Bow Name | Length | Bow Weight | Draw Weight | Takedown? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Martin Archery Mamba See on Amazon.com | 58" | 1.85 lbs. | 45, 50, 55, 60 lbs. | No |
Compare with Other Recurve Bows
Some Pro’s:
- Exceptionally light-weight
- Very powerful compared to other bows with the same draw weight
- Shoots very accurately despite being relatively short
- Reinforced tips for Fast Flight strings
Con’s:
- Slightly overpriced
Martin Archery Mamba Package Contents
Let’s get started with our Martin Archery Mamba review. This is one of those not-so-popular bows, but which definitely deserves attention. Package contents are as follows:
- The Martin Mamba recurve bow (one-piece)
- String
- Stringer
- User’s Manual
Assembling The Martin Mamba
No assembly was required as the Martin Mamba is a one-piece, not a take-down. You will of course need to string the bow, and also install your own nocking point (which you must buy separately).
How Powerful And Accurate Is The Mamba?
The Mamba is one of the most powerful and accurate recurve bows I have ever shot. It’s very akin to the Bear Grizzly bow, although shoots somewhat faster. Draws without much effort and a 50 lbs. pull actually feels more like 45 lbs. When target practicing, you really want to make sure you have some solid targets to shoot at. If you use weaker targets, the arrow will go right through even when shooting from 40+ yards.
This recurve also feels particularly well-balanced. Limb action is phenomenal in both directions, it just feels right. You can feel just how accurate your arrow is going to fly even before you release the string. It’s safe to say that you’ll be shooting more accurately with this bow than with most other recurves in a similar price range.
Is The Martin Mamba Suitable For Hunting?
The Mamba is primarily a hunting bow. Depending on the draw weight you get, you’ll be able to harvest any game in the country. The 50 pound version is exceptionally deadly, especially when coupled with carbon arrows and some expandable broad-heads. A ~40 yard shot at an elk resulted in a full pass through the liver and right out the other side.
- The Mamba is also exceptionally light. At 1.8 lbs, it’s the lightest recurve bow of this caliber that I have ever carried in the field.
- At 58″ long, it’s also very easy to maneuver between trees, and especially in a tree stand.
Is This a Good Bow For Beginner Archers?
I would say that it isn’t. The bow doesn’t accept accessories so you can only shoot it instinctively. Plus you’ll be hard-pressed to get a Mamba with less than 45# of draw weight nowadays, which can be too much for many beginners. Not to mention this definitely isn’t a cheap bow. There are some better options for beginners though.
Does The Mamba Accept Bow Accessories?
Unfortunately not, though this is typical for Martin recurve bows in this price range. The riser has not been drilled to accept accessories. However, you can always have it drilled (or do it yourself) and the holes threaded. I’ve done this many times in the past with other bows and it works great.
Arrows For The Martin Mamba
As always, arrow selection is strictly related to both your draw length as well as the draw weight of your bow. See our detailed guide for choosing arrows for more information. I had some great results shooting 525 grain carbons on my 50 lbs. Mamba, but your mileage may vary.
Is The Martin Archery Mamba Bow Comfortable To Hold?
One thing I really enjoy about one-piece recurves is the comfort. Not sure if this is just a personal preference, but I find the one-piece risers much more comfortable to hold than most risers found on take-down bows. The Martin Archery Mamba is very balanced and as such sits perfectly within the palm. Distribution of force is very even across the entire gripping surface of your palm. No “pinching” or digging is felt.
Riser & Limbs Durability And Materials
The riser has a cut-past center shelf, and is made from Shedua and Bubinga, both of which are very durable and can literally last a lifetime.
Limbs are made of hard maple core, laminated with black fiberglass.
The Mamba looks and feels very durable, and I’d say you’d need to seriously abuse it for the limbs to twist, the riser to crack, or the lamination to come apart. I’ve never had any issues with limbs that included black fiberglass, especially in bows made by Bear or Martin.
What String To Use With The Martin Mamba?
The package comes with a BCY Flemish string. If you want to get a replacement / backup string, I’d strongly recommend getting a similar Flemish string with Fast Flight fibers. Since the tips of the limbs are reinforced on the Mamba, using Fast Flight strings is perfectly fine and recommended. Compared to other strings, using the Fast Flight is usually akin to having an extra 5 to 10 lbs. of draw weight on your bow. For the Martin Mamba, you’ll need a string with 54″ length (or a 58″ AMO length – both values are equal).
How Heavy Is The Mamba?
As I’ve mentioned earlier in this Martin Mamba review, this bow is the lightest recurve of this caliber that I’ve ever used. Most bows of a similar size, power and quality will weigh between 2.5 and 3.2 lbs. The Mamba weighs a mere 1.8 lbs.! And you’ll feel the difference instantly the second you pick it up. At the same time, it does not feel too light or “unstable.” This weight advantage really shows during prolonged hunting trips.
How Quiet Is This Recurve Bow?
The Mamba was neither particularly quiet nor particularly loud for me. Just a standard noise level and a standard level of vibration. Just make sure to set your brace height properly and you definitely shouldn’t be complaining about it being too loud. Adding a set of cat whiskers to the string is probably a good idea. At any rate, the Martin Mamba shoots arrows fast enough that noise levels don’t really matter. By the time your target is able to react, the arrow will have already went right through.
Martin Archery Mamba Review – Summary
Thanks for checking out our review of the Martin Mamba. If you feel like there’s some missing information here, get in touch and I’ll try to help you out quickly. This is a very durable, accurate, and exceptionally powerful recurve bow. The light weight and relatively small size make it perfect for any hunting trip. My only qualm with this bow has to do with the price; the Bear Grizzly is $100 cheaper and very comparable in quality (though the Mamba is a bit more powerful, no doubt about it). Check out Amazon.com’s best deal on the Mamba – there might be a discount going on.
