Trad Gang

I realize that the best shooting longbows are the ones that I personally shoot the best

AND YET it seems like some bows have a reputation for shooting tighter groups.  They shoot where you look.  For example, I often see comments that MOHAWK Sparrowhawks and LEON STEWART Slammers are excellent shooting  bows.

What has been your experience?

I love my shrew. But I think this is gonna be a good thread regardless!

Toelke

I've owned several different brands/makes, sometimes more than one from the same manufacturer.

I never really had a "bad" shooting bow - recurve or longbow.

I think that it's pretty hard to go wrong these days if you're dealing with a reputable bowyer and/or company.

But, for quite a few years now I have been shooting Caribow longbows exclusively and really, really like them.

In my opinion, Jim Reynolds' Thunder Sticks are underrated and one of the smoothest drawing, best shooting longbows out there.

JK Traditions Kanati is my pick for a forward handle longbow, shoots to the spot well, points great and is as flat shooting as recurves I have owned at a heavier weight. Not to mention, it seems to want to shoot anything from a drink straw to a broom handle, very spine tolerant. Not sure if you asking about any paticular style, but for a blind, treestand or tight quartered spot in the woods, my choice hands down !!!!

Froggy

Centaur, for me the best shooting longbow I have shot. RER Vortex II and Hoots a close second but love my Centaur. Jim builds a fabulous bow!!!! Allot of good bows out there though, can't say I have shot many that I didn't like something about them.

There are many good shooting longbows. For instance, I have Shrews, Morrisons, Brackenburys (Non-Typicals), a Holm-Made, a Troy Breeding, a Big Jim and an A&H ACS that all shoot exceptionally well. And I'm probably forgetting some others I own. I have a couple that shoot accurately but have handshock I don't like, so I won't mention those by name. For most of my hunting I seem to pick up a Shrew because they shoot and feel great and have the best combination of compromises of any hunting bows I have shot. But that's just me, and everyone needs to find what is best for himself as a unique individual.

Allan

I really believe that the actual bow itself and it's shooting characteristics are very much secondary to the grip and comfortable draw weight.  Take the same bow and make it too heavy, or alter the grip so it's less consistent for you and you've got a whole other animal.
That said, the Toelke Whip is the first one piece longbow that I actually prefer shooting without a bow quiver, and have never enjoyed better consistency and accuracy.  (Then again it might be it's really great grip!)

I have really fallen in love with my striker stinger takedown. I almost sold it right after getting it and am sure glad I did not. Have not shot any of the mentioned above.

For me it is my Dwyer Dauntless and Endeavor.

The Stotler gave me tightest groups I have ever shot with a longbow, one made by Mike Ballenger that was 68" long and more reversed, or something like that, than his current models matched it.  I still cannot believe that I gave both bows away.  I guess I was afraid that the recipients would think that I shorted them if I did not give them the best bows that I could that matched them.

For me, it is my 3 piece Tall Tines.  I have gone thru over a dozen from low end to the top, and I have found the best shooting Longbow to be my Tall Tines.

I haven't shot many longbows so my opinion isn't worth much but from the ones I have owned my top three are Zippers, Centaurs and my Thunderhorn. In no particular order.

Every night I ask the same thing.  I have a Toelke Super-D, a NM Baraga, and Mohawks. I was hoping to find a favorite and stick with it.  I will say I am slightly more consistent with the Toelke, but only slightly.  

I do believe though that with time one can become a good shot with almost any longbow out there.  You just need to shoot alot and tinker.

For me it is the Caribow Peregrine, a hybrid longbow. I prefer it over a Centauer, Black widow PL, ACS, or a Whippenstick (though the Phoenix is the best shooting bow I know). Toelke or Mohawk I don't know because I never had the pleasure of shooting it. I shot one of my Peregrines yesterday and was grouping to perfection. I trained till 60 yards, as usual. At 60 yards I can group my arrows within a circle of 10 inch without too many problems. I always shoot three arra's and then get them out. Sometimes they are very close to each other or against each other. Yesterday I did the unbelievable:  I shot a Robin Hood at 60 yards. The nock of the recieving arrow exploded and was totally dissapeared.  That's terryfying!    :scared:    No pic's but I do have witnesses   :)  .
The Peregrines costed me already some nocks....

I have and have had a bunch....Dwyer, Mahaska, Kohannah, Several Hills, Mikuta, Great Norhtern, Several Northern Mist, Zipper, Bob Lee, Crooked Stick, Green Mountain, Holm-Made, a few ILF's and some self bows that I made. All have been good shooters and fun to learn from. I'll Have to say that The 2 I have right now from Chad Holm are tough to beat....but I do have a soft spot in my heart for Northern Mist's. I really need to shoot a Centaur at some point....lol! I really like longbows!!   :wavey:    :wavey:

b/w
mohawk
shrew
21 century
All shoot better than I do..

