Lets see your bows!

[R.H.Clark]

Crossada
I like metal riser trad bows because the little extra mass weight makes accuracy easier.They are also more durable and allow more options like being able to use a plunger or elevated rest.Quinn archery is usually my recommendation for a new starter bow.The three piece Quinn Stallion is a fine bow and limbs are inexpensive enough that you can learn good form on a light set and then go heavier for hunting.I know a few top 3D archers that have owned many customs that now shoot a Quinn.

If you want something with exotic wood, Check Mate makes a great bow with an unbeatable warranty.

You can check out tradgang or leatherwall bowsite talk forums for used bows.You might find something on Ebay but beware people who don't know about bows.I've seen some come from Ebay with twisted limbs or strung backwards.If you buy from a talk forum check out the person's posting history.It helps to deal with regulars to advoid scams.

 

[Brian Andrews]

can someone recommend a good starter bow then? i didn't realize there were so many variables.

I, by no means, know very much on the subject. I only know that I bought the Bear Grizzly because it was not that expensive, and seems to have a good track record for performance. If I ever "outgrow" the bow, it was not all that much money.

I also went 10lbs lighter than I thought I could handle I thought I might be able to handle 55lbs, thought for sure 50lbs would be no issue, and I ended up going with a 45lber. I was also used to shooting a 70lb compound.

 

[macgregor22]

Man you guys are making me want a long bow.
They are just pretty, plus they are quieter the my recurve.
I do need to put some new felt on the shelf of my bow though.

 

[vic2367]

seeing this thread has got me knida wanting too get into bows,,,anyone know any good sites that explain the basics or bows ? how too set em up , shoot the arrows ect ?

 

[ejes]

seeing this thread has got me knida wanting too get into bows,,,anyone know any good sites that explain the basics or bows ? how too set em up , shoot the arrows ect ?

For traditional shooting, there is no place better than tradgang.com IMO. Compounds, archerytalk.com

 

[DOC-CANADA]

PaleoPlanet is also a good resource. Tim Baker is a regular poster there as well, and every once in a while Jim Hamm. But there are tons of other very experienced archers and bowyers there as well.

Doc

 

[crossada]

thank you gentlemen:thumbup: you have been very helpful!

 

[macgregor22]

I need a new quiver(would like one that I can sling around my back and atatch a small pouch and medium knife to), arm guard, and shooting glove.
What do you guys recommend?

 

[mtnfolk mike]

seeing this thread has got me knida wanting too get into bows,,,anyone know any good sites that explain the basics or bows ? how too set em up , shoot the arrows ect ?

vic-- there are a lot of great deals on trad. bows out there.. you do have to be really careful when buying used bows online... if possible ask the seller to to take pics of the whole bow top to bottom and front and back.. i speak from experience.. i bought a bow from a guy that looked gret in the pics, when i got it, it was a different story.. there where 2 small cracks in the fiberglass laminations.. i had it repaired and now it's broke again...:thumbdn:

www.tradgang.com is a really cool, traditional archery forum... they have a great classified section... there are some nice looking bows on there as we speak..
here's a few other links.. all good sourses for info. and gear...

www.stickbow.com
www.paleoplanet.com
www.bowsite.com

I need a new quiver(would like one that I can sling around my back and atatch a small pouch and medium knife to), arm guard, and shooting glove.
What do you guys recommend?

macgregor-- with the exception of the glove.. all of the items you listed, you can make... check out some of the trad. archery retailers online and see what you like.... for years, i have been shooting with a nice doe skin glove made by a company called damascus.. since they are a bit thin, which i like, they do tend to wear out a bit faster than other gloves out there.. i usually buy 2-3 at a time, so i always have an extra if needed...

here's an armguard i recently made for fellow forum member Jwilliams... i was going to make a few to sell.. frop me a line if your're intersted in one... i have some nice latigo leather and also a little black left over...

 

[Garrett Schmidt]

I have an old Hoyt compound bow that my dad got me when I was 12 or so, but now that I'm 19 I've greatly outgrown it. Is there any way to adjust it to fit me again, or would I need a whole new bow? When I draw, my hand doesn't even get past my nose.

Unless you haven't grown, most likely it won't work for you anymore. You might want to take it to an archery store and see if they'll give you trade in credit and then maybe look at their other adult sized trade-ins. You wouldn't believe some of the bow snobs who have to get the latest and greatest every year. But because of them, there is usually a few decent trade-ins completely set-up and ready to go. I shouldn't talk though, I dropped more than a few dollars for that Matthews the year that it came out. When it comes to compounds man, shoot a lot of them to see what you like. The year I got mine, I was almost dead set on a Hoyt until I shot the Matthews and was blown away. To be fair, that same year Bowtech had one heck of a bow too but the shop didn't have my size.

Traditionals are awesome, and I would never nock the skill that they require but compounds also have their place. The ability to draw and hold for a short time sometimes has its advantages. Especially when Mr. Whitetail decides to stand behind that tree just enough that you can't put an arrow in him.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone here ever chronographed their traditional. I'd be interested to see what kind of arrow speed they have compared with compounds of similar draw weight. Good luck lazerboy.

