Paul
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Post by Paul on Aug 23, 2015 3:18:29 GMT
Hi guys, For or about a year or so now I've been considering picking up a decent recurve bow but haven't felt confident enough to pull the trigger. I haven't used a bow for about 20 years and I'm not sure of the draw weight on what I've previously used so I'm a bit hesitant at what weight to start with. I know it might go against the logic of learning the craft and starting light and working up to your potential but I don't really want to go through the expense of buying 2-4 bows to get to where I should end up. My intended use is a bit of fun / target practice up to a bit of hunting around our farm. I'm 6ft3in about 90kg / 198lbs and I think fairly fit and strong. This is bow has caught my eye recently www.abbeyarchery.com.au/p/BATSG/Bear+Super+Grizzly+Recurve+58in.html Bear Super Grizzly. Now I'd like a bit of advice about the appropriateness of this bow, draw weights and extras I should purchase. Don't think that standard package comes with much, lucky to get a string and stringer. I was thinking of ordering the 55lb right hand. What do you think, to much for my experience? Enough for hunting? Any advice is greatly appreciated. cheers Paul |
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Post by ineffableone on Aug 23, 2015 4:40:55 GMT
Hey Paul. It is a bad idea to get too heavy a poundage to start off with. Seems you already know this and your main reason for not wanting to heed the standard advice is cost.
You might want to look into take down recurves, the Samick Sage specifically. They cost about $150 and the replacement limbs are only $70ish. You could get a bow with #35 limbs and not over do yourself with your beginner practice, and it will only cost you $70 to move up to a higher poundage. You could even buy the bow with #35 and heavier limbs, plus arrows, quiver, glove/tab, upgraded fastflight string, and other accessories for less than the $700 your thinking of spending on the Bear Super Grizzly.
The Sage is the most recommended beginner bow on the market. But it is actually more beginner to intermediate. It has room for an archer to grow into it. Part of what makes it so good also is it actually out performs many $400 and up bows. The big cost saver of the Sage is in the finish. While not bad looking, it is not as pretty as some of the $400 and up bows. Like sword polishes and finer detail finishing the cost of higher end stuff starts to be more about small cosmetic details and less about function.
Even if you don't opt for the Sage I would highly recommend you opt for a take down bow with practice limbs that are around #35 and hunting limbs that are around #50.
And that brings us to limb weight needed for hunting. Your in Australia so I am not familiar with the laws on hunting weights there, but suggest you make sure you look those up and stay with in the law. #35 bows can take pretty much most of the large game in N America with a few exceptions of Moose, bear, and Elk. #45-#50 will take those larger game. You really don't need more than #50 unless your don't some African hunting of really big game. I am pretty sure you guys don't have anything larger than N America does.
It should be noted archery uses muscles in ways not normally used. It doesn't matter how in shape you are. Archery will work your muscles sore until you train your muscles into this new use. This is a huge part of why beginners shouldn't use over powered bows. Even if you have done archery in the past but it has been years since you picked up a bow, you will need to start as if a beginner again until those muscles have gotten used to it.
Hope this helps, and great to hear another SBGer getting into archery.
*edit to add, BTW because the Sage is so popular, you could likely resell the bow at a later date easily if you decided to buy a more expensive bow. Just a thought.
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Post by Rifleman Lizard on Aug 23, 2015 4:46:48 GMT
Hi Paul,
It depends on your prior experience and overall muscle fitness. 20 years is a long time away from any sport but instinctive archery is a lot like riding a bike (after some rust removal that is).
55lb at 28" is a lot of draw weight to take up if you're feeling fresh and lack long-term experience.
It's important to remember that your 'archery muscles' include your shoulder, back and core (often neglected) muscle groups.
Activating these is important to develop and maintain proper technique, so unless you're in shape and go out of your way to use them you may struggle at 55lb.
That draw weight is more than enough for small field game. "Survival" type bow hunters often go as low as 40lb and manage just fine.
I'd recommend opting for a lower 40/45lb. It will still do everything you want it to but will give you more breathing space in properly rebuilding your technique.
Many archers get macho with draw weight and end up grossly over-bowed, which is visible by their bad technique. Raised shoulders, shaking arms, expanding chest and bad release are only some of symptoms of poor form.
Even hunting small game, good accuracy is much more important than DW and a clean hit at 40lbs is infinitely greater than a bad one at 60lb.
I also recommend you purchase a finger tab. Not a target one with a block and shelf, but rather a small leather finger tab.
An arm guard would protect your left forearm from string slap (another symptom of bad technique) but some choose not to use them after a while.
A string silencer might take your fancy. Many like them but they make little difference as your bow shouldn't be making a lot of noise in the first place.
You'll also benefit from some rubber training bands. They cost only pennies and do wonders for technique and conditioning.
I hope I'm not telling you to suck eggs but in the interest of covering all bases, remember to match your arrow spine and be properly measured for arrow length.
Check YouTube for useful channels and material. NUSensei, Merlin Archery and others offer good beginner-friendly advice.
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Aug 23, 2015 5:16:55 GMT
Thanks guys really appreciate the input. I guess you both confirmed my inner voice, crawl before you walk (run).
Perhaps a take down recurve is a better option at this stage with the ability to upgrade or just a cheap one piece at around 30/40lbs, I can always keep it around for my son (aged 9 now)
Think I need to do a bit more research in this area, same old issues here in oz - limited choice and availability.
