Author Topic: Archery (Read 8223 times)

Nightcrawler · « **on:** July 06, 2014, 10:39:12 pm »

I was in Cabela's today, just browsing and playing with the used rifles. I perused the bow section for a while, handling both compound bows, crossbows, and compound crossbows.

WANT. (By the by, the Cabela's in Grand Junction, Colorado has tons of left-handed bows. So much so that I was confused, since they sure as hell don't stock any left-handed bolt rifles.)

Now, I don't know anything about archery. I've never used a bow in my life. I'm not going to hunt with it. But if I get one, I want a good one. Doesn't have to be top end, just something decent, reliable, and capable of being taken afield.

I'm leaning towards a crossbow as a starter in archery (assuming this impulse doesn't fade away). Reason being, I don't have to learn a whole new set of skills to shoot a crossbow. (Shooting accurately, and reloading, are other matters.)

Later, I'd like to get a compound bow (since they are available lefty, apparently, and you don't have to hunt high and low to find one).

So. Where to start? Price ranges? Brands? Best kind of, I don't know, arrows?

Pictures of your archery setups are welcome.

WeTheArmed.com

coelacanth · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2014, 01:36:08 am »

Do some reading. Then go to an archery shop that knows how to fit a bow to a shooter and set it up properly. They usually have archery lanes where you can try out a bow before you buy it. Crossbows are not like firearms. If you think they are you will be disappointed. As a breed they are heavy, they have sucky triggers and are prone to getting out of adjustment especially as regards string tension. Accuracy is generally so-so unless the range is pretty close.

Compound bows and carbon fiber arrows are the cutting edge of technology in archery. To me, they are the closest you can get to firearms like performance with archery equipment. That said, they are heavy, overly complex and prone to getting out of adjustment in general use. They are also likely to induce you to part with considerable sums of money for the nearly endless array of gadgets and doo-dads and other products "guaranteed" to increase your shooting prowess and enjoyment.

I finally ditched my compound a few years back and went back to traditional equipment. I wholeheartedly recommend it. A decent quality recurve with two dozen arrows and all the equipment you need can be had for less than $500.00 . Good clean fun.

sarge712 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2014, 10:48:26 am »

I, too, ditched the compound bows and went back to recurves and longbows. Much less junk and problems and requires much more skill but in a good way. Once you can shoot traditional, compounds are too easy.

I like to work on my own strings, arrows and other kit as well. When they were younger I made my two older kids traditional quivers one Christmas and it was a big hit.

I like the PSE Coyote and Fred Bear Grizzly. I do a lot of business, especially in the fall, with 3riversarchery.com . Their products and customer service have always been top notch. What I really want is one of those short little horse bows. That's my next big archery buy.

Plebian · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2014, 11:35:45 am »

Go traditional and you will not regret it.

I shoot my longbow weekly. There is something about the experience that makes it so much better than a compound.

cpaspr · « **Reply #4 on:** July 07, 2014, 04:31:50 pm »

Depending on the state, a crossbow may not be legal to use during archery season.

~~I know in Oregon that's the case. It can be used in rifle season, but not in archery only season~~. Rechecked it. It used to be legal when I was younger. Apparently it no longer is. Crossbows are not legal for taking big game here. Predators, perhaps. Big game - no.

That said, I used to have a compound bow - left handed. It was older, not cutting edge technology, but when I sold it roughly 20 years ago, that LH aspect really cut down on my potential buyers. Not trying to discourage you, just reiterating a fact you are probably well aware of that if you decide to get rid of it later your market is much smaller than if it were right handed.

Back to the request for advice, though. If I were getting back into it, I'd probably go traditional. I had wood arrows then, but would probably go either carbon or aluminum now.

sarge712 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2014, 05:20:42 pm »

Quote from: cpaspr on July 07, 2014, 04:31:50 pm

...If I were getting back into it, I'd probably go traditional. I had wood arrows then, but would probably go either carbon or aluminum now.

Good point. I use the Easton Legends arrows. They are aluminum but have a woodgrain print and look like a traditional cedar arrow.

cpaspr · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2014, 03:38:32 pm »

I really liked my wood arrows. But in order to get arrows stiff enough to handle the poundage of the bow, the arrows would have to be fairly thick diameter.

So, now that I think about it, I also had aluminum arrows then. Because I know I had broadheads for my arrows, and I know they were screw-in heads, not glue-ons. The wood arrows I had were from a class I took in college in the late seventies. Yeah. I did not shoot them with the compound bow.

Dang it, Mike! I haven't thought about archery in over 20 years, and now you've dredged up all those memories about how much fun it was.

luke213(adamsholsters) · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2014, 03:48:38 pm »

I've shot quite a few bows and taken a fair number of deer with them over the years. That said I haven't shot a normal compound bow in quite a few years either. Mostly back when I did hunt with a bow I found it took a fair amount of practice to be good enough with it to actually take deer properly. I hate tracking a deer that someone shoots badly and it happens enough up here during hunting season that I won't be the guy who didn't practice enough(now sometimes a bad shot happens and it's not your fault but honestly most are the person behind the bow or at least the ones I've seen around here).

I'm going to work my way towards crossbows myself, more consistent with my normal rifle shooting skills with a touch of archery thrown in and I figure that will be easier overall considering the amount of time I've had to practice. That said I haven't shot a whole lot of crossbow's but from what I have seen I'm pretty confident it will work for what I'd like. Also as you know of this area being from here, long shots aren't really much of an issue so short range bolts are fast enough for the shots I would need/take.

