Any archery experts here?

I?m on the hunt for the best bang for the buck compound bow, but I know nothing about them. I could go buy new, but I?m open to used. When I search Craigslist, I just have no clue what to look for. If someone were looking for a first AR, I?d be the perfect guy to help navigate the choices. (As would many of you) I want that input from someone who really knows the field.

I shot a lot in the 80?s and 90?s, so I?m not new to archery, just modern equipment. It?ll get used primarily for shooting with my kids. Got them both bows recently, and we shoot several times a week. I?m old, fat, and weak, and I wrecked a shoulder years ago, so I?m intrigued by the high let-off of modern bows. I forget my draw length, but I?m 5?9?.

Max budget is $750 for a complete package. Less is always better.

Anyone willing to look at used bow sources and make a recommendation? I?m west of COS, but willing to drive north for a great deal.

Failing that maybe someone could recommend new bowls in the $500 range

Far for you but Rocky mountain specialty gear in wheatridge are family friends. They should have new and used and knowledge.

I got into Archery about 7 years ago and was in the same boat. The best advice I got was to shoot everything I could and let the bow choose me. After finding the bow I liked, I found a used one on Archery Talk for a good price. I got a year old flagship bow, with rest, and a like new sight for just under $700.


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Go to a pro shop. No Limits, RMSG, High Altitude, a few others around town. Take an intro class, talk to the guys in the shop,.ask all the questions you can, go in early during a weekday when they have nothing else going on rather than a saturday morning when the whole city is in trying to get work done on their bows, shoot as many demo bows as you can.

All bows feel different when you shoot them, you may prefer the feel and respond to shooting one bow better than others. A bow will last you a long time, I would rethink your budget, $750 might get you a bow but then you are going to need a rest and a sight at the very least which is going to add another few hundred.

I would stay away from used bows, you have no idea how they were treated or whether or not it was ever dry fired.

Best time of the year to get a good deal on a bow is when the new models come out for the year. A lot of shops will have deep discounts on the old models and demo bows.

Hoyt, PSE, Prime, Mathews, are all great bows, can't go wrong with any of them.

The difference between a $500 bow and a $1k bow is that you are going to have a ton more vibration and noise when shooting, the cams and limbs may not have as much adjustment available to them, they will be heavier, cams and overall structure of the bow will he looser and made with cheaper materials so it may be more difficult dialing in your sight along with potentially larger group sizes.

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Originally Posted by def90

Go to a pro shop. No Limits, RMSG, High Altitude, a few others around town. Take an intro class, talk to the guys in the shop,.ask all the questions you can, go in early during a weekday when they have nothing else going on rather than a saturday morning when the whole city is in trying to get work done on their bows, shoot as many demo bows as you can.

All bows feel different when you shoot them, you may prefer the feel and respond to shooting one bow better than others. A bow will last you a long time, I would rethink your budget, $750 might get you a bow but then you are going to need a rest and a sight at the very least which is going to add another few hundred.

I would stay away from used bows, you have no idea how they were treated or whether or not it was ever dry fired.

Best time of the year to get a good deal on a bow is when the new models come out for the year. A lot of shops will have deep discounts on the old models and demo bows.

Hoyt, PSE, Prime, Mathews, are all great bows, can't go wrong with any of them.

The difference between a $500 bow and a $1k bow is that you are going to have a ton more vibration and noise when shooting, the cams and limbs may not have as much adjustment available to them, they will be heavier, cams and overall structure of the bow will he looser and made with cheaper materials so it may be more difficult dialing in your sight along with potentially larger group sizes.

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I agree with this. I'll add that I've seen some nice stuff from Bowtech.

I've found great deals on new old stock. There's a lot of product out there and deals can be found. Archers seem to want the latest and greatest, last years product line can turn undesirable as soon as the new line hits the shelves.

getting to a pro shop is best advise. At the very least to find out your draw length. Getting to shoot several models is also a good idea because there are many little things that make quite a difference between models in how they feel.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy used. Bows just aren't abused for the most part. Heck I'm still using my Mathews Drenalin that I bought back in about '09 or '10 and still killin' critters with it. For simply a bow to plink in the back yard, I'd think you could find a complete package, bow fully set-up to shoot with sights, quiver, rest, etc. for less than $750. pretty easy.