Fred Anderson Skookum's for me.  A close second would be Thunder Sticks.

I seem to shoot my liberty bows well. No hand shock and hit where I point.

I kinda think this is a trick question... And I'll use my ten years at this "trad-stuff" to explain... Took me a long time to find the RIGHT ARROW for each of my ten bows... Took me a long time to LEARN HOW TO SHOOT "RIGHT" ... Took me a long time to LISTEN TO THOSE WHO KNOW!

Now back to your question: I LOVE my new-to-me Kanati!   :jumper:   My other nine bows are collecting dust. I hear them cry themselves to sleep at night.   :dunno:   They Do! Maybe I'm fickle a bit... Whatever...   :rolleyes:   I'll shoot them all another day.

... mike ...

I absolutely love my hill country wildcat. Shoots right where i am looking and is easy on the eyes too. Also very impressed with the big jim tc i shot at coudersport:-) super nice bow. There did i add to the confusion? Hee hee

Great Northern Bushbow Straight Grip

I like a lot of them and think most shoot well if set up for you.  However, if I had to sell all my bows with the exception of one.... I would keep my Massie Longhorn.  Would hate to get rid of the Bushbow, Northwind and Green Mountain, but the Massie would win out.

Adkarcher

I own longbows from 6 different bowyers, all excellent in their own special ways. I believe that where I shoot one for a whole season without deviation, I shoot it well. Hard for me to say that one is better than another. I guess the Old West saying "beware the man with one gun, he probably knows how to use it" applies.

I have had bows that I like more than others for whatever reason but I've never had a bow that didn't shoot well once I gave it a fair chance. That means choosing the correct arrow and having the right thickness of side plate material among other things that affect how well the bow shoots.

Heres my take on this question, longbows are like women, the worst i ever had wasnt bad, but you will find that some are more fickle than others and will require a little xtra attention.

Bob Lee takedown longbow for me.

I haven't shot a Leon Stewart, but I just got a Mohawk Sparrowhawk and it's a hard bow to beat. I'm lovin' it!

MOAB..........................................................................nuff said.

Long ones ........

Cyclone ,by LEGENDS BOWS,This bow is so smooth and it hits were i point it ! Mike can make the hand grip any way you want it,which for me is important.All,i can say is try one !

Black Creek Bows!!!

Crooked stic for me!!!!

I've tried lots of bows, both recurve and longbow, but the one that shoots consistently the best is my Kanati. I have a new to me, Black Creek Banshee that shoots very well, but the grip is just a bit too big for my short fingers. If the grip were smaller, I think it would be number two on my list. Right now, though, it's my Orion with the recurve limbs.

I think the list could get pretty long for best shooting longbows!

Thier are many smooth,fast,stable,accurate,shock free,sweet shooting,tough and finely crafted ones available these days.

Theirs also so many different styles of longbows that appeal to different archers/bowhunters for different reasons.So whats best for one may not be best for another.Hard to narrow down really!

R/D - Wes Wallace Royal & Liberty Edge

Mild R/D - Liberty Contender

String Follow - Dave Miller Old Tom

they are all good but some are great

QuoteOriginally posted by Ben Maher:
Long ones ........

Oh how true this is...

Surprised that more people didn't mention some of Big Jim's bows.  It is the nicest longbow I have shot to date.

None of my longbow are very accurate......for that matter none of my recurves either!!  


It could however be my shooting skills (lack there of)    :)   :banghead:

I've shot and owned a bunch of different longbows... The ones that fit "me" the best are the Thunderstick MOAB, and the Big Jim Thunderchild... Probably lean a bit towards the Thunderchild overall...

QuoteOriginally posted by Joshua Long:
...
I do believe though that with time one can become a good shot with almost any longbow out there.  You just need to shoot alot and tinker.

Agreed. Too many bows eat up too much time in the tinkering dept. Shooting is one thing, collecting is another.

As Plumber said, "They are all good, but some are great."

And my experience has been that some bows shoot better than others.   I wonder what the "great" shooting bows are.

There's so many good ones out there.
But, it's tough to beat Kohannahs for the grip and smooth draw. I've got a Ryan Gill self-bow that's pretty awesome, too.

I like Mohawks but I only have one.   Lots of recurves though.

I've been a trad bow guy for 20 some odd years and I've heard a lot of descriptions of bows.   One of the things I've always wondered is what is meant when someone says that a bow draws "smoothly"?

As long as I'm drawing a weight that I'm comfortable with I've never encountered a bow that didn't draw smoothly, so what's the deal with that description?

x2 on the Kohanna for smooth draw and lack of hand shock.

