Compound Bow (maybe crossbow)

[InkEd]

I am interested in possibly getting a compound bow for Christmas. I have zero experience with them but think I want one mainly to shoot in the back yard and possibly deer hunting once I get proficient with it. (I am also considering a crossbow instead.) I would like some suggestions on make/models from some owners. I don't want to spend a fortune but what something respectable. Lastly, it needs to be available in a left handed configuration. Arrow/bolt suggestions too. Thank you. Links with pics would be awesome. Thank you.

 

[InkEd]

Really? No advice on compound bows or crossbows...

 

[creeper1956]

Go to an archery shop and try several brands... and determine your draw length and draw abilities. A good archery shop can get you dialed in with the basics. If you don't have an archery shop, see if you can find an archery range in your area... go and pick some brains.

Determine if you want twin or single cam tech. You can pick up a left hand PSE (or several other brands like Hoyt, Browning, Martin, Bear, Mathews, Bowtech, Ross) for around $250-$350... drop another $250-$350 for sights, practice and hunting arrows. Then... drop another $1000 or so a year for upgrades, better arrows, sights, gear, stuff and things. Much like anything where you're on the bottom of the learning curve, It can get a bit addictive and expensive fast.

Did I mention practice?

First get good at hitting what you're aiming at, at known distances, then get good at ranging... without a range finder. Prove you're skills at both by entering a few 3D tournaments.

There are at least a half-dozen archery forums... That's the place to start asking specific questions.

Good luck with it,
C

 

[InkEd]

Thank you. I don't really know of any archery shops in my area. However, I will research things further online and as best I can with some hunters.

 

[JimStC]

Ed,
Go here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=679861&highlight=crossbow.

Helped me move up the learning curve.

Jim

 

[jbkebert]

There are so many bows on the market today. Really none of them are bad the Diamond line of bows are pretty nice and the bows from Mission are top notch. In a value priced line of equipment. Its real hard to tell someone what bow to go buy without some back ground on the person.

How tall are you
What is your wingspan finger tip to finger tip.
Are you left eye dominate or just left handed


At the end of hunting season I am going to be posting two LH bows for sale. A Mathews Switchback and a Bear Code both are 29 1/2" draw so that would be a finger tip to finger tip span of about 70 1/2". The Mathews is set at 52# and the Bear is a shy 60#.

 

[gazpacho]

I just got a PSE Brute X. It is a very good bow for a base $400. Normally, I don't buy a weapon based on a price point, buy I figured a middle priced bow would be a good place for me to start learning archery.

 

[BluBob]

Another vote for the Brute X. I bought the RTS package for under $500. I have only shot it three sessions and I can get an apple sized group out to 40 yards. That's a testament to the equipment, not the shooter. I have not shot any other bow except on rare occasions years ago.

 

[zorro45]

You need to get someone to help you set up your first bow. It is very hard to do it the first time, kind of like teaching yourself how to flyfish from base zero.
Many gun clubs have an archery range and it might be a good place to link up with some other archers. You also need to build up the muscles that will do the pulling. You can get a heavy rubber tie down and take the dangerous pointy hooks off it and just carry it around and when you get a spare moment practice drawing with it over and over. In my state there is a minimum 40 lb. draw weight for hunting. Trial and error gets expensive if you are not set up right the first time. A saucer size target is a reasonable goal at 40 yds. with some practice.
Also it is helpful to match the weight of your broadheads and field arrows for practice. Blunt arrows vs. tethered milk bottles are fun for practice if you don't have a lot of rabbits handy. Archery tackle changes from year to year, a lot of this is "fad and fashion" so it is quite possible to pick up an older bow that has been outgrown for a good price.

 

[Fiv3r]

I find compound bows pretty easy to enjoy I don't hunt and usually shoot a 50# recurve. However, my uncle gave me his old bow. It's 20+ years old, set up for a rightie (southpaw here) and his arms about 3"in shorter than mine.

I'm a novice recreation shooter, and I can flat out murder the target at 20 yards shooting it instinctively. I really like having the old warhorse in my arsenal. Doesn't wear me out as much as my 50#er even though its 65#+ and "wrong handed"