Hello, i was looking into getting a new bow this year and i wasnt sure what to get. My price range is up to 1,050.
Oh man...all the new bows are pretty good. I prefer Hoyts, many guys prefer Mathews, I think we all agree to go shoot a bunch...whatever you can get your hands on and decide what feels right to you personally. They really are like comparing different types of apples and everyone has a different preference but they are all good, lol.
I shoot a carbon element but I liked the spyder and spyder turbo. The 2013's are probably on sale since the 2014's are out. The 2014's moved to a carbon spyder and I have not shot them yet but are probably above tha tprice range. The charger is probably below that range and is also a fantastic bow. They don't have any shortage of good bows and I've never shot a Hoyt that I'd consider a bad bow. Mathews makes fine bows also and there are tons of different brand names I've never shot. I'm not a big fan of Bowtech or PSE but many are...my BIL shoots a bowtech Destroyer and loves it. Personally I can't say anything bad with a 2013 hoyt carbon element but they are last years model now. I'd like to have a Carbon Spyder Turbo if I was going to trade bows now or buy a new one but they are high priced like my element was last August. I shot a Spyder 30 when I bought my element and I couldn't feel any difference in the shot quality except the element was a bit lighter but both were fine bows. I also liked Mathews Z7 but I'm not a big fan of the waffle pattern if looks mean anything and some love it
Take a look into the mission line. They are made by mathews. I shoot the ballistic which is the basically the chill with a different riser. I bought mine bare for 479. I shot a bowtech before the mission and liked it alot and now my friend shoots it. I like mathews warranty and their customer service is great. Elite is a good bow if you ever plan on selling it because their warranty is transferable. Lots of good choices and you really cant go wrong. Shoot everything that you can and let it pick you. Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk
Asking what you want out of a bow first will help you narrow things down. Are you into all out speed? Perhaps you like a forgiving bow with a longer brace height? Hunt from a ground blind a lot? Short ATA length bows come in handy. You have your budget down which is a great starting point and one I always start with when buying anything. Once you know what you want it to do we can start suggesting ones to go try at a shop.
x2 you really got to think of what you really want in a bow, before you buy. Then you got to shoot a few before you buy. Hutch
My #1 tip: DON'T LISTEN TO ANYONE WHO WRITES OFF EVERYTHING BUT ONE MANUFACTURER. -there are far too many great bows out there to choose from these days...preferences are gonna happen, I'm partial to Mission for their affordability, reputation, warranty and connection to some great guys (Mathews)...but would never write off Bowtech, Hoyt, PSE or others depending on what you want/like in a bow. My #2 tip: DON'T FORGET OTHER THINGS THAT WILL AFFECT THE BUDGET. -It's more than just a bare bow and done. Are you going to need a new upgraded rest from your old one, or a new one completely (if first bow). How about your sights? Arrow building is a way to take a mediocre bow with old technology and make it just as lethal...and they can get expensive. Any stabilizer preference? How about string silencers? All of these things will play a factor in the overall price....while the bear bones bow may have a X price tag, the price tag out the door and ready is really X+rest+sight+arrows+stabilizer+misc....all potentially upping the price. My #3 tip: Shoot as many as you can, but don't after you fall for one. -It's true you could keep looking for weeks, months. Driving all over the place making sure you get to shoot every single option out there...but if you find a bow you like why keep going? It's like a wedding dress for a bride, once you know you got it don't waste time looking. I am a proponent of shooting as many options as you can, but not at the expense of time that could be spent practicing/enjoying shooting with the one you shot 8 bows ago and knew it was the one.
I have shot many bows and it is all personal preference.. Some like Hoyt some like Mathews, PSE, Bowtech, Mission ect... The list goes on and on. The main thing I would say is go shoot the crap out of a bunch different bows until you come across the one that really "fits" you. They all don't necessarily need to be top of the line brand new. Go with what feels good in your hand. A legitimate pro shop should not turn you down if you want to shoot a few bows. I just upgraded from a 2004 Hoyt Viper Tec to a 2012 Z7Xtreme. I love it! Hope this helps. -J-
Hoyt Spyder, Carbon Element G3 or possibly the Carbon Spyder would all be great bows close to your price range!!! Get a Hoyt they're sweet! Shoot amazing
Get a Bowtech they're awesome and shoot great! Get a Hoyt they're awesome and shoot great! Get a Mission they're awesome and shoot great! Get a PSE they're awesome and shoot great! Get a Bear they're awesome and shoot great! Get a Mathews they're awesome and shoot great! Get an Elite they're awesome and shoot great! Get a Diamond they're awesome and shoot great! Get a Redhead they're awesome and shoot great! Get a Martin they're awesome and shoot great! Get a Parker they're awesome and shoot great! I'm just being a pain I know..but my point is different strokes for different folks. Figure out what you desire spec wise to narrow down bow selection then get ahold of what you can that fit what you desire and pick the one you like the most.
I personally recommend Hoyt, but I agree with tynimiller. Go to different archery shops, shoot every model they have, and see which one you like best. Just to amplify his point, I personally can't stand PSE. I think they vibrate way too much. However i can't argue with the speed they put out, and I know quite a few guys that won't shoot anything else. Its all up to what you are looking for.
I prefer PSE's if not them Hoyt's. Elite's are VERY nice as well. There all pretty good, just find one you like the most. If you hunt outta of a stand or blind...PSE came out with a new 2014 bow called the Premonition. 30" ATA. 6.25" Brace Height, adjustable draw lenghts, and a 344 FPS rating. $699 is the retail. Now I'm not like some, I'm a brand loyal guy. I got with companies who have treated me well over the years. Just buy what you like and hunt!
Buy the one that's best for YOU. I bought a new bow last year. The last bow I bought, I had bought used in 1991. Figured it was time for a new one, & with some boys wanting into bow hunting, it was time. the old Bear still shot decent but, honestly... been lots of positive ugrades in technology since then .... I went to a shop that sold most all brands, & had an indoor range. I wasn't going to buy one that didn't feel right. Hard to know without holding, feeling, & shooting em. At least in my opinion. Rather than fit myself to a particular bow, figured I'd fit a bow to me. I shot probably 12 different bows. Some I knew immediately weren't "it" for me. some felt pretty good. After a couple hours, I had it narrowed to 3. I went home. Came back a couple days later. I shot the 3 that I had it narrowed down to several times each. At that point, one of em just "felt" better suited to me. That's the one I bought. Ironically, it wasn't the one I thought I'd buy when I walked in the door. However, I couldn't be happier. It has killed & brought me plenty of pleasure so far. I imagine I'll have & be shooting it for many years. Hey lots of guys have plenty of cash to go buy one, & find out they don't like it, & go buy a different one. I ain't one of those dudes. It was a sizeable investment to get a new bow imo & wanted to get the right one, the right gear the first time. Only way is to shoot em imo. What is perfect for someone else, may not be for you. There's plenty of other bows tha look cooler than mine, or have some minor differences I like...... but, I feel very confident with the one I bought, & have proven to be lethal with. Done deal, case closed. I would recommend this approach to anyone & everyone looking to buy.