Terry,

This is my own little "gut feel personal analysis". In 2008 I shot this bear using my 59# at my draw, made in 1999 by John McCullough, Super Shrew Samurai  http://www.shrewbows.com/raylyonbear2008.html  

I'm currently shooting the same arrow combination with my 2010 Super Shrew 'special' (53# with bamboo cores and curly birch veneers and regular fiberglass limbs) and don't notice any perceivable difference in my shooting trajectory. Again, it's not a scientific readout on chronograph, just what I perceive and bareshaft tuning.  

My takeaway, a little better performance, more "beauty" and same great shootability.  

BEAUTIFUL!!!  :eek:

QuoteOriginally posted by Ron LaClair:
I can say that the Shrew bows of today are the best we have made to date.

I don't doubt that Ron....I know Gregg has done a jam up job.

QuoteOriginally posted by Ray Lyon:
Terry,

This is my own little "gut feel personal analysis". In 2008 I shot this bear using my 59# at my draw, made in 1999 by John McCullough, Super Shrew Samurai   http://www.shrewbows.com/raylyonbear2008.html  

I'm currently shooting the same arrow combination with my 2010 Super Shrew 'special' (53# with bamboo cores and curly birch veneers and regular fiberglass limbs) and don't notice any perceivable difference in my shooting trajectory. Again, it's not a scientific readout on chronograph, just what I perceive and bareshaft tuning.  

My takeaway, a little better performance, more "beauty" and same great shootability.    

I hear ya Ray!

Terry,

I have Shrews of all sorts, made with various materials, that are built over a fairly wide period of time. The bows made with similar materials seem to cast arrows at about the same speed. The latest Shrews with advanced materials definitely add some speed, stability, smoothness, and strength, with those characteristics being more or less prominent depending on the actual materials used. In addition, the bows have continued to become more beautiful, and the BowBolt takedown feature is great to have. When Jeff Berberick shot my foam/uniweft/carbon Classic Hunter at the 2009/2010 Solana Ranch Hunt, he said it was far nicer shooting than the older Shrews he had owned. I agree completely, and the newest ones I have are even better. I am going to go to the archery range and take some of my Shrews to shoot them through the chronograph, but speed is not the only thing that is better about the Shrews.

That said, the Buffalo Bow I was shooting in Oz is a Super Shrew Samurai that Gregg built a little over two years ago, and it is a wonderful bow. The bow my buddy Doug was shooting is a 25+ year old Brackenbury recurve that is a nice bow too. You don't have to have the latest and greatest bow made using modern, advanced materials in order to kill game, but the new bows are definitely nicer and have better shooting characteristics. After shooting my Shrew Buffalo Bow Doug wanted to buy one himself. Fortunately, he was able to get the first Shrew Safari. When I get the chance to shoot his, I will do a review and compare it to my Buffalo Bow.

Allan

Allan, I talked to Doug today. He got his Shrew Safari in the mail this afternoon. When we talked, he hadn't shot it yet because he said it was raining there. I told him the bow was waterproof and wouldn't melt in the rain. He said he would give us some feedback and maybe some pictures soon.

lol

What an awesome bow!

Thats is one good looking bow,sweet!

Thats is one good looking bow,sweet!

I got a call from Doug the same day that Ron talked to him. Doug had shot the bow from underneath his porch overhang, so he didn't get wet when shooting, but did when he retrieved his arrows. As a result, he didn't shoot too many times. He told me that the bow was incredibly beautiful, with the rough buffalo horn making the bow look really "Gnarly" and powerful. Although the Shrew Safari is heavy for a Shrew, with all the phenolic, the overlays, and the BowBolt, it is still light compared to three piece bows. Doug said it felt much lighter in mass than the Brackenbury that he took to Oz, and he also said it felt about 10 pounds lighter in draw weight than the Brack which is almost the identical draw weight. Doug has a masters degree in engineering and was puzzled from a scientific standpoint as to how a bow of the same draw weight as another could feel so much lighter to pull than the other one. I told him that many people had experienced that phenomenon (including me), and it usually had to do with the materials and the smoothness of the draw.

