Who all out there regularly shoots a cheaper bow. By cheaper im talking like the many korean,chinese or other imports like samick, sas, af, fleetwood etc. I picked up a used sas pioneer a few weeks back and besides the plain appearance i must say it does shoot great. Do i think its the quality that my great northern was, no, but it does everything that a bow should do. I have several friends who hunt with compounds that want to try trad but cant see spending the price on a custom or even a stock bear or bodnick for that matter.
Like your friends I left compound hunting to go back to trad. At the time I bought a 300 dollar import from a local bow shop. I've had it for 8 years and it's a fine bow. That said, after the fact I wished I would have bought a used vintage for half the price. Cheap bows are out there if a man is patient enough to seek them out and to me it's half the fun :bigsmyl:
I have become a big fan of economical Asian bows. I have a Greatree longbow, Samick recurve, and my latest one is a Big Rock takedown longbow. They shoot just as well as my customs at a fraction of the price. I supported American families with my purchases.
I've actually gone back to my cheap PSE Sable recurve recently. Its beat up and isn't fancy, but it fits my longer draw better than the custom bow I own. I don't feel bad about spray painting it and it gets the job done. I think sometimes we get too caught up in the "brand names" of our gear and what others might think. I love the handwork and detail that goes into a custom bow and the beauty of fine wood in limbs and risers, but I also try to avoid the commercialism we can so easily get wrapped up in with this sport. My cheap bow helps keep me honest!
It's not my regular shooter, but there is nothing wrong with a Samick Sage that a rasp and some sandpaper won't cure.
I recently got a Maddog M.U.T.T. made to my desired length and poundage. The turn around was 2 weeks and it cost less than $300 to the door. I got a quality bow that shoots great, kept my money in America and Mike is a great guy to do business with.
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I second Mad Dog bows. I have a recurve I have shot for several years now that I got from Mike. It is not a cheap bow but it was very inexpensive. Shoots just as good as most the customs I have. Good workmanship and finish. Mike is a good guy too, does a lot for our sport.
I'd buy a used vintage bow. I've had better luck in my life with higher quality stuff that I bought used or refurbished than with cheap stuff I bought new.
There are some nice options to be found out there that are less expensive, if you do your homework. I have had several great Mad Dog bows.
A maddog is on my list as they seem to be great quality for the money.
I purchased an AF hybrid longbow off of the "big auction" site that I gave to my brother-in-law as a Christmas gift. It's a nice bow for the price (it was $140, so about the cost of a Sage). The finish was pretty good and I didn't see any fatal flaws (the riser had a nice transition out of the fades and the glue lines looked good). I got it at 40# @ 28" and it measured 41# on the scale. It could handle a 30" draw and felt good in the hand during the shot.
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Quote from: ty_in_ND on June 30, 2018, 03:36:16 PM
I purchased an AF hybrid longbow off of the "big auction" site that I gave to my brother-in-law as a Christmas gift. It's a nice bow for the price (it was $140, so about the cost of a Sage). The finish was pretty good and I didn't see any fatal flaws (the riser had a nice transition out of the fades and the glue lines looked good). I got it at 40# @ 28" and it measured 41# on the scale. It could handle a 30" draw and felt good in the hand during the shot.
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that was actually one of the bows that caught my eye. Did you get the red colored wood or the walnut colored wood. Also what is the actual length of it
I have been shooting the Galaxy bows for a bit now and love them , I have 3 of the Bkack Ridge 62in longbows and 2 Ember longbows. They look good and shoot great and at $200 TYD the price is hard to beat. My buddy shot his Ember through a chronograph and it beats all his custom bows in speed ( same weight bows , same arrow ) the Ember is the only bow he shoots now..
,,Sam,,
The Black Bear riser with Sage limbs makes a nice inexpensive combination especially if you can obtain the riser on the cheap or free as I already had one hanging around for years. Most are probably converted to ILF but Sage limbs fit with only minor adjustments. The lenth is the same 62" but limb socket angle is different than the Sage with weight coming in about 4 lbs less than the limbs are marked which I recently confirmed with another member. Mine with 45# limbs is 36# at my 26" DL and makes a nice form bow. You can use an elevated rest for vanes or feathers as I did originally or shoot off the shelf as currently set up.
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The bow I've shot the most the last several years is a "cheap" Samick Journey. With a good string, it shoots great. Two great things about those Samick bows that you don't get with old bows (other than the price and how they shoot)...you can use any string you want on them and not void the warranty...and they HAVE a warranty.
