help me pick a new bow.....

[buckslayer]

i want to start bow hunting next fall and i need some info on bows. i will get my bow from www.huntersfriend.com . THANK YOU New Hampshire for suggesting this site. there are no pro shops around so this site is the best thing next to setting up my own bow, whitch i don't want to do on my first expirence w/ archery equpment. i can spend up to 700$$$ on a bow so any of the basic to premium bow packedges. i like the Reflex grizzly, Browning mirage 1.5, and the parker UL 31. please go hear www.huntersfriend.com/bowpkg2.htm and look at the packedges and please tell me what woud be the best of these 3 bows would best suit a begening bow hunter. my draw length is 29.5'' , draw weight is 65 lbs and am left handed so just about any bow will work. PLEASE AND THANKS!!!!!!!FOR ANY INFO!!!!!!!!

[Daveinthebush]

Actually from the selection you made I might offer a slightly different one.  The Parker Hunter looks a little better.  I like a longer axle-to-axle length than the others offer.  I find them easier to shoot and less subject to shooting errors.

Another thing to check on is what is in the rest of the package.  Is it a quality rest?  Quality arrows?  etc.

It would be better if you could actually try them at a local pro shop.  Can you return the bow if it just doesn't fit you?

My own choice though is a BowTech and love it.  As your doing, I bought it online, sight unseen.

One more note.  There is a spell check on the bottom right of the window where you type in your message.  It works! :lol:  Doesn't correct bad gramar or poor English so you still have to reread your posts.

[New Hampshire]

Your quite welcome Buckslayer.  I am getting ready to write the last check for my Layaway, so My Reflex Grizzly package will probably be in in a couple of weeks.  I was reading the testimonials section and was impressed with the number of Grizzly shooters sounding off at how quiet and accurate the bow is.  Some people are reporting that right out of the box, being a beginner and all, shooting all arrows into 2 inches.  These guys REFUSE TO SHIP YOUR BOW untill it meets their criteria of 3shots into 2" at 25 yards.  Granted everyone shoots differently, but this at least gives you the piece of mind that if you aint getting that kind of accuracy then you may need to work a bit more at your form.  Youve got yourself a very nice budget.  I picked the Grizzly because Outdoor life gave it a best buy rating out of 20 bows.  Its not the fastest (which is fine by me.)  Its real quiet (according to OL Magazine.)  And it has a fairly long axle to axle, which could explain its accuracy potential (and whould hide some of the more slight variances in your form.)  If it has one drawback it is that its a bit heavy.  But I, as you are, am a big strapping young lad, so again, no problem.  I like the Parker, and if were more experienced I would have looked a bit harder too.  But like Dave said, the short axle to axle is probably not the best thing for beginners like us as the shorter length between axles, like I alluded to above, will amplify any inconsitancies in your form so it will probably take a bit longer to learn to shoot properly. And besides, we can keep coming back to the quality for the price Reflex (which is basically a no frills Hoyt as that is the maker.)  The Browning is another bow that is still a bit too short.  Ill grant they will make good treestand bows and for stalking.  But we still come back to the beginner thing.  Now Im not gonna say the Grizzly is the bow for you.  I havnt even shot one yet, so word of mouth is what Im going on (granted its A LOT of word of mouth.)  But, of the three I would pick the Grizzly first.  OR if you are willing to take the longer time, and deal with correcting any flaws you may have in form, I would then suggest the Parker.
Good luck either way.
Brian M.

[ahunter55]

Not trying to take Busn. from anyone but take a look at Cabelas selection & Prices.  Look in their bargain cave-sometimes they have excellent buys on top of the line Bows.  I shoot Darton (have for years) & when deciding to get a new one found an excellent buy (lucky) in a model I had looked at b/4.  Good luck & good shooting in whatever you get.

[JPSaxMan]

Just a suggestion. I just got a PSE Fire Flite 33 package from Cabelas for $300 with every thing you need including four PSE arrows (I broke all of em :eek: ). The bow does not come assembled so you will either need to do it yourself or take it to an archery shop. My friend that owns his own archery shop set me up and he shot it and said it was a quiet and accurate bow (only reason I can't shoot it is b/c of my newbie skills and bad beginner's luck   ). But if you don't wanna listen to the suggestions listed, seems like the Parker is the way to go. Dunno much bout the split limbs and the Mirage looks like money wasted. Just my :money:.  

[longwinters]

Just a bit of advice, usually archery shops do not appreciate someone buying a bow from some other place and then bringing it to them to set it all up.  Yeh, generally their prices are higher, because they are smaller.  But the help they can give in setting up and learning to shoot is very valuable.  If possible buy from a real archery shop.

Long

[Daveinthebush]

Longwinters makes an excellent point. I bought my bow site-un-seen from the internet.  I tried to use Easton's excellent tuning guide from the internet to set it up myself.  There are several very frustrated posts below somewhere from back when I was trying to accomplish that.  

I finally in deep frustration took it to a Pro.  Yea I drove 300 miles and needed a different rest, but in ten minutes I gained the best bow I have ever shot.  

There is nothing that can replace the years of experience of someone that has done a job for years.  The guy would just not be in business if he wasn't any good.  

The Pro I used was the owner of Fletchers Archery in Wasilla Alaska.  I know it is far away but I will give credit where credit is due to someone.[/b]

[JPSaxMan]

Well let's say that my friend was a REALLY good friend and had no hard feelings of me buying the bow from somwhere else and then taking it to him to have it set up. Don't try that at home, kids  :-D . Plus I was buying more arrows off him, so that added brownie points somewhere. I was gonna buy my bow off him but due to the budget, I had a better deal along the line and he understood that and had no hard feelings. I guess I got lucky that time.  

[IowaBuckHunter]

I agree with longwinters- dont buy a bow and take it to your local archery shop.  I work in a bow shop and we hate it when people buy bows somewhere else (Especially Cabela's) and bring it to us to work on it.  Pick a place and do all your business there.  If you do, they will treat you right in the long run- TRUST ME!

As far a a good starter bow goes, Look at some of the PSE or Archery Research bows (made by PSE).  They are a pretty good bow for the money.  Then if you like it, buy something different after a few years that you will enjoy to shoot.

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Buckslayer,
What I suggest you do is look for a good used bow.  All you have to do is go to Ebay and look at all the compound bows they have on there.  Many archers buy brand new bows every year...  With the old ones, they usually try to sell it themselves since most proshops won't give much for a used bow.  You will get a whole lot more bow for your money if you buy a bow that is a couple of years old.

Jim

[doghouse95]

The Reflex will do you a good job.  I own two Reflex bows, and two Hoyts.  Hoyt makes the reflex and they shoot a lot alike.  My newest is a VTEC and it is the best I have ever shot.
Practice and practice some more.  I shoot every day it doesn't rain.

[TomD]

I also paid the price (in attitude) from the pro shop when I brought my Hoyt Magnatech to them that i had bought at Dicks. I went to the pro shop to take a lesson and the pro was a pain in the a$$...he complained about every aspect of the Dicks setup.  I fianlly realized why he had the attitude & confronted him. He chilled out and I've done all my business with him since than. When I decide to upgrade my setup, I will go to him as we now have a better understanding. He of my frugality and me of his added value for the extra dollars.