I've currently got my mind set on ordering one of these beauties. I'm a one piece guy and was curious what is the diff between a PA and a KB? I'm currently leaning towards a PA. Also, I'm not a speed freak guy but I like flat trajectory do these bows accomplish that? I'm looking for a all around bow that I can shoot for hours at a time and not tire. My current hunting bow is 72# but after a dozen shots or so my accuracy starts to suffer, so I'm thinking of getting something in the 58-62# range. Thanks
The PA is the one piece version of the SA, the KB is the one piece version of the CH. Longer riser on the PA/SA.
Widows perform beautifully, not as fast as some....but they are a great combination of performance an stability
I've been shooting widows for about 25 years and am currently shooting a KB. I have a high anchor and don't need a lot of sight window. They're great shooters. theyre a bit above average on speed I'd say. I just shoot them the best out of any bow I own. Test drive one.
Agree with everything above; you can't go wrong with a Widow. Another advantage is they will build and ship a new bow much faster than most other bowyers. As mentioned above, try a test drive. Even better, visit them in person and test shoot a bunch from their huge inventory of demo bows!
There are a lot of excellent bows to choose from these days. I have tried several higher end bow brands, and have never regretted my Black Widows. I've had the same 2 bows for several years, and can't imagine wanting to get rid of them. Plus, the folks that work at BW are great, and their customer service has been phenomenal.
I've been a loyal widow shooter for a lot of years. I've found for me a PSA is the perfect hunting bow. I've tried to love the one piece PA , I've owned 2 of them but could ever get a PA as quiet as a 3 piece plus I like the additional mass weight of a 3 piece
Not to hijack the thread, but is there any rhyme or reason to BW's naming conventions? I can't make heads or tails of the two letters. Maybe I'm just dense.
Thanks guys for all the help. Probably gonna test drive a KB and see how I like the sight window and grip. I'm also not ruling out a takedown version. Gonna be a big purchase for this country boy, I've never had anything nice. Only live once so why not. I know there are faster bows, more high tech bows but the widow is what I want for many reasons. I like the look, they do a lot for the sport and charity's, and I'm impatient and it's a relitive quick turn around. Plus if I'm gonna drop some serious coin on a bow I prefer to do it in the good ole USA.
If I shot a recurve, it'd be a 56" or 58" PCH. Great shooters, very stable...
Widows are great bows.......I would say the best customer service out there. Fit and finish......excellent. Performance in my opinion is just average but very consistent. I have had several, but currently with out one. But I would buy another......... :wavey:
I've had my PA for some time now and have killed a lot of critters with it. It is a great one-piece in my opinion, I'll hopefully never part with mine.
I have a PSA and have not found an arrow it would not shoot great. If you are close on spine it will shoot it.e
I had a pchx 58"
Asbel grips are really nice to my hands
I want to get another someday maybe. If I do I'm going to get psa 62" or another pch in 60" I shot a 60" and it did feel smoother to draw than my 58" at 28.5" draw length.
Shot decently fast. Mine was quiet. But I shot heavy arrows. I like that they seem to like a heavy spine arrow.
They look blocky in pictures. But they are much smaller and slimmer in hand.
Only thing is they can be heavy with a mounted quiver.
But that's the reason guys shoot them so well the riser weight... stable to hold n solid feeling.
When I shoot a recurve, it's a Black Widow. I have both a one piece and takedown. I probably shoot the take down a touch better, due to the mass weight.
Quality is unsurpassed in my opinion.
Shoot a few, find the grip you like. I prefer the Asbell Grip.
I bought a used 2003 model PSA in January of 2017. I like it really well. As stated the mass in hand gives the bow a solid feel and steady hold.
I'm going to look for some heavier limbs for it though.
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Just got another one after not having one for a long time, PSA 58" Greenleaf. Not the prettiest bow I own but kind'a neat. 43# @ 28", I draw 29.