Luke

alone · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2014, 05:19:52 pm »

Well, it has been forever since I used a bow-n-arrow. Oops I forget assisting kids with intro to such,and I had a ball!
Ya know, while I might not actually hunt with one, a kids long bow ( traditional dealie) just might be funner than all get out here on the farm.

Folks have taken deer here on the farm during archery season...
Which means I could see me getting addicted to yet something else.

Thanks a lot folks!

coelacanth · « **Reply #9 on:** July 08, 2014, 10:58:13 pm »

That's where I learned. On the farm when I was a kid. Found out that hay bales didn't do much to slow down an arrow except rip the fletching off of them

. I was told in no uncertain terms that the archery equipment was not a toy and notwithstanding any latent "Robin Hood" fantasies, if an arrow found its way into any of the livestock or grandma's chickens I was in deep manure.

Fortunately there were no infractions of the rules. I even surprised everybody one day and brought home a rabbit. ( beginner's luck - stupid rabbit lurched into the path of a shot that would have been a clean miss otherwise.

)

First Shirt · « **Reply #10 on:** September 13, 2014, 09:56:57 pm »

Traditional is where it's at! I can make my own arrows, strings, and sharpen my own broadheads. And at reasonable archery ranges, I can harvest as many deer, with less tracking, than the compound shooters. In fact, I'm going pig hunting next weekend, using a longbow, wooden arrows, and two-blade broadheads. (I will, however, carry a large-bore handgun, just in case things gang-agley.

Ken Brock · « **Reply #11 on:** September 13, 2014, 11:59:07 pm »

I started off as a kid with a recurve

Years later, I decided to get back into archery and got a proper compound with all the bells and whistles. Hated it. It was like trying to solve a Rubik's cube, blindfolded, drunk, with one hand.

Went back to a recurve and love it

I'm not tall enough for a proper longbow anyway

Nightcrawler · « **Reply #12 on:** September 14, 2014, 11:03:08 am »

Oh you guys. I ask about compound bows and crossbows and you start waxing poetic about traditional and English longbows.

I don't have the free time to learn how to shoot a traditional bow, not would I really be inclined to if I did.

I think I'm going to get a comouond bow and put an Aimpoint on it. Maybe a laser, too, if I can figure out how, just to annoy the purists.

Heh.

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #13 on:** September 14, 2014, 11:41:18 am »

The top bow makers are:
#1. HOYT.
#2. Bowtech. (Owned by Savage)
#3. Mathews.

Hoyt does more R&D than everyone else put together. They have their plant near the SLC Airport. It's pretty cool. They make the best bows and everyone else pretty much rips off their designs now.
Bowtech is making some very cool bows.
Mathews - I have no idea why they are so popular. They boast of so many champion shooters - but they really only have champion shooters from their own sponsored events. Most real champion shooters are shooting Hoyts.

Penguin · « **Reply #14 on:** September 14, 2014, 04:45:45 pm »

Perhaps a silly question but does Hoyt make old style bows like long bows or just new stuff like compound bows.

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #15 on:** September 14, 2014, 05:54:41 pm »

They used to. But not for some time.
If you want a Recurve - FRED BEAR. Look no further. The Fred Bear Catalog has enough lust for anyone... Much like a weekend in Vegas.

sarge712 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 14, 2014, 05:57:09 pm »

Quote from: GeorgeHill on September 14, 2014, 05:54:41 pm

They used to. But not for some time.
If you want a Recurve - FRED BEAR. Look no further. The Fred Bear Catalog has enough lust for anyone... Much like a weekend in Vegas.

+1

Nightcrawler · « **Reply #17 on:** September 14, 2014, 05:57:28 pm »

Quote from: Penguin on September 14, 2014, 04:45:45 pm

Perhaps a silly question but does Hoyt make old style bows like long bows or just new stuff like compound bows.

http://www.hoyt.com/recurve_bows/

They make recurve bows.

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #18 on:** September 14, 2014, 06:01:31 pm »

Quote from: Nightcrawler on September 14, 2014, 05:57:28 pm

http://www.hoyt.com/recurve_bows/

They make recurve bows.

I stand corrected. But the admonition for Fred Bear stands.

mjolnir1964 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 14, 2014, 07:28:35 pm »

Downside to Crossbows...

Expensive. Awkward. Pain in the ass to reload. If you don't watch your fingers of your support hand when firing, the bowstring will surprise you by shaving off your fingernails. Lousy weapon for Zombies no matter what they show on TV.

I'll join the chorus of those who suggest Traditional Archery. You'll get hooked and find yourself MAKING TIME to practice.

-R.

Penguin · « **Reply #20 on:** September 14, 2014, 07:40:18 pm »

Thanks. One of these days I would like to get into archery. I've never done it though so I don't really know where to start so I like to file these things away in the back of my head for the day when I get a round to actually looking into it or better yet doing it. The new stuff doesn't look all that interesting though. The older traditional stuff like the long bow is what I think I would want to learn to shoot. That or the Japanese bow.

First Shirt · « **Reply #21 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:31:46 am »

I have three longbows, all over 55# draw weight. But they are a delight for hunting, since they are shooting wooden (usually Douglas fir, or Sitka spruce) arrows. I've made my own strings, arrows, and quivers.

If I had to bowhunt with a compound, I wouldn't bother.

Grant · « **Reply #22 on:** December 21, 2014, 12:25:56 pm »

I'm going to say too: you could go with a "retro" compound bow.

I been using my dad's older 70's vintage Browning Safari compound bow this summer, been practicing and I think I'll get into bow-hunting next year. I have NO love for new compound bows, they're mechanical arrow-slingers and nothing more.

I do plan on getting a recurve this spring as well.

Kind of like comparing a Classic Mauser to a Winchester M70 to an AR15 (Recurve, Classic compound and modern compound).