Doesn't bother me to take mine bow fishing, or hunting, or knock it around...at the price they are practically disposable. Hasn't kept me from getting other bows (got a Treadaway last year, got a Belcher in the works, plan on ordering a Navajo in the not too distant future).
I used to trade on old bows a lot, but quit when the price of an old Bear or Pearson was rivaling that of a new bow.
Buy American made. It cost no more to go first class you just cant stay as long.
I'm with Archie on this. I feel I get more bang for my buck buying used, high quality than new and cheap. The only exception might be Madog and the Galaxy series.
My go to bow is a Shafer Silvertip recurve, I bought a Galaxy Ember LB just to see what everybody was talking about and I have to admit that it is a great shooter and I like it a lot.
It is on the way back now from being hydro-dipped and while it is gone I'm back to shooting the Shafer. I'm thinking that the Galaxy will be the back up on trips, maybe first line sometimes, who knows?
Quote from: Hoosierarcher88 on June 30, 2018, 03:42:25 PMthat was actually one of the bows that caught my eye. Did you get the red colored wood or the walnut colored wood. Also what is the actual length of it
I think it was 63 in from Nock to nock... the next time I'm visiting my sister, I'll have to get a measurement off of it. I did get the red colored version and it did look pretty good. It looked like the limb cores were made natural bamboo under the black fiberglass so it was pretty snappy bow.
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I like my sage. Sweet bow easy to shoot take down what's not to like.
On my last hunt at Wild Things I hunted with my $179 Sage one piece, the $1000 Brackenbury was the back up and never got out of the truck.
Sure, the Brack was custom made for me with everything I wanted, even got my name on it. I waited a whopping 28 months for it, 16 months overdue!
The Sage was at my door in three days with free shipping. It shoots better than the Brack and is a good solid hunting bow. The only thing it lacks is my name.
Now where'd I put the Sharpie?
Cheap bows, the other white meat!
I have one cheap bow that I really love. I shoot it all the time along with my toelke and big Jim and do t really prefer any one over the other. It's a mandarin drake or galaxy black hunter. I have the boo longbow limbs.
You would be amazed it only cost 130 bucks but shoots like. 700 dollar rig.
I've been wanting to try a r/d longbow, and this thread pops up, I can now see a galaxy ember in my future. will the galaxy ember handle fast flight strings? buck
Galaxy Ember does do Fast Flite, I'm shooting an 8 strand on my 55#.
The bow that "fits" you is key. We all know we have our go-to bows, the ones that make it fun. You can pay a lot and not be happy
In going to tinker with some warfs or sage limb swaps and see if that may help get a few of the guys switched over. One already has a 52" old browning recurve that i straightened the top limb last year. He got a nice little buck with it but the bow is only 40# and he is 6'2" so that little bow isnt very enjoyable for him to shoot.
Gallaxy Ember, Big Rock Black Hunter- same bow.
If you are interested in one check with Twig archery. Their Black Hunter longbow comes with bamboo limbs, FF string, nock pt. silencers, rug rest all installed ready to shoot. When I got mine it even included a bow stringer. Twigs bows are all weighed so you are getting the draw wt you ask for. All for $200. Check Johns YouTube videos.
They shoot rediculously well!
I shoot with a guy that has one of those cheaper bows. It shoots as well as any, looks good as well. One lady we know got one out of Singapore in three days, less time than from suppliers here in USA. I personally don't want to purchase any but I wonder how our companies can compete in the long run?
I don't think these bows hurt U.S. bowyers in the long run...actually they probably help. Most won't or can't risk $500+ just to see if they like a sport. The cheap bows get them hooked, then they start saving up for something nicer, better name brand, etc. Meanwhile they are still spending money on U.S. dealers for the bows, U.S. made arrows, fletching, gloves, tabs, quivers, etc. etc. etc.
Quote from: LBR on July 01, 2018, 07:10:59 PM
I don't think these bows hurt U.S. bowyers in the long run...actually they probably help. Most won't or can't risk $500+ just to see if they like a sport. The cheap bows get them hooked, then they start saving up for something nicer, better name brand, etc. Meanwhile they are still spending money on U.S. dealers for the bows, U.S. made arrows, fletching, gloves, tabs, quivers, etc. etc. etc.
thats exactly my point. Most people dont want to spend even 300 on a bow to see if they like it but they can spend 300 on a bow, tab, arrows,quiver and target and have all brand new equipment by choosing one of the cheaper bows. A guy can get a sage, fleetwood or af and get all the fixins to start shooting for less than $300. If they like it then they usually buy something mid range in the 350-500 dollar range. As they progress and find what style bow they like they usually end up ordering customs and higher end bows. Short tern yes they are buying foreign but eventually that itch hits them and they get hooked
OK, I see your point. Residual sales are important to business. I seem to forget being young, raising a family, and being broke and wanting new bow and those fancy aluminum arrows.
