• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

The bow buying experience...

raisins

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Jan 17, 2019
6,284
8,115
113
47
I've seen bow shops with different employees every year. It's luck of the draw if they even know anything past a d-loop. I however have been very fortunate to have the same bow mechanic for almost 20 years or whenever that hoyt x-tec came out. To have someone u trust is invaluable .

I hope you're picking up as much as you can in case you lose his services.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shed84

brydan

Well-Known Member
Oct 15, 2015
823
773
93
What I have seen is that people will come in and act interested in making a purchase and run the pro shop guys through the ringer. Shoot multiple bows and then walk out the door. Meanwhile there is a backlog of service work that needs to be done to bows left by other customers. Then add in the fact that good workers are difficult to come by.

It’s no one’s and everyone’s fault at the same time.

I went with my father in law bow shopping one time and we were saying the same thing about ourselves. We went to every shop in the area to shoot the latest and greatest. He's a legit customer that's going to buy the flagship bow with the best everything on it and basket full of goodies to boot. It's gonna be a big sale. But to every shop he didn't buy anything from, they could've viewed us as just more tire kickers wasting time. Like you said, no one's and everyone's fault
 

Jay_Disarray

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 7, 2019
1,950
2,653
113
MN
I'm probably (lol, probably) going to buy a new compound bow in the next few months. I'm excited! The shops around me are not. Is this typical? It seems like no one could care less about selling me a bow.
Is there a code word or a secret signal? Do I need to wear a Sitka hat in? What's the deal? Some pretend interest in taking a lot of money off my hands would be nice, just saying.
Hopefully this doesn't come off as whiny, I'm really just curious
This is exactly why I bought a press, vise and made a drawboard. 95% of the time the local sports shop I can walk by several employees and not one even says hello.

That same shop once tied my d-loop near an inch too high and way too small. I had to seek out another shop 45mn away to fix it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: woodsdog2

kbetts

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 13, 2015
1,873
2,937
113
Delaware
LOCATION
Delaware
We have two very solid shops where I live.....very fortunate. Separate counties, but probably only about 45 min to an hour apart.
 

PEEJAY

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Nov 24, 2019
2,093
3,061
113
35
MD
Me too, way out of the way. But they take the time to get my stuff right & charge fairly


too
So many Amish guys in there buying bows. They love their fishing and hunting gear. If they dont use electronics...how are they finding blood at night. lanterns?
 

Jay_Disarray

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 7, 2019
1,950
2,653
113
MN
So many Amish guys in there buying bows. They love their fishing and hunting gear. If they dont use electronics...how are they finding blood at night. lanterns?
Yes, mostly. At least thats what the communities around here do

Or come back the next morning
 

Horn

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Mar 8, 2022
3,091
4,651
113
Still looking, haven't been in store though. Nothing bowtech put out makes me want to spend my money so it'll be a solution or solution ss if that's what I go with. Looking at elite and prime too
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jay_Disarray

Jay_Disarray

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 7, 2019
1,950
2,653
113
MN
Still looking, haven't been in store though. Nothing bowtech put out makes me want to spend my money so it'll be a solution or solution ss if that's what I go with. Looking at elite and prime too
dont sleep on Bear bows either, they are great little bows
 
  • Like
Reactions: Horn

Tknapp

Well-Known Member
Jul 8, 2022
257
407
63
30
I'm probably (lol, probably) going to buy a new compound bow in the next few months. I'm excited! The shops around me are not. Is this typical? It seems like no one could care less about selling me a bow.
Is there a code word or a secret signal? Do I need to wear a Sitka hat in? What's the deal? Some pretend interest in taking a lot of money off my hands would be nice, just saying.
Hopefully this doesn't come off as whiny, I'm really just curious
I found a cracked limb Saturday morning. I went to my local shop, and they were more than happy to set me up with a bow in my price range despite it not being top of the line. They transferred my entire setup to 3 different bows so I could shoot them. Then after finding the one I like the best the tech took the time to go over every detail with me to make sure, I was fully satisfied. This is an Amish owned and operated for 3 generations, bow shop in southwest NY and I will continue going because of the great service. I ended up buying a Mission MXR.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: woodsdog2 and Horn

