Question about compound bows

G

generallobster

Joined
Apr 7, 1999
Messages
514
I would like to get a compound bow, but I have no experience in terms of which brands are the best. I wish there was a bowforums.com. I have found some compound bows offered through the sportsmans guide for around 130-150 dollars, apparently at a closeout price. My question is which brand and model would you choose based on the ones bellow:
Browning 6T6 Heat $129 50-70lbs

Jennings Aurora $139 70lbs

Browning Mirage Deceptor $125 50-70lbs

Can some bow users give me some info on which might be a good choice?
 
WWW.bowsite.com . This is not something that is easy to answer,its like someone saying whats a good knife? I shoot a Golden Eagle superhawk. Its over 10 years old and bows change yearly, I believe sticking with what works and keeping it simple. You need to go to a bow shop ,really if you don't know someone who can teach you.You need to be measured and fitted to the bow. Try many bows read up on them in the bowhunting mags.There are alot of good used bows out there because some guys chase the latest technology and trade bows often. I like a basic single cam bow,with a flipper rest no overdraw ,single pin sight, and I shoot fingers(no release). This works for me the key is practice and if you hunt practice like you hunt that is with broadheads and from a treestand.Try before you buy,find out your draw length how much weight you can pull which one just feels right to you.Good luck and have fun.
 
Thanks for the site. I have handled a few bows and know my draw length and weight, but most of the different bows I have handled felt similar. I guess experience will help develop more refined senses. I will not be using the bow for hunting, however what I really want to know is which brand is regarded most highly. I remember a few years ago when I first got into knives, I was buying mostly United Cutlery and Frost crap without knowing that I was wasting money. I would like to avoid the same now with bows, and head straight for the "Spyderco/Benchmade" level. The Jennings bows seem to be priced fairly high, and so I am guessing based on that that the Aurora is a good deal. But Browning, Bear and some other brands are also making the choice harder. Any opinions would help.

[This message has been edited by generallobster (edited 09-16-2000).]
 
I am a novice at the new bow technology. I am fortuneate enough to now be working at a Gun store that also handles bows. We have a very good hunter/target competitor working there. She has been trying to get me up to speed. I am looking for a recurve in the 40-50 pound range that is a takedown. Be carful of the "high-tec" bow sindrome. Simple is best. BTW my last bow was a Bear recurve issed to me for sentry removal,That was in another lifetime, wish I still had it.

Good Hunting, Cheers.

ts

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Guns are for show. Knifes are for Pros.
 
Generallobster,all the companies you named are all very good,others that have high reguards are, golden eagle, pse, mathews,martin,hoyt,darton and I sure I'm forgeting many others.

[This message has been edited by Lone Hunter (edited 09-17-2000).]
 
First of all, the last place you should be thinking about buying your first compound is through a catalog. Trust me, it's a mistake.

Go to a bowshop. They can fit the bow to you. But then again, there's another problem. You need to decide if you will use fingers or a release, to get the proper draw length. So be sure to buy a bow that you can easily adjust the drawlength incase you decide to switch the way you loose an arrow.

Also, if you plan on using the bow for hunting, I would stay away from the speed bows. They are stricly for the experienced. They are tough enough to shoot in competition, let alone scrunched up in a tree stand all bundled up in hunting clothes.

Look for a bow that is D shaped (called a D flex design). In other words, the spot where you grip the bow is forward, out under the limb pivots. A D flex bow will have a long brace height (the distance between the string and the handle) and be MUCH MORE FORGIVING for hunting. And you want a forgiving bow for hunting. Shooting arrows with broadheads is not the same as shooting arrows with target tips. Tiny mistakes in tuning and shooting form are magnified with reflex bows. The result is missed shots. Go with a D flex. Also, avoid overdraws and short, axle-to-axle lengths. Both are less forgiving. Do you want to shoot fast arrows or consistently accurate ones?

If these terms sound vague, then you need to educate yourself. Hang out at archery shops for a while before buying. Talk to others and see what they are shooting. But beware! Everyone thinks their bow is the greatest, especially if they paid over $300 for it.

