The more expensive the bow the better
 

I know plenty of people who have Mathews and other top of the line bows. I have heard that it's not the bow that is accurate but the person. Where does this saying stop? If all bows are bows and it didn't make a difference on which bow was shot, accuracy wise, then why would someone spend $600+ on a bow when the $300 ones are just as "good". I can understand that a person picks the bow by the feeling but I'm sure that some of the people that have the top of the line bows could find a "cheaper bow" that feels good, if not better, in their hands. Why do you guys with the top of the line bows choose them over others. I can shoot 1/2 inch groups at 20 yards with my $300 PSE kit from Cabela's!

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RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

The average hunter probably will never notice the differance (accuracy wise) between a $300 kit and a $600 bare bow. With having said that there are definite differances and advantages in some of the more expensive bows if you are able to make good on them.

The Hoyt TEC risers are suppose to lessen any vibrations felt in the hand. Some have pivoting limb pockets which provide a better seat for the limbs to sit against. Some have paralell limbs that reduce felt vibration and shock. Some are machined risers while still some are cast. Some have the latest cam design. Some are machined to be extremely light while still offering good strength. Some come with good built in vibration dampening devices.

So, you see, all of this research and developement comes at a cost. Most likely a $300 kit bow will not have many of the latest innovations that most of the more expensive bows do.

This is not to say, in any way, that a $300 kit bow is not every bit a capeable "game getter" as any of the more expensive bows. They just don't come with all of the bells and whistles.



Think about buying a new Ford f-150 that has a V-6, straight bench seat, 5-speed transmission, AM-FM radio, and AC, 15" wheels and tires.

Now think about a Ford F-250 with a 500 hp V-8 diesel, leather bucket seats, automatic transmission, AM-FM, cassette, CD, 6 disk changer, AC, GPS navigation system, push button 4 wheel drive, 18" wheels and tires, towing package, powered and heated seats, total underbody coating, spray in bed liner, chrome bumpers and trim.

They both will get you there but the latter does it with more convenience, style and comfort.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

Generally you get what you pay for. Better strings, machined (not cast) riser, better limbs, bearings (not bushings), etc. The higher end bows are more pleasurable to shoot in some cases, also. Less recoil, less vibration, quieter. You may also find that as distance increases, so will accuracy differences. I've owned some of the less expensive bows, and they shot fine. I now shoot high end bows and find them more to my liking. And yes, my shooting has improved.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

Not only is the bow better, but the amount of money you pay for your equipment is directly proportional to the size of animal you will kill with it! On the other hand, it is inversely proportional to the size of your manhood when you go around bragging about all the money you dropped on your hunting gear. :D

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

I shoot a Mathews Outback, one of the high priced bows. Whether its Mathews, Bowtech, or Hoyt, their top of the line bows are expensive. Some of the reasons have already been mentioned, machined vs. cast, bearings instead of bushings, ect, ect. Now, sound travels at somewhere between 1000 and 1200 fps. No matter how fast your bow is, it's slower than that! So you better be thinking quiet. Quiet comes with smoothness, a little heavier arrow and all the other little things that goes into a bow.

That being said, I know a guy that still kills a doe or two with a compound he bought 25 years ago. (He wouldn't take that bow on a trophy hunt though)

And finally, why do I buy the best? Because I can.;)

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

id say cheaper can be better

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

:D:D Love it! :D:D

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

Agree!

We all probably know a few folks who do great with outdated equipment.

I love it! :D Same here!

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

Bowfantic:

RE: Just curious. In your opinion, what must a bow have or not have, and be able to do or not do, to classify the bow as "outdated?" Do you apply the term "outdated" to all or most aspects of hunting purposes, or are you applying the term to mean that the bow is outdated for the purpose of self-popularity and self-prestige?

Also, being that we all know that it is the arrow that kills the deer, not the bow; if a bow is classified as outdated, does that mean that the bow cannot kill a deer, or kill a deer as efficient as a newer bow?

