Hello all. I haven't strung a bow for probably 10 years but I want to get back into it and expand my hunting experience. I'm 5'10", 155lbs, average build and strength for a 26 year old guy who is in good shape.

A couple months ago I found my old Bear "Golden Bear" recurve when digging through stuff at my Mom's house. It's the 60" 30# draw version. I bought a new string for it and was looking into arrows but got deployed before I could figure it out. I want to use this bow to get back into practice and then pick up something better/heavier for some traditional hunting this fall.

On another forum I was advised that Easton XX75 aluminum arrows with an 1816 spine should be a good starting point with this bow for practice. Is that a reasonable assessment? If at all possible it would be nice to be able to buy arrows that would work with a future bow purchase, but I'm not holding my breath on that working out.

Thanks in advance for any input, looking forward to learning a lot from the people on this forum.

Welcome to the Gang!  Your arrow choice sounds pretty close but you might also give some thought to Gold Tip 1535s. I don't have experience with bows that light so others may be better able to advise.

I would guess that your draw length is about average, 28", based on your physical description, and that's what I'm basing my advice on.  When you get to the low spined aluminum arrows, you have to distinguish between arrows that have glue-in points, usually about 50 grain, and points that screw into glued-in inserts, usually 100 or 125 grain.  Probably 1816 arrows with either 100 or 125 grain screw in points would work fine with your bow.  Probably 1716's would also work fine with the glue-in 50 grain points.

You will find that using the 30# bow is a real advantage in learning proper form, as it makes it easier to be aware of what's going on with your body as you draw and hold the bow.

The 1816's with screw in points will give you more flexibility in using the arrows in the future, but probably whatever bow you get will require arrows with a stiffer spine.  Probably, most of this first batch of arrows will be either lost or broken by then anyway!

Welcome to tradgang   .
Dave's got you covered with good advice.

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm hoping to get enough practice in before hunting season and be confident to hunt with a recurve. Trying to go straight bow and arrow, nothing fancy for this year.

Welcome    

http://www.eders.com/products/easton-xx75-camo-hunter-arrows-1816-spine.html

If I'm reading this right, these arrows should come with nocks and head inserts, right? I would just need to pick up some threaded practice tips and the arrows would be complete (paying for fletching included)?

These arrows evidently come with nocks.  You will probably want to have these cut to 1" more than your draw length, and to have point inserts installed. You will probably want to select feathers rather than vanes.  If I'm reading the description correctly, these items are available at an extra charge.  Probably you should order a dozen 100 grain points and a dozen 125 grain points as well.

Arrows typically get messed up as you shoot them, so it won't be too long before you will probably want to get yourself a fletching jig so you can build your own arrows and repair the ones that get damaged.

One of the sponsors, 3 Rivers, is a good source of arrow building material, when you get to that point.

Brian,  It looks like you have to pay extra for the fletching and the inserts and having them cut to your desired length.  There are many fine sponsors here on this site that can likely match or beat those prices and they cater to traditional archers.  Try 3Rivers for example (I have no affiliation).

Welcome!
I think the other fine folks here have answered your questions but I will say that you almost certainly will need new arrows for a hunting bow. Factor that into your costs, forget about the money, and enjoy the ride!

QuoteOriginally posted by Stinger:
Brian,  It looks like you have to pay extra for the fletching and the inserts and having them cut to your desired length.  There are many fine sponsors here on this site that can likely match or beat those prices and they cater to traditional archers.  Try 3Rivers for example (I have no affiliation).

With the military discount it would be about $70/dozen cut/fletched/inserts installed from Eders. Looking at 3Rivers it seems to be $100/dozen for the same end item. My internet is pretty terrible over here (still thankful to have it though) so price comparisons take a bit of time and patience.