I want the most accurate and forgiving set up I can buy that will still fling arrows at a minimum of 300fps field ready. I know there are trade offs in everything and am anxious to get your suggestions. I am looking at what huntersfriend has.

I am returning to archery after a 20 year absence. My current bow is a 1984 Hoyt Easton Prohunter 60# @30". It is 46" A2A and has a 9" brace height. I cronographed it once it was under 200 fps. I enjoyed shooting it at known distances but missed half a dozen bucks during the five years I hunted. If I miss judged the distance by five yards or more the arrow would go over the back or under the chest.

As I get back into hunting with a bow, I will use a bracketing system to help judge the distance and a 300 fps set up to increase my margin for error in distance judgement. I am willing to shoot at 70# if needed.

Give me your input.

Finger shooter or do you use a release? Might make a difference in the bows folks suggest based on ATA/fingers or ATA/release.
Also do you have any bow shops in your area? We can make suggestions all we want, but if possible, you should shoot as many different makes/models as you can and see if something feels good to you.

Elite z-28 316-328fps depending on cams w/ 7 3/4" Brace.


Not currently new but,

Mathews Switchback LD 295fps w/ 9" Brace height.

2008 Bowtech Commander 318fps W/ 8" Brace height - These still can be found new in box on Achery talk or ebay.

I am getting used to a release because all the bows I am looking at are over a foot shorter than my current one. The nearest pro shops are an hour away.

Thanks

Seeing as you draw lenth is 30 and you can draw 70lbs, almost anything rating 320 or better should allow you to hit at or close to 300 real world. Now is hunting your preference, do you like a heavier arrow? Then something rated a little faster would be needed. Hoyts are said to easily meet or exceed their rating. There are a bunch of new kids on the block too. Athens ,makes an Eceed model which is getting great reviews, as is the Pearson -Advantage, and New Breed -Cyborg. PSE makes has the Bowmadness XL which should also get you there. Strother appears to be making big splash in speed and quietness as well, but their bows are'nt quite as long as the ones mentioned. How long of a bow do you think will feel right?

I shoot a 60# Hoyt Vectrix with a 29 1/2" draw length. If I tune it so I get 63# draw weight, it crono's at 297 fps with Victory Hv 350 v-3 arrows with 100 grain Rage 2 blade heads and a total weight of 325 grains. I've shot 10 deer with this set up and got pass throughs on all but one. The one that didn't pass through shattered the near side elbow. The lighter arrow has little effect on practical penetration and has served just fine on whitetails.

You've said nothing about price range....so I suggest a New XForce bow! My 09 Dreamseason shoots at 310-312 fps with a 400grain arrow that is 27.75 inches long and at 71lbs. I literally can shoot 1 pin out to 40 yards with barely any noticable change on the target, 1 inch at most up/down......so my 5 pin sight has a 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 yard setup!!! I shoot anything closer than 40 in to 15 yards with the 40 yard pin.....

Seeing as you draw lenth is 30 and you can draw 70lbs, almost anything rating 320 or better should allow you to hit at or close to 300 real world. Now is hunting your preference, do you like a heavier arrow? Then something rated a little faster would be needed. Hoyts are said to easily meet or exceed their rating. There are a bunch of new kids on the block too. Athens ,makes an Eceed model which is getting great reviews, as is the Pearson -Advantage, and New Breed -Cyborg. PSE makes has the Bowmadness XL which should also get you there. Strother appears to be making big splash in speed and quietness as well, but their bows are'nt quite as long as the ones mentioned. How long of a bow do you think will feel right?

I am not sure what would feel right. I shot something in the 30" range and I didn't feel anything positive or negative. I just understand that bow length contributes to stable shooting. I want as much accuracy as I can get at 300+ fps. I currently am shooting something 47" long. Today 40" is considered very long but would be nicely shorter than what I have. I want to be able to keep them all on a paper plate at 50+ yds.

we have a couple of members here that have some 09 Dreamseason GX bows for sale for under $600! They were over $900 new.....and the '10 Dreamseason and XForce bows are over $900 right now....

as some of the other stated alredy most bows with your draw and lb will easly get the speed your looking for the hoyt line up has alot of bows with excellent brace heights to work for you most with a 6 to 7 '' would be more stable and forgiving to you:peace: :peace: :peace:

i shoot an Elite GT500 with a 27.5 inch draw at 65# shooting a 388gr arrow at 284. its a 35" ATA fast bow and very accurate. you might try the Z28 its a great smooth draw bow as well.

Senior Boyd, Elite is the only bow manufacturer that is offering warrente coverage for the life of the bow, if your considering a used bow. In their line, I'd look at the XLR. Martin is also pretty descent about helping you out on a used bow.
If you going new, the field is really wide open. If you want to stay with Hoyt they certainly make a quality bow.
You say you want the most accurate and forgiving, but with a real world speed of at least 300fps, that means to me, a little compromise.
If you looked up stricktly target bows used in indoor and field, not alot of them are yielding 300fps as set up. But I think if you look for a balance of speed and a reasonable ATA you'll be happy. Coming from shooting a longer bow, I think you'd want to stay with the 36-40" long ATA stuff and be fairly comfortable. All the new ones are pricey, no way around it. The newest Mathews Conquest Triumph looks good. A few of the Hoyts look good, the newest Martin Shadowcat looks good, A PSE or two, NBA, Elite, Athens, Pearson, etc, etc.
I hate to say it but your not going to make the best choice on the internet. A little net research and then shooting a few of the latest will do you worlds of good. A few trips to the nearest shops are really well advised, your going to be spending some coin, and you want to be happy with what you spent it on.

the 2010 pearson advantage and legend

stick with the hoyts

If you are looking to stay with Hoyt when I bought my bow I tryed a matrix at 28 to short for me but it cronoed at 308 so bought mine 29 dont know what the speed is fast but do not care it shoots like a dream have adjustable target sight went to a 3d shoot with shots out to 40 did not have to move the sight once to get 313 out of 330 all I have to say best bow I have ever shot and I have had them all well almost. X-force, z7, monster,monster 7 ,swtchback xt, drenline,82 airborne,alphamax35,katera,vetrix,this bow by far blows them away price is hight but well worth every penny of it.

:noidea: I'm 85 yeaars young and would like to get started in archery, not necissarily for hunting. Got any info how I go about it?

Bob, your never too "young" to learn. Best way is to visit your local full service archery shop or local club, and tell them your interested in starting archery. You'll meet some very helpful people. If you go the shop route, try to find one with a range.

:noidea: I'm 85 yeaars young and would like to get started in archery, not necissarily for hunting. Got any info how I go about it?


Dang, and I thought I was late getting into the game at 36.:laugh:

I would suggest a bow in the weight range of 35 to 50 lb peak weight with 80% let off. I think you could start out setup with a 3 pin sight, nock loop and release. The arrow should be easton or bemen in the 500 spine. I do suggest the best way for you to start is go to several archery pro shop and try several bows, the one that fits your hand will be the one you want. It does not mean it has to be the most $$$ bow. My buddy has been shooting
years and at 78 he still draw at 50 to 60 lb bow, but has it set at 53 lbs.

good luck

Bill

kind of a newby question but ive read some thing on all these different charts you can use, is there a program of some sort in which to generate them or do you have to have previous knowledge to map them yourself?

Welcome to the site!

i took my time and shot alot of bows over the last 12 months. if you decide to buy this or something similar you will NOT be disappionted. i havent shot in years and the low brace height on this bow has little to no effect on my accuracy.

Hello, and welcome to this site, post often. :)