Compound bow, $200?

[Mr.Hipp]

Untitled by bigg hipp, on Flickr

Untitled by bigg hipp, on Flickr

Untitled by bigg hipp, on Flickr
Untitled by bigg hipp, on Flickr
Untitled by bigg hipp, on Flickr

The 2nd bow is the Martin Jaguar takedown recurve i bought at cabela's for $150 and the 5th picture is an average group i get with it...

"Dont shoot more than 2 arrows at the same spot. Tight groups and Robin Hoods are cool until it gets expensive."
Zombie targets get head shots round here... A new arrow costs me $6 cheaper than any shooting range trip and I have yet to ruin one. I shoot in the garage almost daily, it is a great stress reliever/way to unwind after work. The silverback equivalent of a bubble bath.

[YZINGERR]

^ nice setups!

[RCJeeper]

$300 seems to be the sweet spot for good budget used bows. $200 and you're getting down to bottom basement equipment unless you find the rare deal. Kinda like finding a glock 17 for 300. It happens, but don't hold your breath. Archery Talk is definitely the place for used bows and an education.

In the beginning, I got a $70 PSE something on Ebay. Shot the living tar outa that thing thinking I was a terrible shot. I finally stepped up to a Diamond Rock from BP and wow my groups went from basketball to tennis balls over night. That bow was $500. Then I tried a friends $850 Diamond Marquis. Wow, that was sensational. I bought a used one about 3 weeks later for about $500 and sold the Rock. Spend a little more and get something that won't hold you back.

GL, archery is a blast and cheap once you get past the price of admission. Plus, you can do it everyday.

[bigbossman]

I've had good luck on Archery Talk looking for used gear (traditional).

Cabelas always has great sales on new compound bows with free shipping and no tax.

This is a good idea, as is lurking around Craig's List......... IF you know what you need and what you're looking at.

Last year I was able to pick up two nice bow packages off of CL for $250 or less each, all in - arrows, case, release, sights, rest, etc. One was a 2006 Bowtech TomKat that I was more than pleased with until I bought the other one, a 2012 Diamond Outlaw. That Diamond makes me feel sorry for the targets. The TomKat was "good to go" as it sat, The Outlaw needed a new string and some tweaking that set me back an additional $150.

Diamond Outlaw, at 20 yards. I don't shoot more than one arrow at a target anymore, unless I'm shooting at >30 yards:


If you go used, it is caveat emptor - you spin the wheel and you take your chances. You can save big money because bows depreciate faster than Chrysler's, but it can bite you in the *** if you're not careful.

If you go to a (good) pro shop, you'll pay retail but you get expert advice, setup, and warranty for your money. That can end up saving your butt if you are not familiar with the equipment.

One thing I do recommend is to NOT do what I did - just go fishing without too much knowledge and buy a bow that looks good to you. I got pretty lucky, but I learned something when I bought and shot the second one - bows are not all similar and different makes/models have different a different feeling and different characteristics. Take your time, hit the pro shops to try different bows and ask questions. Who knows - maybe they'll put a nice package together for you that makes everyone happy..... but at the least you'll have more knowledge when you go swimming in the used market shark tank.

[NorCalFocus]

My dad and I have had great luck on Ebay finding bows. Get a used bow on there for about $100-$200. Just make sure you have the strings/cables replaced before you shoot it.

[Rusty Scabbard]

Definitely follow classifieds on Archerytalk and Bowcountry. Checkout www.HuntersFriend.com. Their website as a ton of good info and instructions on choosing and sizing bows and selecting arrow spine. $200 for a good bow is possible, but you're looking for a pretty good deal to get that. If you don't have access to a press and some experience tuning (or a friend who is good at setting them up), you risk mixed results whether the setup will work well. Especially if you're planning to install the rest, peep and accessories. I recommend paying a little more, then scouting Craiglist, hunting forums or a small archery shop to get a used one that is built up already.

[Rusty Scabbard]

BTW, I'm lucky I didn't hurt myself when I first got into it. I bought a 70# Reflex compound off Craiglist, without any arrows to go with it. So went to Big 5 and bought 5 arrows (rated at about 40#) and shot each one. I was wondering why the tail was splintered on each one of my new arrows after one shot. I was at least smart enough to check the arrows were long enough not to fall of the rest at full draw, but that was about the limit of my common sense. After getting online and looking up info and pictures of people with carbon fiber arrows splintered through their forearms I realized a little more homework was in order.

[YZINGERR]

This is a good idea, as is lurking around Craig's List......... IF you know what you need and what you're looking at.

Last year I was able to pick up two nice bow packages off of CL for $250 or less each, all in - arrows, case, release, sights, rest, etc. One was a 2006 Bowtech TomKat that I was more than pleased with until I bought the other one, a 2012 Diamond Outlaw. That Diamond makes me feel sorry for the targets. The TomKat was "good to go" as it sat, The Outlaw needed a new string and some tweaking that set me back an additional $150.

Diamond Outlaw, at 20 yards. I don't shoot more than one arrow at a target anymore, unless I'm shooting at >30 yards.

If you go used, it is caveat emptor - you spin the wheel and you take your chances. You can save big money because bows depreciate faster than Chrysler's, but it can bite you in the *** if you're not careful.

If you go to a (good) pro shop, you'll pay retail but you get expert advice, setup, and warranty for your money. That can end up saving your butt if you are not familiar with the equipment.

One thing I do recommend is to NOT do what I did - just go fishing without too much knowledge and buy a bow that looks good to you. I got pretty lucky, but I learned something when I bought and shot the second one - bows are not all similar and different makes/models have different a different feeling and different characteristics. Take your time, hit the pro shops to try different bows and ask questions. Who knows - maybe they'll put a nice package together for you that makes everyone happy..... but at the least you'll have more knowledge when you go swimming in the used market shark tank.

That certainly is sage advice

[Clipity]

I picked up a nice 2008 Martin Slayer X in 2009 new off of ebay cheap and equipped it with sight and rest form Archery Talk. Lots of choices out there.

[YZINGERR]

Thanks for your input!
Ive been watching ebay like a hawk...there are a lot of apparent good deals on there, just trying to sort out what I need.

[YZINGERR]

Ended up with a Bear Charge, 2011 model but Brand new never used (NOS).
Found a guy on AT to sell me a sight, whisker biscuit, wrist strap, stabilizer and quiver (The bear RTH kit) for $40 shipped.
I need arrows and a release and Im all set.
<$225 all in less arrow and the release!

[Epaphroditus]

I just got out of debt and now you guys are making me think dark thoughts about making more purchases ....

[YZINGERR]

I just got out of debt and now you guys are making me think dark thoughts about making more purchases ....

The important part about what you just said is that you are out of debt.
How much can archery possibly set you back?!

[mtsul]

Tag lots of good info I'm very new to bows!