Hey everyone,
I am new to this website and am trying to post this to pow wow so more people will review it. so if this shows up again on product review please forgive me.
I am buying a custom reflex deflex longbow. I am sort of new to trad archery but love it and want a bow that will last a lifetime. i have a budget of 600 dollars and am looking for a all around great bow. quick,smooth, quiet and no hand shock. I have narrowed it down to these great bowers:
tolekle whip, thunderstick 111, northern mist superior, dwyer, and am trying to call cenataur schrew and hornes to see if they would work with my price budget too.
I have no option to shoot or try out any of these so am in the dark. please if anyone can help that would be great.
bart
You can spend half that and get a super performer with Omega Longbows. Stick&String called it the "Workingman's Longbow" and their review induced me to order one. Sure glad I did. It's one heckuva R/D longbow and they've become quite a phenomenon.
Kegan will build it to your specs, give you a 30 day "try it, like it, or send it back" test period, and I'll assure you, you'll find a prominent spot on your rack for it. Hard to find a sweeter shooting or better performing longbow.
http://omegalongbows.webs.com/warrantyandfaq.htm
Any and all of those would be great starts. You can probably find a great shooter for $300-400 on the classifieds if you are patient. I personally would not spend the money on a new custom unless I knew exactly what I wanted. I would shoot as many as I could before I dropped $600++ on a new one. You can buy a lot of great bows in the sub $400 range in this economy on this site and keep only what you really like. :thumbsup:
Bart,
Welcome to the gang.
My advice is that you buy used in the pound range that you like until you find the bow that fits YOU the best prior to ordering a custom built for you.
The shooting characteristics of bows are one thing that makes you either draw to or away from a certain bow and those are hard to put in words on a forum where people can know what they are getting without test driving it. Even more important is the grip. It's impossible to describe a grip well enough for you to know if it'll fit your hand without you trying to hold it.
If you buy used, all within a 5lbs draw range of each-other, then you can get to test drive the bows you like at a price equal only to shipping. If you buy new, sight unseen, then you might get a beautiful bow that just doesn't click with you and then wind up selling it at a several hundred dollar loss. If your plan is to buy a few used bows then you should be able to get a few arrows that are tuned slightly stiff for that range, then just change out the field points to tune them to each respective bow.
I hope this advice makes sense and helps.
Garrett
QuoteOriginally posted by TSHOOTER:
Any and all of those would be great starts. You can probably find a great shooter for $300-400 on the classifieds if you are patient. I personally would not spend the money on a new custom unless I knew exactly what I wanted. I would shoot as many as I could before I dropped $600++ on a new one. You can buy a lot of great bows in the sub $400 range in this economy on this site and keep only what you really like. :thumbsup:
This^^^^^
Bisch
I'll be another to say buy used your first couple of bows. Find what you like. What is your weight range you are looking for? Length of bow?
Like everyone has said, you can get a great bow for cheap on the classifieds. However if you are looking for new, then I would recommend the Whip HS by Dan Toelke.
Dan is excellent at getting you what you want as described and getting it to you in a short amount of time. I know you will be well pleased if you decide to go this route.
Hey guys thanks for the input.
My only problem is finding a used bow that fits my needs. I am 6 ft 3-4 and need a bow from around 64 to 66". also i am looking for a low fourty draw weight @ a 28" draw. Ive looked everwhere but just can not find one. if someone knows of a bow like this please let me know. this is why i choose to get a custom because a new stock bow like bear montana or martin savanna is practically the same price range. thanks
also check the Rocky Mountain Specialty wed sites used bows. they have lots of bows. they are sponsors here,
For my first bow, I ordered the thunderstick 3 and don't regret it for a second. Mine is 62" and smooth as butter. You won't go wrong dealing with Jim Reynolds.
You may want to take a look at a J D Berry's reflex/deflex longbow, www.jdberryarchery.com (http://www.jdberryarchery.com) James has been making custom reflex/deflex longbows for over 30 years now and is bows not only shoot great but are a real work of art. Take a look at is web page and you will see the work he puts into is bows. James loves talking archery on the phone and would work with you to make sure you get the bow that fits you best.
