PETE WARD

"WELCOME TO MY OUTDOOR WORLD"

Gear Review

Montana Bows  

 52" 1 Piece Recurve

48# at 28"

Built by

Dan Toelke

Montana Bows

31345 Lost Creek Lane.

Ronan, Mt 59864

(406) 676-5150

E mail Dan Toelke, Bowyer

www.montanabows.com

"Review"

Pat with the 52" Montana recurve 

The 52" recurve by Dan Toelke of  Montana Bows is a fine example of superb workmanship and design.This is the third bow from Dan that I have reviewed and again the very fine craftsmanship and finish impress me. This is a short 52" bow that has working recurve tips, and a very smooth and even draw. It is a bow that I took to the minute I opened the box and the next day it was hunting with me. The shelf is nicely crowned and there is a good radius on the side plate. When I opened the box the bow was ready to string up and shoot . I think every bow should arrive with silencers, shelf material and a noc on the string like all of the Montana bows do. We  want to run outside and fling an arrow the minute we get a new bow instead of looking for the necessities needed to shoot it. Each bow is  shiped with 2 strings, a case and a stringer.

Inside Double Bull blind.

 I told Dan I wanted a dark bow for blind hunting,and sugested black glass to avoid the streaks we see so often with dark veneers and clear glass. Dan's sugestion was a dark Grandillo veneer and clear class, so I went along with his recomendation. I am very happy I listened to the bowyer, and took his advice. There are no streaks to be found and the bow blends into the black blind perfectly, making it invisible thru the screens,but gorgeous to look at outside.

 The veneers on the limbs are a dark and sultry Grandillo under Gordons Glass that is faded into a beautiful Bubinga riser and finely crafted matching tips ,with the typical  Dan Toelke thumb rest I have come to like so much. The limbs have 1 Bamboo and 1 maple core.  The matching overlays blend in beautifuly and provide a subtle, and classy accent.The recomended brace height is from 7 to 7 5/8". Although it shoots fine at the low end of 7" I find I like it best at 7 3/4 to 8". This also keeps the string off my heavy coat sleves on cold Alberta days.

 Tuning up a set of arrows was easy , A set of 45/60 shafts with 175 to 300 grain points or broadheads and 100 grain brass inserts cut to 29" all flew very well . The bow is quite spine tolerant. Shooting this bow became easy after only a few shots, the grip is larger than I normaly use, but it setteled into my hand comforatably right from the start. The thumb rest and palm swell make it natural to repeat the same grip every time I pick it up.  I am starting to like this larger grip because of  the way I can shoot with it .

The Montana 52"RC was chronographed in 1 session. A fresh battery and light kit was used. All shots were with a tab, and the arrows were weighed and marked .Each shot was drawn to anchor, held and verified for draw length by Pat ,then released.