ok so this thread is mainly for fun and just for my curiosity. i know there are a lot of good bows out there both production and custom, but IF you could only buy a production bow, what bow would you buy?

Wow, that's a tough one. I don't really think I've shot enough of either to make a truly educated choice.  I have quite a few customs and I've had quite a few older production bows. I like the old Bears, Pearsons, Wing Archery.

A Hoyt Dorado was my first "traditional" bow.  And to this day I still love to shoot it. It has a grip that I was accustomed to from compound shooting for twenty years. It's pretty light in the hand for an aluminum riser, the limbs can be changed out for different weights, and they are dang near indestructible....mine was put to the test many times in my learning process.  The bow itself has been flung at the target quite a few times when the arrow didn't find it's mark lol.  

The Hoyt Dorado gets my vote. They are forgiving once you half-way know what  you are doing and tough as nails when you don't.

Martin Savannah

super Kodiak. had one years ago and really liked it.

Assuming cost is no object....Bear take down.

Assuming cost is relevant - Super Grizzly

I'd like to try the Bear '59 Kodiak reintroduction that came out a year or two ago.  Another one would be a 64" Super Kodiak.

Martin Savannah

Well...My vote is for the Kodiak Magnum.

Martin-Hatfield 3P T/D recurve. I own many of the better high end custom bows but if I had to rely on a bow to feed myself, I would use one of my 2 old "one shot" production Martin-Hatfield recurves. They are fast, quiet and deadly accurate for me.

60" Black Widow KB.

Martin Savannah

"production" is tough to define.  I think bows like Black Widows and even Bob Lee are production bows.
Unless the maker offers different limb materials, bow lengths, and glass I look at them as production bows.  That being said, I think that there are a lot of real high quality production bows made now.  The ********s are one of my favorite

martin savannah

Damon Howatt Hunter.

Martin Savannah

Looks like I mentioned a prohibited brand in my earlier post......

Martin bamboo viper

I would buy the sky Archery longbow from 3 Rivers. Its a 66" long and built from Earl Hoyts old form. I had one near 20 years ago and they are fine bows. RC

Martin Hunter