Starter “Kit”

[bigcat93]

Got a Sage/Galaxy Elite from lancaster off the deal they had not too long ago. Came with 50lb limbs but I ordered 30lb limbs as well to practice.

no idea what I need now - but suggestion for low cost of entry/somewhat buy once cry once to get this up and running?

 

[BLR1970]

Take a look at the Trad Archery 101 You Tube channel. There is a lot of information on basic fundamentals and bow set up. From personal experience do not skimp on arrows. Good arrows are well worth the extra money compared to the spine and total arrow weight inconsistencies of most cheap Amazon arrows.

 

[GCTerpfan]

The best value I have found for arrows are GT Traditional blems. You can pick them up on eBay for around $60/dz for shafts. I would get some 600 spine arrows and leave them full length and start shooting those 30 lb limbs. After shootingfor a little bit you can start down the tuning rabbit hole.

I’m partial to the Black Widow calf hair tab but some prefer leather tabs and some prefer gloves. You’ll likely end up trying all of them at some point.

after that get you a rubber blunt and an old half flat basketball or soccer ball and kick it around your yard for hours of fun.

 

[katiesmom]

I started with 35 pound limbs. So I bought some cheap arrows just to learn form and use on light limbs. I did not get GTs until I was up to 45 pound limbs. But @GCTerpfan is right. Carbon GTs are the way to go. I bought both a glove and tab. Tried both and picked one. The other is backup. Tried split finger and 3 under. Picked the one I was more comfortable with. Get yourself an arm guard as well. Ask questions of the group here. They are tremendously helpful. And welcome!!

 

[jsh909]

Easton Axis traditional are another good option that are very durable

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Put a quiver on the bow and load it up with arrows, minus one. A bow with a full quiver attached will feel and shoot differently than a bow with no quiver. Practice with it just like it will feel and shoot when hunting.

 

[TradBowGuy]

Depending on your arrow length, you may want to try the Easton XX75 Gamegetter shafts. Inexpensive, and easy to work with.

 

[GeoFish]

Get with some Trad shooters in your area. Go to some of the shoots and guys will normally be willing to help.

TradNJ - Traditional Archers of New Jersey - TANJ

tradnj.com

 

[BTaylor]

Have you started looking for a therapist yet? Will be handy after you get some arrows.

 

[HuumanCreed]

Go to a local thrift store or check your local yard sale or classified. Find some kid's ballpit balls for cheap, sometimes people even give it away for free. Toss them at random distance on the ground (grass! not concrete). From a saddle, I toss them at random locations around the tree within 20 yards, this allow me to practice shooting at different angles without needing to setup multiple targets. They are fun to shoot at and it help learning about gap shooting, shooting from elevated position and shooting from a saddle. I have become a huge fan of shooting at the grass lately, only thing you need to do is clean your arrows.

User paracord or any yarns as silencers, don't need to go fancy. Get a field point kit from amazon, its the easily and cheapest way to get your arrow to fly straight.

Get a mini cut off saw from a local hardware store for $30-50 to cut arrows. But honestly making your own DIY arrow saw from a Dremel is pretty cheap, fun too.

This is probably the simplest bareshaft tuning video for me personally. From Spencer's Saddling Hunting Channel.

Stacks of kids foam play mat make great DIY target, again check your local thrift store, or Amazon sell them pretty cheap too.

