30's when I bought it specifically to bear hunt with it. I shot woodies with 160gr Snuffers purchased from Roger Rothhaar when he was still selling them. The arrows weighted in at 700+ grains, and shot through everything.  This was the bow Fred Bear designed to take to Africa and shoot the big beasties.... of course his drew a bit heavier. I had it for more than 25 years and never a problem with it. It was a great bow.

A Hill is my choice for high pound bows.

28-28.5 Big Jim. As to bow length am not fully conversant, so am gauging on what I am able to try. with long bows. Until I get better acquainted guessing anywhere 62-66"
As Justin may be aware I am only just learning about long bows proper an finding it fascinating. Fortunately I am getting very good advice with this which helps no end. Ta that info too, lots to think about.
Border, check, Curveman
Here I was overly concerned that I may have been extending my draw ½ an inch and stressing my bows. Duly noted Lobo

I have only owned two bows in last 19 years and both were 70+ lbs.  After 17 years shooting a 72 lb. Bear Take down it finally broke in half in my palm at full draw.
I have since owned a 71@31 Black Widow with no durability issues.

I have a Pittsley Predator that is built for 68@28, but I draw it to 29 1/2".

Been pounding arrows out of it for over a decade as of March. I had two sets of limbs for it, and sold one set this past fall. Both sets have a million miles.

Besides a 60lb Martin Lynx recurve for bowfishing, it`s the only bow I shoot.

For what it's worth I'll say I've been shooting a Bighorn t/d recurve 70# @28 drawing 29.5" bout 75#s. Had it made in the mid 90's This bow has been thru hell and back with hundreds of thousands of arrows thru her with no problems at all. She fell of a mtn in NM and drowned in a fell mishaps wile crossing rivers    Smooth fast & quiet she my goto bow.Heavly battered & scared but I'd grap her and jump on a plane with her tomorrow.IMHO a fine durable bow.

Mike Fedora built bows for his brother who for years shot around the 100# mark in and out of tournaments. His tackle is bullet proof and he makes a great takedown as well as 1 pc bows. Check it out.

Bjorn beat me to the punch - Mike Fedora is a master bowyer and has a ton of experience building heavy weight bows.  You won't be disappointed!

Great Northern Critter Getter 74# @28 62AMO, just flings them dead straight, shooting cedars from it. Belongs to my fatherinlaw and he's had it a good while. He has several 90-100# Schaefer Silvertips, zero issues. Main issue is stringing them!

62-64" longbow would serve you well. Can't imagine that the poundage is that big of an issue here. Although it may seem like quite a bit to most, to the bow it is really not that big of a deal as long as you use a  heavy enough arrow. I would say that you should have concerns about choosing the proper takedown. Although some boyers have no problem with there TD systems on bows up to 60lbs., these same systems wouldn't fare too well above that mark. The carbon fiberglass sleave TD system has been tested to over 1500 psi and when it finally does fail, it happens in places other than the TD portion.
More than adequate for the higher pound bows.

BigJim

I see u'r point. I have only just taken delivery of a saxon mongoose and at the weight see the advantage over conventional thread & bolted limbs. From what I'm gathering many of the heavier shooters are very happy with these longbow configurations. Only few of the suggestions come in have been for TD recurves.  BTW have heard u'rs compared more favourably both in style and hardiness to BW's. Also there seems to be some consensus on durable bows tho not many additions to the list
Cheers

I doubt you could go wrong with a Black Widow or any others with good track records. I too make a three piece and would have to question the reliability of a threaded insert and a solid hardwood riser. There would definitely be some glass in my 90 lb riser and maybe some other precautions. I have one too many  lumps on my head as it is. My two piece bows don't scare me a bit at heavy pounds.

Good luck in your decisions, bigjim

Paul,

I shoot a Quinn Stallion take-down recurve. The limbs I regularly shoot are 48# at 28". My draw length is around 31". The bow at my draw length is 60#.

I think it would be very hard to find a sturdier bow than the Quinn. Alum. riser with a pin and threaded limb attachment. You can order limbs of various weights up to 65# (at 28") I think.

Not the prettiest bow around, but I think definitely the sturdiest take-down you could find. Not nearly as expensive as other bows either. Happy to send some photos if nessicary

OkKeith

Thanks everyone! I have a pretty good list, shortly to be passed on for conformation.
If anyone else has any suggestions before so please feel free to put it forward or reinterate whats already come forth.
All these suggestions will be much appreciated as in the long run u'r contributing to enlightening the darkness of uncertainty.
Cheers