Dough told me that the first half dozen arrows where shot to warm up and get the feel for the bow, but then he started plunking the arrows into the target right where he was looking, just like he had done with my Buffalo Bow. He is far more accurate with the Shrew Safari than he is with his older Brackenbury Drifter, even though he shoots the Brack well. For Doug the Shrew Safari is the ideal looking, feeling and shooting heavy game bow. He is going to be using it this fall near his house in Colorado to hunt elk, and is thrilled to have it. He also has a 53# Shrew Classic Hunter that has the same veneers as the Safari, so that lighter bow will be used for deer hunting this fall, even though it would also be fine for elk.

Doug will be back in Oklahoma on July 22 and has promised to bring his Shrew Safari back with him for me to shoot and review. I plan to have a review, with pictures, to post before the end of the month. Hopefully, we can take a swing by the archery range and shoot it side by side with Doug's Brackenbury and my Shrew Buffalo Bow to get some chronograph readings to compare. All three bows are about the same draw weight, although we will confirm that at the archery shop when we are shooting the bows. My draw length is 29.5", and Doug's is about 30" or maybe 30.5" when he is really expanding properly, so we are fairly close.

I hope to hear back more from Doug after he supposedly shot the Shrew Safari yesterday. If I do, either he or I will post something here to update his experience.

Allan

Looking forward to reading about your experiences.

Thank you for doing a review.
     

Ron, please accept my apology for my delay in giving you my observations on the first and only Shrew Safari. I live in a remote Colorado cabin and my Internet service is intermittent at best.

The photos really don't do it justice...it is phenomenal in both beauty and craftsmanship, graceful yet gnarly, light but powerful, and exudes lethal danger.

I've shot about 100 arrows with it, and after the first half dozen shots to get the trajectory imprinted, shot it lights out. It is flawlessly smooth the entire 30 inch draw, and feels much less than 70 pounds for reasons I don't really understand. I haven't choreographed arrow speed, but you can actually hear that it is faster than my Brackenberry Drifter that is probably slightly over 70 pounds at 30". Allan DeVore and I plan to get to ether in about 10 days and do some actual testing, so I'll let you know the results.

Bottom line: I couldn't be happier. Thanks Gregg, Ron and Allan for a truly great bow.

And the Shrew Crew hit's another one out of the park      

Thanks for your evaluation Doug, I'm looking forward to the comparison testing that you and Allan are going to be doing...    

Very Nice to see it in action so fast.

Allan and I spent a lot of time discussing the various options for the Shrew Safari, by the end of our Safari Allan had it pretty much worked out.

I already volunteered to send a couple of my Buff horns over to Allan when we pack his Horns, they will be going to Gregg and maybe we'l do a couple Knives as well. I also have plans to send Gregg some Gemsbok horn when i get back to SA latter this year.  

P.S. I really like the name "Shrew Safari"

Good to see you here Doug, ill drop you an e-mail shortly.

It was good to have Andy's input on the Shrew Safari design. He has been shooting Shrews for quite some time now and knows what he likes. Besides, he is a very good shot, as well as being a superior outdoorsman, hunter and guide (PH). I want to get back to OZ ASAP to hunt with him and Mick again, and Doug feels the same way. I am looking forward to shooting Doug's Shrew Safari and will have a review posted before the end of the month. I have to admit a little envy that Doug is getting to shoot the bow without me.

Allan

Allan it looks like next year is going to be our last on the Buffalo where we hunted, There are a couple places left if Doug is keen to get back for another chance.

Andy,

Please hold those spots for Doug and me until you can get us more information on the dates and we can see whether the timing works for us. You know we want to come back, because we told you that before we even left. That was one of the best hunting trips I have ever had -- and I LOVE hunting! Besides, hanging out with you and Mick is about as good as it gets, even though Mick is a wild man. Seriously, Mick is first class in every way, just as you are.

One thing for sure, Doug and I will be bringing our new Shrew Safari bows along to hunt with. Not that I am retiring my wonderful Shrew Buffalo Bow. (In case anyone wonders, it won't be for sale until my widow is trying to clear out my stuff for her next husband.    :mad: )  

Thanks friend,

Allan

QuoteOriginally posted by amar911:
(In case anyone wonders, it won't be for sale until my widow is trying to clear out my stuff for her next husband.     :mad:  )  

Allan

HA HA

Iv got spots held for you both.