So a while back I was reading the thread on what models Bear should bring back and what they should drop. The Montana came up a lot in the drop category. It go me thinking....

The Bear Montana is the only mild D/R bow I have ever shot. I absolutely love it, but as I have nothing similar to compare it too maybe there are better D/R longbows out there.

So what do you recommend? Why?

Thanks,

Msturm

[img]http://i.imgur.com/gukcn6E.jpg[/img]

I would strongly recommend trying a bow out before buying if possible. What one archer likes another may not. There are some bowyers that offer a return policy if you cant try any models out first.

Mild reflex deflex , there are several to choose from. Yellow Stone, Dwyer, Two Tracks, Best Friend, ect. Another option is the used market.

Some places will give you the option to return within a week or 2. I know The Footed Shaft does on used bows.

I have shot several Bear Montana's ... They were all a little bit different, even varied in the limb width, and sight window by a little bit... One bows kinda a turd, the next one shot OK, and the third bow was actually a decent shooting bow... My policy on Longbows is pretty much to Buy the Bow you shoot and like... Take Care.... Jim

Almost anything is better, though a lot of people like them. But the longbow market may be a lot more in the custom makers hands than even recurves. Montana is popular because it is reasonably priced, and there aren't a ton of other choices at the price point with a brand. On the custom side, there are tons of choices and you can pick some of them up for under 400 dollars, plus tons of nearly new customs for half that, or not much more. Longbows come in many flavours, but if it has your basic specs, and the kind of handle you want, the centercut, and the limb tiller (and most of them play pretty close to the same numbers), a second hand isn't going to weird you out like a recurve with a grip on it that looks like an orthotic. So there are lots of guys trading bows and lots of options out there. I bought 3 bows off ebay that went for 200 and are by world famous bowyers. So I don't even look at bows like the Montana.

That said, distinguished string walker Ty Pelfrey, likes longbows, and he shoots a model sold a hefty cut under the Montana. You can google up the details. If you can hit what you are aiming at, the other stuff sorta fades. So no harm in any bow that gets the job done.

What Riverwolf said.

There is a ton of guys who really like the Montana bow. Not just here but on other forums as well. If you get one and don't like it, Im sure you can find a home for it. I'm thinking of getting one myself. They make them in brown now.

Tell you what guys, Riverwolf is right, I've shot lots of the high end LB's, and my Montana is just as fast, dead in the hand and a pleasure to shoot, and looks great as well! She shoots better than a few high end longbows I've had! That being said, I guess being a reasonably priced bow puts it in the "wallflower" category. For me, I'll keep my Montana! I have one other LB, also reasonably priced and a very good shooter - Jim Reynolds Thunderstick III. The Montana will be my hunter this year. And like Willie says, it usually ain't the bow, it's the Native American!;^) Wyatt

Biased mindsets are nothing new here, and we never know why that is. I think actually some really believe that because a bow is inexpensive, and or factory made, it is somehow inferior. Fact is, a bow that fits will shoot well for you and you will likely enjoy it a lot. Mild deflex/reflex bows are usually a pleasure to shoot, and the Montana is no exception. I have never owned one, but I have shot them, along side other "custom made" models.

We just can't overlook the important aspect of "fit." Too many guys look at that as a last minute detail, if they ever look at it. I've have shot custom longbows that I didn't particularly care for, and they were top models too. The reason was they felt weird in my hand. Nearly all of that could be fixed with a rasp and sandpaper, and a little spray finish. As for performance, given equal concern to using the same string, arrow, etc., on each bow, there will be little difference in like designs.

Bear Montana used to be a good bow for the price. That was, until they jacked the price up. When you could get it for $199 or $149 on sale, it was worth it. Nowdays, I'd never spend $300+ on a Montana. Just too many other better bows for that kind of dough.

It's an "okay" longbow. That's all. If it's all I had to hunt with I'd be okay with it and wouldn't feel underbowed. However, it's not a bow I'm gonna shoot all day either.

I had to sale all of my customs a while back, and they shot great and looked even better. But I bought a Montana because of the price and the fact that every where you look people have them and like them so I went to a box store and shot one. Actually I shot 3 45,50,55#s. I bought the 50# and love it. It looks good, not as pretty as some that I have had but I really like the looks of the Maple riser and black glass and it shoots great. I really like the bow and I think it looks cool. I have a black Great Northern Quiver on it with 2016 black aluminum arrows with turkey bared feathers and the package looks great. Just try the bows out before you buy one and good luck, but I wouldn't sale the Montana you have just to get another bow that you aren't sure of.

Ur gonna find that proly half the bows out there are as good or better and the other half are as good or worse. So called customs give you wood choices but every other person that buy that type bow has the same wood choices so you'll see a ton of em the exactly like urs except for your name n weight. Factories like Bear spent years designing bows to last and shoot well for a wide range of people. The custom bowyers have nothing new or better in 99 percent of the cases. Shoot what feels good to you without regard to who made it. Btw factory bows are hand made just like so called customs.

I agree with George. If some big named bowyer made that bow and used prettier wood most guys wouldn't know the difference.

One smart approach, unless you're made of money, is to buy used and avoid brand names.

yesterday I was traveling for work and stopped at a fuel & food station along the highway for a quick bite and drink. I went to the coolers and could not believe the choice of soft drinks. my goodness. I am sure most of the choices don't fit me, and those that do, probably don't fit others.

bow choices are like soft drinks, find one you like. I bought a coke.

I suggested to a friend to get a Montana at an area archery shop. They had two in his weight range. They were not the same, one was obvious better. Too my surprise, there was a Jim Beltcher longbow in that shop. A bit heavier, but it was a better shooting bow than either Montana. He bought it.

I wouldn't say it is a bad bow but for the same money I greatly prefer the prairie predator

GLF is right on. Most of the time you are paying for cosmetics with high end bows. Lot of good custom bows out there I think getting a bow that fits you, especially the grip is more important than who makes it.

Example, my son just bought a Big Rock takedown longbow for $200 and it shoots better than anything I've shot in years. Though it's a hybrid that's just an example. The Montana is a good shooting bow to me. Archery is a personal thing so you really cant go by what the hype is with bows out on the market. Shoot them for yourself if you can.

I have one of the early ones. Big fat, square grip, limb tips aa Big as a walking stick. But it was a backup bow at a great price. Then I read about how to make a better shooter out of it with a belt sander. Now it shoots even better. Mine is spoken for as I only need one LB these days.

Factory bows aren't inferior to customs, unless the dude making it had his phone on some rap noise and was all poed about society dissin him. lol

Sounds familiar Bob. Lol

"I agree with George. If some big named bowyer made that bow and used prettier wood most guys wouldn't know the difference."

Well, the hot ticket these days tends to be colored glass, and the grips are so small and covered with leather the riser wood doesn't mater to me as a mater of how it looks.

And you might ask, why isn't Bear making new and interesting models of their bows, when it wouldn't cost them anything in fancy wood or engineering. How bright would they have to be to do a string follow, or a shelflees, or a Hill repro, or a forward handle, etc... They aren't interested. But their lack of engagement in bows, or the longbow market isn't a selling point for me. They haven't been a serious part of the longbow market all the time I have been in archery which is going back to the 70s (well 60s as a kid). They are supposed to be some leader? The modern company isn't even Bear, any more than Chinese Volvos are carrying on the spirit of the earlier car.

Bear did give a crack at the Royal Safari, though to me it wasn't the same bow as the original, and the price was about 50% higher than a custom.

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It's total nonsense to say you can't tell the difference. Hell none of them are the same, and that is from among the customs. It isn't just customs are so much better than stock, it is people have decided preferences on the customs. You go to a site where people are trading bows, and there are guys who have a dozen bows they are trying to sell 6 of so they can buy more. I own something like 9, they are all difference.

Now are custom level bows better than Bear board bows, sure. You have to be a numbskull if you can't improve a product for a specific individual, or for a particular style of shooting, or purpose. Bear isn't in that kind of market, and isn't putting the attention to detail into every part of their bow that a custom maker can. It isn't just wood. I don't know if anyone here actually works with their hands, but if they were working for me when I was in the renovations business, and they couldn't figure out for the life of them how to add some value they wouldn't last long. In TO (and hundreds of other towns where the average price of a home is north of 1 million dollars), you can damn well get better execution, better quality, better function if you are willing to spend more money, and bows are no different. I have a thought a year on how to really improve a longbows, my latest is around strings. I'm sure others are the same, meanwhile some models hang around unchanged (satisfying the average user) for 20 years.

My next bow is going have an ugly all bamboo riser, ugly green glass on the back, ugly white glass on the belly, and two ugly arrow shelves, one on each side. However, beauty is in the eye of the payer, I have this money set aside for it, that is screaming "Let me go, turn me into a bow." OCD people have one thing in common, we are the most impatient people on the planet. I am too old to wait, the older one gets the faster time goes by, until you get a bow on order, then it completely stops.

I've shot a borrowed Bear Montana 45#. Liked it.

Bought a used mild D/R Sky Trophy Hunter longbow ( Jim Belcher bowyer, amo 66", 41#@28") off LW classifieds a few months ago. LOVING it. Why? It just fits, points and slings an arrow well FOR ME. Draws smoothly to 30".

Not being critical on the Montana. I just like the way the Trophy Hunter feels and shoots better of the two bows. Both about the same price new.

