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Thinking about this bow...talk me out of it, lol.

That said you certainly don't need a 600 grain arrow to kill a white tail or anything on this continent but if that makes you happy and confident. Go for it
 
I think a lot of people tend to forget or never played during the aluminum days. This 55 lb compound with 800 ish grain arrows killed more deer than I can even remember and the same goes for this 50lb recurve with 700 ish grain arrows. And are still killing stuff today. I am not advocating for super heavy arrows or slow bows by any means. However I doubt either of these go much above the 150 fps mark and both have a ton of kills. Just don't over think it too much, it can quickly become overwhelming. The aluminum are 2219 at full length I believe and the carbons are tubed 300 spine.IMG_20221226_171125086~3.jpgIMG_20221226_171244207.jpg
 
I don't worry too much about arrow weight as long as it's not too light. You just have to ask yourself, if you had to be shot with a ping pong ball traveling at 350 fps or a golf ball at 280 which would you choose and why. That would probably answer why I choose to shoot a heavier arrow.
 
MattMan81 said:
If you can afford it. Do it. But at least try it out first and make sure it is an answer to your problem. Don't hope or assume it will be.
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I really agree with this, try it. See what you think. I think at least it's ok to buy new gear to buy new gear! I hope it helps your shoulder too! But an occasional splurge is ok ;)
 
kyler1945 said:
I regret selling my HeliM every day.

Use the two grand to buy a season yard pass from the wife or out of state tags and gas
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Oh yeah, I'll never sell my Heli-M. We've been on too many adventures together. I am very tempted to get a set of 50 pound limbs for it. I am leaning heavily toward that option, a few hundred bucks, and like you say spend the money elsewhere toward deer hunting.
 
jsh909 said:
I think a lot of people tend to forget or never played during the aluminum days. This 55 lb compound with 800 ish grain arrows killed more deer than I can even remember and the same goes for this 50lb recurve with 700 ish grain arrows. And are still killing stuff today. I am not advocating for super heavy arrows or slow bows by any means. However I doubt either of these go much above the 150 fps mark and both have a ton of kills. Just don't over think it too much, it can quickly become overwhelming. The aluminum are 2219 at full length I believe and the carbons are tubed 300 spine.View attachment 78732View attachment 78733
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Yes, i'm shooting 650 out of my 60 lb bow now. I shoot inside 25 yards, so speed is not a factor for me.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
New for 2023 is Mathews Image. It is designed to be a lower poundage alternative to folks who are having shoulder problems and need a lower poundage but full size bow. Shoulder issues have become an issue for me. I'm finding that this year I have been struggling to draw my 60# Hei-M. It is mainly my left shoulder. It feels like I have an aggravated or torn tendon it there. It makes it difficult to hold the bow at arms length while it is drawn, so maybe a new bow is not the answer since it is really not the draw weight but holding the actual mass of the bow at arms length.

I saw this bow and thought it might be a good one to get, but a new bow is a whole new can of worms once you go down the rabbit hole of quivers, sights, arrows, etc., ad nauseum. I would keep my old bow and not strip it for sights, quiver, etc.

Maybe my local shop will have one for me to look at. I am really leaning toward getting a 50 pound set of limbs for the bow I have. I could do that for a few hundred bucks.

I think I am just struggling with a bout of "newbowitis".

Shop IMAGE™ | Mathews Archery (mathewsinc.com)
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I had same problem and spent the off season on working out per my hunting buddy who happens to be a sports medicine Doc. I now can shoot a bow cranked down from 60 to 56# no problem. Helps me all around in the woods since I started working out.
I’m trying to talk you out of spending the money on a new bow. If my suggestion works, send me the few dollars you would have saved on the Matthews so I can buy more hunting stuff! Lol
 
ricky racer said:
If you want a new bow, go buy a new bow. I've been shooting a stick bow for 30 years but like you, I've had an issue with my shoulder and resigned myself to buying a compound to hunt with this year (2022). I'm getting up there in age and over the years, I've had to drop poundage so I wanted a bow that had a good draw weight adjustment range so as I continue to age, I can drop the bow weight as needed and still be in the game without having to buy a new bow each time.

I've been killing deer for a long time with a long bow or recurve so I know you don't need anything fancy just to kill a deer. I opted for a PSE Stinger ATK which is considered a "entry level or beginner bow". Out the door for $399. The bow I chose has a draw weight range of 35-60# and is easy to change by myself at home. I see the Mathews Image is selling for $1,199!!o_O and only had a 10# weight range adjustment.

Earlier when I was toying with the idea of buying a compound, I picked up a used Mathews Conquest mistakenly thinking the poundage was more adjustable than what it is. My mistake, however I only paid $150 for the bow and it came with a QAD drop away rest, a really nice Vital Gear fiber optic sight, a Bohning quiver and a Tru Ball Release! I stripped those goodies off of the Mathews and put them on my PSE and put the Mathews on consignment at my local archery shop and should recoup most of my original purchase price which means all the goodies were nearly free!

I'm shooting my PSE set at 45#. In the video I linked above, John Eberhart says he's shooting his Image set at 40# so you don't need a super fast bow to kill good deer. The Mathews Image produces speeds up to 335 fps while the PSE is only up to 312 fps, more than enough speed for deer hunting east of the Mississippi. That extra $800 buys you a few more fps if that's what you want. I'm shooting a 650 grain arrow out of my bow set at 45# and I have no idea what speed it's leaving the bow at but it really doesn't matter, it's still probably still quicker than my recurve.