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

Yup....thats about the only answer needed:D

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

Your asking for my opinion of outdated?

Fair enough , my opinion of outdated is my buddies Bear Whitetail hunter , which he kills deer every year with. Kudos to him! I guess my definition of outdated would also include another buddies Ben Pearson 12 ga magnum w/wooden limbs, wooden riser and old style energy wheels the size of half dollars , which he also kills deer with. Kudos to him also!
I've got absolutely nothing against outdated equipment in the hands of good archers.
That pretty much sums up my definition of "outdated" equipment. Pretty much the same as "outdated" clothes. You can wear what you want , but dont get edgy when you hear the snickers.

You still wearing leisure suits c903?:D

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

And there it is in a nut shell!

That simple statement clearly defines what the once popular sport of bowhunting is for many of today's bow owners.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

I have a Mathews Q2XL. I love the way this bow shoots, feels, and looks. I will also admit that I did not need to purchase such a high-end bow. My reasons, whether they are right or wrong are as follows:

I believe in buying products right the first time.
I prefer to make purchases with well respected companies that offer lifetime warranties on their products, i.e Mathews, Hoyt, etc.

I'm in my early 30's and made the purchase with the intent of not having to purchase another bow again if possible (company closing, or fault of my own).

I feel many people view making purchases the same way, whether it be bows, boats, cars, watches, etc (You see my point).

So to answer the question, No I do not believe from a strictly functional standpoint that the higher-end bow are worth the significant price differances with the mid-range or even some low end models. As stated above, you do gain some bells and whistles.

To each their own, that's what makes the world turn.

Thanks and good hunting!!!
jt

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

I think several folks summed up my opinion above. Almost all bows on the market today are entirely functional. They will shoot the arrow as well as the idiot behind the string allows them to. Many folks do not possess the skill or desire to shoot as well as their bow can potentially be shot so the extra tight tolerances, newest designs and bells/whistles will mean little. However, some folks can and do take advantage of the "latest and greatest" most likely, as mentioned above, because they can. I think it also depends in large part on the application you plan on using the bow for. Some archery activities require higher levels of accuracy to be successful and thus require bows that are more well manufactured and use superior materials. For the average bowhunter a cast magnesium riser bow with solid limbs and simple cams would probably do just fine.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

The more expensive the compound the better...

I've got a room in my house that contains a number of antique, outdated compounds. Despite their high dollah price tags, despite the fact they all shoot just as well as the day they were made, they're practically worthless. I like to drag one out to the range on ocassion and beat the crap out of guys shooting the latest greatest whizbang bows. It's SO satisfying.:)

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

JUst got started into bowhunting before going into the corps, i am getting out in three weeks and am going back home to arkansas. I want to pick up a bowtech as soon as i get home, but not a hole lot i wonder if it will be an over kill for a first time by.

I keep looking a lower end bows because they are cheaper to start with, but at the same time i want a bow that will last and i will be happy with for a long time to come. what to do?

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

It all depends:D[8D]

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

It depends on your definition of "Better". For instance, do you think a Lexus is "better" than a Yugo? Do you think Magnus Broadhead is better than a chipped stone?

POINT: They all get the job done, but some are easier, faster, quiter, nicer, etc.


Don't be mistaken though, a $300 kit bow and $700 bare bow are 2 entirely different beasts.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

I think it means the same thing as it does when used to describe computers. It doesn't mean the computer will no longer work, it simply means that newer, faster, more efficient equipment has come out.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

C903:
Taken completely out of context. I see nothing wrong with buying top of the line equipment, and being proud of it. If someone asks to look at my bow, I'm more than happy to let them. They are also welcome to shoot any of them. But don't mistake this to mean people are thought less of based on the setup they shoot. That's never been the case with anyone I've ever met shooting bows.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

Nothing was take out of context, let alone completely out of context. It is a simple matter of combining reading comprehension and totality of circumstances. The writing has been on the wall for a very long time. Apparent as the skin on your face.

