Im trying to make the switch from compound to traditional on a budget so i've been looking at a few used recurves and their reviews. I was looking at the samick sage, which there are plenty of information on and also I found a Bear Hunter TD for $150 used. Is this a nice shooting bow? There seems to be a lack of good information on it and i'm wondering should i pick it up or just order a sage instead. What are some things I should be wary of when buying a used recurve?
Thanks ahead of time!
-Travis
If you can get your hands on both bows and shoot them the best deal will probably jump out at you I've bought well priced bows that I couldn't shoot if you have options try to explore as many as possible sometimes the 35 dollar flea-market bow is the best deal, good luck.
One important factor is the draw weight of the Bear bow...how much draw weight are you planning to start with?
DDave
I was planning to start with a 55# or 60#. Im pulling #65 pounds on an old compound now and I can shoot all day without being sore. The used bear I was looking at has 60# limbs and from what ive seen its hard to find replacement limbs for it.
If the bow has straight limbs and is otherwise in decent shape, the price is fine. Whether you should buy it or a Samick, or anything else is not something we can really tell you. As jrbows said, it would be good to shoot them first.
A few words to the wise - get a draw weight that you can easily handle. It is not uncommon for guys who move from compound to trad to be over bowed. #40 is not a bad place to start as it is light and legal for deer in most states. Again - make sure you are not over bowed, better lighter than heavier.
Every bow feels and shoots different. If you have a longer draw, a short recurve could be a problem. I will say that for most people a 60 0r 62 inch recurve (like a Bear Grizzly or a Howatt Hunter two very common used bows) in the right draw weight is generally going to work fine.
Again - shoot a few before you buy!
And have fun, you are starting a great adventure!
You probably need a little lighter draw weight to start. I just switched from a wheel bow and was shooting a 70# Matthews and a 45# Bear was more then enough to start out.
Somewhere I think it indicates when switching you need to start about 30# lighter.
Shooting traditional is a complete different game, you have to think about things differently.
You should start out with at least a 15# lighter stick bow you buy than your compound. Pass on the Bear Hunter, it is definitely too heavy for you. Hint whatever traditional bow you buy will have zero letoff. I would recommend no more than 45#. Look in the Tradbows classifieds and find a bow in your price range that's no more than 45# at your draw length.
Bill
Thanks for all the input! I believe ill go with a 45# sage then, I found a pretty good deal on one. I feel as soon as I get one bow im gonna want another so I might as well start somewhere!
-Travis
lancaster got me a sage in 3-4days last month, bows ok, but becarfull over drawing it, 28" is it.
Travis - Yes, you will end up with more than one!
:goldtooth:
Just put a bid on a sage so well see!
-Travis
55 or 60 too much to start unless you have patience to wait 3 months to get stronger. As others have said I suggest max 45 even if a big fella.
I took the advice and put a bid on a 45# one. well know in two days if it will be mine!
Yes the draw weight dilemma is the most important advice for a beginner. You did good! Hope you get a good deal on a bow. Welcome to the gang!
QuoteOriginally posted by Treespain:
I took the advice and put a bid on a 45# one. well know in two days if it will be mine!
Excellent! Good luck. For a first bow you can't really go wrong with any decently made bow in a reasonable draw weight. At the beginning (and really for the rest of our lives haha) the shooter is 9/10 of the equation so enjoy and hope you have a ball with the Sage. I once had one, now its more a matter of "umm honey Ive had that old bow for months, ages really, no its not a new one!" :D
45 lbs. is a good choice. I wouldn't worry about over drawing the Samick. You're not going to hurt it if drawn to your natural draw length. Best of luck
Haha thanks for all the great advice! Ill post again soon.
-Travis
I have a friend who I'm trying to get into archery. I told him to get a #45 sage to start with. I've only been shooting 2 years and I started with a #40 longbow. Best decision I could have made. I just saw a sage bowfishing kit. I think I am going to get it next year. One for a bowfishing bow so I don't damage another bow and two because they look pretty nice and get great reviews. Best of luck.
Josh
Thanks ill let yall know how it goes as soon as its in hand! I just found out that my friends family has 3 or 4 of them solely for bowfishing.
