what bow should I use

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blobfish
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2016 10:08 am

what bow should I use

#1 Post by blobfish »

I use to shoot a compound but now I want to shoot a recurve, I looked on Amazon and I'm not sure which one I should get does anyone have any recommendations? :?:

Kybownut
Posts: 825
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2015 5:30 am

Re: what bow should I use

#2 Post by Kybownut »

First I would like to welcome you to tradhunter. I will give you my opinion and I'm sure others will join in and give you their opinion as well. I think you really have three choices a new custom or high end factory bow, a used bow from a archery dealer or eBay or a new intermediate level bow. If you don't have a lot of experience I would go with a new intermediate level bow such as the samick sage . Lancaster archery a online dealer sells them at a very good price and they have a excellent warranty. Even though they are listed as a beginner or intermediate level bow they perform as well as bows costing hundreds of dollars more.the only thing you need to do is replace the factory string with a fast flight string. And be sure to get one in a poundage you can shoot comfortably, I personally would reccomend no more than 45 pound pull preferably 40 If you haven't shot a recurve much. With the sage you can always buy higher poundage limbs if you feel the need. With the sage if you decide you don't like shooting a recurve you're not out a lot of money, if you do like it you've still got a bow that will do a great job for you until you decide you want to spend more money.

Carpdaddy
Site Admin
Posts: 9471
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 7:36 pm

Re: what bow should I use

#3 Post by Carpdaddy »

Welcome to the site. Like Bownut I think I would start in the lower price and poundage range. The Sage seems to have good reviews and is at s price that is hard to beat. As you become more addicted like the rest of us you will then have a greater sense of what you want in a bow.

Captainkirk
Site Admin
Posts: 13057
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:19 pm

Re: what bow should I use

#4 Post by Captainkirk »

Welcome to Trad Hunter!
Being new to trad it's too early to recommend a used vintage bow as you yourself don't know what your likes and tastes are. The Sage is a terrific starting point. What weight compound were you shooting, with what % letoff?
Take your current draw weight X % letoff and that will tell you what you are drawing now. Trad bows are at their peak at full draw and the biggest mistake new archers make is overbowing.
Example: Say you are drawing 70# @ 28" with 85% letoff:
70 X .85 = 59.5 (60 for all intents and purposes)
70-60=10 lbs. draw weight.
And so our hero thinks he can start out shooting the same bow in a recurve or longbow...70# @ 28. And he can't figure out why things don't work right. He's trying to hold 7 TIMES the weight he was pulling on his compound AT FULL DRAW! He can't hold it, shakes like a leaf, has early/poor release, misses horribly and gives it up saying trad sucks. And add to that he's trying to adjust to shooting sightless in many cases!
Now, if he had started with a modest 25-30#, developed good form and accuracy as a result and purchased higher poundage limbs as he progressed, no telling how darn good he could really be! Remember, even a 30# draw weight is 3X what you are used to drawing in the previous example....
The Sage (or any beginner ILF platform bow) really fits this bill well. Figure out a reasonable starting point based on your current DW and move up from there. Additional limbs can be purchased from 3Rivers or Lancaster for around $70.00 a pair. You will probably outgrow the Sage at some point but by then you will be much more in tune with your likes and needs. Also, the Sage is 62" AMO and at that length is fairly forgiving.
I would recommend buying from 3R or Lancaster rather than Amazon because their warranty is second to none, and if you have any issues such as wrong draw weight or defects they will handle it promptly and professionally as has been evidenced many times in the past.
You have to start somewhere and the Sage is a great starting point!
I would suggest calling 3Rivers or Lancaster and discussing with a pro your options and their recommendations as well. Remember; that's what these guys do for a living. Unhappy customers don't return and poor word of mouth can spread like wildfire. It's in their best interest to outfit you properly. Good luck in your search!
Aim small, miss small!

Cookies
Posts: 581
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 6:18 am

Re: what bow should I use

#5 Post by Cookies »

Welcome aboard, Blobfish/James!
I'm with the other guys on here, in that you should start with something like the Sage in 30-40# draw. So many benefits to a take-down style recurve bow; most of them have been listed here, nut I'm going to add a couple more:
interchangeable limbs means you can get your kids into it. New limbs are cheap and easy to upgrade. Break your bow down and it fits into space in your backpack (typically shorter than your arrows!).

Also, the Sage has a very heavy riser (as compared to a one-piece bow), which will likely feel more familiar to you with your compound history. All my wheelie bow friends prefer to shoot my wife's Sage with my limbs, to shooting my Grizzly. A heavier bow feels more "stable" and is more forgiving, just as a longer bow is more forgiving. Her 62" bow also doesn't pinch the fingers as much as my 58" bow, at my longer-than-average (31") draw.

Basstar
Posts: 94
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2015 3:56 am

Re: what bow should I use

#6 Post by Basstar »

Welcome! You've been given the best advice you could receive in these first few posts.

One more bit of advice I would add is to keep in tough with these folks here. They are wonderful, generous with their knowledge, and will expedite your learning curve immensely while saving you mistakes and money.

Cookies
Posts: 581
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 6:18 am

Re: what bow should I use

#7 Post by Cookies »

:oops: :oops: :oops:
D'awww, shucks, Basstar! Goin' and makin' me blush!

Captainkirk
Site Admin
Posts: 13057
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:19 pm

Re: what bow should I use

#8 Post by Captainkirk »

Interesting.
New member joins, signs in and posts a question July 4th. Gets some very good advice (and welcomes) from multiple forum members that specifically address the question asked, but never even logs back in to check the answer.
I don't get it.......?
Maybe this is the new internet protocol? :?
Aim small, miss small!

hornfrog
Posts: 723
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2015 5:28 am

Re: what bow should I use

#9 Post by hornfrog »

You know Captn'. I kinda saw this happening, because most guys would have answered more than likely after the second person gave some advice. I'm with you. :?
"Nothing wrong with the quiet."

Captainkirk
Site Admin
Posts: 13057
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:19 pm

Re: what bow should I use

#10 Post by Captainkirk »

hornfrog wrote:You know Captn'. I kinda saw this happening, because most guys would have answered more than likely after the second person gave some advice. I'm with you. :?
:?:
Aim small, miss small!

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