And as much as I wanted to like it... *sigh* I didn't. Picked up one pretty cheap on the classified's. They're a nostalgic and proven bow, scores of kills to their credit. First, we're talking a more modern one, and I understand there were some changes in the past few years over the older bows. For looks, it wasn't there. The lamination lines were shoddy looking and I can see gaps between the lams, though they're under the poly coating so purely cosmetic. Then, the grip. I have smaller hands, not small, but small-ish. It felt like I was holding a block of lumber. The grip shape is not for me at all. I will say it was very quiet for a recurve, veryyyy quiet. It shot ok, but I was hoping for more. And if die-hard Bear fans aren't upset yet... For giggles I took out my Samick one piece Red Stag recurve. Better grip for my tastes (narrower and more detail to the shape). It was faster, despite being 5# less DW, but I credit that to a FF string, and speed is not my ultimate goal, just an observation. The grizzly was much smoother, in fact it has a great draw cylce with no real humps or peaks. Then I pulled out my Don Dow stick and playing with recurves was done for. I want to like recurves, but my longbow is just so pleasent to shoot. Smooth, fast, accurate, quiet.. It has it all. One day maybe I'll find "the" recurve, lord knows there's an endless mountain of them I haven't shot. But for now, my longbow will be riding shotgun and hitting the woods. I think when a nice shoot comes to town I'll try some out, though honestly I'll probably just walk away with another longbow. Haha. No real loss here though, the grizzly will sit there with the red stag waiting for the day I get bored or tragedy strikes my longbow (*gasp* Never!). Again, if you're a die-hard Bear fan don't take offense. I lnow Bear is a time tested quality bow company and they turn out fine bows. Its just that if they make one for me (and im sure they do!) it isnt the grizzly. Now, back to the happy flinging of arrows with my LB.
There is no one bow, dog, car, truck, chainsaw, woman, house, boot, job, sandwich, etc. that will fit everyone.
Guy
Well said Guy.
It's interesting, I find my Grizzly to be one bow I can always pick up and shoot pretty well. There is so many bows out there. Long, short, ugly, pretty, and so on. But everyone of them has a fit for someone.
I guess that's why they make lots of different styles of bows with lots of different grips. I have had that same problem as well when a great looking bow just did not fit my hand. Hope you find that perfect bow. I'm still looking...
I have a son who is a die-hard longbow man however he loves to shoot my 62 # Black Widow PSA V takedown...and he shoots it well!
This won't help your quest to find the perfect recurve, but I have a Bear Montana that I fall more in love with the more other bows I shoot.
At first I didn't respect it. I saw it for the the beginner bow I thought it was. However, the more opportunities I've had to shoot other bows (which still isn't a bunch), the more I appreciate the Montana.
Yeah, I looked at the Montana, but I definitly need to try a hill style grip before buying one. Honestly, with all the good things I hear about the Maddog R/D bows I may have to keep an eye out for one. I like their look and the grip reminds me of my Dow. Plus everyone raves about them. At least I have my LB still so not a loss. Besides, when my boys grow up they'll have a couple recurves to try out haha. Again, hope I didn't offend anyone about the grizzly. A fine bow, just isn't for me.
Additionally, I think its just time to accept that I am a longbow type guy. Feel like I should join a group counseling session or something. Haha
I have shot older and newer grizzlies but I just can not settle into them as well as my SK's. It seems shorter than 60 in and I am all over the place. 2in is not a whole lot but....
As for the grip not working, reform it, I followed a thread on here about making a "Fred Bear" style grip. It works and now I am a happy camper.
Yeah, I had to reshape my Red Stag, and I worked on the Grizzly but its so wide to start with that I am afraid narrowing it to the point of my liking it would no longer be structurally sound. I've moved on mentally, now I'll just focus on getting to a shoot at some point where I can fall in love with a R/D long bow.
Nothing wrong with preferring longbows. I shot a couple of custom ones and like you with recurves, I just don't like the longbows as well.