Kentucky Armory Club

Looking to get into archery and I need a bow, but to be honest, I know very little about them. Since this is my first bow and I have a lot to learn I'm not wanting to break the bank by picking up some brand new, all the bells and whistles bow for $900. I've been looking through Craigslist and this one peaked my interest. Wanted to get some opinions from people who actually know something about this.

http://louisville.craigslist.org/spo/4377853213.html

Go to an archery store/ range. They will let you try before you buy.

Go to Kings archery on Bardstown road and try a few out.

Toddstang wrote:Go to Kings archery on Bardstown road and try a few out.

This ! Scott is knowledgeable, very friendly and won't try to oversell you.

Yeah... I don't know a whole lot about them yet either. I am learning a lot more every day. But i still do not know if I am comfortable buying a used one.

I got the PSE Brute X on the advice of a friend and the guys at Kings's. They help me set it up like I needed, test fire it and gave me some instruction, along with a pass for free range visits. While mine was a gift, it was about $400 for the setup and then I bought a belt quiver, extra arrows and broadheads. Probably have $500 in everything (get arrows on sale).

ssracer wrote:Looking to get into archery and I need a bow, but to be honest, I know very little about them. Since this is my first bow and I have a lot to learn I'm not wanting to break the bank by picking up some brand new, all the bells and whistles bow for $900. I've been looking through Craigslist and this one peaked my interest. Wanted to get some opinions from people who actually know something about this.

http://louisville.craigslist.org/spo/4377853213.html

Looks good to me
Martin makes a fine bow

I have a high country I bought used

Just read through all of this. Very informative.

http://www.huntersfriend.com/compound_b ... guide.html

Believe it or not, bow are like computers, laptop's, smart phones etc....They get outdated quick.

Hoyt, BowTech, Martin....all are good. Matthews are great, but overrated IMO....well, at least overpriced.

Buy a good used one and go from there. It's one of those things that you really won't know what you like or want until you get into it and try it. A little research doesn't hurt, but, owning, shooting and using one is only way to find what you like.

Add to that PSE, Bear...the list goes on and on...

It's a lot like the question "What lower should I buy" or "What's the best AR"

There's not a "right" answer

I picked up a nice one (will have to check the name) that runs about 250 new, and I got it like new for a used rate at a pawn shop for $50 in the case, with a bunch of arrows. Mikes son at the gun shop is a bow genius and he fixed it all up for me for nothing. Bought it on a whim but getting to be summer and will have to try it out.

JustShootIt wrote:Believe it or not, bow are like computers, laptop's, smart phones etc....They get outdated quick.

Hoyt, BowTech, Martin....all are good. Matthews are great, but overrated IMO....well, at least overpriced.

Buy a good used one and go from there. It's one of those things that you really won't know what you like or want until you get into it and try it. A little research doesn't hurt, but, owning, shooting and using one is only way to find what you like.

I would say bow are like guns, there is more outdated models due to marketing then design or tech changes.

Modern bows are lighter , short OAL and more let off but a Whitetail Hunter will kill a deer or launch a arrow as good as when Fred Bear was building them.

Guns for the most part hold their value....

A 2 yr old phone or laptop is almost worthless if you try to sell them....or at best only worth a fraction of what you paid. Bows are much the same....

JustShootIt wrote:Guns for the most part hold their value....

A 2 yr old phone or laptop is almost worthless if you try to sell them....or at best only worth a fraction of what you paid. Bows are much the same....

The phone still works as does a laptop or bow.

The value is due to marketing , not to the use

Guns are not considered " disposable"
Phones , computers and bows are .

Your right Cranky....

Too bad u live so far away...otherwise I'd come over and give u a big ol hug

An important thing to know when buying a bow is what your draw length is, while the length can be changed it can get expensive. So a friend with a bow and tape measure that knows what he's doing or an archery shop with graduated arrow. before this you need to decide if you will use a release, and D loop on string, these all lessen your length of pull slightly, so best measure this way.
A few bows in the last decade are timeless, and unless there are major break throughs in technology I wouldn't hesitate on a couple classics, one I look out for myself once and a while is a matthews switchback xt, they hit it just right with this one, and if I find one fair money I'll hand down it's predecessor mathews legacy to one of my boys, (it's just a wee bit nicer) if not I'll still shoot mine another ten yrs from now, and I don't see bows in 2024 being worth laying out the cash for all new stuff. the diff from the bow I bought in 86 and the new one I bought in 03 was night and day better than what I had. I won't lay out for new till they come out with a 600fps bow that is as quiet and smooth as what I shoot now. just buy a used one that had a great rep when they were in there day, andthat fits your measurements and you'll be lightyears ahead of the Indians that took lots of game, in other words try not to get too caught up in the 10 20 30 fps faster bows that go twang and jump outa yer hand. lol

JustShootIt wrote:Your right Cranky....

Too bad u live so far away...otherwise I'd come over and give u a big ol hug

I am glad you live far away, you can keep your hugs to yourself.

What ever you decide Sean, personally I would go to Kings and try them out first. They will show you what ever you want to look at and will let you test fire their range bows to see what you like the best and then set you up from there. Don't do like I did in the 80's and get stuck with a big name bow that cost a lot of money and was a POS.
You can do everything from having your arrows custom cut, to tricking your bow out with all kinds of high tech crap.