https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Colorful-Interlocking-Non-Toxic-Superyard/dp/B01CF50516/ref=sxin_26?asc_contentid=amzn1.osa.a59223b8-c498-4a55-9d12-f215a1597261.ATVPDKIKX0DER.en_US&asc_contenttype=article&ascsubtag=amzn1.osa.a59223b8-c498-4a55-9d12-f215a1597261.ATVPDKIKX0DER.en_US&content-id=amzn1.sym.2501e731-e00e-46aa-97f8-28a8de3ef511%3Aamzn1.sym.2501e731-e00e-46aa-97f8-28a8de3ef511&creativeASIN=B01CF50516&crid=2JZWLJ6P82YSR&cv_ct_cx=kids+play+mat&cv_ct_id=amzn1.osa.a59223b8-c498-4a55-9d12-f215a1597261.ATVPDKIKX0DER.en_US&cv_ct_pg=search&cv_ct_we=asin&cv_ct_wn=osp-single-source-pecos-desktop&keywords=kids+play+mat&linkCode=oas&pd_rd_i=B01CF50516&pd_rd_r=b278fcaa-36a9-43ef-9f07-dd5c84664bf5&pd_rd_w=poUjl&pd_rd_wg=KFrI8&pf_rd_p=2501e731-e00e-46aa-97f8-28a8de3ef511&pf_rd_r=3S4F3YS9ASGJH32NG8WH&qid=1679402904&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=kids+play+mat%2Caps%2C113&sr=1-1-c26ac7f6-b43f-4741-a772-17cad7536576&tag=newfolks-20

 

[BTaylor]

Looking at that link, assembled in a 5 panel cube, how many cans of spray foam do you think it would take to fill a 12x12" cube? Glue the panels and fill'er up.

 

[HuumanCreed]

Looking at that link, assembled in a 5 panel cube, how many cans of spray foam do you think it would take to fill a 12x12" cube? Glue the panels and fill'er up.

So 5X5X1? like 5ft wide, 5ft high, and 1 foot deep? Honestly dont know as I have no experience with it. But thanks for the tip, reading about it now and it does sound useable! Maybe do a mixture of the foam with old clothes like some suggestions.

 

[BTaylor]

So 5X5X1? like 5ft wide, 5ft high, and 1 foot deep? Honestly dont know as I have no experience with it. But thanks for the tip, reading about it now and it does sound useable! Maybe do a mixture of the foam with old clothes like some suggestions.

That 20 panel pkg in your link would make 4 cubes with one open side. Found a 2 part foam that the quart kit will fill 2 cu ft. for $27.50. So for less than $100 you could make four 12x12" targets that should work fine for stickbows.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Looking at that link, assembled in a 5 panel cube, how many cans of spray foam do you think it would take to fill a 12x12" cube? Glue the panels and fill'er up.

I did not look at the link but...
There are different expansion rates of various foams. Some are made for windows and doors and they expand very little. I think there are some that have maximum expansion, but I don't know if the density changes, or if that would matter.

 

[thedutchtouch]

Following/right there with you. After some vintage bow tomfoolery and then some generosity and good deals from forum members, I now have a sage in hand as well with similar limbs and a different recurve on the way soon. I keep talking about driving up to Lancaster archery but haven't found time to do so yet, too many distractions.

 

[bigcat93]

For arrows - normal or Micro diameter?

 

[bigcat93]

I started with 35 pound limbs. So I bought some cheap arrows just to learn form and use on light limbs. I did not get GTs until I was up to 45 pound limbs. But @GCTerpfan is right. Carbon GTs are the way to go. I bought both a glove and tab. Tried both and picked one. The other is backup. Tried split finger and 3 under. Picked the one I was more comfortable with. Get yourself an arm guard as well. Ask questions of the group here. They are tremendously helpful. And welcome!!

Which gloves/tabs did you try? Probably try picking up some used ones to see before I buy new

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Which gloves/tabs did you try? Probably try picking up some used ones to see before I buy new

Tab.
I found a very nice piece of Horween cordovan on Ebay for about $45 if I remember. I can make a half dozen simple, high quality tabs from it.

 

[Swampwalker]

Best bet, find a pro shop in your area that also deal with trad archers. Might be tough. Ask at trad shows etc. You need to get pro help in determining spine etc. They may even have different tabs and gloves you can try before buying. I'm sure Jersey has resources there. Maybe find a mentor?. Join a club. Birds of a feather type of deal. Gotta shorten the learning curve. Gets fun faster! And you have to learn the " correct" shot sequence. Easy to get into bad habits that'll be hard to break down the road. Best of luck!