I am ready to get a new longbow and I been thinking of getting a custom this time. Not wanting to break the bank but about $500 is going to be my limit. A used bow is fine. I prefer a bow that has been shot by someone more experienced than I am to help me with shooting it. So I need some suggestions on what bow to get. I have been hunting with a Martin savanna and it a great bow but I have a few issues with tight shots in the Bush. So I think I want a shorter longbow that still shoots smooth.
Maddog will fill the bill and be under your budget.
Maddog is your ticket.
Prairie Drifter is the authority.
;)
Dwyer
QuoteOriginally posted by johnnyk71:
Maddog is your ticket.
Prairie Drifter is the authority.
;)
Yea, I have a couple..... :bigsmyl:
If you could raise your limit $50-$100 or so I highly recommend a big Jim buffalo or thunder child. I just got one 2 weeks ago and absolutely love it.
Don Dow
Another for Mad Dog.
But take a peek at 7 Lakes also. You can't beat his guarantee on his bows. I have had him make me three. One for me. One for my Dad. One for my grandson.
But honestly you have many options with lots of good bows and bowyers out there.
I am old school, so Hill bows are my choice. I have 5 Hills and am also looking closely at the Northern Mist Shelton. However, there are many, many bows of varying design, so you should shoot as many as you can to decide what works best for you. Check out the sponsors and the classifieds, and, if you don't mind buying used, you should be able to find pretty much whatever you prefer and stay within your budget. This could be a really fun adventure.
Kanati! Great bow and comes in 56".....
There are a lot of bows I can't recommend simply because I haven't had the opportunity to shoot them. Of the ones I have shot, there hasn't been a bad one - only some that don't fit me well.
You definitely need to include Chad Holms' bows in your list of bows to try.
In that price range a new Thunder Stick Mag comes to mind, I liked the one I had. I should have kept that bow.
I started in Alphabetical order.
If you have not made a decision yet, I recommend you look over newwoodbows.com before you make a final decision. JM
QuoteOriginally posted by mcgroundstalker:
Kanati! Great bow and comes in 56".....
X2!
$525.00 for a brand new one.....A lot less for a used one(but used ones are on the rise, if you can find one. People tend to hang on to Jason's bows for a long time).
In a perfect world, I'd try to shoot before buying. Not that I follow my own advice, of course. I've happily purchased used bows on this site, my favorites being a Holm longbow and a Toelke Super-D.
I would highly recommend taking a look at the classified and look for a good deal on a used custom bow. I recently picked up an RER LX longbow for right at about the price you are looking to spend. I picked it up at a very nice discount price and it is an awesome bow from a highly rated bowyer. Some great deals out there to be had.
A couple of my buddies recently got Bama Bows. These bows look great and shoot even better! Look into them.
A couple of my buddies recently got Bama Bows. These bows look great and shoot even better! Look into them.
Keep your eyes open in the classifieds for a McCullough "Griffin". I'm a recurve guy but that is the one longbow that I wish I'd kept. It's a hybrid so not what you want if you are looking for the classic D-shape, but what a great shooting bow. Mine was a 64" model.
I second the Holm Made bows...very nice bows
Toelke whip, 3 weeks I had mine, should have good one along time ago.
x2 for Maddog bows. Mike is a great guy.
For that budget used will be a great option. For new there are a handful of superb choices: Lost Creek (a personal favorite), Bama (also outstanding), Mad Dog. If you can up your budget 100-150 bucks then a few more options pop up: Holm-made (awesome), Toelke (yum), RER (oh yeah) and Dwyer (sweet!)
Hindsight being 20/20 if I was starting all over again I'd buy, sell, and trade on the classifieds here for several years or a bakers dozen bows, whichever comes first before I'd order a custom bow myself.
Or even better I'd attend a trad expo like Kalamazoo and shoot every bow there!
We all have our favorites and our favorites tend to change like the weather. You won't find the answer you seek because only you can be you.
If you're really itching to experience the joy of working with a bowyer and choosing your own woods, etc. for your price range I'd check out Newwood longbows. Great bows at a steal of a price and the bowyer Chris is as genuine a guy as you'll meet, then again I've yet to meet a trad guy who wasn't!
Good luck!
Don Dow. Can't beat it for the price. I have 2 and would never part with them.
Don Dow. Can't beat it for the price. I have 2 and would never part with them.
Mike Dunnaway at Wild Horse Creek bows makes a fine longbow.
That said, I also have one of Mike Mcready's long bows from Maddog too and it is a great bow as well .
Check out Bryan Holley's Spirit longbows. They are sold through a sponsor RMSG in Denver. They are right in your price range. There also is a used Spirit in the classifieds that's just like new for $250.00. Unbelievable deal!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC/SW Wisconsin
Check out Heart Land Bows, best experience I'v had with a bowyer. Under $500. Smooth, quiet and pretty.
Used Toelke for the money,hard to beat.
best for the money Kanati,maybe big jim thunderchild then toelke !
Check into BamaBows or Abbott Longbows.
Anything Bob Lee would be the way to go you could even get a used recurve at a good price and get them to build you a set of longbow limbs for it down the road. Bob Lee bows are built to stand the test of time and will shoot along side any other bow out there. If you want a one piece find yourself a Bob Lee Stick, they are awesome to shoot.
I would like to add Journeyman bows, lost creek and Treadway only because they make fine bows.
Hope this narrows it down for you
;) :p
Bama bows are unbelievable!!!! The bow Im in love with and have been shooting exclusively now for over a year, costs twice what I paid for my Bama that I regretfully sold, about a year ago. I love the bow Im shooting now, but that little Bama expedition is still stuck in my head....and I think I have to get another one. Awesome craftsmanship, shoots like a dream, eye-opening speed, quiet, and LIFETIME WARRANTY!!!! Nate was a pleasure to deal with too, what a bowyer and just nice guy in general, bend over backwards for ya! And if you buy a bow, you'll get 10% anything else he's got, good for life! Too many pros here to not give it a try! I had a 1 pc expedition hunter, 58" bow, 52# @ 28". It felt like a 45# draw (smooth!) and got the arrows to the target ahead of my ACS longbow! FAST!
kanati
Just throwing out bowyers name is pretty much useless for the OP. More information about the OP is needed before one can really start to recommend a certain style/length of bow. Not every bow design works well for everybody's physical characteristics.
Helpful questions which should be answered first: What is the OPs draw length?
Obviously his current longbow is 62" long.
Is he considering only a one piece bow or is he open to 3 piece TD "longbows",too?
What kind of grip does he prefer? (High, medium, low or dished). How does he like his current grip?
What did he shoot for grip comparison if anything?
What circumference at the throat does his hand get around comfortably?
What arrow material does he shoot, as it is not too beneficial for every arrow material to be cut to or even past center....
When we get an idea, then one can start to make recommendations....imho just throwing out bowyers name without knowing any data is well meant but ill advice.