I too see nothing wrong with a person buying top of the line equipment… if that is what that person desires to do or believes is necessary, and being proud of it. However, with too many, the pride factor has escalated to the level of being monotonously obnoxious and nose-in-the-air, believing and espousing that high-priced gear is a necessity for bowhunting and that anything less is used by those other people.

Truth is, there is very little advantage had from much of the new gear, but a lot of downside when in the hands of the average shooter. In some areas of bowhunting, there are no advantages whatsoever. To sum it up; most of the stuff is overkill.

It goes without question that person can spend his or her money as he or she wishes. I just want to send a message to the person thinking about getting into the sport, the novice, and the shooter that still hunts with an "outdated" bow. Do not buy into the bunk (propaganda)! You do not need a new Corvette just to run down the street to the neighborhood grocery store.

Use good solid gear and put your emphasis on hunting. If it is true that you have to have a Bowtech, a Mathews, a Hoyt, etc. to do the job, I had better find a way to resurrect all the deer and other game I killed with recurves. ;)

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

Ditto;)

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

I deffinately have to agree with you there! Unfortunately I see it all the time.[:@] I actually enjoy watching someone come in with the old equipment , listening to the snickers , then watching the snickers turn to amazement when the guy starts shooting circles around them.

I hope you didn't take my reply to mean I was one who felt the new most expensive equipment is a must! I surely don't!

However , pertaining to the equipment I gave as scenarios for my definition of "outdated" , they do have obvious limitations when compared to new bows (not most expensive). The guys I mentioned both have 20 yard maximum limits when shooting at deer due to experiences with jumping the string. You have to admit , those older bows sound like cannons compared to new ones (not most expensive) and are much slower. They both have to aim a few inches lower than their intended target when shooting from treestands , I prefer to aim at what I expect to hit. The older equipment still gets the job done , I feel the newer equipment just reduces your limitations.

Now back to the topic , "The more expensive the bow the better"? In some of the scenarios given above , yes! Will the cheaper ones have the same end result? Yes! Will the cheaper ones have more limitations than the more expensive ones? In most cases , No!

Imo , bows cost way too much money! But , it is what it is. I made this years purchase (as I always do) based on my own personal comfort with the bow I choose. If I found one that fits my comfort zone for a few hundred bucks cheaper (dont care what name it has on the limbs) I'd be giggling all the way to the bank.


Btw , c903 you didn't answer my question.


Do you still wear a leisure suit?;)

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

I can't argue with out dated eqyuipment and bow cost. I hunted my bow for 13 years. It's hard to give up when your killing deer. As far as expensive equipment goes it doesn't matter when you factor in the years you will have it and being able to pass it along to your kids and grandchildren.

I ask you all how many of you have or have seen old guns and bows that have been passed down?

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

That one person spent $350 on a bow and another spent $650, does not mean that the man buying the more expensive bow is being frivolous. For heaven's sake its only a few hundred bucks difference. In the whole scheme of things that is not that much money to spend on a sport that you enjoy so much.

In a way it reminds me of guys complaining about an extra $5 when fishing license fees go up. "I can't catch enough fish to make it worth it for me to buy a license." As if you don't spend a ton of money on tackle, bait, lures, a boat and so on.

Aside from an arrow that is quality from tip to nock, and a good release, what other piece of gear is more important than the bow itself? Your grunt call? Your hat? (Well maybe if its a Mathews hat:D)

Buy whatever you want, spend as much as you please, and let those guys see if they can "shoot circles" around you with their older bow (as if an newer bow with less vibration and/or torque wouldn't improve their archery somewhat.) Even if they can, you won't enjoy a quality high-end bow any less.

