To get the best from the longbow designs at your DL and that poundage I would look into the hybrid / reflex-deflex bows. In terms of length for a bow, at 27" DL you would be better served with a 64"-66" longbow than 68" or 62"-64" hybrid / reflex-deflex. Just remember that a 27" DL on recurves becomes 26" - 26.5" with an ASL. Measure your DL with a marked arrow on your Montana and start from there.

 

On today's market, the $500-700 is not a lot. I would look into Falco bows.

Home page - Falco vibuvarustus

falco.ee

 

On today's market, the $500-700 is not a lot. I would look into Falco bows.

Home page - Falco vibuvarustus

falco.ee

Agree the Falco's. The Saga Vintage especially.

 

'
If you were happy with the Scorpion, why not get a 40# Scorpion?

 

That is a thought I had, but I’m wondering about a bow longbow with less shock at the shot. Right now I have over a 500 grain arrow to reduce the hand shock on a 35# bow. That works ok at very short ranges. I know there has got to be a 40# longbow that would be nicer to shoot.

 

id say the in-stock great notherns are good value, I think I got mine for about 800 back in the day

I recently got my patrick lake longbow, and it was full loaded in the 1300 dollar range with take down.

Other brands are shrew, toelke, Saulk trail, and javaman that I've been around

 

First, you want a reflex/deflex LB. The ASL or Hill Style will have hand shock for a newbie. That price range will probably get you a decent import like 3Rivers has. Some guys swear the Amazon bows are just as good as a custom but I don’t know because I have custom. I have 2 Wes Wallace Royal LB’s , last one is 45#@28, 66” long. I got all the bells and whistles except checking on the grip. Bow was slightly under a grand.

 

Omega Royal Huntsman is the best shooter for the money. Timberpoints shoot about the same and are pretty, but double the cost. You can get longbow limbs from Bob Lee on a P3 riser, but they gotten stupid expensive

 

Agreed. I don’t know if he still offers the phenolic riser but this is the best bang for the buck on the market I would buy if I would be on the market for a hybrid: Huntsman phenolic 64” and #50 minimum.

 

Big Jim’s Bow Company in Albany, Ga. often has not only a selection of new, but also top quality used longbows for sale (he even has a used Bob Lee bow right now). He also builds custom longbows, and is a great resource for information, even if you don’t buy from him. They have a website and social media presence for more information. Just great, down-to-earth good people who know their stuff.

 

I honestly didn’t mind the Montana as a budget longbow, took my first deer with it. If you’re looking for a production bow the Montana or the 3 rivers traditional only R/D longbows would be hard to beat.

 

I agree on the Omega, Kegan is first class. Another great value is JK Traditions Kanati. Jason builds the smoothest shock-free R/D longbow that I’ve ever shot.

 

The Mesa is a surprisingly good and inexpensive shoot by the way. I have it in 64", 45lb. Well built and finished, great cast and quicker than my Slick Sticks.

https://www.3riversarchery.com/traditional-only-mesa-longbow.html

 

I looked at that before, I like the bamboo core.

 

Used Toelke or stalker would be my recommendation. Nice pika listed in the classifieds now that would be about about perfect for the weight you want. Save a boat load compared to ordering a brand new one.

 

interesting but pricey.

 

I agree with the R/D advice....and buying used is the way to go if you can.

 

I was looking at the ASL style but I’m thinking maybe I should look at some of the hybrid styles. I was watching some videos that were at archery shoots and seen some interesting longbows.

 

If you are after performance then an R/D bow makes sense. If you're looking for the joy of shooting a longbow then consider an ASL. If you get a well-designed bow and learn how to grip the bow and you won't have any handshock.

Jim Belcher and Georgia Jeffrey at Bivouac bows make and ASL true to the Hill design and may have one in stock. The price is $750. Their ASL is a slim design, deep core, tapered to the belly. Grips are straight or slightly dished. There are wedges in the limb tips, no overlays. The bows have a slight string follow design and are a pleasure to shoot.

 

I see the Mandarin Duck 'Devourer' comes with good reviews. 2 piece TD.

Devourer 60" 2 Piece Take Down Longbow - Right Handed - Mandarin Duck Outfitters

Devourer 60" 2 Piece Take Down Longbow - Right Handed - Follow us and share your outdoor experience with friends all over the world on Mandarin Duck Outfitters.

www.mandarinduck.net

At 60" it is short however. But this can have its advantages for the more experienced archer with a standard or shorter draw.

 

My devourer has gotten a lot of use, another very good bow.

 

I've never been a fan of one-piece bows, but that's just me.

I found an ILF wood riser that I liked and purchased some DAS bamboo core limbs, from 3 Rivers Archery, for it. This is a Trad Tech wood riser (I purchased it used and don't know the model) and 35# DAS extra long limbs. After shooting these limbs for a while, at 33#, I maxed out the limbs at 38#. Then I purchased another set of DAS extra long limbs, at 45# and started shooting them at 42#, until I got used to shooting them....and maxed them out at their 45#. This is a 64" bow length with a 8 1/8" BH, setup with a 5/8" nock height and a rug rest.

