Owned several, dollar for dollar a great value in that $350 new, can pick one up used for 200-225 all day long, I actually picked up one that was converted into a two piece take down, love it
Starter or keeping, if it works for you, then you can call it what you want. But I do understand that it likely won't be the last one you buy, so that way....maybe a starter. I thought they shot as good as many that cost over twice as much.
As an aside, I looked at McBroom longbows at Denton Hill and they were very nice, and relatively inexpensive...just a tad more than the Montana retail. I shot his 50's style recurve and it was also very nice. If I bought one of those recurves, though, I would want a bit more closer to center....it is out a good bit. Other than that, I liked his lineup.
I have shot one & my impression was that it was a pretty good bow. Would I buy one? Yes, if I needed a longbow I would think strongly about the Montana.
My first trad bow and still is my only bow been shooting it for 10 years now super super quiet and has good cast but not exceptional like the au sablw or other extremely r/d bowsi love mine and they are builtoke a tank can probably use its as a walking stick with no ill effecy
A long bow should have at least some form of bamboo in it. Imo. Yes they function and are well built. Lots of choices out there for the same money new or used
The word starter bow is often abused in my opinion. If you are a good archer and your bow is tuned with good arrows you would never need another bow if you got a Montana. That goes for a few other bows that are called starter bows because they don't break the bank but at the same time,give big time performance.
Here's a few pictures for you if you like James. This is my daughter's Montana and her new Au Sable. The Montana is 40# and the Au Sable is 50#. One thing you will notice. When we first got the bow I contacted Bear because I was worried about the grip coming apart. You can see after several years and much shooting it is still in as good of shape as when we bought it.
One thing I like about the Montana is it is such a clean looking bow. I refer to it as a "basic beauty".
Had one a few years back when they first came out, shot nice but i hated the grip, ended up not staying with trad archery at that time and sold it to a guy who hunted quite successfully with it. people say bear has reduced the grip size...maybe maybe not. I shot a howatt "stick" when i was a teenager 15 years ago...it also shot nice and had a small, but basic grip.
I had a Montana that was older with the bigger grip. I took the leather off and reduced it down and put some finger grooves in it. I hit the handle with some black stain then refinished it. Man that was a pretty bow. I sold it to a guy who has been shooting it for a couple years. In fact it is the only bow he now owns.
I had one that had the old grip and traded it a few years ago. I now have one with the newer trimmed down grip and like it a whole lot better. Great bow. Eric
I bought one in 50# a couple of months ago and really like it. I removed the factory leather grip and arrow rest and replaced the arrow rest with fluffy velcro straight away. I'm finding the bare handle very comfortable to grip. The bow is whisper-quiet. Watch Jeffer shoot this bow on the utube and all you hear are the fletchings pushing air-that's it. Jeff's awesome release obviously has something to do with this, but even in my somewhat less-refined grip this is a really, really quiet bow. The standard of manufacture I would give an A-. The tip overlays are perfect, the fadeouts thin out beautifully and all the gluelines look perfect. The minus to the otherwise A++ in manufacture was that last little detail on a Bear Bow- the medallion. The hole that has been routed out for the medallion is about 1mm in diameter larger than that of the coin- you can slip a fingernail into the gap all the way around.....a strange little oversight in an otherwise beautifully made product. All up though, love it. Great bang- for your-buck, ninja-quiet, quick enough, no discernable hand shock- recommend.
The front-heavy 500grain GT trads that I shoot out of all my bows
My first longbow was a Montana and it was very well built and nicely finished. A great value for the money, I can't really say it was a good starter bow as the grip shape was difficult for me and I didn't shoot it particularly well. I traded it for a bow that fit my hand better...but they're good bows none the less, just not for me
I would go with a North American Longbow from 7 Lakes. They are built with North American hardwoods and stored as blanks. You still get your choice of grip shape, tiller for 3 under or split fingers and left or right handed. I don't think they have all models stored yet, I don't think so since they don't have it on the website yet but I love mine.
