mauser,
If you know how to tune, adjust, and sight in a bow, your best bet would be to order one off the internet. If you don,t I would say go to a local pro-shop. Check out some of the stuff they got. Here are a couple bows that I know are in your price range and are still good bows.
Browning Tornado (can get with a Browning kit so your ready to go)
Hoyt MT Sport
Martin Tracer Mag
These are three REALLY good bows that are about 299.99 stock, and, if you don't go crazy on accessories, you can spend 200.00 and stay under your 500 mark.
The Browning Tornado kit is on the internet for around 389.99
Browning also has a few other kits......
Browning Archery Gold 33 Kit for 399.99
Browning Buckmark Kit for 299.99
Browning Ambush XB Kit for 299.99
And if you want to step it up a notch and get a very high quality bow and a good package for cheap, you can go with the
Browning Mirage 33 kit, it is 449.99 but, it is well worth it. Here are some specs on it.
Browning Mirage 33, single cam bow, 33" axle to axle length, 7" brace height, weight of 3 pounds 9 ounces, 65%-75% let-off, and a IBO speed of 300 f.p.s. That is about 204 miles per hour. The bow includes Twist-Lock 7 arrow quiver, 3-pin fiber optic sight, TM Silent Hunter rest, 4 1/2" stabilizer, peep sight, nock set, string silencers, and nylon braided wrist sling.
Thats everything but arrows and broadheads.
If you could get a pro-shop that would help you set up a bow that you bought off the internet, this is a very good choice.
I would definetly go around and shoot some of the newer bows, get a feel for them, decide what you want and dont want, then go pick and choose until you get the bow you like.
Here are a few terms that will help....
Brace Height- this is the length from the string to the center of the grip. The longer the brace height, the more forgiving the bow. By forgiving, I mean, the arrow stays on the string for a shorter amount of time, which means that you have less chance of messing up the shot by moving your hand. I would definetly look for a bow with a big brace considering that you will be a novice archer. This will help you shoot better.
Axle to axle length- this is the length from the center of each cam to the center of the other cam (or idler wheel). A good bow size is 34 1/2" to 36" for a new guy. You can get a longer axle to axle bow which will help you be a better shot, but, they are also bulky and hard to hunt with. If you aren't a pro at shooting a bow, a small axle to axle bow like the Hoyt HavocTec (31"
will be nice for a treestand, but, it will be more difficult to shoot.
IBO speed, this is a measurement of how fast a bow shoots when set to IBO standards. This is almost unachieveable if the bow is being used for hunting purposes.
AMO speed, this is the same as IBO speed but, with different standards. AMO speed will always be less because it is a heavier arrow and less draw weight.
I have always believed that for you average hunting set up, you should be right around the middle of AMO and IBO speeds, so, in other words, if the IBO speed is 300 f.p.s., and the AMO speed is 230 f.p.s. , a average hunting set up will give you around 265 f.p.s.
Single cam bow- A single cam bow means that at the top of the bow is a round wheel (idler wheel) and at the bottom is an essentric or cam. A cam is usually radically shaped in an oval type shape. A single cam bow doesn't have cam syncronization, but, can still need cam timing.
Dual cam bow- This is a bow that has a cam at the top and bottom. These usually need adjustment on a fairly regular basis, but, this amount has been exagerated badly in the past few years.
I hope this helps you out, I am sure that there are guys who can give you a little more info on this, but, I am running out of time, I have gotta get everything finished on here so I can head up to my pro-shop in about two hours. I am looking for a new bow too.
P.S. I might consider selling my 2002 Hoyt MT Sport with ZR200 limbs and the Versa-Cam. I would sell it as is, which includes everything to hunt. E-mail me if you want and I will give you the price, a list of all of the modifications, and, just let me know.
[email protected] There is a underscore ( _ ) between jason and lowmaster
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