Martin x-200

[Mulybux]

As my shoulder heals from rotator surgery, I find myself getting anxious to purchase a "new" bow. While I may opt for a custom bow, I'm also considering a production bow, such as a Bear or a Martin. Has anyone had experience with the Martin X-200? Is it a bow that is worth considering or is there something else that will give me more bang for the buck?

Before my surgery, I was shooting an old Ben Pearson Colt and I liked it. Then I shot my son's BW ...!

I've also heard basically nothing but good about the Chek-Mates. What are your thoughts?

One more thing: we have a bowyer here in North Dakota who makes the Kota bows. What are your thoughts on these bows?

I know I'm probably going to get so many different opinions, but that's okay.

I appreciate this site and enjoy reading what everyone has to say.

Thanks in advance.

Les

[Rob DiStefano]

All the bows ya mentioned are quite worthy, more than worthy for the condition yer in right now.  

So, it's not about the bow, it's about you and what you need for the job at hand.  Yer in shoulder rehab now - take it REAL easy on the draw weight, *REAL* easy - don't wanna have a set back right now (been there, done that - stupid, stupid, stupid ...).

[Mulybux]

Yeah, I'm being very careful, following the PT guy's instructions. My daughter-in-law has a 32# longbow that I'll practice with soon. Right now, I'm using a "Bow-Fit" that my son got for me that has a range of 10 - 30 lbs.

I should mention that I hope to be hunting deer and pronghorn in the fall and will probably try to buy a 45# bow. That should save on the shoulder and still be enough for what I'm hunting.

Thanks for the response.

[Apex Predator]

X-200 is a good bow.  I think I would buy one if you have to have new.  They will normally exceed your expectations.

[dennis rice]

I have a 40# X200 that i would part with

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Mulybux:
Yeah, I'm being very careful, following the PT guy's instructions. My daughter-in-law has a 32# longbow that I'll practice with soon. Right now, I'm using a "Bow-Fit" that my son got for me that has a range of 10 - 30 lbs.

I should mention that I hope to be hunting deer and pronghorn in the fall and will probably try to buy a 45# bow. That should save on the shoulder and still be enough for what I'm hunting.

Thanks for the response.

Keep using those variable tension bands they make ya pull at PT - only do as much as they say, and you can handle.  Other than that - and yer loaner 32# bow - I wouldn't even think about getting another bow for a few months at least.  Having a 45# bow hanging around during yer PT stage, tempting ya to give it a pull, could easily be yer downfall.  Trust me on this.

[Mulybux]

I appreciate the responses.

Dennis, can you send pictures?

Thanks!

[NDTerminator]

Wife has an X-200, decent bow for the money...

Have a couple each of Chek-Mates and Kotas.  Chek-Mates are very good bows, Kotas are works of art.

You can find stock CM's with a couple dealers I have bought from (not sponsors so PM me for names & website info). You can also find them fairly often on the Classifieds here.  If you order a new CM be prepared for an 8 month + wait. I'm on month 9-10 waiting on a special order riser right now.

Tim Finley at Kota Bowhunting Co. builds fantastic bows and is great to deal with.  It takes a few months as he's pretty busy, but they are worth the wait.

Scheels in Bismarck and Fargo usually have a couple of Tim's bows in stock, but I think they have them marked up a fair bit over his price...

[oops sorry]

I am getting ready to have the rotator cuff surgery and bought a 30# X-200 to give me something to shoot. I bought that one as it seems to be very light on the hand shock which, surprisingly, some other low wt. bows were not. I think a light bow is good to have around for form and to shoot aerial targets....the X-200 is well made but a bit spendy....if you can try some used bows to gage the "recoil" issue you might get by cheaper. If you need new, I can say the X-200 is very gentle in its firing cycle.