Bow Selection ???

[poutpro]

I am looking at buying a new bow. I now shoot a browning 33 mirage and like how it shoots but its starting to wear down and its about time for a new one. I want something small, quiet, and respectable fast. I have looked at the Hoyts and Matthews and have been pretty pleased with them. One thing I really like is the roller guide instead of the bar-style cable guide. It seems to be much quieter. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!!

[Captain B.R.K]

PoutPro- What is recommend that you do is get out to your local Hoyt or Mathews dealer and test run these bows. Each year the specific manufactors come out with a new bow that has improvements on em'. (You probably already know that).

Anway, get out and get a feel for what you will like. Sounds like you have narrowed down your search, better off than just starting from scratch!

My first bow was a Hoyt 60-70lb draw and was not happy because of the draw weight. Basically I listened to a sales person tell me 60-70lb is perfect for a guy my stature and shouldn't have any problems with it. I didn't do any research on the bow- but did get a good deal on it.

I ended up selling it last year and got a Mathew's Outback. Sweet bow, have a 50-60lb draw now and couldn't be happier. Quiet and dead accurate (but that's because I practice )

Good Luck.

[poutpro]

The Outback is one that i have really been looking at. It seems to be a nice bow. It has a really solid draw stop. I really like this. I also was wondering about some of the bows that say they shoot 340 fps? Are these hard to shoot when then go that fast, and how do the arrows fly out of them?

[I'llTakeWhatiCanGet]

Ask any pro shop employee to clock a bow for you when they tell you it shoots at 340- thats pretty fast. There are bows out there that will give you that kinda speed, but not that many, and the ones that do still might kick a little. I wouldn't worry so much about the exact fps of a bow, as I would about how smooth, quiet and lightweight it is. 300 fps is more than adequate to take down a deer.

As far as a bow goes, I worked at Capra's in Blaine for several years in high school, and i'm still kicking myself for not picking up a matthews when i had a discount available. I bought browning instead because it wasn't quite so expensive- I like it, but its no matthews I would definitely reccomend their bows though, the warranty behind them is awesome too. If you're looking to get into an outback, i'd wait until they release this year's new model, and you might be able to save yourself a few bucks. Good luck.

[ghotierman]

Consider the AR 31....compact, quiet and fast.

as for the speed ratings...every manufacturer is pushing the speed..300, 310, 340....the thing to remember is, when you set it up for YOU...you're unlikely to match that IBO speed rating.

the fps rating standard is 70lb draw wt. 29 inch drawlength, 300 grain arrow, shot through a chronograph.

add a peep and string silencers...you'll slow down. shorter draw=slower than ibo...heavier arrow...slower than ibo...

whatever choice you make...make sure the bow fits you and your shooting style...take time and practice.

take time shopping and trying the bows.

good luck!

[Captain B.R.K]

Speed is all hyped up- don't worry about it. Like mentioned before, definately get something that fits you!

In order to ge those 300+ speeds, you will be looking at a 70 draw weight at 28-89" draw length. I personally don't care for speed ratings on a bow and don't shop around for that specific category.

I made my first kill with my new bow this last fall. I was more worried about getting a clean shot than how fast my arrow was going.

Myself, I'm at a 27" draw and pulling back #60, I get aroud 250-270 fps. Speed is not everything--accuracy is. Sometimes when you look at a faster rated bow, you lose some of the stability/accuracy!

[I'llTakeWhatiCanGet]

Yeah, a good example of sacrificing for speed was the old matthews black max. Smoking fast, but she kicked like a mule. Didn't sell too many of those babys

[Pooh]

im not at all worried about speed. look at some of the bowhunters that have been around awhile. i know a guy who bought a mathews a few years back(top of the line at that time) he hated taking it hunting. he told me his old bear barely moves 200 fps. me i shoot a golden eagle. I shot a mathews LX and want one. but the way i see it im comfortable with the how im shooting now and i am only pushing 230 fps. the way i see it, its not the bow its the person shooting it.

[Captain B.R.K]

ummm...... it's the person shooting it with the accuracy. It comes down to the components of the bow and what kind of output you get from your bow. I wouldn't necessarily say it depends on the person shooting the bow if the- it might be the set-up of the bow and the limitations a person puts on a bow (ex. if you have a 60-70# with a 29" length- should be able to pump close to 280-300fps BUT if you have a 60-70# and it is sized to your specific length 27" then you might not get that kind of output).