I'm looking for suggestions for a new trad archer 16 yr old boy who has saved up some money and wants to make switch from wheels to trad. I want to guide him toward something that will give him best chance for success. Any suggestions appreciated. I was thinking bear kodiak mag. Classic that he will be able to hold onto and not break the bank before he knows what his personal preferences in a bow are. Let me know what you all think.
just my opinion here BUT, I'd get him something 58-60"s and low-mid 40# range to start with. maybe look at the Samicks where you can get heavier limbs as he progresses. the classifieds here are always a good start as well.
Maddog Bows
How about a Hoyt Excel 21 in riser in blackout. Could start out with some 35 lb limbs to practice form. Initial cost would be less the $350-$400. Then the beautiful thing is you could just get another set of limbs for hunting. This way the new archer can try out different length bows, different grips etc. and decide what he really likes. Then he could always hang on to this bow and a set of light poundage limbs to practice form on, loan out to other archers etc.
Just a thought.
I have a Hoyt Excel Riser and Black Max Limbs. Although I don't shoot it that much anymore I always bring it to the range and quite often when someone would like to try out a recurve I let them shoot it. It is a good bow especially considering the cost.
Samick have alot to choose from and if you choose a Sage, Red Stag among others, you can start with lights limbs and get heavyer as you manage, a bow to grow with.
Good luck from Sweden
I will give the same advice that was given to me a few months ago. Start out light high 30s to low 40s maybe go as light as you legally can in your state(I believe NY is 35lbs). Also go for a used bow instead of a new one. There are many good used bows here looking for a new home. Either way good luck and have fun.
Any of the old bear classics can be had cheap and you can always get your money out of them. I have a grizzly that I would not part with. Keep in mind to keep overall length at least 58" if not 60" the bow will be more forgiving and easier to learn with. Just like compounds the shorter they are the less forgiving they are to errors. Good Luck!
Take him some where and let him play with a varity of bows longbow recurve and such then go from their once he finds a bow that suits him go from their the bear bows are hard to beat as well as samik if he could find a cheap ilf set up (lol) it would give him a lot of options just by swicthing limbs from recurve to longbow and such just an idea
I have an excellent shooting mid 70's Bear Kodiak Hunter 60" amo 45# @ 28". I actually have several, but I would part with one for $150.00 tyd. The shelf has been radiused and the bow has been deglossed with steel wool by myself. The limbs are perfectly straight and I will ship with a new flemish string. These are great shooting bows! MADE IN THE USA!
I also would check out Maddog bows they are great and he does awesome work.