Reading through this thread for best shooting bows, I would have to add that if one shoots with a Howard Hill style form, a Hill style bow would be better than many of the bows listed. My left hand form is a bit more static so my Robertson longbows suit me fine, but if i am shooting right handed with my straight grip longbows, I need to make some adjustments when going to a bow that has shape in the handle that does not require as much heal of the hand on the grip, even if is it my yew Hill style with the low wrist and modified 50s Kodiak special grip. (http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab283/pavanldb/DSCN0330.jpg)

I would say the Tomahawk Legacy series is without a doubt the best longbow I have ever shot. That said that is just my personal opinion. The other bows I have shot that are great as well are Black Widows, Tomahawk Diamond series, Navajo's, Z Bows, and quite a few more. All that said I have only ever shot one bow I could not get along with and it is a martin Stick longbow.

To each his own.  It's all about the grip for me and I LOVE my Toelke Super D

I've owned a lot of bows over the years and the longbow I shoot the best is a Thunderhorn.  Ben

Big Jim Buffalo. Without a doubt. Beautiful, dead in the hand, whisper quiet and impressive cast---- did i say BEAUTIFUL already?

I've always shot Abbotts pretty well. I think it's the grip shape that just fits my hand. I've shot a bunch of longbows but none felt as good in my hand, and I didn't shoot them as well.

I have a Greatree Solo I modified the grip with a rasp, electrical tape, and a rubber sleeve until it resembled the Abbott. I shoot it just as well.

It's all about the grip.

I like the looks of the pronghorns and for me they shoot nice... I have only shot 2 other longbows and a few recurves but I really like my pronghorn and can see another one in my future    :archer2:

Mine.  :jumper:

my favorites I have tried so far are   hunterbow hybrid, omega longbows and hitman.  all 3 make an awsome shooting bow

I prefer Hummingbird longbows, smooth, quiet, forgiving, accurate, relatively quick. These bows are as nice to look at as they are to shoot. They are critter killers that's for sure. I like the 3pc. takedown for the extra mass weight.LCH

PRONGHORN, smooth, fast, quiet, no hand shock, deadly.

I agree with Moleman, They are like women, I would like to try them all, but I can really only afford one good one.  :biglaugh:

I have had the bug again lately. I have been just shooting my recurve. I have the want for a new longbow. My wife and I went to Archers Advantage in Little Rock yesterday.

A Navajo caught my eye, I picked it up and headed to the shooting area. 3 shots in 3" on my first group. Then I started really looking it over. Bacote and Micarta. This is where I was so shocked 47#@28" 56". I have never shot any bow that was 56" that was that smooth and easy for me to shoot with my almost 30" draw. Now I just have to have it. I am now taking charitable donations

Chris

For me it's my Wild Horse Creek Kestrel.

First off, describe longbow.
R/D D style....etc

At this point I only own one Bow, Howard Hill Big Five....

Its  ALL GOOD!!     :thumbsup:    :archer2:

Centaur!

I think Liberty Bows "Edge" by Allen Boice is a great longbow. I have one and will never let it go. Great shooting bow and great craftsmanship.

Read I believe. In the old harvey overshiners longbow mag a 2 time winner of jerry hills hhill championship won it with an old herters longbow with a twisted limb.

Most all should do the job!

Hornes Archery Longbow
Martin/Damon Howatt Viper and Savannah

They all shoot the same.  It's the person pulling the string that is in question.

Ive never shot any longbow (or recurve for that matter...)as good as my Zipper Nitro.   Im sure Ill shoot other bows in the future that are just plain fun to shoot,  but as far as the "perfect" bow for me....its the Nitro.  My quest need not continue.  I will NEVER sell the one I recently purchased and plan to get another very soon.  Amazing bows from tip to tip.....unbelievable!!!  :notworthy:

I already posted the bows I thought were the best, at least for me.  If any of you have longbows you feel are not up to par, please send my way in case they might be better than what I have now...   :jumper:

I love my bob lee envy longbow it shoots great, but I think its because the grip is the same as my recurves and I got my riser with phenoic in it. I tend to shoot a heavier mass bow better and I like the bob lee recurve risers in the looks department too. Its all in the grip and mass weight of the bow for me, I think it takes all the vibration and shock out too.

The two that I shoot best right now are a Cari-bow Peregrine (pleasure to shoot) and a Mohawk Sparrowhawk (66" -- very smooth draw and accurate).

My favorite longbows are the Griffins, followed by the Shrew and then the Navajo Scouts. I have other great bows that primarily sit on the rack because I use these the most. I agree with a previous comment that a lot of being satisfied deals with the fit of the grip to your hand and the feel of the bow when you shoot it. Its such a personal thing because there are so many great bows available to us. We all are so blessed!

For me- David Miller Old Tom, superb shooter.  Holm Goshawk r/d also.  Hill Redman excellent as well.  The Dwyer I just traded for a Stewart was awesome too and I hear the Stewart is great cant wait to try it.