 

[vic2367]

many thanks all looked up all the web sites ,,am trying too learn as much as i can here,,

 

[mtnfolk mike]

many thanks all looked up all the web sites ,,am trying too learn as much as i can here,,

vic--- you should also check out "the traditional bowhunters handbook" by t.j. conrads.. it is a great book with lots of valuble info. for archers of all skill levels... t.j. is also the editior/founder of traditional bowhunter magazine.. which is probably one of my favorite mags around... check it out..:thumbup: the book is available on their site... www.tradbow.com or through www.3riversarchery.com

also check out G.Fred Asbell's Instinctive shooting books...

there are a lot of traditional archery clubs all over the u.s... i belong to the traditional archers of CA... www.traditionalarchersofca.org as well as The Traditional bowhunters of CA.. www.tbcarchery.com
go out to your local range or shop and start asking folks questions... that is how i learned a lot... i had 2 amazing trad. archers take me under their wings and mentor me..

 

[R.H.Clark]

Mr. Schmidt
Trad bows in general require heavier arrows per lb of draw weight compared to compounds.Most bowyers will only warranty 8 grains of arrow weight per pound of draw weight and above.Some require even a little more.The benefit though is less noise compared to most compounds though technology is catching up.

Most trad archers choose their equipment either to connect with the past,just to simplify and uncomplicate things,or because of the greater sence of accomplishment from a perfect shot with trad gear ,knowing that it took more dedication to achieve.

From a survival standpoint,I can make my own arrows and primitive bow and fix any problems that might happen.The compound would work as long as you didn't run out of arrows or have a mechanical problem.

To answer your question about speed,I shoot a metal riser with olympic ILF limbs and 7 grains per pound arrows.I could shoot as low as 5gpp with this set up.My 350 grn arrow with 50lb draw weight at 29" draw length is in the 220's feet per sec.

 

[R.H.Clark]

Masters of the Barebow Volume 1 is a good DVD also.It showcases some of the best trad archers and their different equipment and styles.It can be found at 3Rivers archery along with other trad equipment and DVD's

 

[Garrett Schmidt]

Mr. Schmidt
Trad bows in general require heavier arrows per lb of draw weight compared to compounds.Most bowyers will only warranty 8 grains of arrow weight per pound of draw weight and above.Some require even a little more.The benefit though is less noise compared to most compounds though technology is catching up.

Most trad archers choose their equipment either to connect with the past,just to simplify and uncomplicate things,or because of the greater sence of accomplishment from a perfect shot with trad gear ,knowing that it took more dedication to achieve.

From a survival standpoint,I can make my own arrows and primitive bow and fix any problems that might happen.The compound would work as long as you didn't run out of arrows or have a mechanical problem.

To answer your question about speed,I shoot a metal riser with olympic ILF limbs and 7 grains per pound arrows.I could shoot as low as 5gpp with this set up.My 350 grn arrow with 50lb draw weight at 29" draw length is in the 220's feet per sec.

It wasn't my intention to put down trad bows in anyway. I re-read my post and realized it may have come across that way. I actually have a Bear recurve that I learned on and it served me well for a long time. (still does from time to time) I agree with the simpler the more dependable idea as well. My hunting bow is good to go as long as none of the wheels, cables, screws, etc go bad at the wrong time. I was honestly curious as to what the trad bows chronographed at. I always wondered what kind of speed they had. To be honest, I'm not sure what my bow would time in at. I think the advertised speed of the bow was somewhere around 315 fps but I have mine tuned a little light so that is probably nowhere close to that. It does shoot pretty flat though. And yes, it is really easy to shoot comparably. I guess what it came down to was the conditions I hunt in. Late bow season in WI is real cold and putting fingers on a cable or string of any kind would be....well probably wouldn't hurt if too much I could actually feel the string....lol.

 

[rzwieg]

Mr Schmitt,

Another WI boy with one of them Sparta contraptions.

I've used a 50# Martin Howatt Hunter for years. The late Cory Saniter and I chronyed mine with a 465 grain (or so) cedar arrow.

The result? 197 fps.

Not smokin' but that combo took a 3 point buck at 20 yards my senior year of HS.

Your name is familiar! If you stop at the Old Cedar House Inn around 8pm, I'll buy. I'll be at the WTA rondy in marshfield on 9/6.

 

[R.H.Clark]

Mr. Schmidt
Sorry if I sounded a little militant with my post.I intended it as more of a general info,rather than defense of trad post.I shoot everything from compounds to self bows and have no problem with whatever anyone else chooses.It's all fun.

I ment to point out that when you take into consideration the arrow weight difference,trad bows aren't really that far behind compounds.There is some mechanical advantage with a compound but if you shot a 700 grn arrow from both a 70 lb compound and 70 lb trad bow,the trad bow wouldn't be too far behind.

Trad guys are going to hunt at about 30 yards and less.At that distance speed becomes less important than quiet.After all,a bow would have to shoot faster than the speed of sound for quiet not to be a factor.

As you point out ,it takes a lot more time to master the trad bow than the compound.Any trad bow can be shot very well though with the proper training.I know guys that shoot competition trad 3D that could out shoot a lot of compound guys on the same course.You could even the playing field by taking away sights and releases,and the trad guy would excel.

 

[j williams]

Heres a couple pics of my late 70s takedown recurve I refinished.

#45 at 29

 

[Fiddleback]

Well, its not the best pic, but here is my longbow. Its a Heritage Sequoia 50#.

I've slacked on the practicing lately though.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

while were talking about bows and arrows... why not throw in some pics of some quivers... i just posted this pic on another thread over in the archery forum at www.ramanon.com

here's some quivers..

the little dude rocks a buffalo plains quiver...

this was what you walked into, while we were at our friends house in mammoth..

here's a shot i took from a recent primitive shoot..

this is my back quiver... i made it with the rolled top.. it works great for keeping it's form... it also has a small little pouch at the base of the strap...

archery golf with the stalker quiver..

some of my friend andy's amazing work... this guy is a true craftsman... he is a bad ass archery too...