What is the best SHOOTING bow you have every owned?

DanielB89 · April 13, 2015, 12:28:00 PM

I am starting to get in the market for my first custom and would like to know what you guys thinks is the best shooting custom bow you have ever owned.

I currently have a widow and love it, but do think there are more "shootable" bows out there. I can shoot it very well, but it isn't a bow that I hit where i'm looking very often.

Accuracy and speed should be highly kept in mind.

McDave · April 13, 2015, 12:31:00 PM

It's up to you how you ask your question, of course, but you might get more meaningful answers if you specify what kind of bow you're in the market for. I.e. it's hard to compare a broom handle longbow with a short recurve with a long recurve.

LBR · April 13, 2015, 12:42:00 PM

QuoteWhat is the best SHOOTING bow you have ever owned?

The one I practiced the most with. Not trying to be a smart aleck here--that's the truth. Currently I'm shooting a Samick Journey (CHEAP bow--retails for around $130), and I shoot it better than anything right now. At one time I shot an osage selfbow better than anything else--it's got one of the most uncomfortable grips I've ever put in my hand, but when I was shooting it a lot I could really shoot it well...won the Howard Hill 2 years in a row with it. Probably couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it now.

Accuracy isn't in the bow, it's in the archer. Some bows seem to be more forgiving, but they all fling the arrow in the direction you point it.

In the better bows, and even some of the really cheap ones, speed difference is minimal. I'd bet the Samick I have will shoot as fast or faster than a lot of much more expensive bows on the market. With a good string, proper tuning, the right arrow, etc. and ESPECIALLY a good release the differences will be negligible.

FWIW, the #1 thing I'd look at before buying is the bowyer or company's warranty. Get it in writing. A friend of mine got ripped off for around $1,000 by a bowyer that has gotten rave reviews on web sites. He made all sorts of great promises on the phone, but the warranty was verbal--i.e., useless. I have the delaminated bow on the wall in my shop.

Opinions are just that. What one guy swears by, the next may swear at. Bow designs vary a ton, and someone likes every one of them else they wouldn't be in business.

I'd check around and see what the guys who make at least part of their living shooting bows are shooting. 'Course most of them could shoot any bow well, but they have their favorites and reasons for choosing them. Even then, you might not like it.

Check out all you can, take your time, do your homework. IMO that is.

Chad

fnshtr · April 13, 2015, 12:46:00 PM

Daniel... I've only owned a few bows... so take this for what it is worth. I've owned a couple BWs (PSA and PCH) along with an original Bob Anderson Zipper Extreme, a few "factory bows" like Bear's and Martins... and a real nice Toelke Whip (LB).

But the best shooting bow that I have ever shot is the other one in my signature, a 56" Kempf Kwyk Styk with static tips. I've only owned it a few weeks, but already shoot it better than any I've ever owned.

This may be a case of just finding a bow that fits me best... or it could be that with time... I may decide to try a different one and find I like it better.

"The eyes of man are never full."

bulldog18 · April 13, 2015, 12:49:00 PM

Best shooting bows I own are the ones in my signature. Once I have taken the time to get the right arrow set up and properly tuned. I can stack arrows with any of them. What ever bow you choose take the time to set it up right.

Sean B · April 13, 2015, 12:59:00 PM

As far as you trying to find the best custom, that's ALL up to you. Barry Wensel said it best when he told me bows are like trucks. Some @$$'s like Chevys better than a Dodge...you need to handle them for your self. Now as far as the best that I shoot, that's all my Widows (I've owned almost all of them), Tall Tines, Schafer, Tolke Chinook, RER arroyo.....there are a bunch. You won't go wrong with either.

sleepyhollow · April 13, 2015, 01:05:00 PM

For me-Kanati- or any bow with a forward handle-just points extremely well and no slouch in the speed department either

shreffler · April 13, 2015, 01:27:00 PM

It's not so much a specific bow but a type of bow for me...I tend to shoot 3 piece takedowns with short HEAVY risers the best. The heavier the better. Helps keep my bow hand steady at the shot, and I'm so much more accurate.

awbowman · April 13, 2015, 01:34:00 PM

Toelke Super D

Bladepeek · April 13, 2015, 01:59:00 PM

At the risk of being branded a smart ask, I'd have to say whichever bow I'm shooting now. I've owned an awful lot of bows during the short time I've been shooting actively again. I'm sure I didn't do a lot of the early bows justice due to sloppy release, being over-bowed, and not having a clue as to what I was doing.

I don't own one today that doesn't shoot well for me and I hope I will be shooting all of them better after the Rod Jenkins clinic I plan to attend.

snakebit40 · April 13, 2015, 02:10:00 PM

Recurve- 60" Silvertip

Longbow- 62" Toelke Super D

LBR · April 13, 2015, 02:12:00 PM

Quote...I hope I will be shooting all of them better after the Rod Jenkins clinic I plan to attend.

You will. Best money you'll ever spend shooting a bow.

nontypical · April 13, 2015, 02:14:00 PM

For me, my BW MB,second, my Titan ll with Centaur LB limbs.

cmh · April 13, 2015, 02:26:00 PM

Had a Mohawk longbow that shot fantastic!!!

The Night Stalker · April 13, 2015, 02:38:00 PM

It is an individual thing, but for me it was a welch dakota pro Hunter or an A&H JT riser with a button. Wish I had not sold the A&H but I just the thoughts of that button in the woods annoyed me. I could consistently shoot it 40 yards. I still have the dakota but it sits on the self unstrung. Currently, I shoot a centaur. It is a great bow. I wish Jim made a 64 inch with the omf of my 62.

Anointed Archer · April 13, 2015, 02:47:00 PM

It was my old Stillwater Aberden 3pc T/D recurve, however my Shrew Classic Hunter is pretty amazing too!

LBR · April 13, 2015, 02:52:00 PM

Something else to consider....

Check around and find out who the top shots are at tournaments, and who kills the most critters with a bow (some will overlap). Then look at what bows they shoot...you might find there are some that aren't represented much if at all, but you will also find that there's a bunch of different bows being used to get the job done.

Point being, there's no one or two bows that are head and shoulders better for everyone.

trad_bowhunter1965 · April 13, 2015, 02:54:00 PM

Pronghorn Longbow smooth and just sweet to shoot.

mcgroundstalker · April 13, 2015, 03:14:00 PM

I shot against a wonderful fellow a few years back at The Muzzy Shoot... His bow looked like a yard sale find... His arrows, well no two were alike...

Anyway, he kicked my butt! Point being, not shooting where you are looking all the time may not be the bow... It can be arrows not tuned right... Or just you... Just sayin'...

... Maybe your BW is a bit too heavy...

... mike ...

April 13, 2015, 03:33:00 PM

The best shooting bow for anyone is the one that encourages them to shoot the way they shoot the best. The trick is to find that bow, the next trick is to stick with that bow. I still think that Black Widow has the most consistent quality level of any major bow company. If the Black Widow matches what you do, there is really no need to look further. If a BW is not shooting where you want it to, there may be issues to deal with before an accurate choice can be made.