used bow

[ryecon]

Im new here and was wondering is this a good deal a Ben Pearson Cougar Recurve Bow for a total of 35.00 shipping and all
thanks for the help
    Scott

[Killdeer]

If it's not broken...yeah!
There is a distinct paucity of information about this bow, y'know.
Killdeer  

[Bowferd]

Scott,
If you don't purchase it tell me where you found it. I'm a sucker for good old bows under a hun.
Fred  
By the way Killdeer, I'm considering getting hold of ber and paying priority shipping on that cheerleader skirt, but just for some Holloween pics.
Then I'd send it back to him.

[Killdeer]

You sure he'd want it back?  

[Bowferd]

Probably could talk him into it, if:
#1 I promised to pay the shipping charges
#2 I promised to post the pics
#3 He didn't have to make any promises

[R H Clark]

ryecon
It the limbs aren't twisted or cracked buy all you can find at that price.From most dealers that bow would cost between $70 and $150 depending on condition.Most about $100 in fair shape from what I've seen.

[R.V.G.]

Dear Ryecon,

I just purchased a Ben Pearson Cougar myself off Craigslist and have learned a thing or two in hindsight.  It was my first bow and I was pretty clueless.  It didn't have a string, so I never got to see how well the string lines up with the riser(i.e. whether or not the limbs were bent).  Turns out the limbs were pretty bent and the string off a good 1/2 inch, but I'm learning to adjust my aim to account for the difference.  I don't think that's a very ideal set up, though.  More dangerous, I think, would have been if the limbs were twisted.  Thankfully, I had a buddy with me when I looked at it who could tell they weren't.  But anyways, there was also a fine splinter crack in the fiberglass, which I just never noticed.  A little crazy glue took care of that.  Had I realized how bent the limbs were, I might not have bought it. But for $50 for a lefty bow, I can't complain.  

If you've at least seen pictures of this bow, I don't know how wrong you can go for $35.  If it turns out to be junk, chaulk it up to a good learning experience.  Otherwise, you might want to hold off and shop around locally where you could actually see the bow, string it, and maybe even shoot it before you but it.  And if you're new to the sport like I am, find someone more knowledgeable to come along with you.  I brought the bow in to one archery shop that tried taking me to town trying to convince me the thing was a dangerous piece of junk.  Turns out those guys worked on commission and the bow is fine.  So beware.  Let me know how it goes.

[Shawn Leonard]

RVG, it is simple to fix a twisted limb. Do a search and you will see it is very simple. Shawn

[ryecon]

Well i bought the bow havent recieved it yet ended up paying 40.00 so i figure if its junk it will look good hanging on the walleither way im not upset ill let yall know how it goes

[Danny Rowan]

RVG,

limbs bent???? I think you mean they are twisted and like Shawn said a very simple fix.

Danny

[R.V.G.]

Hi and thanks for the feedback.  With my bow strung, I can put two arrows under the string at each end and looking down the bow, the arrows are vitually parallel.  I take it that means the limbs are not "twisted." However, looking at the bow lenthwise, it does appear that the upper limb slightly bends to the right.  So when I knock my arrow, it is not parallel with the plate the arrow rest is attached to, but angled slightly to the left (I'm a lefty).  Follow me?  Maybe that's normal, but from what I've read, it doesn't sound like it is.  I'm able to shoot pretty well with it so far.

[UCBerzerkeley]

Well RVG, so long as the limbs arent so twisted that the string does not line up in the grooves it should shoot OK. As I see it, you will need to intimately get to know know any bow you intend to shoot with lethal intention. In that case, you will learn to shoot with the quirks just as you would learn to shoot a brand new bow

[wtpops]

upper limb is twisted!!

"However, looking at the bow lenthwise, it does appear that the upper limb slightly bends to the right."

This is how you tell if a limb is twisted or not

[ryecon]

update
i got the bow took it to the local outdoors shop the archery guy strung it looked it over said there was nothing wrong with it he said he felt i got a great deal no cracks twist shoots straight i havent shot a bow of any kind in 20 yrs and my first shot hit the target so im happy with it
Scott
ps can you post pictures on here if so ill take a picture and show yall

[Shawn Leonard]

Scott, congrats on a great first bow!! Keep us posted! Shawn

[Wannabe1]

Yes! Please post some pics. I love a good deal and sounds like you got one.

[Dave Bulla]

You can verify twist or no twist yourself easily by looking at the bow unstrung.

With the bow lying on a table or held in your hands and the limb tips pointing up, get down and sight from one limb tip to the other.  Take careful note of the site window cutout.  It should line up directly in line with the limb tips if the bow is center shot.  If you are not sure, you can sight the tip in line with the center of the widest part of the limb near the fades.  That's where the riser tapers down into the limbs.  You may have to raise your head up and down to sight one tip to the limb center and then peek up a little to see the cutout and the other tip.  Do this from both ends of the bow and you should easily be able to tell if one tip "leans" away from center.

If it does lean it has twist.... gently flex that tip in the direction it needs to go.  You need to take it farther than center because it acts like a spring and won't just stay where you twist it to.  Actually, I once found a bow that would stay where you flexed it to.  Something was wrong with either the wood or the glue though 'cause it shouldn't do that.

If the above does not work, a little judicous use of a hair drier should do the trick but you have to be careful never to get the limb to where it actually feels hot.  Just medium warm is enough.

Hopefully, you won't find any twist at all but I'd couble check it even though you took it to an archery shop.  If it's like the shops in my area, they don't hardly know the difference between a recurve and a longbow let alone whether or not the limbs have twist.

[Dave Bulla]

Have you double checked it yourself yet?

[blueline]

Awsome find, now where are the Pic's... I'm realy not impatient. Generally speaking..

blueline

[ryecon]

i havent found any twist or cracks been shooting it some but life gets in the way