I all ready said Centaur but need to add one, Black Creek Sinren. Traded for one not that long ago and cant believe how well it shoots for me. Didnt think I would like the grip at first, but man does it shoot. Fast, quiet, dead in the hand and puts the arrow where you look. Cant seem to put it down, oh and its easy on the eye too! What more could you ask for?

Well, it seems that some bows just seem to "fit" especially well, but shooter form probably has as much (or more)to do with how well a bow handles as the physical characteristics of the bow itself. The bow that I shot most consistently was my first Quillian Bamboo Longhunter - I really liked it, and and I practiced a lot. I sure wish I hadn't traded it. When my form holds up, I also have a Hill Wesley Special and a Hill Cheetah that shoot very nicely.

Griffin's fit me the best, but Kanati's, Shrew's and Centaur's are some of the better 1 pc. longbows I've shot...

RD hybrid--Treadway Black Swamp.  

American style longbow--Northern Mist with Howard Hill a very close second.

They all shoot better than what the majority of archers can shoot them.

I've shot a bunch of longbows, and can say without a doubt that my 66" Black Widow PLX is my favorite.  I shoot it well, it is of exceedingly high quality, looks stunning, and draws smooth like butter.  I wouldn't buy one without a Toby grip, though.

I prefer my 21st Century.  Very smooth and a joy to shoot.

So far for the few longbows I've shot, my Centaur Chimera just can't miss. It shoots very well, and it hits where I'm looking. Also have had a similar experience with my buddies thunder child.

QuoteOriginally posted by bow_man_66:
I all ready said Centaur but need to add one, Black Creek Sinren. Traded for one not that long ago and cant believe how well it shoots for me. Didnt think I would like the grip at first, but man does it shoot. Fast, quiet, dead in the hand and puts the arrow where you look. Cant seem to put it down, oh and its easy on the eye too! What more could you ask for?

I checked out Black creek's webpage and they look great.  Have you tried the Banshee? Looks damn fine for a shorter longbow.

Tom deputy abilene texas 64" hybrid.

I own eleven of them and keep going back to my Qarbon Nano

QuoteOriginally posted by Froggy:
JK Traditions Kanati is my pick for a forward handle longbow, shoots to the spot well, points great and is as flat shooting as recurves I have owned at a heavier weight. Not to mention, it seems to want to shoot anything from a drink straw to a broom handle, very spine tolerant. Not sure if you asking about any paticular style, but for a blind, treestand or tight quartered spot in the woods, my choice hands down !!!!

Froggy

Couldn't have said it better myself!

Jason

My favorites are Mohawk , Hummingbird, Kanati , Shrew , Firefly . They are all diffrent style longbows but i shot all of these well .

Of the 20+ customs I've owned.The Habu Vyperkahn is the easiest bow to shoot accurately w/.

My current bow is the most accurate I have ever owned.
Tracey from St. Joe River Bows built this for me
in early spring. She did some custom work to the limbs, making them more narrow and deeper than her normal models and a shelf that sits closer to the hand.
This is the first bow I've had that I can feel almost 100% confident about putting the arrow in the mark each time I draw it back.     :saywhat:    

This is my critter list so far this season. Not bad for owning it less than a year.    :thumbsup:    
 (http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff369/arwin29/bows/0064.jpg)

 (http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/Harvests/014.jpg)
 (http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/Harvests/0146.jpg)
 (http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/Harvests/0105.jpg)
 (http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/Harvests/008.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/Harvests/011.jpg)

Griffin, with a Morrison ILF close.

andersons' or abbots'..

I go with Toelke for a "modern longbow."

My Schulz takes the cake as far as traditional longbows are concerned...

JMHO.

My Wallace "Royal" bows are built in my head thru Wes's hands, he exceeded my expectations everytime. Not only beautiful, they perform as good or better than anything I've had in my hands. Great bowyer, great guy!

If buying a bow back tells you anything, I will never sell my Dwyer Defiant again! So different from my Wallace's, but not a bad different. So many great longbows, so little time. I want to experience a string follow longbow.

After 56 years of shooting a longbow, I would take a Sunset Hill by Nate Steen today.  The handle is short and the timing is perfect, that is just my opinion.

I got to try out a buddy's new Black Widow longbow yesterday (don't remember the model name). What surprised me was the fact that my first 3 shots with my arrows (which were not tuned to for this bow) made a 3 inch group at 20 yards! With all of my own bows, it took several weeks to "get to know the bow" and get performance like that.  Plus, the bow was gorgeous. I always say, "don't use your best bow, use your best looking bow!"  HA!

I wouldn't call the Bear Montana  one of the best shooting R/D longbows out there, but for the money it can't be beat. Super quiet, stable, no-frills good looks, and you just can't beat that price. I find the handle a little uncomfortable, but since the bow is so cheap, I wasn't scared to sand it down for a more comfortable grip.