Quote from: ron w on September 20, 2018, 02:54:10 PM
Just got another one after not having one for a long time, PSA 58" Greenleaf. Not the prettiest bow I own but kind'a neat. 43# @ 28", I draw 29.
I'm a "plain bow" kinda guy....and I think Green Leaf is awesome. Beautiful and functional
Every Widow I have owned or shot tuned very easily. I am currently shooting a older PSR that's lights out .
:biglaugh: I like ugly but functional as well.......
Another vote for the KB :goldtooth:
Takedown would be the PCH :archer:
Vintage would be the HS... :dunno:
:campfire:
I have shot black widows since 1992, I seem to shoot them better than anything I have owned, the grips are perfect for my hands
The PSR that I have is a very ugly bow lol. Grey bark on one side autumn oak on the other.,recurve limbs and longbow handle. But it shoots great.
Quote from: Burly on September 22, 2018, 12:09:11 PM
The PSR that I have is a very ugly bow lol. Grey bark on one side autumn oak on the other.,recurve limbs and longbow handle. But it shoots great.
I like the lines of the PSR and PL.
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I am more of a fan of the PMA PSA bows.
One of the differences between the KB and the PA is the length and mass weight of the riser.If you wanted a shorter bow and still have good working limb length I would say the KB is a good choice.A 60 inch KB is gonna feel a lot like a 62 inch PA on the draw and a 58" KB is gonna feel a lot like a 60 inch PA.I have had quite a few 60 and 62 inch PAs and PTFs and one 58 inch PTF.
I have had one PCH T.D and it was 60 inches and would be a lot like a 60" KB.That was my favorite T.D Widow model overall.
I think the KB would be very nice if you wanted a lighter bow that was a pleasure to carry,still hunt with and hold onto in tree stands etc.I still think it would have good mass weight especially with a bowquiver attached.For the size of the riser its gonna have some heft to it because they are very solidly constructed.I think it would make for a nice all around hunting bow.
I don't really like overly heavy in the hand bows.One of the reasons I like the one piece bows.Thats me.Some will like the heavier bow.Thats why in the T.Ds I like the PCH over the PSA and PMA.
I have never had the KB but like the style and would sure love to try one believe me.Like I said I liked its T.D brother in the PCH 60".I did have a 56 inch PCH as well but much preffered the 60 incher with my 29 inch draw.Great all around length in my opinion.The KB is just a PA with a shorter riser and less mass.
I really loved my PAs and PTFs.Thier the same bow really other than aesthetics.For me the PA is a bit more handsome than the PTF with it reverse horn riser.I mostly shot lower grips on those which is one of the 3 options in grips.Grips are personell.Some will like the Asbell grip,some standard Widow grip and some lower grip.
Whether its the KB or PA I am sure you will have a great bow.I like their one piece bows most.I always shot a 8 strand SBD custom bowstring on my Widows with wool puffs at 8 and 3/4 inch brace height approximatly.Very good combo!
I love my widows! I've owned a few other bows from different bowyers over the years some great some not so much. It seems I always circle back to widows and for the moment permanently. They are very realiable and a joy to shoot. My main bow for many years was a 64" PLX 49@31 a few years ago I started shooting my dads 62" SA 43@31 he so kindly gave me, love it and have had a couple great years hunting with it. I'm a couple weeks away from a 47@31-ish 60" PCH from the guys can't wait!! Can't go wrong with the widows, as mentioned they may not be the highest preformers speed wise but their more than plenty, smooth and quiet. I also love the history/ nostalgia of holding one kinda like walking around with a bear bow their classic.
My only Widow is 57 years old and the opposite of ugly . Smooth ,quiet and she shoots as good as she looks.
Mangonboat- the old Wilson Brother's Widows are fantastic bows. Does yours have white glass? I don't think they've ever made an ugly bow.
If I knew how to post picks of the bow you would see she isn't a looker.
I had a 58" PA ("Cocobolo") for a spell. Bought it new. Beautiful bow. Worst deal I ever made (for me) when I traded it. Not the trader's fault, all mine.
