I've never owned one, however, I had the opportunity to shoot a couple and they just did not appeal to me, they just didn't feel right for me, just my personal opinion.
My son had one , never shot it much. He liked his td Horne Ridge Runner better.. I’ve handled a few over the years but never shot one. My son is left handed or I would have shot his. I plan on shooting one soon. Who knows , I may love it.
I have had two and should have kept the first one. It was an earlier make with the Fred Bear coin. Only reason I sold it was because it was 60# and I had not been shooting long enough to handle it well. The second one was a newer model and absolutely did not feel like the first. To me the first bow had a nice wider riser and grip.
Had two. Nice little bows. Not as sluggish as some claim in my experience. Last one felt like it had considerable hand shock but once i got use to it wasn't a issue. More me just not being use to the design i think.
I have 50# also, fun to shoot, I agree that they are quicker than you would expect but my #41 recurve gives me the same point on as the #50 Montana. They are ideal for running shots on small game IMO.
I have one @50# and when I first started shooting it I had an awful time. I ditched the original string, made a 12 strand Flemish string, ignored the brace height recommendations and went to heavier cedar arrows. It shoots great for me now and I’m happy that I did. Lance
I have a 50# and 60# both like heavy arrows no handshock and plenty adequate speed and whisper quiet. Imo these bows are very underrated. In other words these bows aren't going up for sale any time soon.
I have a brown and a gray both 40 pounds. Haven't shot these but had a 45 pounder that shot really well for an inexpensive bow. If Bear would put an actual leather or beaver grip it would be as good as an bow and maybe a little beefier grip too.
I have one but I haven't shot it in a number of years. Mine is 60#. I dropped down into the forties some years back but I've been shooting my 55# hunter again lately. Maybe I'll pull the Montana back out and see if I have some arrows it likes. I guess I'd have more to say then.
Here's what I do remember. Prior to buying the Bear I was shooting a Saxon American longbow at 65#. I decided to retire that bow and got the Montana as a replacement. My first impression was to be amazed by the "hand shock". I don't know how many times the bow followed the arrow down range. I'll bet it was pretty funny to see but I wasn't laughing.
That said, after shooting it for a while I stopped noticing "any hand shock".
We've got a 40 pound here. Had it about 10 or 12 years and my kids mostly learn to shoot with it. It's really their bow. I have nothing bad to say about it at all. It's an 85 chevy box truck. Nothing fancy about it, but it shoots smooth with no hand shock, and is super whisper quiet. Not fast but consistent. I'd recommend it.
I'm not a longbow guy and I don't own one, but I did shoot a couple of Bear Montana longbows when my friend Ken owned his archery shop. I thought they were a decent bow.
I do a lot of beginning instruction w/ folks who many times just walk into the club on a public shoot day and say "I want to shoot a bow". Some have previous experience, some do not, oft times I will w/ their permission line up a half dozen bows for them to shoot. I observe their form w/ each bow and they of course focus on what they do and don't hit. Inevitably the Bear Montana is the least liked of any bow I have them shoot. I have compared different Bear longbows of the same model and have noticed quite a difference in the way the bow is tilled and the way the bow is finished. The way each bow is shaped is even different. Just depends on who the bowyer is that day. In this sense bows are like cars, it doesn't matter what manufacture's name is on the hood ornament, if you find a good one keep it, cause there are a lot of them out there that are not very good.
I just took my 60# Montana out for a quick spin after it spent a number of years on the shelf.
It took a few shots to get the hang of how it feels but then I was shooting pretty good. I had to raise the nock point from what I was shooting years back and the arrows I have rough tuned for my 55# Howatt Hunter shot a little weak...which really surprised me.
It was dead quiet and I didn't really notice the "hand shock" that I remember from years back.
After lunch I'll spend a little more time with it.
Wow lots of differing opinions. Some love em and even hunt with them and some think they are kids beginner bows. But over 170 FPS is real good for a 10 grain per pound arrow. Not sure a lot of customs would do that
I had the commemorative one they made back around 2002 or 2003. She sure was a looker with the while glass trim and compass. My nephew liked it so much I gave it to him for his birthday. It shot good for a mild rd. Smooth, quiet, and threw an arrow with authority like an honest hunting bow should.
I have had a number of them over the years and like them. Currently have a 40 lb . model that is very easy to shoot well. I do re shape the grips a bit to not feel so boxy or squared off.
I have a 55# and brown 50#. As others have said, smooth, whisper quiet. I shoot heavy arrows out of all my longbows. I transitioned to the Montana when my aging arthritic joints were struggling with my beloved ASL's.. Shoots very similar to my ASL's but with much less hand shock. I have 'ten ring" strings on both of mine. I also have a LAG of the same weight with a great grip that is quicker but not as quiet.
Got one that has stuck by me even though I have not treated her very well. Leaving her strung for months, dry fired, clumsiness, more times than I will admit too. Good bow, shoots heavy arrows hard, rugged.
I must’ve got one of the bad ones. Many years ago Bear Montana was my 1st longbow. It had a thump in the hand. At the time I didn’t know anything about hand shock. I read what different people did to help eliminate that thump. I adjusted the brace height. I went to heavy arrows. Filed the tips smaller. Shaped the grip to feel nice in the hand. Tried different strings and the amount of strands. B-50 did seem to be the best. I didn’t know how bad the hand shock was until I shot other longbows. The one I had was really bad no matter what I tried. But, it was quiet.
I've got a 45# Montana that I really like. I killed a buck with it this past fall. It is the MOST QUIET bow I have ever shot. Whisper quiet actually! For me, it is very accurate and just seems to point and shoot so effortless. Lots of fun shooting flying/rolling targets too.
I bought one as my first bow two months ago. It shot nice and quiet with no hand shock. It was marked 40lbs on the limb but marked 46 under the shelf plate. Bear said they would replace it when they got a 40lb in stock. Draw weight was heavier than I wanted and it seemed to stack pretty bad after 28” in my opinion so I traded it off.
As I've stated in past "Montana" threads, very quiet, very easy & forgiving to shoot. Like the Jeffer said, a great bow! And mine I bought off here for like $ 150, so no better bargain out there. Oh, and mine is the old style, black w/ black suede wrap, 60# w/ no noticeable handshock. It is my backup bow and stays at the hunting cabin.
A month or so after this thread was posted I bought a used Montana. Brown 45 lbs. Here’s my take, very light in the hand, smooth drawing, very quiet. Riser is a little blocky, not the fastest bow for sure and the leather grip should changed by Bear from the the glued on version to a laced up one. Fit and finish- no issues. I feel no hand shock and it shoots very accurately. I’m glad I bought it.
I have 2. The first one was 50#. First laminated longbow I ever shot. I’m really a recurve guy but enjoy shooting it. Took it hunting several times when I was sitting on the ground. Just bought a 40# in case I need a lighter bow this year.
Like I told you Sawtooth. I have a 55 pound one and sold my 50 lb one to Big Jim at ETAR this past summer. I want to sell the 55 lb one but it is too heavy for most people. I went back to my beloved recurves.
I have a 40 pounder that I like, killed several deer with one in 50 pounds several years back. Not as nice as my Tomahawk was but cheaper. Still have one Montana but no Tomahawks now.
