Buy Compound Bow
The most noticeable difference between the two types of bows is the axle-to-axle length. Hunting compounds typically measure 27 to 34 inches long, but target compounds generally are 34 to 40 inches long. A longer bow allows the archer to hold steadier while aiming.
buy compound bow
How do you pick a target compound? First, consider any competition restrictions that you might encounter. For example, tournaments sanctioned by USA Archery and World Archery limit compound bow draw weight to no more than 60 pounds.
Since most compound bows have a 10-pound draw weight adjustment range, you could use a bow with a peak draw weight of 70 pounds and back out the limb bolts to reduce the weight to 60. But compound bows usually perform best at the top end of their range. You could lose valuable efficiency and forgiveness shooting a 70-pound bow turned down to 60.
Target archery with a compound bow is a wonderful game that can extend your love of shooting a bow and arrow well beyond hunting season. Choosing the right target bow will make that experience exponentially more enjoyable.
As nice as it is to believe that your first compound bow will be perfect, the reality is you will likely want to buy a new one a few years down the road. As a result, you want your first bow to be solid and adjustable enough to grow with your experience, but also inexpensive so that:
As such, I strongly recommend that beginners stick to compound bows with an advertised IBO speed of below 330 FPS. Even 320 FPS is more speed than a beginner will ever need, and it can be used to successfully hunt the toughest game in the world. See our guide on kinetic energy to understand how powerful modern compounds actually are.
The vast majority of modern compounds have a 75-80% let-off, and this is an excellent value regardless of whether you are just starting out or an advanced shooter. Many competitive archers prefer to use lower Let-off (such as 60%), but this is something a beginner should definitely not worry about.
There are a few important considerations you should look at when choosing the ideal string for your compound bow. From the type of bow string to the length and number of strands, everything matters. Explore our compound bow string guide to learn more about what the expert Staff Shooters at 60X Custom Strings have to say about choosing a replacement string.
There are two major types of bow strings you can get for your compound bow. You can choose between custom strings and stock bow strings. What are the differences between the two, and which is better for your needs? Find the answers below in our compound bow string guide.
If you ask yourself which compound for youth archers you should buy I have to answer that there are a lot of models out there to choose from and that there is not a one best answer that fits everyone. Concerning the compound: It should be meant for children / tweens. It should not be too heavy or too big and the poundage must not be too much or your kid will lose motivation and fun pretty soon. It makes no sense to get tired after 10 shots. You can read our review about the Crosman Elkhorn, which is recommended for kids that are 9 years or older. I would recommend it up to 13 or maybe even 14 years depending on the strength of the young archer who is shooting it. Another option is the Barnett Banshee. This one is a bit tougher to pull as it has a higher poundage than the Elkhorn, so I would recommend it to 12 year old kids and up.
If you are looking for an affordable compound bow that you can use straight out of the box, look no further. This compound bow is 100% adjustable for teens, women, and men. It features a wide draw weight range (30-70lbs), 100% aluminum construction and everything you need in the box to start shooting right away.
Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Germany are some countries with minimal requirements for purchasing a compound bow. You will only need a permit to buy a compound bow if it launches a projectile more than the required speed.
It is because these types of compound bows are not firearms by law. For example, according to the Criminal Code of Canada, you can buy a compound bow that launches a projectile velocity not exceeding 500 feet per second or 152.4 m/s by 18. Therefore, you do not need a license or a permit to purchase this compound bow.
Each region and local areas have different game, terrains, and requirements for buying a bow, arrow, and other archery equipment. Each state is responsible for giving permits and licenses for buying in the United States bow. For example, New York requires you to be 18 years old to purchase and obtain a compound bow.
Many compound bows usually cost over $1000, but there are bows around $500 to $700 that are good enough, especially for beginners. Flagship bows from years ago are now around that price range. You can buy a more advanced bow for professional and intermediate archers for around $1000 to $2000.
We offer a comprehensive archery experience superior to any other archery shop in Wisconsin. Root River Archery has the largest selection of compound bows, target bows, and crossbows this side of the state line.
For many folks, the compound bow is the gateway into bow hunting that leads them to eventually try out traditional bow hunting. I can safely say that practicing with my compound has only whet my appetite to one day try my hand with a longbow.
Cam Systems. Cams are the individual wheels on a compound bow. Cam systems are how the wheels work together. There are four types of cam systems: single cam, hybrid cams, binary cams, and twin cams.
To understand draw length, you need to first understand one of the differences between compound bows and recurve/longbows. Unlike longbows and recurve bows which can be drawn back pretty much as far as your strength allows, the string of a compound bow has a set distance to which it can be drawn back (this set distance can be adjusted on the bow with tools). The distance you can pull a compound bow before it stops is called the draw length.
Bowfishing can be very messy and the corrosion of dirt, blood, and fish slime can definitely be hard on bowfishing equipment. Particularly if you use a high-end compound with expensive accessories, you may want to consider getting a second setup for bowfishing.
ATA Length is one of the first specifications you will see when looking at new bows. ATA is the acronym for Axle to Axle. In this sense, it means the axle-to-axle length of the bow as measured from where the cams connect to each limb (as shown in the image above). Bow lengths can vary and the longer it is, normally the faster and more stable it is. Professional target archery compound bows are normally very long when compared to hunting bows.
Another key specification you will see is the brace height. The brace height is the measurement from the bowstring to the inside edge of the bow grip where you hold it when shooting. You will normally see brace heights of between six (6) and seven (7) inches. In older compound bows, the brace height was critical to keeping the bowstring from slapping the inside of your non-shooting forearm when shooting. This is why you see a lot of traditional bow archers wear a forearm guard to protect themselves from the slap of the string when shooting. A longer brace height normally keeps the bowstring farther away from your forearm and minimizes this. That being said, most modern compound bows do not have this issue.
When selecting a new bow, it will be easy to get caught up in its advertised speed. While these speeds can look very enticing, they are a baseline and do not represent how fast it will actually shoot for you. There are a lot of other factors that go into actual shooting speed. Bow speeds are dictated by the International Bowhunting Organization (IBO). A few bow manufacturers use speed ratings from the Archery Trade Association (ATA). Both have different formulas for measuring bow speed, but both measure their speed in Feet per Second (FPS). The important thing to note is that rarely will a compound bow shoot at the advertised IBO or ATA speed unless you are using the IBO or ATA listed draw weight, draw length, and specific arrow weight used to set the advertised speed.
Now that you understand the different components, features, specifications, and bowhunting essentials, we can talk about the things you should know before you buy a compound bow. These 5 things (along with the information we already discussed above) will help you find a range of bows that fit you and your individual needs and allow you to get started on the right foot.
Know your budget. Buying a compound bow can get expensive very fast as we discussed above. When buying a compound bow, there are several accessories that you will need to budget for in addition to the cost of the bow itself. Here are some of the key accessories to consider:
The bottom line is that you need to find a bow that fits you. Just like me, I was looking for a fit. You might not get it the first time, but if you do anything, I highly recommend walking into your local Archery Shop and talking to the experts behind the counter. Never be afraid to admit that you are just getting started. An Archery Professional can help you not only find a bow that fits you and what you want to do, but they can also make sure that your compound bow is set up and tuned properly. Bow tuning is almost an art form and takes a lot of experience to do quickly and right.
There are a lot of things to learn about a compound bow before buying one as you can see. Archery Hunting is a great sport, but it takes some time to learn all the different archery components and equipment. Hopefully, this guide has helped you on your bow-buying journey and now you are ready to join the fraternity of bowhunters around the world. Thanks and good luck! 041b061a72