Anyone shoot a Sky Trophy Hunter?

interesting how many are drawing attention to the differences between separate Montanas they have used........I shot a couple on different occasions at the archery store - both times I was taken by the quietness and lack of handshock. Then when I watched Jeffer reviewing one on utube I was sold - his perfect release enabled the same total absence of noise upon release that I had remembered myself of the Montana.

So - eventually I ordered one, and it was a profoundly 'average' feeling and shooting bow. It was 'kinda'quiet, 'fairly'fast, and felt 'ok'in the hand. I tuned and retuned, used wood and then carbon, and could never recapture that original 'wow' feeling that I'd assumed was a 'Montana' thing. Eventually I sold it to a guy who absolutely loves the thing- go figure. since then I don't just assume that because a bow caries a brand and model name that it will shoot in a 'signature' fashion.

I think this is the thing Ty Pelfrey uses:

http://www.fsdiscountarchery.com/2008greatreeoutlanderlongbow68-1.aspx

It is sold under different names and comes in different wood levels. I have never tried one.

My favorite LB is a 58# ASL that somebody tossed into a deal because he thought I'd trade it away. Ten years later I've finally given it a chance and it turns out that I love it, though for 3D I prefer an uglier, faster, 53# r/d LB.

Have zero interest in famous brand names. Can't even read the lousy handwriting on that ASL, have no idea who made it.

You should definitely try a bow before you buy but one of the very best mild r/d longbows I ever owned was a Mohawk by Vince Migliorato. Don't know if he makes bows anymore but they would be worth looking at.

I think its pretty safe to say......people are different.

meh blocky and overbuild imho, like others have said though, different strokes for different folks.

Hey all,

I have some experience with the Montana. I've owned one for about 6-8 months now, give or take. A fellow member here told me he wanted to send it to me to try and if I didn't like it, I could send it back and if I did.....we'd settle up later. I agreed and he put it in the mail.

When that box arrived I was pretty excited. I got it out and the bow was literally brand new. It looked like it was just off the line. This was the first time I had ever seen one. I thought it was a fine looking bow.

The first time I loosed an arrow with it, I knew it wasn't going back! This bow was staying right here with me. I've been shooting it ever since. I really like the bow. To me it shoots good and hard for a 45 pound longbow. I was shocked that this bow was shooting as good as it was. I can call my shot from 15 yards. That's a big deal for me!!

Now, when I want to go shoot some, the Bear Montana is the first bow I grab. If something happened to this one, I'd have to buy another and hope that it was made as well as mine was.

Larry

"One smart approach, unless you're made of money, is to buy used and avoid brand names..."

Works in most instances, but not traditional archery. It's the small time bowyers that are pricey compared to the brand names, but that's because they are not mass produced - something that appeals to a lot of trad guys. So you pay extra for that.

Like what was posted, different year Montanas, I would suggest getting the one you would buy in hand to be sure. It has to be a good enough bow or there would not be so many out there. The 66" Sky is a really easy bow to get along with for those that have them. Another one is the 7 Lakes bows.

John M, I don't want to debate new/mediocre vs used/outstanding but if you check Classifieds maybe you'll understand my point of view. Seems to me that a passionate shooter would be far better off spending a little more with a keeper than something cheap that he'll want to get rid of sooner or later. If $300 for a longbow breaks the bank that person might be better off with a cheap Chinese recurve.

I have two tomahawks, one regular and one diamond. Also have a sky and a Montana. Outside of the cost I cant tell much difference in them, they all shoot very well Due to that price difference guess which one goes to the woods the most?

"You have to be a numbskull if you can't improve a product for a specific individual, or for a particular style of shooting, or purpose"

Maybe so but fact is almost no one does it. If you buy a bow that's 60lbs at 28" they'll work off the chart n give you 60@28. I order the same bow 60@32 I get the exact same limb design you get except mines 48@28 but they write 60@32 on the riser. Same limbs just different weight. Custom gives you wood choice from their optional woods, same wood everyone else chooses from. So whoever likes the woods you do get the same bow. You can choose to have em tiller for 3 under which is 1/8" and from what I've seen from ordering that way almost no difference except maybe 1/16-1/8 difference in nock height. You choose high medium or low grip, now that's as custom as the bows get from 99 percent of the custom bowyers. Most bowyers copy a factory limb design and others just throw together whatever lams the lamination seller tells em to. Factories pay people to design limbs for them in most cases unless they have a good designer. I've owned a ton of both and see no difference. Some customs shoot better than others as did some factory bows shoot better than others. Bear is making the bows their customers want so why take a chance on switching that. As for longbows, the hill style doesn't sell as well as some might think. Why do you think you can get one in 3-6 weeks. Try that with a recurve. Bear's making what sells. fact is they're a factory and no matter how good the bows are people will NOT pay custom price for them.

Any opinions on the Ausable? Bear's "higher" grade longbow?

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