Advice: new to compound bows

[urbanspecter32]

I’ve been doing traditional archery for the past 6 years. I love it and have dropped a few deer with my recurve but I’ve been wanting to start messing with compounds bows as well. I shoot a 45 lbs recurve with a 580g arrow but would love to get into a bow that could get me shooting with some more precision, maybe increase my range 10 yards, and push a heavier arrow.

I’m not really sure what a good bow to start with would be though. I like the Bear Adapt bows but have no clue if they’re solid? This probably isn’t a 2026-2027 season purchase, unless some crazy eBay deal comes around, but something to start saving up for and at the earliest get by late season or start messing with shooting/arrows/etc for next year.

 

[Zero One Actual]

Do you have an archery shop nearby where you can go and test different bows out? If so, go do that. It is similar to someone asking what pistol to get. Glock, Sig, M&P, CZ, etc. They all do the same thing but have minor grip variances or ergonomic changes.

You will like one more than the others for draw cycle or grip or balance. Don’t let the social media marketing and influencers get to you, get the one YOU like the most. Go test some different bows and go from there.

Let this forum help you and stay away from Archery Talk. You’ve been warned.

 

[Wirrex]

It’s hard to pick a bad bow these days. Try them all.

Most bows made in the last year or two have made significant improvements in tuning and adjustability without the need for a bow press. Keep that in mind if you are buying used.

 

[OSUTodd]

I have the Adapt 2 and really like it. I shoot it as accurately as any other bow I've had, considering less practice time. (I was WAY better 20 years ago with my old Mathews, but I shot every day, not once a week) My current arrows are around 570 grains.

But in all honesty, right now I'm struggling right now getting it to bare shaft tune. Last year it was fine. I don't know if it's the bow, or me. I'm definitely not ruling out some bad habit I may have developed, or just getting older. Next step is to start backing down the draw weight.

As for choosing a bow, you do need to shoot them and see what feels best for you. If you've been shooting trad, you probably don't need to spend much at all to get a big boost in arrow speed and energy.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

The good thing about compounds is the companies put out new bows every year and some guys (and gals) just have to have the latest and greatest and sell off perfectly good bows they have only had for a year or two at a steep discount. I bought one of my Mathews Heli M's from my bow tech for $600 fully loaded with a quiver, sights, stabilizer, etc when it was 2 years old in about 2012 and I am still using it. That was about 50% of what it would have been new at the time.

My other Mathews Heli M I bought a couple of years ago off Ebay. A guy had it for sale at a good price and I bought it, had the bow shop buy 50 pound limbs and swap them out for the 70 pounders it came with. I then turned it down to 44 pounds and have been very happy with it ever since.

I'm shooting a 585 grain high FOC arrow setup, and a 44 pound compound has a lot more efficiency than a trad bow in the same draw weight range, plus you are getting a significant let off. I'd also suggest sticking with a draw weight of about 60 pounds max. Sixty pounds will impart plenty of energy to say a 650 grain arrow and give you a much better range. You can easily increase your current range by 10 yards.

I'd suggest going to a local shop you like and trying bows and let the techs know you are looking for a good used bow. They might just sell you their current setup. They get mighty tempted staring at those brand new bows all day at work.

 

[sizthediz]

Start by Figuring out what your budget is going to be for everything. Bow, arrows,quiver, release, sight and rest. You will eventually swap out some of the accessories that come on a RTH package. Keep that in mind. Some of these things you may be able to save money buying used from trusted places. Then go shoot bows . As someone stated there are alot of good ones out there.

 

[Bigterp]

Also after you shoot what you like, then check out the used market. You can buy a 1 or 2 year old flagship model for at least 1/2 the cost. & 3-4 years old for probably at or under $500. Bow shops, AT classified, podium archer……….

 

[Jimdude]

Lots of good advice here. I’ll add that for me, I was always most interested in how the draw cycle felt, how the grip felt (shape wise) and most importantly how the valley feels. I like a medium sized valley. A large valley has the feeling that when you want to let down it feels like you have to push the string forward. A short valley wants to take off on you if you relax even a little. That is not fun. That is mostly going to be your speed bows with less than 6” brace hight. It’s not because of the brace hight, it’s the cams, but that is a combination on most speed bows.

 

[Lucky13]

Lots of solid choices and excellent bows made in the last 10 years that could serve you well. The used bow market is flooded with affordable deals on top shelf compound bows. Heck, I've got a loaded Elite Enkore I'd sell cheap. What will be helpful is having a good bow shop near you. A place with good techs that can go over and dial it in for you. Tune it, give you pointers, etc... I basically self taught myself how to shoot. It was years of bad habits that I didn't know were bad habits, decades of hunting and target practice.. then walking into a shop with guys as good as they get, watch me shoot and give advice on grip, form, even release set up. Having a good bow shop close to home is huge... unless you're the archer that has a pro shop in the garage, basement and does your own work type of guy.

That's a lot of squawking to say do some research and buy a used bow. I've got a friend that knocks em dead every year witha 20 year old Switchback XT.

 

[cmj]

I bought my son a bear legit a couple years ago as he grows into it. I shot it a couple times. Felt ok to me. Replaced the strings but other than that it's holding up good.
My current bow is a 20 year old bear. I kill deer every year with it. Its just slow. I was going to buy a new bear yesterday. Went to bow shop to try some out and left with a used hoyt for $350. Fully setup and ready to shoot. They had a rack of used bows sitting there for sale.
Go to a shop and shoot some, I like the mom and pop shops. They tend to spend more time with u and know more. U don't need a $2000 bow to shoot deer.