..... about putting the rifle back in the safe and picking up a bow again.

I bow hunted back in the early to mid 80's and know bow design has improved by leaps.

My bow was/is a "Golden Eagle" Talon w/Cobra sights.

While up at the sports shop the other day I grabbed a "Martin" Saber. It was the one that felt best in my hand for what they had to offer. Some of the others that I picked up, PSE and ??? (dang can't remember now), would put pressure on my thumb joint or just didn't feel comfortable with the angle of my wrist. They didn't have a large selection to choose from. I tried the Panatra also but it didn't balance as well as the Sager.

Now, not that money isn't an object, but I am able to do pretty good, (not a Rolls Royce but not a Saturn either something around a Cadillac to Lexus) I would like some opinions of some good bow's to take a look at. I would like some pro's and con's if you would please. (they are well balanced or they tear up strings or are a great design but a POS to shoot)(you get the idea)

I am not stuck on Martin and have heard Mathews make a fine bow. I am looking for a bow that is well constructed that will deliver me years of good shooting!


Thanks all!!!

martin makes a fine bow, and their customer service is the best in the industry. honestly, you can't go wrong with a martin.

mathews, hoyt, bowtech... they're all good bows. might look around archerytalk.com for more opinions.
heath

I highly recommend Elite Archery bows. Also Matthews, Hoyt, Bowtech, Martin, PSE all make good bows and have good customer service. You need to get to as many different dealers as possible and hold and shoot as many different bows as you can. When the right one comes along, you will know it !! I think you are better off with a modern parallel limb bow. They are smooth to draw, fast, and have minimal hand shock. Don't buy anything too radical, or too bottom end .

You gotta shoot the Mathews Switchback and Drenalin before making a purchase. Awesome bows!

Have a look at Parker as well.

So today I shot my first parallel limb bow!
Not the same as the old stuff!

I handeled an Alpine, my index finger didn't sit well.

Tried the Mathews, didn't like the way they sit in my wrist.

The PSE sat well, little pricey for right now (maybe )

Grabbed an Elite "ICE" and shot the Elite "SYNERGY."
Liked the feel of both but slapped the forearm with both shots I took.

Grabbed the "SAGER" again but, after others, I hung it right back up. (heavier)
Held the Matin "BENGAL" also and it was a bigger grip than all the others I had picked up.

Fondeled and shot the Bear "TRUTH!" Nice in the hand, comfortable to draw and
SAWEEET to shoot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Got another shop to go to!
They have Hoyt and BowTech there that I will be able to fling sticks with!


Stayed tuned for the further adventures!

You're on the right track. Shoot as many different bows as you can and decide what you feel the most comfortable with. Look for bows that have the best brace height (I won't look at a bow that doesn't have at least 7"), as they will be more forgiving to shoot. Also, don't get too hung up on arrow speed. good luck in your search, and enjoy!

gd

And the adventure continues!!!!!



Stopped by the "box" store yesterday and put a couple more in my hands. They had Parker, Diamond by Bow Tech, Browning and Hoyt!

The Parker just was not as comfortable.
The Diamond was nice and I would like to find a place where I could actually shoot it a few times.
The Browning was to fat for my hand.
The Hoyt felt good and balanced well.

Today on the way home I stoped by another ProSop and got to launch a few more sticks!

Tried the Hoyt "Avenger" and felt a little wrist vibration. The draw was smooth and it was comfortable in my hands. I picked up the "Vulcan" but thout it a little heavy. Gonna ask if he would be gracious and bring in a "Trykon" and see what he says.

Shot the Bowtech "Allegiance." Nice and smooth, comfortable to shoot! Would like to try on in a 27" draw.
The Bowtech "Tribute," even with the speed mod cams was, how can I say this, NIIIICE!!!!! Really smooth draw, well balanced and comfortable all the way around!!!!!!
So far this is by far the best bow I have shot so far!!!

The guy at the shop, Roger, said that he gets the new Guardians in and that night they are gone!!! He said that if I enjoyed the Tribute, I would really like the way the new center pivot Guardian or Commander both shoot!

I will continue on my mission and keep you informed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I shoot the Tribute - great bow and wouldnt swop it for any other. I have also shot the Guardian with the new center pivot - did not like the look of it when I saw pics - loved it when I shot it - absolutely smooth and quite. This would be my choice if I bought a new bow, without a shadow of a doubt.

.... and the journey has ended!
I got me a new bow a coming!

So I went to Sprotsmans warehouse and had the sales person set up a "Black Ice" for 27!"
He also set up a Relex "Ridgeline" for me to fling a couple of sticks with!

The Reflex was so so but, the "Black Ice" was a great shooter! Comfortable to handle and nice to shoot.

So from there I went back to see Roger and try the BowTech "Allegiance" with the smooth cam mods at a 27" draw to see if would be a little easier.