This bow seemed to like Easton Axis 5mm 600 spine shafts with 75 gr. half-out inserts and 150 gr. tip weights. A bare shaft flies perfect at 20 yards. 460 TAW and 21% FOC.

 

If you are considering a R/D longbow I’d recommend talking to Leon Stewart @ Stewart longbows. His “Slammer” series are notoriously fast, well shooting bows. I bought one of his bows, the “Slammer LS” is 66”and 40#@28” Bow is Osage and Yew…limb cores are yew. Shoots 600 spine, 500 spine and 45/50 woods very nicely. Fun bow to shoot.

 

My first thoughts on a longbow is something in the ASL style, I just like the classic look of those longbows. But considering the price I may have to pay I will have to shoot it first. If I can’t get past the hand shock thing I would move on.
I did have a Bear Montana which seems to be a more classical style, and although the poundage was out of my comfort zone it was a pleasure to shoot, if I remember correctly.

 

My first thoughts on a longbow is something in the ASL style, I just like the classic look of those longbows.

Take a look at Ray Fletcher at Riverbend Longbows. He builds an ASL to custom specs, and is much more affordable than most, plus the wait is weeks instead of months (or years). Fantastic shooting bows and Ray's a great guy to work with.
Dan Toelke has the Super-D for his ASL, but may be out of cycle for building them. Higher end, but excellent craftsmanship. Dan's another one who answers the phone, or calls you out of the blue, and is a real pleasure to work with
Bivouac Union Jack are really solid and aesthetically pleasing; shorter build times
Northern Mist if you can find one used; personally didn't have any luck trying to order one
Great Northern are solid and more available
St. Patrick Lake are top shelf, but the wait is 13 months +/-, with a deposit to get on the wait list and well over $1K - bowyer uses CNC to build his risers for consistency - there's new 2-pc in the trad classifieds now. Wish someone would buy it, I have to keep hiding my wallet
Timberpoint if you plan on going 3D - Jaco knows his stuff and his bows end up in the winner's circle quite often

 

The Montana is a nice bow but it's not an ASL. It's a R/D longbow that has a D profile when strung.

Unless you can wait to get to some of the larger shoots in the new year you may want to look for something used where you can get your money back if it doesn't work out.

 

Yes, I’m going slow here on the longbow and will probably wait for some shoots to visit.

 

I'm sorry I read the title and thought you wanted to talk Longhorns 🤘hook 'em my bad you may now resume your regularly scheduled Longbow conversation ! Please dont boot me i like this site to much and i couldnt resist

 

I picked up one of those PMZ takedown longbows off Amazon for like $100. I think they're on eBay too. Amazing shooter! There's a copy with an almost solid red riser that I got as well and that one sucked really bad. I think it was by TopArchery. Stick with the PMZ. The guys at Great Plains Traditional bows sell reworked versions for around $250. He cleans up the riser, radius the shelf and sight window, traps and tillers the limbs and refinishes them. That's next on my bucket list, one of those by Nic.

 

I mostly shoot longbows. I do have a couple recurves but it's the longbows that I reach for on the way out the door.

As far as one piece bows on one end of the spectrum I have a royal huntsman. In the middle I have a couple mild R/D bows a bit of a locator grip. On the other end of the spectrum I have a Maddog Archery String Follow. I guess the string follow would qualify as an ASL?

I won't say that a super light bow with an extremely low mass riser feels like a heavier bow with a beefier riser but I never noticed any "handshock" that I found objectionable. A good strong shot feels like a good strong shot.

 

Longbow includes a wide variety of designs today.
If you can go to a shoot and try some out, that of course would be ideal.

It's so subjective when it comes to bows...personally, I prefer a mild reflex reflex design..with a good designed mild r/d it's like the best of both worlds to me..that's just my opinion.
When you get too radical you tend to get more noise and lose stability. Hill style bows are great bows but it's a whole other animal, they are great hunting weapons ..if you prefer Hill style bows.

I've had so many bows I can't began to recall all of them.
Jim Martin at Mahantango bows builds a great quality bow at a reasonable price...he builds a Hill style, a mild r/d ( Kestrel), Hybrid also.
I had the Kestrel and it's one of the longbows I wish I had kept.
You don't have to spend 800 n up to get a good bow.

 

Yes, I have come to the conclusion that longbow opinions are subjective, and longbows cover a lot of different styles. Originally I was kind of looking at something close to the Montana I had and then started looking at Hill style bows and also hybrid bows. Either way it seems hard to develop a consensus among the styles. I think the only way I will buy a longbow is to shoot one I like. I plan on trying to visit a couple of traditional shoots this summer and maybe I could shoot a couple there.

 

Does Mahantango not have a web site?

 

I've come across a few recurves that were hard to quieten but most of the time you can get them plenty quiet to hunt with.
I've actually shot some hybrid longbows that were louder than my recurves.
Of course tuning plays the biggest part.

 

That was one draw to the longbow is how quiet they can be, the two I had were very quiet, great for hunting.

 

Toelke… what’s handshock ?