Archery recommendations

[foreman Etexas]

You can find some deals on second hand bows at the pawn shops,to get started and see if it's something you enjoy.

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

Take a look at the package bows at Cabelas, Bass Pro or Gander Mountain. Those stores work with bow makers to have a ready to shoot package for around $300. The bows are not top of the line but will be good shooters. Those stores will also have the staff to get you set up and shooting. Local pro shops should also carry similar packages but maybe not as many choices as the bigger stores. The nice thing with the local pro shop is the service. They should be able to spend a lot of time with you to get you set up and shooting properly. Many places have indoor ranges and will make sure you are shooting well before you leave.

 

[MNBobcat]

Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure of which type. Started out by searching on compound bows. I was thinking of using it for target practice. My wife said she would probably play too. And then there are friends and family when they visit.

Then I realized I am a lefty when it comes to guns and archery (I write left-handed but am right-handed for other sports). Not sure I want to buy 2 bows just to try it out.

You should choose a right or left-hand bow depending on which of your eyes is dominant. I'm right-handed and left eye dominant so I shoot left-handed.

Recurves are fun to shoot but require you build up the muscles to hold the draw weight. So if you're shooting 60 pounds you're holding a continuous 60 pounds back until you release. Whereas with a compound at 60 pounds you might be holding back 30 pounds. If you don't plan to shoot daily, you want a compound.

The main thing with a bow is getting fitted for one with the proper draw length. I would trust a pro archery shop over a box store.

 

[4570Man]

I have several compound bows. I don't know why anyone would want a crossbow for exclusively target shooting. If your wife plans on shooting it don't get anything with a very heavy draw or she won't be able to shoot it. You should get a bow to match your dominate eye.

 

[paulharvey]

I have several compound bows. I don't know why anyone would want a crossbow for exclusively target shooting. If your wife plans on shooting it don't get anything with a very heavy draw or she won't be able to shoot it. You should get a bow to match your dominate eye.

With a compound any healthy man, and most women should be able to shoot at least 40-45 lbs with out problem. On a recurve, that same 45 lbs is a lot more work to get pulled back, and much more work to hold back

 

[4570Man]

His wife might do fine, but a lot of women couldn't pull a 40-45 pound compound bow.

 

[paulharvey]

His wife might do fine, but a lot of women couldn't pull a 40-45 pound compound bow.

True. Where we started was I ordered a used, unknown kids compound for my son on ebay. Wife started playing with it and enjoyed it; so we got a used Browning Micro Midas-2; which adjusts from like 15 lbs to 45 lbs, is light compact, and requires no special tools to adjust. Only issue with buying used, make Sure you get some accessories with it, or your $75 bow will need $30 sight, $30 whisker biscuit, $30 release, stabalizers, ect; and you end up with $250 in an $80 used bow.

 

[Soundguy]

I don't know why anyone would want a crossbow for exclusively target shooting. .

Because we are all human and everyone has a different opinion.

I like the fact that once pulled.. the crossbow has 0 hold strength needed.

 

[Jstpssng]

I have an old Bear recurve for target shooting, I think they're a lot more fun to shoot than a compound. They also take more practice and are a lot less forgiving than a compound if you take up hunting.... just my 2¢.

 

[mecan]

Recurve for fun shooting, crossbow for hunting. Not to say can't hunt with a recurve, just personal preferance.

 

[sailorman]

I don 't know if I missed this question, but how do you determine which eye is dominate ?

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

Hold your thumb at arms length and focus on a spot on the wall. Close your right eye, see if your thumb appears to move. If it does you are right eye dominant. If it doesn't move you are left eye dominant.

 

[paulharvey]

Hold your thumb at arms length and focus on a spot on the wall. Close your right eye, see if your thumb appears to move. If it does you are right eye dominant. If it doesn't move you are left eye dominant.

What if your thumb is blurry when you focus past it at the wall with both eyes open, but moves to the left and right when you alternate which eye is closed

 

[/pine]

simple test

Extend your arms in front of you with your palms facing away.

Bring your hands together, forming a small hole by crossing the thumbs and fore fingers.

Choose a small object about 15-20 feet away from you. With both eyes open, focus on the object as you look through the small hole.

Close one eye and then the other. When you close one eye, the object will be stationary. When you close the other eye, the object should disappear from the hole or jump to one side.

If the object does not move when you cover one eye, then that eye is dominant. The eye that sees the object and does not move is the dominant eye.

Tips:

Hand-dominance does not always correlate with eye-dominance.

Most people automatically use their dominant eye when looking through a camera eyehole or a telescope.

What You Need:

Your arms and hands
A target about 15-20 feet away

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

What if your thumb is blurry when you focus past it at the wall with both eyes open, but moves to the left and right when you alternate which eye is closed

Not sure on that one, I've heard in rare cases a person may not have a dominant eye. /Pine posted another good method that may work better for you.

 

[/pine]

...I've heard in rare cases a person may not have a dominant eye...

In some people (ambidextrous for instance) the dominance is often undetectable with simple tests...
on another note...these (lucky) types are usually very good at things like marksmanship, billiards etc., etc...

 

[Soundguy]

hmm.. depending on which way my head is tilted, either slightly right or left, I can make the test results swap. IE. object is seen with one eye, jumps with the other, and then cock head a few degrees, and do the same .

or, move the hands an inch or 2 right or left and there are 2 focal regions I can see the object. each region seems to ID a different eye.. etc.

 

[/pine]

hmm.. depending on which way my head is tilted, either slightly right or left, I can make the test results swap. IE. object is seen with one eye, jumps with the other, and then cock head a few degrees, and do the same .

or, move the hands an inch or 2 right or left and there are 2 focal regions I can see the object. each region seems to ID a different eye.. etc.

That's not the way the test is meant to be applied...to test accurately your nose should be on a straight line through the orifice and beyond to the target spot (with both eyes open)...without moving your head close one eye then the other...

 

[Jstpssng]

In a variation of this test, form the above mentioned hole then bring your hands up to your eye. You will instinctively bring them to your dominant eye.

Or ask your eye doctor...

 

[mx1alex]

Stores like Cabela's, Sports Authority or Academy Sports do a good job of fitting you to a bow and have some lower cost bows available.
Provided you have some of these stores close by.

In my experiences the big box stores don't know squat about the bows they are selling let alone how to set them up properly. I'd find a reputable archery shop and have them set you up... even if you don't buy it from there.

If you're just wanting a bow to use for fun I'd suggest a recurve. There's no fine tuning or anything and take more skill to shoot accurately. Compound bows are almost too easy to shoot but have a lot things that can get out of whack that will have you wondering why you're not hitting your target anymore.