Should I use this Bow??
 

I have this bow that I got as a Christmas Gift about 8 years ago. I used it once when I first got it to practice with it and I got frustrated with it and put it away and havent used it since. Now I want to get into bowhunting but I do not want to spend the money on a new bow if I do not have to, since I am just starting out. The bow is a Bear Black Bear Model. It has nothing on it, no stabilizer no nothing. I need to know what I kind of accesories I should buy for it, arrows,stabilizers,sights, etc. Remember I am a beginner. Here are the specifications of the setup of the bow: Draw length is 30, draw weight set at 65, and string length is 36. Here are some pics of the bow below let me know if you think it is stil good to use for my first year or so. Thanks. Matt

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

Nothing wrong with the bow at all.Get the string and cables checked over by a pro shop and you should be good to go.

Well the first thing you should do is have the shop check your draw length.30 inch draw may be way to long for you to aquire a proper anchor.65# weight may be to heavy as well for a new archer.The shop will set the bow up properly for you and teach you some of the more important basics on shooting properly.
As far as equipment is conserned,I see it already has a site on it.Get a good rest.NAP makes rests that are good and affordable.If you want to spend a bit more money then go with a drop away but it really isnt necessary.
Stabilizers arent the most important thing yet they help.Cobra makes some models and are also affordable.
Any arrow with the proper spine is good for a beginner.Alluminum or carbon.Again the shop will help you on this one.
Dont buy to cheap though because when you are ADDICTED and really want to upgrade then you can keep the good accesories and transfer them to your new bow,or maybe have a higher re-sail value if you decided to start from scratch.
Good luck and keep us all posted.

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

I agree with the above, make sure it fits you for draw length and that you are trying to draw too much weight. After that practice and tune it. Will it be as quiet and as fast as a new bow for more money, probably not. Will it kill deer? Heck yes it will if you learn to shoot it well.

Paul

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

my dad has the same one... they are a bit noisy but theu shoot pretty good. i would use it .. get it looked over first.

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

Thanks guys for the responses. I have a couple of other questions. Do I need that peice in the back of the bow that looks like a stabilizer by the strings? Do i need limb savers? Do I need Whisker Biscuits? What is a good size and weight for a stabilizer? Also here is a couple of pics of some equipment I was looking into at cabelas and bass pro shops. Please let me know your feedback on these......Thanks Matt

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

one more pic.....

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

Before adding any gadgets- practice, practice , practice... then start tweaking.

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

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RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

The thing in the back is cable gaurd, and yes you will need one. Why doesn't it have one to begin with? It will keep the cables off the side so your arrows don't hit it when they come out. You will also need a cable slide. Well you don't NEED one, but it would be nice and quieter.

If you are shooting a release that rest will work, a bit of a pain to adjust, but it will work. The quicktune 3000 is easier to adjust since all the adjustment are seperate and independant from each other. If you are shooting fingers a different type of rest made for that would work better. Something with side pressure.

I highly suggest limb savers.

Paul

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

I wiuld recommend a whisker bisquit.JMO

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

looks good to me

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

First off, NO! You do not want a whisker bisquit. That bow's riser is not offset andit will be practically impossible toget a whisker bisquit properly adjusted. The rest doesn't have enough travel to get the arrow over to centershot. It's even possible that few, ifany,of today's launcher rests, or sights for that matter,would work on it and for the same reason.

The sight you have is from the same period and is fine for the bow. It's not fiber optic, but you canprime the balls on the pinswith white paint and then paint them with flourescent orange paint to make them easier to see in low light. Many of us old timers did that back then.

The bow was made whenvery fewshooters used mechanical releases, so it was primarily intended to be used with a fingers release. Head over to www.goldenkeyarchery.com and, under "Products", click on "Old Goodies". Either the Huntmaster or FlipMaster should work like a charm on your bow. They also still offer springie rests and one of those would be an excellent choice, if you don't mind using feather fletchings on your arrows.

Very important, DO NOT USE LIGHT ARROWS ON THAT BOW. Keep arrow weight up to at least 7 grains per pound of draw weight. 8 grains per pound would be even better. Thoseteardrop string mounts on the steel cableswere notorious for popping off andcausing shooters to shed blood when theyfirst came out with carbon arrows. It's easy to recognize someone who was an old speed freak 3D shooter... He's the one with scars all over his face and bow arm. ;)Shoot aluminum or a fiberglass carbon composite arrow like the Carbon Express Terminator.

Other than needing a cable guard and a good looksie by a pro shop - preferrably by someone who's been around long enough toknow something about steel cabled bows - there is nothing wrong with the bow. It'll still do the job it was intended to do. You simply have to acknowledge the bow's limits and stay within them.

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

you should try getting a 3-5 inch stabilizer because the longer ones are in the way too much, the QuikTune 3000 by NAP is a good rest as you have pictured, same with the first sight picturedbecause you have plenty of room to put more pins on, it's easy to put the pins on also, with good visibility. the stabilizer, make sure it is a preffered weight for you. also the thing on the bow that looks like a stabilizer holding the strings, i'm not sure about it but it think its just that when you let off it makes sure the strings don't rub. for that kind of draw weight i would get a limb saver and just see how it goes

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

Hey guys, thanks for all the responses. Is it impossible to shoot a release with this bow???? Also where can I find out the let off of this bow? Thanks,
Matt

RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

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RE: Should I use this Bow??
 

I have that same exact bow(not in use anymore) i did use it last year though and missed a giant with it, that was more then lilkely me though. I like the new bows a lot better though.