Well when I got there, he had a "Guardian" hanging around just waiting for me! (don't get ahead of me here)
Him and his Dad have the shop sooooo, while Larry was setting up the "Allegiance" up for me, Roger was setting up the "Guardian!"

Well I put on the release and a stick flinging I went!!!!
The "Allegiance" was still a bit of a pull for me but I could turn it down and work with it. It shot very nice but, it had more vibration than the "Black Ice."

So it was about this time that Roger came into the range with that "Guardian!"
I proceeded to shoot that thing 12 times (3 arrows 4 times) without sights at 20 yards.
About all I can say is: "OH MY!!!!" What a wonderful shooting machine!

I shot the "Tribute" again just to see....

Well as you can guess, I have a "Guardian" in brush camo a coming!
By buying the bow, Roger took 10% off everthing I got together.

I grabbed the Spot Hogg "Whammy" rest. A Spot Hogg "Right On" 5 pin sight with a G5 peep.
The release is a Scott "Sabertooth." The quiver is a BowTech 6 arrow in the same brush camo.
A Paradox sling will go behind a stabilizer that I will choose once we get set up. (if at all needed)
He is feather fletchin a dozen Easton "Epic 340's." 6 for target tips and 6 for the Sonic broadheads.

I got a Morrell's "Six Shooter" and will pick up one more for here at the house. (that way I can shoot at one then back at the other)

The bow will be in in about a week and we will get it set up, then it is up to me!


I want to thank all of you for your help and input!

Great choice Smedley - post us a pic of your setup when you have it. Then we eagerly await your first bow kill pic with it.

I predict lots of fun in your future............

Happy hunting/shooting

enjoy your new bow. i predict another addiction coming on...

I'd like to know your opinion once you get some time on your set up. I have a Darton and Browning but may get something new before long. Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts. Good hunting, David

Smedley,

Just went through the same thing. My old bow is a Jennings UniStar (yes, that old) which I shot instinctive, with fingers. Well I went to the local Pro Shop (Brian's Archery in Rochester, NH) last year to purchase a replacement string. Long story short, yesterday I purchased a close out, BowTech Defender. Man, have things changed in almost 20 years! In less than 20 minutes the tech, Seth, had the bow tuned beautifully, really tight (almost expensive) groups at 20 yds, quiet and smooth. I can not say enough good things, first about this shop and second, the bow.

Lee

Well folks here it is:




I have been flinging sticks since Wednesday!
Roger at Wilderness Archery got me shooting to 20, gave me a few tips/pointers/lessons and out the door I went with the bow at 65#.

The bow shoots great!
Comfortable and smooth. No vibrations at all!
I am still having a little trouble drawing from lack of using those muscles again but, with a couple dozen shots each day, I will get there!

I was shooting without the wrist strap and stabilizer at first. I wanted to try some weight and see if it helped so I grabbed the stabilizer from my old bow. I think a can probably get a smaller one or, maybe none at all. When I head back down to see Roger, for a 200 arrow check-up , I will try some others and see what happens.


I want to thank all of you again!

I enjoyed reading your adventure and think you made a most excellent choice.

Thanks everybody!!!

Well here is an update for you all!

After finding the "Whammy" string was catching at full draw and dipping a little then coming up when I would release then drop when it was sposed too. Found that when I was waxing the string at full draw. (the old stick your feet on the riser, yanking back at hoping the toes hold )
Took it to Roger and within about 10 minutes, I was flinging twigs again. This changed the arrow reaction, imagine that, so I had to play with the sites a little.
I also found myself adjusting to the peep when I finally got a consistant anchor so I adjusted that and sited in a little more. I was still having a little trouble so I did some reading and started trying some other things.
I made up a paper tuning stand and did some shooting and some adjusteing and some shooting and some adjusting. It was showing signs of a to stiff an arrow. I tried a heavier tip, from 100 to 125, and it helped some. After doing some more research, I found that for my arrow length was actually longer then is recomended.
One of the problems I have here in WA state is I have to have an arrow weight of 6 grains per pound of draw. This comes out to 420 grains. In order to get that weight with feather fletching, Roger set me up with 28" Easton EPIC 340's. The Easton charts calls out a 400 spine arrow @ 25" for a 70# draw.
I stripped off the fletching and had Roger cut them to 25" add wraps and fletch with feathers. With a 125 grain bullet this put me at 416 to 417 grains. (close enough) After shooting these for a bit, I am still showing signs of to stiff of a spine.
I will be stopping in the shop tonight on the way home from work and see if Roger has some Easton AXIS FMJ's in a 400 spine. If he does I'll get some wraps picked out and some more feathers and move forward. If there are none, I will ask him to order some up and see what he says. If he doesn't have them or would prefer not to order, I have found some on line that I will pick up and have him make up for me.

I will let ya know how things come out!

As far as the bow, I LOVE IT!!! I ended up with a 6oz. stabilizer. That may even be more than what I need to get rid of vibration but, it helped settle the bow in my hands for a good balance.