Before even thinking about buying, I highly recommend reading Chuck Adams' book on bowhunting. He has years of experience and lots of good advice.

And above all, don't take your bow in the woods until you are prepared as a hunter. The last thing you want to do is wound an animal due to shear lack of preparedness. You will regret it, believe me.

Happy shooting!

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Hoodoo

Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

The Merchant of Venice, Act IV. Scene I.
 
Oops! Reread you post and see that you don't want a hunting bow. What do you plan on using it for?

Browing bows have always been a mediocre name in archery. They went belly up some years ago but I see they are still around. Jennings used to be the greatest thing since sliced bread (a VERY long time ago) but also not really at the top any more. Another mediocre name. Ya pays yer money and takes yer chances.

If you want to find out what the top bows are, check out who is winning consistently in 3D tournaments and indoor archery tournaments. I've been out of archery for 3 years now due to an injury so I can't tell you who's at the top of the heap. Pick up some archery magazines and after about 4 months, you will get a good feel for what the top shooters are using.

PSE, Martin, Mathews, Darton, Hoyt, and High Country used to be top of the line. Once in a while, you'd see a Browning. For years Martin dominated the indoor but I never liked their 3D bows. Best 3D bow I ever owned was a High Country. Never could afford a PSE (I take that back. My first compound was a PSE and it was awesome but that was a looooooong time ago and the prices were a lot lower.) but they do make some nice bows. And so does Hoyt and Mathews and Darton. As I said before, I don't know what's hot now. For all I know, Browning made a comeback. Hard to say. Another bow I really like is a Mountaineer. But I'm not sure if they are still around.

If you want to do indoor shooting, get a D flex bow. If you want to shoot 3D, get a reflex speed bow. Single cams are easier to tune and keep in tune than twin cams.



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Hoodoo

Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

The Merchant of Venice, Act IV. Scene I.
 
Much thanks for your advice. I just want to target practice in my yard since there is a lot of room but nothing to do with it. I'll check out some archery mags and visit another bow shop before I get anything.
 
Take a look at the following links: http://www.bowhunting.net/bobragsdale/ragsdale.html

http://www.bowhunting.net/index.html#listing

1. Beware of "this years' model" which is much more expensive than "last years", without really returning the price difference with the same difference in quality.

2. Archery is much more demanding in form and technique than e.g shooting a scoped gun. An inexperienced shooter with a top quality bow cannot shoot anywhere as good as an experienced archer with a cheap bow.

3. My advice: buy a bunch of cheap aluminium arrows and shoot them until you "get into the groove" and find your form, and then buy some quality arrows and take care of them.
 
I don't know what you plan to do with a bow, but if hunting is a goal, then QUIET is a big concern. In my 18 years of archery experience, PSE bows are the most quiet. After you peruse all web sights you can find and analyzed the information, then narrowed your list down, find an Archery department or store and find a bow that fits your frame. Good Luck...

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Mark, Isiah 40:31 They that wait on the LORD shall mount up with wings as eagles...
 

Generallobster
This is my first season bowhunting. I bought a PSE Nova,with arrows,peep site and all the rest and a hardshell case for $ 200. At a pawnshop.
I was told thats a good bow to start with. And thats good advice on practis with the broad heads and from a stand if your going to hunt.
Good luck, Cary
 
Have been looking for a hunting/3-d bow myself.Looked at some of the suggestions on this thread. Most dealers/pro shops didn't want to spend much time with a beginner. Saw one or two bows that I liked, but priced above 600 just for the bow. Came home and looked on ebay, found the very same bow for sale, and get this, from the same dealer!!!!! The price was 230. He had several other ones I looked at for similar low prices on ebay. (That was the winning price.)
A friend will let me use his for a while to get started, then probably will go to the ebay for the purchase, I guess I don't understand the pricing difference. Would rather support the local shops but this is a very large price difference.
Jim

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What? Another knife? Don't you have enough of those things already?
How many does one person need?
And just what are you going to do with this one that you can't do with the others?
What is the purpose of all these knives anyhow??

 
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