Enjoy yourself. Buy the best equipment you can afford...which is always a good idea anyway...and remember, you only go around once.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

That is a belief that appears to be common with many shooters shooting newer bows with certain advanced features. The claim is often stated in various ways, directly or implied, that all earlier compound bows are loud, vibrate like crazy when shot, had mucho post-shot shock, and had an automatic torque problem even if you did not have your hand on the grip. WRONG!

I still have four earlier model compounds that have none of these problems. In fact, the early PSE "Pacer" (circa 1975) 60# w/50% letoff that is hanging downstairs is easy to shoot and is basically quiet.

The reason that many of today's bows have certain anti and preventive "this and that" features is not JUST because the innovation is some type of advanced idea just to improve handling and shooting over earlier bows; many of the so-called modern features are somewhat necessary to offset the downsides (shock, vibration, noise, etc,) that the radical designs and high-speed bows of today produce. It is a "Catch-22" situation.

Someone said something about passing down one of today's bows to the next generation in their family. After many of today's high-energy fire burners have had a several years of shooting on them, I do not believe many will be worth passing down or safe to shoot.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

CAN O' WORMS!!!!!! OR... you could think about buying an old beat up Chevy and it'd be ten times better than any new Ford. Uh oh... I know I'm gonna regret saying that. Just pokin' fun, owned WAY too many Fords to like them any more:D But, this is beside the point. IMO, you're gonna get what you pay for 9 times out of 10 with a more expensive bow. I'm a typical lower-middle class, working man, that loves to hunt. I myself can't afford a real nice bow... I gotta save for a few years before I buy a top-end one. Right now I'm shooting a Jennings AirMaster and at the time I bought it, it was a high quality bow and I couldn't afford a Matthews. But on the other side of that, I know that there are expensive bows out there that I myself cannot shoot. When I was shopping for my new bow, I picked up some that were in the $600+ range and I just couldn't get comfortable holding them. So, there is something to be said for comfort, as far as I'm concerned. I don't believe that you should go out and buy the most expensive bow on the market JUST because it's the most expensive. What I'm trying to say is: If you aren't comfortable with the way the bow feels and shoots, your accuracy is going to suffer. But generally I feel that: Yes, the more expensive the bow, the better it's going to be. Okay, now y'all can bash me for being a Chevy lover!

P.S. :(The main reason I am a Chevy lover is because my brother's truck is a Chevy. That truck is the one thing that both my parents agreed that I should have. Now I am a die-hard Chevy fan because that Chevy costed me more than every truck that every person in this forum owns, put together. That truck cost me a brother... He died two years ago, almost to this day. After the funeral, my parents (who had a bitter divorce 12 years ago and still refuse to talk) came to me and said, "John, we both think that Mike would've wanted you to have his truck." My brother fell down some steps (tripped over his own feet, happens to all of us), hit his head, and died about 20 hours later... he was 19 at the time. Keep on huntin' up there Mike... God keep you safe until the day comes when we'll hunt together again.
Sorry, it's getting onto that time of year and his death still hits me pretty hard. When this mood hits me I tend to ramble...

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

johnkeltgen:

Sincerely sorry for your loss of your brother, especially being so young and the way he died. I have lost two brothers in the last 30+ months, and both had been, seemingly, in reasonably good health. Both were avid sportsmen and we spent a lot of time together.

They still go hunting and fishing with me.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

Thanks a bunch c903! To me, there aren't many things harder than losing a sibling, as they are your best friends growing up. I wasn't looking for sympathy, just explaining my Chevy comment... but thanks... it's a big help. And yes, my little brother is also there with me, guiding my shots on every hunt.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

I am sorry to hear about your brother as well John. You do him proud by your words and actions.

To the topic at hand....

I could not agree with you more. I have seen this attitude as well. However, I also see another attitude forming on occasion. People, as described in the above quote, are not necessarily the same as those folks who trully enjoy shooting/experimenting with new equipment/gear. More often than not I see the two lumped together because they both share the same type of gear. It is not necessarily the gear that is to blame but rather the attitude of the person behind the string.