Quote from: Bowwild on September 26, 2018, 06:35:07 AM
I had a 58" PA ("Cocobolo") for a spell. Bought it new. Beautiful bow. Worst deal I ever made (for me) when I traded it. Not the trader's fault, all mine.
Bowwild, I'm pretty sure that the bow you're talking about is the one I shoot now :archer2:
Good deal! I just had too many bows when traded that one off.
Just a update finally made up my mind after playing with afew. Decided on a 58" PCHX. Great customer service, I did the entire process via email while perched in a tree. Thnx Roger! Will do a follow up in about 10 long long weeks. Can't wait!
:thumbsup:
Brent, my 1961 is white glass limbs, black riser, tips and limb edges. Holly Golightly, an icon familiar to anybody who remembers 1961.
They don't make a bad bow. All are excellent. My favorite is the PMA but I'm the type of guy that likes them heavy for stability.
I like their 1 PC bows most personally.I like the PAs,PTFs and the KB.I really think their would be just a few considerations in comparing the PA and KB.
You would get a little more mass weight with the PA with its longer riser compared to the KB.Might be a tad more stable and deader in the hand
The KB would be nicer to carry in the woods or hold onto in the stand with its lighter weight.
I think you could get by with a KB that's 2 inches shorter than the PA as far as smoothness of draw and a similar feel.For instance a 60 inch KB is gonna be similar in feel to the 62 inch PA.Since the working limbs will be about the same length.So you could probably get by with a shorter length bow at your draw if that's what you want?
As far as looks or aesthetics go I think the PA is a bit handsomer with its longer riser vs the stubbier KB.I have always liked the reverse horn riser bows like the PAs and KBs have.Very stylish!
Well, I got it this morning! Haven't got her dialed in yet, just been flinging some arrows. 58" pch bocote/zircote 53#@28. Shoots great.
(https://i.postimg.cc/JnFHWt6n/image.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/JtVyGvWC/image.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/R0VTS6RQ/image.jpg)
That's a great looking bow, really like the wood combo and the pinstripes you chose.
Very nice. You'll enjoy shooting it for a long time.
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Just ordered a PA in Kzoo this past weekend. Bocate/Zircoti, 62" between 45 and 48#. Asbell grip. Nine weeks out, so the wait begins.
She's a looker! Hope you get dialed in quick!
Good luck, shoot straight and God bless,
Rodd
Stunning, wise choice :clapper:
Enjoy :goldtooth:
Shot multiple Widows in Kzoo over the weekend. Extremely impressed. They exceeded my expectations and are officially on the short list of future bows.
Congrats on your new purchase! She's a beaut!
Several years ago I went down to Nixa looking for a longbow, but I just couldn't quit shooting a PCH they had.
I wouldn't trade my PCHX for any other bow.
I have the KB. It was Ken Becks design and favorite.
It's said if coming from a longbow, like I did, it is a favorite.
Quote from: Lakerat007 on September 03, 2018, 08:19:13 PM
I've currently got my mind set on ordering one of these beauties. I'm a one piece guy and was curious what is the diff between a PA and a KB? I'm currently leaning towards a PA. Also, I'm not a speed freak guy but I like flat trajectory do these bows accomplish that? I'm looking for a all around bow that I can shoot for hours at a time and not tire. My current hunting bow is 72# but after a dozen shots or so my accuracy starts to suffer, so I'm thinking of getting something in the 58-62# range. Thanks
I have a PCH and its amazing , I don't think you will go wrong with any BW model.
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I just ordered me a ptf over the weekend...now after reading all the posts I'm wondering if its as good as the kb and the pa....personally I like the looks of it better....can't wait till it gets here
Anchorman, the PTF is a beautiful bow that's smooth as silk. It's pretty graceful and my boy has a 56" Autumn Oak. Main differences between it and the KB or PA would be a little lighter mass weight. Sight window, riser length & working limb vary too but all three are great shooters... ENJOY :goldtooth: