I'm currently shooting a Martin Saber TD with 45# limbs. It's a bit too much draw weight for me right now so my practice sessions rarely last more than 70 or 80 arrows before I give out. I have a lot of back issues already so I'm usually in a fair bit of pain before I even start and it's much worse afterwards. I tried my sister's bow, which is the exact same bow with 40# limbs and it's MUCH easier on me. Unfortunately, the limbs for the Martin Saber TD are proprietary and they want more for a new set of limbs than my whole bow cost. I don't have a budget for that, or a new bow bow for that matter, but I want to start looking for its replacement so when I can maybe afford one I'll be ready.
There's no shortage of "budget" bows out there but the list pretty much seems to collapse when you eliminate all the Chinese stuff. I won't buy Chinese, not a chance. I would prefer a metal riser takedown but wood is a possibility.
Do you guys and gals know of such a bow? As in $150 or preferably lower, takedown not made in China or other anti-American nations? It may not exist but I figured if it did, the people here would know about it.
Consider a quality used bow.
I should have mentioned that I have no problems getting a used bow. I've never been the type who has to have brand new stuff. Have never even owned a new car. From my experience thus far though, used takedown bows are extremely hard to find. People tend to hang onto them, which I can fully understand.
If you are really on a budget I would recommend hunting down a vintage bow, you might be surprised on how much a better bow you'll get over a cheap new one. As far as getting a quality modern takedown at 150? Not so sure you will find anything that you would be happy with. All of my bows I own are used bows and I have been lucky to find amazing deals, it takes homework and patience to find the right deal.
There are almost always Bear 76er takedowns for sale on the Bay.
These are from the 70s (hence the name) and are solid no nonsense performers.
Good luck!
AJ
150 or lower and not made in China is going to be tough, based on my own research. Even something used in good condition will likely be more than 150. The other option is to just take your sister's bow :biglaugh:
If I were you, I'd forget about a take down for the time being. Get what you can afford. When I started shooting bows in the 1960s, no one I knew owned a take down bow. And deer were successfully taken. Lots of vintage bows out there. A friend of mine just took a nice eight point buck with a bow that I think he paid $50 for.
When I returned to traditional archery I found an American Archery Cheetah for $75. It's a great bow, and there are others out there.
Samick bows are made in South Korea, an ally of ours. They used to own the entry level bow business, particularly with their Samick Sage model. Then it all seemed to disappear overnight, to be replaced by similar inexpensive bows made in China. I just checked the internet, and it seems to still be possible to buy a Samick Sage here in the US for less than $150. I don't know anything about the companies that are selling them; maybe they picked up some leftover inventory when Samick stopped making these bows. But they are a tried and true bow, and seem to meet your specifications.
Samick has most if not all of their bows made in China these days. That's what I meant about being difficult to find budget bows not made in China. Most companies just get their stuff shipped in from China, slap their name on it and off they go.
I'd be fine with a South Korean made bow but Samick and Korean Archery Products both rebrand Chinese made bows and sell them as Korean. That won't work for me.
I'll just keep looking. Maybe come across one at pawn shop or something.
I would call Lancaster Archery and tell them what you're looking for, and what you don't want too. I've found them to be very helpful, and a bunch of their products are surprisingly affordable, yet the quality I've gotten has been good.
I have seen the Black Hunter 3 piece recurve get alot of excellant reviews recently by some experienced archers looking for a limited budget bow.You can also get longbow limbs for it as well.Its got a kinda trim shapely riser and has a nice grip IMO.Grey riser and black glass limbs.
Low price does not mean low performance if you find the right bow.
Quote from: ed lash on November 22, 2021, 10:21:05 PM
I would call Lancaster Archery and tell them what you're looking for, and what you don't want too. I've found them to be very helpful, and a bunch of their products are surprisingly affordable, yet the quality I've gotten has been good.
I'll do that, I've bought from them a fair bit but it was years ago.