Jay_Disarray

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 7, 2019
1,950
2,653
113
MN
What's that new one this year? Evolution 32 or something, looks like that has potential for sure
I'm not sure what the newest one is, I've shot a few different older ones, and keep going back to them. they are great shooting bows.

rn I'm shooting a Kuma 33, I used to have a Authority
 

Horn

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Mar 8, 2022
3,091
4,651
113
Well I have absolutely no will power. None. I shot the new carbon One from BT today. Darn nice bow. In my opinion, you'd be crazy to buy an RX7 ultra, good.

Left with a solution ss. Half the price and a half pound lighter. Which since I mostly take my bow for long walks is plus to me.

Honestly I think the One might have a smother, better to me, draw cycle. Either way I'm very comfortable pulling 70 on it or the SS vs the 62/63 on my current bow ( switchback xt, still have that. Will dbl check draw weight if someone wants). I failed to pull 70 on the rx7u, I'm embarrassed but it's true. Maybe I could now since I'm not shooting constantly and sore but if smooth or easy pull is for you check out bowtech. The hoyt was stiff to me but consistent throughout the draw with a hump at the end. I'm not used to that, and I think I would get use to it quick.

I really like the draw on bow techs, for what it's worth I thought Prime inline draw cycle was very, very close.

The experience was sort of crap. The saving grace would be that the guy working is a BT guy and I was asking about them so he was friendly. He also knows I'm a sucker for that SS I left with and that's probably why he was all for shooting them. It worked.

Just my .02. Not trying be AT. Also not trying to promote or bash a bow or brand. I prioritized the draw cycle, then really choose lighter weight and cheaper price. I'm not going to go shoot Elite or Prime now, mostly because I don't intend to buy one so I don't want to be the tire kicker guy as curious as I am.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MattMan81

raisins

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Jan 17, 2019
6,284
8,115
113
47
So many Amish guys in there buying bows. They love their fishing and hunting gear. If they dont use electronics...how are they finding blood at night. lanterns?

i thought they could use battery powered stuff, just not anything related to electrical lines
 
Last edited:

MattMan81

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Jan 13, 2020
5,066
9,797
113
The Mitten
Well I have absolutely no will power. None. I shot the new carbon One from BT today. Darn nice bow. In my opinion, you'd be crazy to buy an RX7 ultra, good.

Left with a solution ss. Half the price and a half pound lighter. Which since I mostly take my bow for long walks is plus to me.

Honestly I think the One might have a smother, better to me, draw cycle. Either way I'm very comfortable pulling 70 on it or the SS vs the 62/63 on my current bow ( switchback xt, still have that. Will dbl check draw weight if someone wants). I failed to pull 70 on the rx7u, I'm embarrassed but it's true. Maybe I could now since I'm not shooting constantly and sore but if smooth or easy pull is for you check out bowtech. The hoyt was stiff to me but consistent throughout the draw with a hump at the end. I'm not used to that, and I think I would get use to it quick.

I really like the draw on bow techs, for what it's worth I thought Prime inline draw cycle was very, very close.

The experience was sort of crap. The saving grace would be that the guy working is a BT guy and I was asking about them so he was friendly. He also knows I'm a sucker for that SS I left with and that's probably why he was all for shooting them. It worked.

Just my .02. Not trying be AT. Also not trying to promote or bash a bow or brand. I prioritized the draw cycle, then really choose lighter weight and cheaper price. I'm not going to go shoot Elite or Prime now, mostly because I don't intend to buy one so I don't want to be the tire kicker guy as curious as I am.
That's awesome. I really like how my BT Reign 6 shoots. I was sad it failed. As I looked at price tags on new bows, I just don't think it can get a whole lot better. Kinda thinking about getting some new limbs and a bow press instead of a new bow. If I get the kids shooting, the bow press will pay for it's self over the next several years.
Congrats on the new bow. Now go shoot a booner for team 2!
 
  • Like
Reactions: woodsdog2 and Horn