Looking to get into archery and hunting. Need my first bow
I'm 6'6" so looking for something with a 31" draw length. Budget is under 400, but the cheaper the better to get started without sacrificing performance

For new bows I've been looking at Bear Wild and Diamond Infinite Pro. 

A local guy on Craigslist has a used Bear Legion with a Plano hard case for $200. Said he wasn't looking to upgrade but got a great deal on a new bow. 

I'm torn on if a certain model really means much or if fit is more important. I think the latter. Also wondering if a used older now is with considering or does new technology come out regularly that makes new bows much better?

Thanks for any help

A bow from 2000; yeah the technology has definitely been upgraded; a 2-3 year old bow, not a big deal. I'm a bit hesitant to recommend a new shooter jumping into the used market; if you go that route I'd try and find someone experienced to help you out. Bows are pretty subjective; I'd try and shoot as many as you can.

The guy with the Legion said he bought it new 4 years ago

Version - 2013 / Brace height - 7" / ATA length - 30.5" / Draw length - 26"-31" / Draw weight - 40-70 lbs / IBO speed - 318 fps / Mass weight - 4.0 lbs / Let-off - 80%


Above are the specs for that Bear Legion. It appears to be a pretty decent bow by the numbers. The only thing I noticed right off is the short ATA. One thing to keep in mind when looking at a bow is that the longer the ATA length is the more stable it will be when at full draw. The downside is that it will be an overall larger bow and could be cumbersome when trekking in the woods or being in a stand. The second is brace height. The longer the brace height is the more "forgiving" the bow is. This can be a good attribute for a new shooter who doesn't have their form perfected yet. The down side is that the larger the brace height gets, the slower the IBO speeds get. IMO its a balancing act. You want to find a middle ground until you find what you like in a bow. Getting back to that Legion the ATA is short so it'll be a little harder to stabilize when aiming but the 7" brace height is decent so it'll be a little forgiving. I usually look for an ATA in the 32"-34" range and a brace no less than 7" and an IBO speed of 300+ fps. Im 6"3 and also shoot a 31" draw. Im on my third bow in 3 years (all used off ebay) which is where I draw this information from. There are a lot of good bows out there. You have to keep in mind that used bows usually require new strings and cables. Its not very common for a bow to be preset to 31" also so keep in mind what is required to adjust the draw length and if parts are still available. I always examine the pictures carefully and pay attention to bolt and clips to see if they show signs of rust and the overall wear of the finish on the bow. It helps you get an idea of how well the bow was taken care of/how heavily used it was. If you want a cheap bow to get started with Parker's can be had for under $200 and are largely good bows. Bear has some very affordable bows too. The Attack and Attitude are usually common on the used market and go for fairly reasonable prices. Below are a few link that will help you out with specs on bows you look at.

http://compoundbowchoice.com/brands/

Parker Bow Specs

I guess I should've started with this.. What do you intend to do with your bow? You'd want very different specs depending on what your intentions are.

Hunting.  Obviously along with that comes shooting for practice, but this will not be a target or competition bow.

I appreciate your information.  I've passed on the Legion and have opted to look around for something that will work for me better rather than just spending money on a good deal.  I plan on going to a pro shop this weekend to see what they have to say.

Shoot anything they'll let you It'll be a good way to get a feel for the different bow designs. Also ask if they sell or consign used equipment.

Im a big fan of pse bows

For those following along I ended up getting a Bear Wild today. 

Went to a pro shop and they recommended me start at 30 draw length. Seemed short but it worked. Ended up adjusting to 30.5 and kept it there. 62 pound draw weight but can adjust up to 70

I shot a 6 round group at 15 yards about the size of a baseball. I was pretty proud of that. Bear felt really good and I'm excited to practice and hunt with it

Nice have fun with it and good luck.

Congrats and enjoy!

You will enjoy that Bear, lets see a pic. What arrows did you go with?

These are probably the 50th arrows I've ever shot. 15 yards in my backyard. 

Got some CE Mayhem DS as a hunting arrow. It's what the guy at the store sold me and I was ready to go. Unsure how good they are. 

Got some CE Terminator Hunter 6075 as practice arrows from academy. Those were much better priced

Nice stop starting at your pin. It's the opposite of rifle shooting. So stare at the target and blurr the pin. It's odd at first but it will help bring you shots closer. Arrow wise for hunting elk I run Easton FMJ 340's  deer FMJ 400 then I use Gold Tip hunters 400 for target practice.

Thanks for the tip!
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