View attachment 78728
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Great buck! I have a few longbows (Hill style) and have been trying to seal the deal with them for a few seasons now. I agree 100% with the assessment. I'm a believer in heavy arrows too. Really, it is not so much the 60 pounds draw weight as it is holding the physical weight of the bow out at arm's length. That tendon is giving me fits.

I'm just having some shoulder issues this past year and getting older stinks. I saw that Mathews released this bow with the lower poundage guys in mind. I just had a case of the new bow itis, lol. I doubt I buy a new bow anytime soon but i may go shoot one if my local shop has one and I may also ask my guy to keep a lookout for any coming back into the shop as trade ins in a year or two. That's how I got my Heli-M. One of the guys at the shop had it and wanted a new bow so he sold it to me fully loaded for about 1/2 price. I'm frugal, lol.
 
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Fgirtyman said:
I had same problem and spent the off season on working out per my hunting buddy who happens to be a sports medicine Doc. I now can shoot a bow cranked down from 60 to 56# no problem. Helps me all around in the woods since I started working out.
I’m trying to talk you out of spending the money on a new bow. If my suggestion works, send me the few dollars you would have saved on the Matthews so I can buy more hunting stuff! Lol
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Thanks, yes, I've been working out pretty steadily since my early 20's. Being in good shape definitely helps in the woods. I actually hurt my right shoulder in college at the gym doing military presses. A little too much weight. My left shoulder is the one that is giving me fits recently. It is the tendon on the top front part of my shoulder that apparently is responsible for holding objects up when my arm is outstretched. It makes holding the bow at full draw painful sometimes.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
Thanks, yes, I've been working out pretty steadily since my early 20's. Being in good shape definitely helps in the woods. I actually hurt my right shoulder in college at the gym doing military presses. A little too much weight. My left shoulder is the one that is giving me fits recently. It is the tendon on the top front part of my shoulder that apparently is responsible for holding objects up when my arm is outstretched. It makes holding the bow at full draw painful sometimes.
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I know the exact pain you are talking about, got it last year and still got it. Holding the longbow is way better than holding the compound.
 
I couldn’t find in a quick search…is the riser aluminum or carbon?
Maybe if you think the mass of the bow is the issue, and it’s currently an aluminum riser, a switch to carbon fiber may be in order. That Image is listed at around 4.5# bare-bow. That is only going to get heavier after you put a sight, rest, arrow, etc. Go grab a 5# weight and hold it outstretched for 60 seconds and tell me how light it isn’t (don’t really do this and screw your shoulder up worse). I’m just trynna say if you’re looking to go to a new bow, go for lighter materials overall, starting with the riser.
 
Yeah, I tried holding a weight out like that the other day and it was not good. I think I really need to fix the shoulder and not the bow. I was just looking at this new bow thinking since it was a lighter poundage it would be easier on me than the 60 pounds draw I currently have. I've had my current bow 10 years and was just thinking it would be nice to pick up a new one in addition to what I already have. That's why I was saying talk me out of it, lol.
 
I been experiencing similar pains.
I think ultimately surgery will be the answer for both the OP and myself.
Certain movements even empty handed can cause discomfort.
I still shoot and work but plan to have it looked at eventually.
When your time comes, you will completely understand.
As for lower poundage we all know that compounds produces more energy pound for pound than longbows or recurves.
As far as ibo speeds go, they are relative to poundage so be not amazed here.

In my real heyday shooting deer when I lived in the Northwoods the top bows were hitting 305 ibo, then 310 and soon 315 ibo.
When dressed out with peeps, D loops and hunting weight arrows many rigs were doing 260 fps.
Some faster some slower due to draw lenght, arrow weight and cam technology.
Now keep in mind My Martin
 
Bigfoot522 said:
I been experiencing similar pains.
I think ultimately surgery will be the answer for both the OP and myself.
Certain movements even empty handed can cause discomfort.
I still shoot and work but plan to have it looked at eventually.
When your time comes, you will completely understand.
As for lower poundage we all know that compounds produces more energy pound for pound than longbows or recurves.
As far as ibo speeds go, they are relative to poundage so be not amazed here.

In my real heyday shooting deer when I lived in the Northwoods the top bows were hitting 305 ibo, then 310 and soon 315 ibo.
When dressed out with peeps, D loops and hunting weight arrows many rigs were doing 260 fps.
Some faster some slower due to draw lenght, arrow weight and cam technology.
Now keep in mind My Martin
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I'm afraid you may be right about the shoulder. I plan to have it looked at after the season. Some movements are painful empty handed, as you say. I may lay off shooting any bow for a month starting February and see if that helps.

I've never concerned myself with IBO speed. It is not even on my list when looking at a bow but I do recognize that up to a point bows will get more efficient and can do more with less. Bow companies shoot the lightest possible arrow to max out that number for advertising purposes. I'm not in the push a light arrow as fast as possible camp. My longbow is probably shooting 165 feet a second and my compound is probably shooting about 215. Just a guess.
 
I got distarcted and never finished my post.
My martin firecat was not as fast as even 305 fps.
I harvested many deer with it.
I just recently purchased a bow so slow I guess very few people wanted them.
Its called a Mathews HTR. Around a measly 320 fps!
Years ago you couldn't of made them fast enough, there would of been folks waiting to get thier hands on such a rocket.
Nowadays such a awesome and simple design was shelved to give guys an arrow arriving at the deer less than a tenth of a second faster.
What a beauty. I was late to the party but feel fortunate to have found her.
I have my recurves and a longbow, a great shooting Evoke 35 but when I found this n.i.b. I snapped it up!
Thats me, Slow Poke..
 
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