-travis
I have to agree with what just about everyone above has said. I would NOT recommend starting with such a heavy Trad bow. I shoot near 80 pounds with a compound all day comfortably as well. My 55 pound ACS longbow feels much heavier and I have been shooting traditional for a few years. I have no where near the experience these other guys do but I am a relatively recent Traditional convert myself so I can tell you for certain you won't be happy with a 60 pound recurve as a starter traditional bow. It just won't be ANY fun and that is after all what this is all about! Good luck to you.
QuoteOriginally posted by Treespain:
I feel as soon as I get one bow im gonna want another so I might as well start somewhere!
-Travis
One of the smarter, forward thinking, things I've seen posted here! ;) :clapper:
If you don't get it, you can pick them up for around that price from Rocky Mountain Specialty Gear(sponsor on here) and do yourself a favor and spend $15 for a Fast Flight string to replace the crap string that comes with that bow, great great little bow, but the string sucks. Serving area is really thick and it makes for a very tight nock fit. Other thing, make sure you get a bow stringer, don't ever string a laminated limb bow by the oldschool step through the string method, you will either break a limb eventually or twist a limb. I think the Sage comes with a stringer though. Other good thing about buying from the place I mentioned above, they can sell you some arrows that will probably be pretty well matched for that bow and your draw length. Also if you take good care of it, for $50 bucks they will take it back and give you another sage with a heavier set of limbs when your ready to move up.
We're all different and many folks find it much easier to handle more weight than others.
Only advice I'd give every new shooter is to start with a bow you can completely dominate, and over power--be it 50#, or 15#. Nothing will create bad habits worse than a bow that over powers and dominates you.
I checked out that website, they have quite and extensive stock of used bows. If only i lived in CO to go buy and shoot some! The bow i bid on doesnt come with a bowstringer but i believe it does have the fastflight already. Does anyone have a particular favorite bowstringer for the money?
-Travis
I started with a RH Sage at 45# from 3rivers. I still love this bow and shoot it often. Its not the purtiest bow you can buy, but its a solid bow at a great price. Enjoy!!
QuoteOriginally posted by Jim Casto Jr:
We're all different and many folks find it much easier to handle more weight than others.
Only advice I'd give every new shooter is to start with a bow you can completely dominate, and over power--be it 50#, or 15#. Nothing will create bad habits worse than a bow that over powers and dominates you.
X2
If you're shooting a 60# compound now with 80% let off. You are really only holding 12#. You need to drop way down until you build back up.
Listen carefully to the guys advising you to start out with the lighter bow. Most people have difficulty developing consistency and good form when they start with a bow that is too heavy. While it can be done, you will probably progress much faster with the lighter bow.
While I like shooting heavier bows and feel that most healthy people can work up to the ability to shoot them well, I would say the skill to shoot heavy bows should be developed over time. In the beginning, you want to concentrate on form and precision, not wrestling to control a big bow. Good luck on your journey.
I started out with my 53# bear in august and loved it. it took about a month to build up the back muscles for it though. I shot for about an hour every day but would break that up in two or three sessions. My friend just ordered a 45 pound sage and I shot it and it was great if I had known what a difference weight made at the time I would have definitely went lighter it's so much fun to shoot you'll really enjoy it.
What is your draw length? Traditional bow draw weight changes with draw length. If ya didn't already know.
QuoteOriginally posted by Treespain:
I checked out that website, they have quite and extensive stock of used bows. If only i lived in CO to go buy and shoot some! The bow i bid on doesnt come with a bowstringer but i believe it does have the fastflight already. Does anyone have a particular favorite bowstringer for the money?
-Travis
Selway stringer is my favorite, but any cup and block as they call them I think will work. And unless the bow you bid on is a used one, I'm pretty sure it won't come with a fast flight, it will come with a continuous loop non fast flight, it is fast flight compatible bow though.
x2 on the selway stringer
Both are fine bows. My personal preference is Bear though. I killed my first trad buck with a Bear Grizzly 45 @ 28". And I own 2 Bears still. Never can go wrong with a Bear IMO.