If you look down a few post you will see some guys in your same boat and one guy with a broken Barnett. You may find more tips in them. But both brands are good bows but I currently have a wheeled bow and am looking at the recurves lately. I Have a Horton so lately I have been liking the Excal. There is a good group of Excal guys in here and I think they are giving good info and trust what they say about them. The only thing the Emax or Exocet will get ya is more back pain, try the phoenix.