Bama Expedition Hunter 62in R/D $479 Great shooting longbow fast and smooth you could not go wrong with one fo Nates bows! Custom laminated riser w Black glass limbs! I have a 62 Bama Expi royal love it!
Welcome to the Gang! You've come to the right place...
As others have said, buying used is usually the best way to go until you have really settled on a particular style. Why? Because bows are like clothes, everyone has a particular shape that suits them best and then there is the color / wood choices just to name a few of the variables.
But buying on a budget as yours you have many options than you might realize. Sponsors like Rocky Mountain Specialties, The Footed Shaft all sell used bows. In addition, one of the best ways to buy a bow is to go to some of the shows and shoots like (Comptons or Kalamazoo). There you can try all of the bows before you buy. Go to the calendar section of this website to see what's going on near you.
Even if you are not able to make it to a show or shoot, contact your nearest club and pay them a visit. The traditional folks are usually the most friendly and willing to show you their equipment. Maybe they won't let you actually shoot their bow (due to your size, etc.), but you can see all of the combinations in woods, grips, etc.
Lastly, all of the bowyers you mentioned and more are extremely helpful and accomodating. In this business people don't last very long if they aren't! Each of them have a great reputation and a lot of experience with newbies and old timers alike. If you are sure that you want a custom built right away, do as you are and talk to them. One or more will strike you as the "one". I am quite certain that you won't be dissapointed with any of them.
Don't overlook the Longwalker by Chuck Deshler(TwoTracks). As good a fit and finish, and performance as ANY bow out there.
QuoteOriginally posted by owlbait:
Don't overlook the Longwalker by Chuck Deshler(TwoTracks). As good a fit and finish, and performance as ANY bow out there.
x2
QuoteOriginally posted by owlbait:
Don't overlook the Longwalker by Chuck Deshler(TwoTracks). As good a fit and finish, and performance as ANY bow out there.
X3
I would also cast a vote towards anything built by Steve Turay at Northern Mist. The Superior you mentioned or the Baraga would be a purchase to last you a lifetime.
Good luck!
ttt
You should be able to find a lot of bows within your price range and the group you have narrowed it down to is a good one. And the classifieds can get you a bow from a member with no waiting. Especially as a new trad archer the last thing you want to do is take a shot in the dark; an easy way to avoid that is only choose folks who are sponsors of this site.
hi bart, i have a new jd berry renaissance which cost me 750.00 for 500.00 68" at 27 42 draw pics on web site now, this might meet your needs good luck and welcome to agreat sport stan
I have a lightly used Mohawk Sparrowhawk 66" thats 45 @ 28 that I'd let go for a very reasonable price.. If you're interested pm me..
If this is inappropriate please delete..
HOLM MADE !!!
I love my St. Joe. :saywhat:
(http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff369/arwin29/0016.jpg)
Lost Creek bows makes a heck of a longbow as well.
Another vote for Lost Creek ! heck of a good bow for the $$$ ! Great Bowyer and a great bow. I shoot Shrews but I think they are above your budget you had mentioned @ $600. If I did not shoot Shrews and was looking for a custom bow for less than $600 I would buy a Lost Creek Life Ender. I shot a friends Life Ender and it was 44lbs and a sweet shooter. Sure do like a Dwyer Defiant as well ! Choices, oh the choices we have here fellers !
Welcome to the gang! My advice is the same as most others, try to shoot as many as you can before splurging on a custom. My personal preference though is the Tomahawk Legacy Series bow. It is a bit more than you said you wanted to spend but 3Rivers offers a 30 day money back gurantee on the bow if you find it is not for you.
There are so many, I would check with Bigfoot, Two Tracks, St Joe, or any of the great sponsers on this site. Some that build expensive bows will have prototypes or seconds or trade ins. you will probably get a really great bow and a really great deal. there are also a bunch of fantastic bows including Sentmans, Pronghorns and even a couple of Fred Andersons on the adds right now. Check them out. God bless you and good luck, Steve