I am looking into buying a shorter longbow. I am concerned with smoothness of the draw cycle and hand shock. I shoot arrows with 240 grains up front for a total weight approaching 700 grains. draw is around 27 inches. What is everyones opinons of the Super Shrew? is there a better performing bow out there under 1000 dollars? Thanks yall!
Thunder child by Big Jim :thumbsup:
Thunderchild
Java Man bows by Gregg Coffey...
I have a beautiful St Joe River Bows Torrent, that is 60", 53# @ 28". Gteat "short" longbows...and mine is on the long end of the Torrents. I think Tracey builds most at 58" or less now.
I have a toelke pika. I shoot 675 grain arrows out of and it is one of the smoothest bows I own. It is 54" and 52@28 I also draw 27. I have a 56 in Shrew Classic hunter which is also a great bow but the toelke feels better to me.
Torrent longbow by st Joe river bows they are great and under your budget and great people to work with
Second Javaman (who built the best Shrews a few years back) and Big Jim Thunderchild.
My personal favorites are the Big Jim Thunderchild, Toelke Pika, and Javaman Elkheart. I'd be happy with any of the three. The Pika and Thunderchild perform about equal, the Elkheart is a little quicker but takes a little more tuning to quiet down. Another option is a short Centaur. And if you want a 3pc let's not forget the Hill Country Bobcat and Badger!!
I think the Toelke Pika is the best of that genre.
I have a Treadway Black Forest that is 48# @28 that is 54" long very sweet shooter for such short bow. I draw to 28" no hand shock with the 475 grain arrows I use. I normally like recurves that are "60 or so but this little bow shoots right with them.
These short, super curvy hybrids are incredibly smooth. I'm shooting a 56" model at 31" and it's silky smooth with almost no shock. Very comfortable and lots of fun!
Great Northern Lil Creep. At 58" long, it looks and performs exactly like the original Critter Gitter
thanks for the comments/PMs guys! I shoot lefty...id like to be at around 50# @ 27...in case anyone else wants to offer up bows lol
Short longbow, isn't that an oxymoron? :confused:
Big Foot Bows has a Sasquatch TD Hybrid Longbow in 58", 60" and 62".
PM sent
Short longbow -- the favored weapon of Little Big Man.
More seriously, if you're willing to entertain the idea of a recurve, you may want to consider Asiatic horsebows with a thumb release. It's a different method of shooting but the thumb release is more forgiving, super clean & helps smooth out the typical problems of shorter bows. Spend a few bucks on a thumb ring, try it out on a light-poundage bow & if you like it, run with it.
I normally run a couple 68" Wes Wallace Royal long bows.. Got to try out a Javaman Elkhart for a couple weeks, 10" shorter, 10 lbs heavier than the Royal..
Smooth, pretty forgiving, could switch back and forth between the 68" long bow and the Elkhart without having to adjust my aim.
The only real difference in my shooting was having to be a scoshe more deliberate in taking a shot with the heavier bow.
Had to deal with the deep seated emotional pain of packing up the test bow, and sending it back. And a few months of waiting for another Elkhart to show up..
Awesome little bow that shoots like a longer one!
Going in a different direction now (Hill style) and my Tall Tines recurve.
But years ago I did buy a new 56" Shrew Classic Hunter that I shot really well. I wouldnt mind having that one back. 51# @ 28" was about perfect.
I would look at a LIBERTY Edge, Allen makes as great bow as well. No experience with the other bows.
x2 on the Big Foot Sasquatch, best performing and smooth shooting one I have tried.
I can't say enough positive about Kanati. I have a 56" that changed my way of thinking on d/r hybrid longbows. Lots of good options out there, and as always, if you can, try before you buy.
The bow in this video is 56" 47#@ 28"
https://youtu.be/4zPNYuJDVNs
Another vote for the Shrew!
FYI: Kirk at Bigfoot very recently posted (elsewhere) that he's not taking new orders.
I have a 54" Toelke Pika 53# @ 26". It draws smoothly with no finger pinch and is extremely quiet. All I hear on the shot is the arrow impacting the target. It shoots 660 grain Easton Camohunter 2117s with 250 up front like lasers. Got it from Dan in 4 weeks. Cannot be beaten for the price and the turnaround time in production. Sure, there are other great short longbows out there, but I don't want to wait til retirement age before the bow actually gets to me. Go with Toelke.
How short do you want to go. The 60" "Short Night" from 7 Lakes Archery would work well for your 27" draw. You don't have to a riser forward bow and mine still works fine in a tree stand or blind.
Dwyer Endeavor,58" smooth and quiet.Dave and Sue are great folks.
Leland
Kanati, Toelke Pika and Centaur are the best I've tried..
Lotta good ones out there.!!
Shrew bows....the Shrews being built now are the absolute best they have ever been.
Another recommendation for JavaMan Elkheart or a Gregg Coffey built Shrew Classic Hunter if you can find a used one.
Thanks everyone! I have decided to have a bow built as opposed buying used. I have been in contact with Gregg Coffee about an Elkheart and I messaged Ron Leclair about a shrew but have not had response. Thanks again for all the responses its been super helpful!
Gregg is usually right on it in the reply department. May be out of town or something. He will get back with you.
Careful, these little things are proving addictive. Ever since I started playing with one I haven't wanted to stop!
Gregg was very quick. I still have not heard from Ron however. Maybe he is out of town.
Ron will get back to you, sometimes it takes a few days. You can also contact Jim Belcher at Sky Archery directly to discuss your specs and wood choices. I'm a huge fan of Gregg's work but the wait time is quite long. I don't think Jim gets as crazy with some of the options like Gregg, but the new limb design is intriguing and the wait time is significantly shorter. It all depends on what you're happy with.
Mark, I sent you an email yesterday in response to you're inquiry. Weekends you'll find me on Lake LaClair in my new pontoon boat :biglaugh:
(http://***********.bowsite.com/TF/pics/00small12187835.JPG)
Thanks Ron! Not sure why it came in as junk e-mail? Appreciate it!
I have a 54" toelke pika and it has become my favorite bow. No handshock and draws very smooth for me