Quote from: Steelhead on November 23, 2021, 01:25:14 AM
I have seen the Black Hunter 3 piece recurve get alot of excellant reviews recently by some experienced archers looking for a limited budget bow.You can also get longbow limbs for it as well.Its got a kinda trim shapely riser and has a nice grip IMO.Grey riser and black glass limbs.
Low price does not mean low performance if you find the right bow.
Thanks, I'll look at that one.
From my research,the sammick discovery is still made in Korea. You can't get one for $150, but for what they are they're about as cheap as you'll find. I own two of them and they are excellent bows.
Quote from: Todd Cook on November 23, 2021, 04:00:52 PM
From my research,the sammick discovery is still made in Korea. You can't get one for $150, but for what they are they're about as cheap as you'll find. I own two of them and they are excellent bows.
I'll look at that one, thanks.
Quote from: Brandi on November 23, 2021, 03:09:18 PM
Quote from: Steelhead on November 23, 2021, 01:25:14 AM
I have seen the Black Hunter 3 piece recurve get alot of excellant reviews recently by some experienced archers looking for a limited budget bow.You can also get longbow limbs for it as well.Its got a kinda trim shapely riser and has a nice grip IMO.Grey riser and black glass limbs.
Low price does not mean low performance if you find the right bow.
Thanks, I'll look at that one.
This one turned out to be a Chinese bow. Seems like a good bow for the money and looks but I don't believe in supporting our nation's enemy. I appreciate the heads up on it though.
I prefer made in USA myself. Even for socks and underwear which isn't always simple.
Regardless the day of everything you want being made here are gone forever. Or at least for any foreseeable future.
Chinese kids deserve a hot meal once in a while and my experience has shown that the people in those type of countries don't reflect the political leadership and just want to raise their families like we do.
Brandi,
Here a link I goggled that has a list of American made bows. Not all are traditional but it has a few to look at.
https://usamadeproducts.biz/outdoor-recreation-hunting-gear-hunting-bows.html
Quote from: GCook on November 23, 2021, 06:00:48 PM
I prefer made in USA myself. Even for socks and underwear which isn't always simple.
Regardless the day of everything you want being made here are gone forever. Or at least for any foreseeable future.
Chinese kids deserve a hot meal once in a while and my experience has shown that the people in those type of countries don't reflect the political leadership and just want to raise their families like we do.
I don't even look at political ideology anymore. Just at the person. And the people making money from factories in China and in America are all the same. I bet most of us would have more in common with the factory workers in China than with the people who decide to give good Americans factory jobs in bad conditions and low pay. Sad to see, sad to hear.
Quote from: GCook on November 23, 2021, 06:00:48 PM
I prefer made in USA myself. Even for socks and underwear which isn't always simple.
Regardless the day of everything you want being made here are gone forever. Or at least for any foreseeable future.
Chinese kids deserve a hot meal once in a while and my experience has shown that the people in those type of countries don't reflect the political leadership and just want to raise their families like we do.
I agree, I have nothing against the people of China but by supporting Chinese companies you support the economy of a nation that hates everything we stand for and works toward our demise. Unfortunately that means the good people of China who aren't involved with the communist agenda get caught in the middle. It's sad but it's part of the world we live in.
With the proliferation of Chinese made goods in America it's almost impossible to avoid buying Chinese products but when possible I will always buy from countries that don't actively plot for the destruction of America.
Quote from: South MS Bowhunter on November 23, 2021, 06:04:36 PM
Brandi,
Here a link I goggled that has a list of American made bows. Not all are traditional but it has a few to look at.
https://usamadeproducts.biz/outdoor-recreation-hunting-gear-hunting-bows.html
Much thanks.
Just look how our political leaders try to manipulate what happens in other countries. China included. We are just as guilty. We want our own sovereignty but don't respect that of other nations.