I am not really directing my comments at anyone in particular but rather just as a general observation.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

You're not going to believe this, as much as I prefer the older bows over the stuff they're parading around in the catalogs today, but I had a twinge of that very thing last summer. Our club does a qualifier for a WMA that requires a proficiency test for their annual archery hunt. This guy showed up to qualify with an original Bear Whitetail... yeah, the one with all those wheels.

Even though I owned one of those a long time a go and shot with it a lot and knew it most always put the arrow where I aimed it, I just knew the guy wasn't going to get the job done. I didn't tell him that, but it sure stuck in my mind.

Well, he did. Very decent score, by the way. The guy obviously was not a newbie with a $5 yardsale bow, as I had suspected. My humility was restored. [&:]

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

I love Bob Ragsdale's saying:

(by memory) A bow does nothing but determine the speed of your arrow. Everything else is up to the shooter.

I'm sure you can buy better materials with more money, but you can't buy more accuracy.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

I agree with most. Put in a machine almost every bow will shoot the same arrow in almost the same hole repeatedly. Some just do it faster than others. Given the human factor things can change. Depending on the physical characteristics of each bow, some just make it easier to duplicate shot after shot. That's why most GOOD target shooters are toting around longer ATA, deflex risers, high brace, round wheels, and lower draw weights.
When it comes to the bows most of us shoot it's much the same. A lot of the bows will just shoot more accurately, easier, and more consistently. Of course a lot can be said for buying a less pricey bow and spending the difference on MUCH better accessories. And take some of what's left and get some good coaching lessons.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

Well said, BG.

I see you, or did, shoot a very good bow.

I have had some good bows in the past, but my 3 Martins have been an extremely good and comfortable shooters and extremely dependable. Nary one problem in all the years of have had them, and they have been hunted hard. They have deserved the right to hang near my faithful M1 Garand. :)

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

You may shake it up however you wish. The newer innovations dramaticaly reduce vibration and recoil over many, many of the older bows and that has been proven by a variety of methods from what I've read...and especially from what I've experienced. Hardly a "catch-22," in my opinion.

A 60# bow with 50% letoff is easy to shoot and "basically" quiet...compared to what? The more modern bows have many superior features from the cam (vs two cams) to the dampening. I would personally find it a very hard argument to make that we should go back to the old manufacturing methods.

Your points are carefully couched in well-rounded terms, but they remain mostly subjective in nature. Most people are not sorry for buying quality.

Someone made the argument that the accessories make much of the difference...to which I would respond: apply the same guideline...do your homework, but buy the best you can afford. You'll only have to do it once.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

Its better to buy a cheap bow and some books so you know what to do with it. I have about 30 archery books, many of which are junk but knowledge goes further then bow quality.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

I am not saying or implying such. I do believe the debate is that there are some, even many, who believe that all of today's gear is so far superior over earlier gear, that the earlier gear is now junk, maybe always was junk, definitely archaic, almost an impossibility to hunt with, once upon a time accuracy fell somewhere off the edge of the earth, they are louder than a 155, and you need a winch to pull and hold the string. Hell, according to some shooters, the prior year model is outdated.

As I said; many of today's bows need all these vibration absorbers, shock absorbers, torque controls, silencers, ported limbs, recoil pistons, etc, because a lot of what is out there today was designed to feed and quell the appetite of "zoomies" who only what to compete with Mickey Thompson on the Salt Flats.

Maybe I have always been just lucky or know how to pick a bow. I have never had a problem with all the vibration, shock, auto-torque, that apparently I was supposed to have and now requires today's bows to have all these buffer aids to make today's bows far superior to earlier bows.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

Good post, c903. I see what you're saying.

RE: The more expensive the bow the better
 

c903,

Its O.K. if you are to cheap to buy a new bow:D;)

You don't have to defend your old junk to me:D

;)