RE: Thoughts on a beginner bow ?
JHJames20,
I took a look at the set up in the link you provided. I will give you an honest assessment from my perspective.
The PSE line are good quality bows. I have owned two. I currently shoot one, a Firestorm lite. The bow you ae looking at, as a package is 350.00. That is very inexpensive for a bow package.
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The first thing I noticed was that the bow is 38" ATA. That is a fairly long ATA for a hunting bow. It is not unmanageable, but I think you would be happier with something a little shorter.
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The IBO rating is 265 fps at 65# ( the bows max ). I have a problem with a bow that slow. By todays standards, that is very slow. IBO standards are based on 70 lbs, but that bow cannot make 70 lbs. Once you rig it out for hunting, you will probably be around 200 fps. AMO.
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The next "problem" is that the bow is only a 65% letoff bow. Most bows today are either 65 or 80 % ( adjustable ), usually set at 80 % from the factory. That means that whatever weight you are pulling, you would hold 35 % instead of 20 %. So you would have to hold more weight before the shot.
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If I had to say one way or the other, I would say to wait and save just a bit more money and buy one a little better. The Alpine Frontier package right next to it was on sale and only cost 50.00 more. It is a better bow, and has 80 % letoff, 295 fps IBO, and I believe was a 35 " ATA bow. and can make 70 lbs. By comparison, that package is significantally better.
I believe that if you got the PSE package you would like it for a littlewhile, but you would soon wish you had gotten something a little more updated. That Alpine can last you a long time, for only 50.00 more. I would consider that 50.00 a wise investment.
One other option would be to invest that 350.00 in a good used bow. You can find them set up ready to go for that kind of money. They might be a couple of years old, but that would still be better than that slow , low poundage , low letoff, long ATA PSE package.
Oh, and if you think I am kidding about finding a good used bow for the same money........ I bought my PSE from a guy who managed a Bow shop. He was switching to Bowtech. He had rigged this bow out and shot it for 4 months, through that hunting season. I bought the bow, with a whisker biscuit, wrist sling, stabilizer, sight, loop, peep, and silencers for 300.00 cash. I had to buy my arrows , quiver and release. The bow was in mint condition. Now you might not find that exact deal, but a good used bow would still be a better deal, that is if you did not like that Alpine Frontier package.
Hope I helped you.
God Bless