Bow suggestions

powdergun

powdergun

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I am considering getting a compound for next year. From what I have read in other forums I realize a person has to try several to find one that works well for the shooter.

I would like to spend around $400 so my options seem to be lower end or possibly used. Does any one have some suggestions as to what I can get for the money. One of the most important things for me is to have a unit that is trouble free and dependable and forgiving. I have a fair bit of experience from the past as I used to own a couple of bows and shot quite a bit but I've been out of touch for quite a few years and wondered what was good buy and possibly what to avoid.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
Bowtech Tomkat $549 as a package bow
Diamond (by Bowtech) The Rock package bow $499
Pse Stinger package $399

Or check the shops used section and maybe get a $800 bow for $300-400.
If you have been away from archery for a few years go to a shop with some knowledgeable staff and have them set the bow up, it will save you a ton of hassle as the new bows are much more sensitive than 5-10 years ago. I bought a new Bowtech after shooting a Darton for 10 years and had to change my shooting style a lot but do not regret it as the new bow is awesome and far more accurate than anything I had shot in the past. I have shot all of the bows I listed above and all were good performers but I have heard some negative feed back from the PSE regarding dependability, they are all ready to shoot bows minus arrows and a realease.
Good Luck
 
My problem is I have no access to a good shop so I have to do everything myself. Those package deals look interesting though.
 
If you are buying a package bow have them set it up where you buy it and you should be ready to go. I know the Tomkat is over your set price but it was a package so I thought I would throw it in as it is a exellent bow. I bought my bow used and then spent another $200 setting it up in hindsight I should have just went for the Tomkat. Here is a pic from our moose hunt and the results of the morning bird hunt, sharpies are a riot with archery gear.
guns016.jpg

With my old equipment it would have taken me all week to kill that many birds.
My Bowtech on the left and a Martin Sabre on the right.
Good Luck
 
Mission

Absolutely take a look at the Mission X3 and X4. I bought an X4 last year and just have never seen anything like it. I've never had very much luck with compounds, but when I got this one I started hitting like never before. I took 5 gophers last year with this bow, most from more than 40 yards away. My sixth and final sight pin is sighted to 75 yards, because I can keep all my arrows in the vital zone of a deer at that range. This bow is simply excellent, especially for the money. For the record, I am using a trophy taker fall-away rest, strinh peep, cheap Cobra release, the cheapest plastic Cobra bantam sight with additional pins added, and a Limbsaver stabilizer sitting on an aluminum shotgun cleaning rod section. Conventional wisdom says this shouldn't work great, but . . .
 
I'd be leery about buying used bows. If that sucker was dry fired even once it could have a shorter life span than most. You might want to check out champion bows. It's a company that went out of business a few years ago so their warranty is obviously void. You can find these bows for dirt cheap and they're great. I bought a Tundra LS last year and i'm in love with it.
 
Check out Martin bows. Several excellent bows for under $400, with lifetime warrenties and excellent service. I have a Bengal and several friends have Moabs, all are excellent and have a very smooth draw curve. I shoot gophers all summer with this bow, it is deadly accuratte. Depending on you draw length, there are the Cheetah,Bengal and Moab to chose from in the under $400 range, all are essentailly the same,just progressivley longer axle to axle length. Chech out Archerytalk if you want to do some research on bows, it's probably the biggest archery and bowhunting website out there.
 
If you get a chance to pick up a used Oneida... do it and never look back. It looks a little funky but it is amazing to shoot. I shoot an an Oneida Aeroforce with a red-dot scope zero'd at 40 yds with a bodoodle rest and it goes exactly where the dot on the scope is every time. I find it very forgiving and it performs great.

People always ask how I know where to aim at different distances. If it's less than 40 yards the arrow barely has any arc on it at all. If the target is at 20 yds i might aim 3 inches low. As the target gets past 40 yds you just aim higher (about 5 inches at 50 yds). Personally I think that anything over this is starting to be beyond what is an ethical range to take game with a bow. Some people do it and it works fine but to each their own.

My draw is set at 49 lbs which is .5 lbs more than the minimum for moose hunting here in Ontario. I've seen bows with draw weights nearing 100 lbs and this seems completely useless to me in a hunting bow. If you have to start wrestling with the bow to pull it back, or can't hold it at draw comfortably for a long period of time then you can expect to scare alot of game away and miss alot of chances.

Just a couple weeks ago I saw a newer model (the screamin eagle) for sale in Sudbury for 399. It had a different rest and sight but nonetheless its a great deal. Usually they're not too expensive used because nobody knows what they are or what they're capable of.
 
I have an Oneida Aeroforce x80 that is over a decade old and love it. Extremely accurate, very adjustable for draw length with my modules. It is a bit slow compared to modern bows and a bit on the heavier side but it is the only bow I can shoot now with a problem shoulder and my age. The draw weight is dissapated over a larger portion of the over all draw length so there is no initial big hump to get over...this equals a very smooth effortless draw and up to 80% let off. If you can find one used, its an extremely ###y lookin bow that draws attention from anyone seeing it and most people who have tried mine love the way it shoots.
 
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