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Aug 23, 2015 6:17:23 GMT
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Post by ineffableone on Aug 23, 2015 7:27:36 GMT
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Post by ineffableone on Aug 23, 2015 7:42:35 GMT
An Australian source for Samick bows (though they don't have the Sage) is www.pats-archery.com/Samick The Samick Polaris is also a very good bow. Though you might need to paint those white limbs if you want to hunt with it. Or get camo limb cover tape or something.
Scratch that, I just realized the most powerful limbs for the Polaris were #28. Not a hunting bow at all. |
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Aug 23, 2015 8:01:30 GMT
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Aug 23, 2015 8:05:08 GMT
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Post by ineffableone on Aug 23, 2015 8:26:32 GMT
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Post by ineffableone on Aug 23, 2015 8:30:27 GMT
Well a good sign is that the seller also offers other Samick products, including other limbs. If you decide on a Sage that would be a good source for you then. You might want to check into the other bows I just linked, before deciding. |
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Aug 23, 2015 8:40:00 GMT
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Post by ineffableone on Aug 23, 2015 8:45:26 GMT
This issue might have been fixed by now, but the Martin Jaguar had several years of limb delamination issues. So much so after being sent replacement limbs that again delaminated owners were switching to Sage limbs. I would make sure to do plenty of research before committing to one of those. Martin though typically is a good company. From what I understand the issue was due to them contracting out with a 3rd party for the limbs. Another place you might look. www.apexhunting.com.au/bows/recurve-and-long-bows/adult |
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Aug 23, 2015 9:17:20 GMT
Just worked out that my draw length seems to be 29.75" so I guess I should be looking at the longer bows, say 60-64"?
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Aug 23, 2015 9:40:34 GMT
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Aug 23, 2015 9:57:21 GMT
Though there are no archery suppliers of any note in my home town there is an archery club. Just had a chat with my son Ewan and he and I are going to do the beginners course together, bit of father son bonding. I'll give them a call in the morning. geelongarchers.page.tl/Geelong-Archers.htm |
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Post by Derzis on Aug 25, 2015 0:38:45 GMT
Paul, just take in consideration these things:
- 55lbs are for 28" draw. At 6'-3" your draw is close to 30"/31" and the lbs are stacking up after 28". What you thought is 55, might be 60+lbs for you. Go to an archery shop and measure your draw and try some. Maybe for your real draw, a 50lbs is enough at 28".
- what kind of fletching you will use on your arrows? Feathers or plastic vanes? Bear has a "bear weather rest" that will solve the plastic vanes problem when shooting from shelf.
- for a recurve I would definitely get the stringer.
- depending on how you pull the string, you can go for glove or tab. Definitely something to consider for 55lbs - an arm guard is good too, not only for not hitting you with the string, but also to prevent the sleeve to interfere with your string.
Bear is the Cadillac of recurves, but I would start with Samick Sage as pointed above. Takedown option is a bonus since it takes very little to store or get it on a trip.
PS On youtube you can spend hours on this guy channel - he is the best in terms of information from my point of view.
Greyarcher1
(I added this link just to ease the search, watch all of them)
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Mikeeman
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Post by Mikeeman on Sept 1, 2015 23:12:48 GMT
Personally, I shoot a Martin Diablo. It's pretty light and seems to whip the arrows fast enough. Has all the fancy attachment spots if you wanted to put sights n' such on it. I have either 40 or 45# draw weight and have no intentions of going up. It does just fine.
Keep in mind I'm not a super-serious archer. Until it comes to compounds at 60+ yards. Then I'm better than you. Lol.
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Sept 2, 2015 2:47:20 GMT
Ill have to update this thread in a few days after my order arrives and ive had a chance to have a bit of a play  |
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Sept 5, 2015 7:29:07 GMT
Well I took the plunge and have taken up archery........ And rightly or wrongly took a big step in. I went with a Bear Super Grizzly (really love the wood) Right handed in 50lbs....... yes yes I know perhaps a bit to much at this stage but what's done is done I purchased a bit of a package including arrows, bow stringer, glove and arm guard, bear back quiver also ordered I took it out today for its first shoot. I will say 50lbs is a lot and it's a LOT more for an inexperienced novice like myself but I find it quite manageable and a challenge at the same time. It's a case of draw and shoot, it's a bit to much weight to hold back a dilly dally spending to much time aiming, draw - aim - shoot. I setup a hay bale over a distance of only 11m, didn't want to crush my confidence. The first 5 arrows were a real case of hit and miss, missed the bale twice, 2 more off center and passed through the bale and 1 on target. Pause breath and concentrate, the next 5 arrows I was quite happy with pic attached, not perfect but I had a smile on my face. I shot about 50 arrows and was happy with my progress and enjoyed myself.  2nd group of 5   I have a lot of work to do as my technique is pretty poor, I really need to work on a consistent draw length and positioning. I also need to work on my muscle strength particularly in my left arm.  Look at that timber. I think I'm also going to purchase a recurve takedown in 62" and either 35 or 40lbs. I'm looking into 2 at the moment a Hoyt Buffalo or a Win & Win RCX 17. Having the lighter bow aswell I think will complement the 50lb Bear, best of both worlds as they say |
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