Good performing R/D or hybrid longbow in #45 range?

[JohnV]

The ACS limb bows are very good performers and shooters.  I like the bows from A&H Archery.  Dryad also has hybrid longbows with the ACS limb.

[Fletcher]

Lots of good choices, to the point of being confusing.  Every design is a compromise and you have to figure out how the characteristics prioritize for you.  Quiet, performance and shootability all set pretty high for me and I found all three in my Toelke Whip.

[bear bowman]

Check out the striker line

[BWD]

Kanati and/or Thunder Child.

[tradarcher4fun]

Not sure where you are in PA but I would give Leon Stewart a call.  Leon is great to work with.  Take a ride to his shop and shoot a few.  The Slammer is awesome and absolutely no hand shock.

[smokin joe]

I have had to move down in draw weight due to significant arthritis damage to my shoulder and a recent surgery to treat that damage.

Because of that I have been doing a lot of test shooting and research on bows in the low 40's that will shoot hunting weight arrows above 480 gr with the kind of speed necessary to be good hunting bows. I did research by checking multiple test statistics on line before I acquired any bows to test. Then I ran tests on a small selection of bows with good on-line reports.

My research led me to test shoot the Centaur and the ACS-CX, both in draw weights of 42-43 pounds. They are both are top performers in the low draw weight R/D bows. My shooting tests have convinced me that for me the Centaur is a little bit easier to shoot accurately, and less sensitive to string torque and other form flaws that show up in my shooting from time to time.

Both bows shoot hunting weight arrows of 490 to 550 grains as fast as my other bows that were above 50 pounds draw weight.

My conclusion is that now that I have to shoot bows below 50 pounds, bow efficiency and design can make up for some of the sacrifice of draw weight. An efficient bow will obviously outshoot a less efficient bow, and that efficiency becomes an important factor in lower draw weights.

Of course, there are many other great bows out there, and I wish I could have tested all of them. But, I can attest to the performance of the Centaur and the ACS-CX as top performers that can make it possible to move down in draw weight without a loss of performance.

[damascusdave]

It would be just about impossible to find a bow that does not meet your requirements

DDave

[tstone]

Love my Kanati. Jason is great to deal with as well.

[Matty]

Originally posted by tstone:
Love my Kanati. Jason is great to deal with as well.

Incredible little bow at a great price point

[Yingwei]

Is there anyone mentioned navajo bows? The apache longbow built by Roy Hall is really nice. With a suitable length of your draw length, its performance will be very good. Maybe the fastest but you'll enjoy it.

[robslifts]

Talk with Dave and Tracey at st Joe river bows their torrent longbow is a smooth shooter and fast for a longbow. I love mine and will be using for bear in three weeks

[snag]

Originally posted by Roadkill:
Allen Boice has superb craftsmanship in all his bows.  Look into Liberty Bows

 

Allen's "Edge" will satisfy your R/D needs!

[larry]

Centaur or Bigfoot Sasquatch hybrid.

[bulldog18]

Nate at Bamabows builds an Expedition III. Very reasonable and superb craftsmanship. He will build it the way you want it.

[sveltri]

KANATI

[beaunaro]

What Ron w said X2.

Chad builds them as good as anybody and built very strong.

A great guy who will go out of his way to make you happy.

Short build time too.

Mine Osprey is Chechen riser and Cherry limbs (2 nearly identical in our household).

Gorgeous and great shooters.

[sheepdogreno]

Check into a rich Emery Stik. He has a Facebook page and website called stikbows you can get a custom to your door that's a real shooter for a very fair price