While I'm a look here first person, my bowyer is a Texan, I don't see things quite the way you do.
Good luck in the search.
You might try the auction sites or local pawn shops for an older (Grayling MI) Bear recurve. All of mine shoot as well as the day they were made and not everyone has them overpriced. I bought my favorite Kodiak Magnum for under 150 dollars.
You could possibly pick up a used Black Hunter or Samik or others , Sure it's made in China, but buying used , you'd not be actually sending money to China.
Just my .02
Thank God some think as the op does. I should mention most of the Chinese bows especially if bought off Amazon which is a FUFILLMENT company skirt the Pittman Robertson fees. It's important these are paid. Just one more reason to avoid them.
I'd bet at your price range or slightly higher you could find and old bow in fine shape. May not be necessarily be a takedown though. Heck I bet there prob some old man has one sitting in the back closet he'd give you. Inquire around. Post some classified adds, etc
I should add used bows have already depreciated. Even if you get one piece bow and you need to upgrade you'll prob get what you pay. Light bows always sell easier than heavy ones. There's more market for em.
Quote from: Bowguy67 on November 30, 2021, 01:36:02 AM
Thank God some think as the op does. I should mention most of the Chinese bows especially if bought off Amazon which is a FUFILLMENT company skirt the Pittman Robertson fees. It's important these are paid. Just one more reason to avoid them.
I'd bet at your price range or slightly higher you could find and old bow in fine shape. May not be necessarily be a takedown though. Heck I bet there prob some old man has one sitting in the back closet he'd give you. Inquire around. Post some classified adds, etc
I should add used bows have already depreciated. Even if you get one piece bow and you need to upgrade you'll prob get what you pay. Light bows always sell easier than heavy ones. There's more market for em.
If I come across a good deal on a one piece 40# I'll definitely go that route. I want the slightly lower weight bow strictly for target/fun shooting.
I've improved far more than I expected lately shooting my 45# thanks to the advice I've gotten from the folks here and one helpful tidbit I gleaned from watching a Clay Hayes video. He recommended some different anchor points and their advantages/disadvantages. I raised my anchor point to a higher spot and everything immediately improved. My groups are much better and my consistency has improved by a lot.
It's much easier learning from experienced shooters than the trial and error method you have to use without them!
I'll add another note of caution regarding cheap Chinese bows. I bought a couple back when I first decided to drop down in weight...one for my wife and one for me. I bought from a local shop who had them on the rack.
Three sets of limbs busted on my bow before I put on the fire wood stack. I switched to my wife's bow and busted a limb after a single day of shooting.
The last time I mentioned the make and models on another board I got in trouble so I won't include that info.
My opinion is that I am rarely satisfied with my decisions to buy "budget" items. If I were in your situation...
I would borrow a bow (my sister's?) for a while.
I would sacrifice something else in my budget (coffee, lunch menu $, online subscriptions, etc.) for a while...
And I would squirrel money away until I could buy something worth buying, new or used. $5/week for a year is $250. If I save $10 a week from now until the end of May, I'll have around $200-250.
Once a guy sinks money into a bow, those are funds that -- if he is wise in his bow purchases -- he should be able to get out of the bow when he sells it. That way a $1,000+ bow can eventually become a reality. Buy bows with good potential for resale, and you'll be more pleased each time you upgrade.
I totally agree, that's how I used to buy things. Now, at this point in my life, I'm unable to work anymore due to back issues and I have no income. My entire retirement I built up is gone paying medical bills and other necessities. There's no income to save up unfortunately. I'm fortunate that my sister pretty much pays for everything I need these days but I wouldn't ask her for "luxury" items even if she could afford it, which she can't. No need to go into all the depressing details of it all but that's pretty much where it stands so "budget" is pretty much a necessary part of life.
Maybe I'll get some new limbs for Christmas and problem solved. Never know.
Consider a quality used bow. Maybe sell your current bow to finance the purchase.