Opinions wanted: Best Years for Bear Grizzly

Amberjack · July 28, 2015, 09:38:00 PM

Howdy folks,

Time has come to add a Grizzly to the rack. Having shot everything from Kodiaks to lower tier bows like Polars, Black Bears and Alaskans - excepting the Grizzly...and hearing nothing but good things about the 'working man's bow', I'm ready to pick one up to play with.

So, what say you? Early 60s? Late 60s? 72-76? Gainesville Grizzlies? What's your favorite and why?

Pics appreciated...just because. ;-)

Jack

restless · July 28, 2015, 10:06:00 PM

the '59'60'61 are my favorite's the '62 gets the nod for Pretty. Never shot a '58 but have nearly all the others

restless · July 28, 2015, 10:10:00 PM

I really like the Palm swell in the early 60's and they fling an Arrow well

Fletcher · July 28, 2015, 10:15:00 PM

64-67 These are a 58", 64 and 65 are zebra wood risers and the 66-67 are bubinga, all four years basically the same design. I have a 66 and 67, both are very good shooters and have a much nicer grip and design than the 68 and on models.

59Alaskan · July 28, 2015, 10:27:00 PM

I really enjoy Grizzly's. I have owned about 2 dozen.

1959-1963 are superb. These are 62" models. 1962 is the best shooting to me but hard to hunt because of the cream colored limbs.

1967 is the best 58" model in my opinion.

If I had to pick just one....I'd go for 1960 or 1961. The 1961's are factory painted camo that's by now mostly chipping on most. These are great shooting and hunting bows though!

I just said all this... and then FWIW one of my personal favorite hunting bows is a 1972 Grizzly with a Bear weather rest. It's just a very consistent bow for me.

Good luck and great choice!

4runr · July 28, 2015, 10:31:00 PM

The '59 for me. I like the smaller grip.

Cyclic-Rivers · July 28, 2015, 10:36:00 PM

I have shot and liked 58-72. I also liked teh super grizzly.

I still own a 65 and a 68.

Homey88 · July 28, 2015, 10:41:00 PM

I have a 70,s model and a 63 dog leg that is a sweet shooter!

Amberjack · July 28, 2015, 11:49:00 PM

Great feedback, thanks everyone!

It looks like the grip profile started to change in '67 1/2 with the introduction of the Kodiak Hunter.

Am I off-base by thinking the mid-60s grips were much higher than the '68+? Reason I ask is that I've tried a few K-Hunters and the grips are just too high for me. This in mind, I'm thinking a '68+ model is the ticket.

-Jack

59Alaskan · July 29, 2015, 06:02:00 AM

Jack:
The mid 1960's are no where near as high wrist as the 1967-1969 Kodiak Hunters. The KH from those years are very high wrist. I do not like the wrist on those years KH at all, but really enjoy the Grizzlys.

One thing to consider is that if you are reasonably careful in your purchase you won't lose much (or anything) if you change your mind and sell

Stone Knife · July 29, 2015, 06:14:00 AM

The future wood ones are bomb proof.

reddogge · July 29, 2015, 08:15:00 AM

I had a '67 bought new in '67. It was my first real hunting bow. I killed my first deer with it in '69. It will always hold a special place in my heart where ever it is.

zepnut · July 29, 2015, 08:18:00 AM

Have to go with 1959-60

Pokerdaddy · July 29, 2015, 08:23:00 AM

Recently picked up an older Grizzly and love it!

All this talk of various years and their differences is awesome, but how does one know what year a bow is? Does anyone have a cheatsheet that breaks it down? Would love to have a better grasp of what year was what.

59Alaskan · July 29, 2015, 08:41:00 AM

I bumped this thread up on the trad history and collecting forum

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=005524

unfortunately some of the pictures aren't in photobucket (my own.....not sure why I moved them...) anyway, I will perhaps write something up on that thread this weekend to help with ID of Grizzly's. They are my favorite Bear model overall, but I must admit I have a "new" 1971 Super Kodiak that is working it's way into my "best of" category....

Yewbender · July 29, 2015, 09:08:00 PM

A good friend of mine has a Traditional arhery shot and i have shot many different year Grizzlys and to me they all shot great but the only one i own is a 64 Grizzley and that bow shoots lights out. I shoot it once in a while and only because i fell in love with shooting ASL's of which i have 4 and 2 being built.

Tyler C. Moore · July 29, 2015, 10:31:00 PM

I have to say 59-62.. I have a few of each and they are just sweet. The 62" shoot lights out, smooth, and pretty to boot!!

I took a buck with my '62 last year, it performs flawlessly. Complete pass through into the snow with #45

Amberjack · July 29, 2015, 10:58:00 PM

Those are drop dead gorgeous.

I think I'm falling for that '62...

WTB Classified: Grizzly Bear

Ken Sorg · August 03, 2015, 02:37:00 AM

Agree with the 1967 grizzly, mine is a shooter! Red stripe super griz is a heck of a bow also!

njloco · August 04, 2015, 07:32:00 AM

This is an interesting subject, I was at Denton Hill ( E.T.A.R. ) and had up for sale a beautiful 65, that I had never shot ! You know the story, so many bows, so little time. Well one guy was really interested in it and said he wanted to try it out the next day. I saw him on the practice range and strung it up for him to try but, he told he he had spent too much money and couldn't buy it.

Well I figured since it's already to go, I'd give it a try. He watched me shoot it and when I was done, I went over to and thanked him for NOT buying it ! This bow is not going anyplace.