Help Me Find A New BOW

[Huntrgathr]

I'm ready for a new bow. In fact, I think I'm going to change everything this year. I've been shooting a PSE Brute since 09 ( I think). I've tried various sights, rests and quivers and found most of the pros and cons as they relate to my hunting style. The main things with the Brute are that it has quite a bit of hand shock / vibration and it's slow - seems to be getting slower too as it ages. At 71# with a 410 gr arrow (w/head) I'm shooting just under 260 fps. I know speed isn't everything but most of my shot opportunities on muleys are 50-60 yds and I sure would like a little flatter arc out there. Misjudging distance by just 2-3 yds at those distances can/has caused me issues. The accuracy is there but there's a little too much rainbow for my liking...

I have no idea where to start with new bows. The shops are too biased to give an honest opinion. Whatever they sell is " the best"...

I'm open to suggestions. Would like to shoot a 435gr arrow (aprox) at 290 fps+ with a 27 1/4" DL . But don't want to give up too much " forgiveness" in the bow...

JMEZ made the comment that what I'm asking for is maybe not realistic - maybe I'm asking for too much speed without wanting to give up the forgiveness...

[ElkNut1]

Yes, I saw Jmez write his comment on the other thread. I was thinking the exact thing as he, the reason is I am a 27-1/2" draw at 67# Energy Elite 32" - 420 grain arrow at 269-270 fps. To get 290ish out of 435 grain arrow would mean you need 2" longer arms or 80# minimum. (grin) Tall order there!

There are so many good bows out there these days for sure, pick a solid company & a bow that just feels & shoots good for you & don't worry about the 2-3 yard miss judgement in distance. You'll be fine, after all we all have similar limitations & this is bowhunting! (grin)

ElkNut1

[Huntrgathr]

OK. So maybe if I spend a couple hours a day hanging from my arms I could increase my draw length by next year ....!

I know from my experiences in the late season hunts that I don't want to up my draw weight much at all. I've pulled 80# bows in the stores no problem but, as most of us know, pulling a bow in subzero temps while sitting down is a whole 'nother story. When I shot my buck in November this year I had been sitting/slowmo stalking for 6hrs in freezing temps (back and neck cramps, soaking wet) and struggled a little to break the cam over at the moment of truth.

I've been thinking about this off and on for the last year. Maybe a new all-in-one bow isn't what I need. Maybe it's multiple arrow/head combos or two bows set up for different purposes. Most shot opps on elk are much closer so I'd be fine with a slower, heavier arrow. Then I could have another arrow setup, or bow setup for deer...hmmm....

[twinkieman]

My advice, shoot all of the top names, Elite, Matthews, Bowtech, PSE, Hoyt,,etc.... One or two will feel far better to you than the rest, go shoot these again, buy the one that absolutely feels the best, no matter the name. As far as the speed goes, all of the bows of today will generate more speed than bows from 09,the bow feeling like it was tailor made for me, accuracy, forgiveness, than speed for me! Just my opinion

[pointysticks]

I love my Elite. Energy 35. But it isn't even close to being fast. I'm 28"DL. Shooting a 420 arrow at 267.

I'm good with that because my arrows slowly hit the same spot more often than not.

[pointysticks]

If I were looking again, the new carbon Hoyt's would be on my first test shot list.

[ElkNut1]

Chris, one bow with 2 different arrows! You can shoot a 400 or 340 spine arrow that have different weights per inch of arrow. In other words one arrow can have a finished weight of 385grn & one arrow a finish weight of 435grn. There are several arrow companies with equal spine where the arrows per inch weigh more or less.

ElkNut1

[Brendan]

Everyone likes a different style bow - very personal preference. I'd suggest shooting everything from all the top names, from speed bows (eg Bowtech RPM 360, some of the PSEs) real smooth bows like the Elite's, then some of the Hoyts in the middle. I have a Hoyt CS34 and love it, but I'm getting an itch to try the new Turbo ZT. Still have a Bowtech Invasion that I love too.

Not cheap, but cheaper than 2 bows - get 2 dovetail sights like the spot Hogg Hogg father - swap the sight off / on with a simple screw when you switch arrows.

[WapitiTalk1]

Don't sleep on Darton or Alpine Archery products. Certainly not the big names in a sense but both rock solid companies with good products, and, wait for it.......... GREAT customer service

[Huntrgathr]

Chris, one bow with 2 different arrows! You can shoot a 400 or 340 spine arrow that have different weights per inch of arrow. In other words one arrow can have a finished weight of 385grn & one arrow a finish weight of 435grn. There are several arrow companies with equal spine where the arrows per inch weigh more or less.

ElkNut1

I've messed around with this a bit already Paul. My previous arrow combo was 385gr but I thought it was a bit light for elk so I went to 125gr heads instead of 100gr. I wonder if its possible to have the same arrow that can push 100gr heads for deer and 150gr heads for elk without being under or overspined for one of the combos ....? Would be nice to only have to but one arrow and just switch heads. That would give me the 385gr and 435gr combos I'm looking for.

But I still would like a little more oomph and smoother shooting out of my bow. The Brute is a " bang for the buck" kind of bow. Even though it's highly tuned, I spend a lot of time and effort to keep it quiet. It eats strings in one year. Twice last year ( once in the middle of sept, once during the Nov hunt) it suddenly and inexplicably came out of tune, cost me a nice bull and I had to start over with walk back and broadhead tuning mid-season.

Don't sleep on Darton or Alpine Archery products. Certainly not the big names in a sense but both rock solid companies with good products, and, wait for it.......... GREAT customer service

I use the soft-loc Quiver from Alpine and their wind checker too. Which says nothing about their bows but both of those products are really well thought out and I have had zero problems with them. Hopefully I can find a local shop that carries their bows...