Guys- I've started to look at the R/D long bows out.  I really dont know much about them so hoping to lean on the forums for some suggestions.

Looking for something 60" or less and around 50# draw.

My first choice would be a Centaur.

Check out the Thunderstick MOAB, they are great shooting bows.

Mike Treadway builds the best I have shot--and that's a bunch.

MOAB.  You won't be disappointed.

QuoteOriginally posted by Fletcher:
My first choice would be a Centaur.

x2 if you don't mind a really light bow... Of course there's probably wood choices that might be possible to affect the overall weight. I know some folks keep a quiver attached to keep weight up & dampen vibration. These babies are high performance, especially for a "short" longbow, and boy are they sweet lookers....If longer bows enter the equation, the Black Widow PL is nice also.

if you want to save some coin and have a awesome shooter with tons of power check out omega longbows. They are pretty plain looking bows but seriously out perform everything I have tried so far. Thing keeps up my my ILF rig with 50 -55# limbs maxed out. If you want better looks he will do it but obviously the price will go up. Think I was qouted like $470 for a phenolic riser two piece takedown with curly maple limbs. Dont know if his priced will stay the same though. Thats still the bow I want BAD!!!

Thunderstick would be my first choice. Donnny Dow also makes a really nice bow at an affordable price.

Kanati

Caribow Peregrine without any doubt. I compared it with a Centaur carbon elite, but I prefered the Caribow.

ACS is the best I have shot...Centaur is a close second... I love my black widow recurve but their long bow is not up to par with these other two mentioned.

My first recommendation would be Holm-made by Chad Holm, they are SUPERB.  You can get an Osprey 60" you won't be sorry.  His bows are gorgeous/ outstanding fit/finish, priced competitively for what you're getting, AND they rip an arrow and quietly.  Also worth looking at are Dwyer and Mohawk.  Really all the recommendations you're getting you can't go wrong.

My all time favorite Hybrid/ aggressive deflex reflex longbow is the Black Widow PLx takedown. Light in hand, fast arrow speed, NO handshock and smooth drawing. A very close second is the Tomahawk Diamond series SS. However there are way too many other great bows out there these are just my personal favorites as I have met the people who own them in person and their grips are perfect for me. Some of the others that should be considered that I haven't shot are Big Jim's Thunderchild and Buffalo Bow. Kirk's Flatliner longbow, Centuars, ACS... the list goes on and on.

QuoteOriginally posted by nineworlds9:
My first recommendation would be Holm-made by Chad Holm, they are SUPERB.

X2.  Chad makes a great bow.  I have a 64" Osprey (now Goshawk) that is smooth out to my 29" draw, fast and absolutely no hand shock. The finish and looks of the bow match the performance, Chad is an artist.

Dave

I am a Cari-Bow fan

Lots of good ones named so far.  I have shot just about all of them with the exception of a couple not so well known ones.

Your draw length is a factor for a 60" bow as is your preference for one, two, or three piece bow.  Those things would make a big difference for me in what would make the top of my list.  

My preference is for the non D shape bows with higher performance and generally little better bows in short lengths for average draw lengths.  There are some nice ones out there that are less aggressive limb designs.  Here are some I have shot a lot and like in a 60" bow with a 29" draw. I couple I would bump to a 62" bow for my 29" draw, but they all work just fine for me at 60".  I am sure I will forget some good ones.

1PC

MOAB, my favorite one piece hybrid bow.

Big Jim Buffalo bow one or two piece. This one is on my list to get.

Shrew

Kanati

Centaur, great performance, but too light for me. I am also not crazy about the dished shelf that has been on the couple I had.

Cari-bow Peregrine, some I loved some not so much and not sure what was the difference in them. They have very flexible limbs when strung in middle to lighter weights.  Something I never got used to.

3 piece bows

ACS

Hill Country Wild Cat

Firefly

Tall Tines

Love my Bob Lees  

Check out Sarrels, Bob makes an awesome bow. I have a Superstition that would be hard to beat. Excellent craftmanship, and shoots great. Bob is also a great guy. Don Dow also builds a very good bow at a very reasonable price.

Lots and lots of longbows to choose from for sure.


The only thing I will add to the already list of bows mention is: You need to consider how much  you are looking to spend? You can weed out alot of bowyers if your not going to spend $600+ On the otherhand, if you want to buy used then your options get bigger.

Wild Horse Creek, either the Kestrel or the Hawk