Posted: 11/23/2011 9:54:44 AM EDT
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Not for hunting, just want to practice to be a good shot. Interested more in the hobby.
Would this be a good start?: "american archery compound bow for sale. great shape. 50-70lb draw." $50 bucks. |
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Where to get started in archery depends a lot on your budget and your "seriousness".
You can certainly get by with a $50 bow and shoot some arrows, but it might not be a good fit for you, might not be safe, and you may develop bad habits from shooting it. Getting it up to a point where you are happy with it can also mean you spend more money on parts, service, and accessories than if you had started the "right" way. The "right" way to me means going to a few archery shops (no large sporting goods stores) and finding those that are willing to let you try as many bows as you want, and then measuring you and setting up your bow correctly. This is the only way you'll be sure the bow is set up to you and not vie versa. Now, that does not mean you have to spend thousands of dollars- for instance you can get a Diamond Razor Edge with everything you need to hunt/shoot (minus arrows) for ~$300. I would consider that the starting point budget wise for a new bow... each manufacturer has their own version of this starter package, so try the various bows in person and see which you like. These low cost bows are more than adequate for your needs wether you want to shoot for fun or eventually hunt with them. Next step up puts you in the Bowtech Assassin price range which is $500-600. Again, an excellent bow that needs nothing, and you may never need another bow. The other option is to find a used bow that a dealer may have in the store from a trade in. This way you get all the knowledge and support of a reputable dealer while saving some $. The last option, which would be recommended even with that $50 bow, is to take it in to the dealer and have them go over it to make sure it is safe. They can set it up for you, install peep, adjust draw length, etc of typically about $45. Again, the problem is that if it is not even close to your fit, you may have wasted the initial $50 which is why that purchase is such a risky gamble if you don't know what you need. Typically a bow bought from dealer includes fitting setup which puts $45 towards the purchase price vs. bringing in another bow. I'd start my search at reputable shops, with a budget in mind. Only shoot the more expensive bows if you're willing to consider them... otherwise you may walk out having spent much more than you intended. Ask me how I know... 
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