help!

[busterbow]

if you pinched your index finger and thumb together... the amount of stuff you could hold between them is how much i know about trad archery. looking to buy for the first time. will be hunting whitetails. i'm 5'8" w/ small hands. long bow or recurve? what is a $200 bear missing that a $600 martin or tomahawk has? i was considering a martin mamba or savanah. any advice would be great. thanks!

[Jerry Jeffer]

If you could check out some bow dealers/ sporting good stores near you that will let you shoot some bows, that might help you out. There are so many variables, and personal choices to make. You don't have to spend a mint to get a nice shooting bow.

[madness522]

A $200 Bear is most likely a used bow that already has mojo.  Ya get a discount when a bow has mojo.  All three you listed are great bows and each will shoot a little differently.  Find a club or range where trad shooters gather and I bet more than a few will let you shoot theirs.  Find one that feels good to you and get it.  More times than not a bow will pick you.  It will be the one that feels the best and hits where you are looking.  The classified here or that big ole auction site would be a good place to find a great bow for a fair price.  If you are a new shooter please learn from others mistakes and get a bow you can shoot and not one that is too heavy.  One in the 40-45 pound range will allow you to shoot it alot and develope good form from the get go and not have to relearn how to shoot when you figure out that you're over bowed.

[busterbow]

Thanks for your insight Jerry and Madness. I do have a trad-only archery shop near by but wanted to get some knowledge before walking in there. I've seen alot about NOT being over bowed. My oringinal thought was 50-55# but now I'll be looking for a 40-45#. Thanks again!

[Pete Darby]

As stated the best advice is to shoot a bow before buying.  My ulitmate bow might not be thought good enough for anything but firewood by someone else and vice-versa.  Buy a used basic bow and learn how everything works then go to an event with merchants and try out the "nice" bows till you find your bow.  My wife bought her ulitmate Hummingbird bow that way and another friend has her Zipper she can't live without.  But they both started with basic cheap but good used bows.  (Martin and Bear Temugin)