Most of the guys are like me. Young, good job so wife can stay home with the kids, a couple kids and vehicles that are money pits lol
Quote from: Roadkill on July 01, 2018, 01:13:54 PM
The bow that "fits" you is key. We all know we have our go-to bows, the ones that make it fun. You can pay a lot and not be happy
Hmmm, I'm pretty danged happy when I reach down and pick up a Shafer RC or LB and my $200 whim buy LB is definitely not going to replace them.
However it is remarkable how well it shoots and I wouldn't hesitate to take it hunting, I don't think it'll ever be my
A-line bow on a major trip but I can see it taking a lot of local freezer meat on a fairly regular basis. For somebody looking for a quality bow at a really good price to get into the sport or make a change from cams & cables it would be tough to beat and then move on up from there as you find your direction.
Quote from: LBR on July 01, 2018, 07:10:59 PM
I don't think these bows hurt U.S. bowyers in the long run...actually they probably help. Most won't or can't risk $500+ just to see if they like a sport. The cheap bows get them hooked, then they start saving up for something nicer, better name brand, etc. Meanwhile they are still spending money on U.S. dealers for the bows, U.S. made arrows, fletching, gloves, tabs, quivers, etc. etc. etc.
This is what I did. My 1st bow was a $150 takedown recurve I bought from Cabelas that was make in Korea (Fleetwood Spartan). After a couple years of practice shooting with that bow, which was perfectly functional, I decided I wanted something a touch nicer to take the tradbow hunting plunge with. I had a Kota Kill-Um made for me and I haven't looked back. So, not only buying American-made, but from a bowyer who lives a couple hours from me.
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I got a 60# big rock blackhunter hybrid that I couldn't be happier with. Well made and sweet shooter.
Well i spoke with a good friend of mine who was asking about what recurve to get. He had a few he was looking at but i had to steer him away from then as john is 6'11". I have several older compound risers laying around so im going to try to take one of the longer ones that will require i bit longer bh and mount some samick journey limbs and see if i can stretch the draw length out to fit him.
I recently bought a Galaxy recurve and yes it is a very cheap priced bow But it really amazed me on how it shoots. I have some nice American made bows and I know many including myself would like to keep as many jobs possible right here in the U.S.A. BUT many things we use daily come from elsewhere or at one time did such as my Huntmore 360 seat. I read on many Trad sites how much it cost and where it was made not to mention the weight .I felt differently and enjoy each time I sit in it and Scott the owner doesn't offer that chair anymore. Not sure to why but I seen folks beat it to death on where it was made and cost.
We each know our limits on what we can and can't afford but I personally won't put a product down "If" I know the person can only afford that product. I may try to explain in a private one to one manner with that person what experience I may have had with a product but seems to me folks will jump on a bandwagon in a heartbeat on something that may cost less and built by a different country without ever trying a product themselves.
Yes your dollar and spend as you please but some folks can only buy "Cheap" things even when they desire to have something else.
I worked in a American factory one time and nearly 1/2 of the workers were from another Country but that product had stamped Made in the USA! Yes made in USA but not by an American. When it left this country so did most of the employees there.
I've had a couple cheap chinese bows I took in trade or package deals or whatever. I wasn't real impressed. Have a Sage takedown now and after throwing the string in the trash it shoots okay I guess. Stacks like crazy after 28" and the limbs twist all over the place. Like another poster said, a rasp and some sandpaper would do it a favor.
If I was in a position to buy a cheap bow to get started or the house burnt down and i had to start over, I'd buy used vintage/custom. I have bought some really nice bows here and elsewhere for right around $200. Yeah the Samick is still half that, but it's a quarter of the bow these are too IMO.
Other cheap import bows may shoot great for a lot of people, but I'm not a fan. I ain't a snob either I'll shoot whatever works for me. Some of my longbows look like someone has been using them for a pushpole in a flatbottom boat and they still get hunted with. :laugh:
I do think that the over seas bows have their place especially for those people new to trad archery. Galaxy Edge and Galaxy Ember seem to be well made bows that are decent shooters. Granted they are not a pretty as the custom bows and maybe not as smooth to shoot. But for the person just starting out, they are a great value
Yard sales are great places to look for cheap bows. I found a ben Pearson mustang for $20 once. When I mentioned there was a bit of limb twist they dropped it to $10. One of the best shooting bows I have. The older PSE Blackhawk is also a really good bow for the money, as well as a really pretty bow.