I use to shoot a lot of archery 20 years ago but got out of it. Thinking about getting back into it and have a question. Due to a should issue, I most likely will not be shooting much (if any) over 50 lbs and will not be hunting, just 3D and bulls eye target stuff. I am looking in the $300-400 range bows. My question is, should I buy a used bow (more higher end used) or a new lower end bow? I shot a Bear Wild today and like the smooth draw. I am not into a jumpy type cam thing, smooth is better for me. Oh one more thing, I have about a 30-31 draw depending on the set up, don't know if that matters.
I'd check out some of the archery forums and pick up something used. Those lower poundage bows don't seem to being as much when used, and you can save a ton of money. I just picked up a complete package for a buddy that would have been about $1700 new, and all he has in it now is $650. That's not bad for a 2 year old setup.
I quit bowhunting about 4 years ago and my bow was probably 5 years old at the time. Things change way to fast in archery. Last years bow just isn't good enough kind of thing. My shoulder is up to it again and I'm looking on ebay at used bows, and some distributors have penny actions on last years bows. That's the direction I'm going.
Back when I shot, Hoyt was my bow of choice. The shop I stopped into today said they don't carry them anymore and pointed me at Bear, and Mission as a bow I should look at without dumping a ton of money. Heck back when I shot, a bow only had a 2" range of adjustment on the draw length. Now that seems that its a one size fits all. Is there a brand or model I should look for? With my knowledge of bows from years ago, I feel like I brought a model T to a Nascar race. The shop I stopped at are good guys and I would like to deal with them but if used is a better way to go, I just need to make sure whatever I buy will adjust out to my length of pull. I know some of the new bows take modules to adjust out. That scares me a little, because I am so out of touch with today's bow technology I am not sure if I can get the correct module for a bow that is a few years old.
blairvt, can you give me some names to check out for these penny actions or point me in the right direction?
Oh and thank y'all for the input, anything else I need to know or stay away from when looking for a bow, arrows, etc.?
As far as manufacturers, I've always looked at PSE, Hoyt, Bowtech, Elite, Mathews, and a few others. There are some new manufacturers that have come around since you've been out of the game, such as Obsession, and they seem to make good bows as well. You have a long draw length so some bows with rotating draw modules may not work for you. You could be stuck to swapping cams/modules. That's not a big deal, just know it going in.
Bear has come a little my way in the last few years. I've not owned one, but I've shot a few and they seemed like decent bows.
I tell anyone who will listen to buy used bows. You can get a 4-5 year old, top of the line bow for $400 with some accessories and fully loaded for $500.....maybe less. Even if you have to pay your local shop $100 to check it over, change out mods or tune it, you'll still save a lot of cash. Today's bows on 50 lbs will likely shoot faster than your 65 lb bow did 20 years ago. If you're not hunting, go with lightweight arrows and you can scare 300 fps with a 31" draw. And with the right arrow and broadhead combo, I would not hesitate to hunt deer with a 50 lb bow.
I'd look locally on facebook, local hunting forums, craigslist, etc. If you can't find what you want locally, go to Archerytalk.com and shop till your head spins. They have hundreds of used bows for sale there on any given day.....kinda like rifles and scopes on this site. Basically any big name manufacturer today makes a great bow including Elite, PSE, Hoyt, Matthews, Obsession, Bear, and several others. Shoot as many as you can and buy what fits you.
You can get a used bow on Craigslist for @$50.00. I've bought several, have a bow smith check them out for flaws, then hand them out to new hunters, or resale. My old recurve is the new property of the daughter of a friend, and I have an Indian Stalker ready to hunt now 45-55lbs set for a release (which I have never used). Otherwise, it is a match for the one I hunt with,( but mine has no sights, I shoot instinctive)
Well, I have shot just about everything going back in the day. Never looked down on anybody for what they shot, I did not have to pay their bills and they did not have to make me happy. If they were happy and enjoyed what they had, that was fine with me.
Now I have to start looking for sights (with a big enough pin, I can't see the .010 and .019 things) and target butts as well as a release. I use to shoot a Stanslauski (spelling?) back in the day. Not sure what is out there now.
I can certainly get you hooked up with some great sights. Sword sights offers their single and multi pin models with 029 pins. Betting youd have no issues seeing their 019. My eyes stink. And i run their 019s with zero issues.
I can certainly get you hooked up with some great sights. Sword sights offers their single and multi pin models with 029 pins. Betting youd have no issues seeing their 019. My eyes stink. And i run their 019s with zero issues.
I like that Sword sight, heck back when I shot the pins were 6-32 screws with a point on them. These new fine tip sights may take some getting use to...lol
The crossbows have a far different 'draw' than the long bows. I use a pulley system to cock mine. It's not fast but its gradual and gets it done.
Some crossbows come with a mechanical cocking lever system. It's all done nice and easier ahead of time.
The one I use is like this one. It's not that easy to pull back however it proves it can be done ahead of time unlike the regular bows. I will look for the one I saw where it could be done one small lever pull at a time until it was all the way back.
I started back in the 90s.. Got a Mathews.. Then got into Skeet shooting for years about 10 all together. All things Skeet.. Gave the bow to a kid. Then dogs.. Now I am back to bows. I have a friend that as I got into skeet he got into Archery.. He became a State Champ twice.. I am using his brain on this one.. He said a good Pro Shop is as important as the bow itself.. I am 99.8% on the Hoyt Powermax.. It is about $650.00 with all the bells and whistles..
I would try the Elite Bows as well. Go to the local 3D shoot and see what the experienced shooters are using. There's a surprising amount of Elite out there right now. I am still shooting a Mathews Z7 I bought new when they came out about 6 years ago and if I were to replace right now I'd be thinking Elite.