Zack Doyle

I wrote an article about this on my blog last year that you might want to read. It covers all bases of buying a new bow. Check it out at this link archeryguide.net/ . There are some other articles here you might find very useful as well.

chuckles norris

I'm looking too. I'll check out Zack's article.

Todd Quinn

feel and comfort, practice makes you accurate, everyone likes speed, but it is not essential, brand - they are all good, finish doesn't make a bow good, just makes it pretty. Weight goes along with comfort and feel.

Rick Rinehart

good comments. no one should buy a bow that feels iffy. But if all the new bows are accurate with practice and finish is bogus and we all use the same accessories then it really boils down to cost, feel, weight and speed. 3.5 feels better than 4.5 in the shop but have ya ever missed a shot cuz your bow was too heavy? Are ya gonna spend 50 bucks more for 50 more fps? Projectile weight and speed are killing factors for sure but perhaps the best question is how much is really necessary for your usual and customary game.

I shot the new Matthews Heli, Hoyt Carbon and Bowtech Insanity side by side tonight . Matthews is the lightest and smoothest and Bowtech the fastest. None felt bad. All great bows. I woulda bought the Matthews for fifty bucks and 50 fps less cuz it felt a bit better , but .....In the end I am gonna stick with my Drenalin cuz it does just fine and I dont think I need the extra 50 fps or an extra one pound in weight. ha ha

Ryan Kulinski

Well my situation is draw length and availability to get one that fits me! Zack had commented on my post before but here is kind of a update. I shot the new Bowtech Insanity CPXL and I hate to say it, I didnt like it the instant I pulled it back. At that moment I knew it would not be the bow for me. Today I shot the PSE Vendetta DC I think it was, it was the new one that goes to 32 DL . It is about $400 less then the bowtech but felt so much better to me the instant I pulled it back. Speed was great too as well as the low vibration and noice . So now my next venture is to shoot the new Mathews M8 I think and try it. It has that 8 in brace but its only 33 inches axle to axle. PS by the way I shoot a bowtech commander now which is 36 axle to axle. I am kinda scared about the axle to axle thing\\\\ O yea and I cant even find a dealer that has the Hoyt of the Mathews in stock and they wont get one in for me either. I know its a pricey bow but damn what do I do?

Rick Rinehart

Again thanks for all the comments. I think by nature bowhunters are into the nitty gritty on things and have a tendency to overanalyze. Thats why I put up this post. haha. I suppose that are the same traits that make us successful in the field. If Lee Lakosky can shoot a small brace to brace well and perhaps be his favorite bow of all time it makes ya wonder. I think you just have to shoot enough of em until you are convinced that you did it and then you usually go with your gut anyway. All these things we toss around are important but probably not that important and none are major deal breakers. My most trusted hunting mentor reminded me it isnt that big of a big deal just buy what you like.

Tim Maxim

I agree with Todd Quinn. You can have the most expensive,fastest,prettiest Bow in the world but if it doesn't feel comfortable to you in every way your just wasting your time. Comfort is the most important thing.

Derek Taussig

I haven't been bow hunting very long but I have been around weapons for a long time. The most important factor is shoot what feels good and what you are comfortable with. I started bow hunting last year with a bare bones old ass jensen with no sights stings past retirement and just all around wore out because I didn't want to buy a nice bow and decide I wasn't into the sport. With that bow I had a heart kill on a deer at 25 yards and the arrow went through and through with only a 55lb draw. Now I think I just got lucky cause I wasn't very consistent with it. This year I just purchased a Bear Legion and specs are pretty decent and it was below my budget but I just love the way it feels and shoots. I liked it more then the $8-900 bows so that is what I went with. Since then 2 of my friends shot mine and have sold their bows and gotten ones like mine.

douglas bobbitt

i wouldnt woury about speed my wife shoots 45 pounds and my 9 year old shoots 28 pounds and both have killed deers i think it should be comfortable and u can shoot it

Tim Maxim

you guys might laugh but I have been bow hunting for a little more than 25 years and of all the bows I have had I only hunted w/two. Ive had my xi for about 19 years now and after some new strings and a little oil here & there its still going strong!! Friends ask me why I don't get a new one But after a couple rounds of shooting with me they have nothing more to say. I always say "If it works for ya stick with it".

natasha hawkins

Im always hiking and hunting in rough conditions like Idaho etc... so I'm usually looking for something light, quiet, and fast. I have a Mathews and i dont think I'll shoot anything else ever again. Super reliable, quiet, light, and so so so fast! I'm pulling about 65 pounds and it flings them!