Compound bows are the best choice when it comes to hunting and target shooting. They are used for recreational and competitive purposes. If you are a beginner without any experience with the compound bow, you might find it tricky picking one that is right for you. Don't worry — we've got your back! Here's everything you need to know to make the best decision on which bow is suitable for your needs.
Why A Compound Bow Is A Great Choice
A compound bow is a great choice for those looking for a bow to use for hunting and target shooting. Compound bows are more advanced than recurve bows and are ideal for people who are looking for a bow with more accuracy and power. Compound bows are easy to use and have many great safety features that help make them one of the safest bows on the market.“What is a compound bow? A compound bow is a bow that is built with many limbs. Typically, the limbs comprise the handle and the various limbs are the theoretical pieces of a compound bow. The reason a bow is ‘compound’ is because the various limbs move to fire a bolt of composite material or wood at a target.” (Source: Learn Wood Bow Construction)
The Compound Bow Advantage
Hunters understand that instructors and pro hunters spend a lot of time and money perfecting their skills. Practice makes perfect and the best bow can do wonders when the archer is getting an opportunity to take down an animal. With all that hunting going on, it's the archer’s job to use the very best bow to get top marks on the easy part of the hunt. Nothing is worse than pulling a.22 and shooting a turkey with a compound bow!
Target Shooters enjoy the accuracy of a compound bow, especially if they’re looking for a bow to shoot wildlife at. By using limbs that attach to your hand, compound bows allow you to actually shoot the animal instead of holding it hostage, prepping it for your next meal.
“Compound bows have the advantage of using the same limbs as a regular bow, but in a different pattern. While a standard bow would use four limbs, a compound bow can use up to 10.” (Source: Preparing for the Perfect Shot: Aim, Fire & Assist)
Another great thing about using limbs is you’re less likely to become numb when shooting and this translates to sure-footed shots.
What You Should Be Looking For In A Compound Bow
When looking for a compound bow there are many things you should be looking for. Compound bows are one of the most popular types of bows and for good reason. They are versatile, easy to use and can be used for target shooting, hunting and more.
While a bow should make you feel pleased with the combo of the feel and movements, it is equally important that the manufacturer has taken great care of the details. These include weight, string tension, arrow tension, setting the target to shoot and more.
There are also things like cosmetics, reloading mechanisms and general aesthetics to consider. Of course, when picking a bow, we do recommend picking one that is of a good quality and of a good size as well.
There is also the question of price, since common factors that make a good bow cheap include the material used, features and store. While some bows will cost you more than others when you buy them, be aware of these factors when shopping. Here are a few tips on what to consider when looking for a good bow for you.
Bow Name:
A good keyword in the bow name will help consumers know what kind of bow they can get. So, for instance, if you’re looking for a hunting bow, then you may want to mention “hunting” in the name.
Most furniture retailers that carry hunting or target equipment (including a hunting supply store and shooting supply store) will have a merchandising department where you can find this information. Most of these shops will also list any special features upon seeing that your product is hunting related.
Differentiate Your Bow With Color/Finish and Major Properties:
For any product, color is a distinct feature that consumers can immediately look at. This is because color is not just related to the stability of an item, but to the durability as well. For example, using dark woods in your hunting bow can assist in achieving a more sturdier bow.
How to pick the best compound bow for beginners
The first thing to consider is what you’ll be using the bow for. If you’re a hunter and plan to use it for hunting game, you’ll need a different bow than someone who’s just going to go out and target shoot.For serious competition, a compound bow may be out of the question — you likely won’t want to launch a 60-inch arrow at a game elk. Compound bows are usually longer than traditional arms, which means the power they can put out can vary significantly from one to another. When your compound bow is multi-colored or has a really long handle, that means it’s not your typical beginner’s bow.
Also keep in mind that archers with smaller hands typically have to shoot from further away because of their smaller targets. For this reason, beginners may find they want a fire bow once they get the hang of it. A “work” bow is a bow that is designed to be shot not for hunting but to be used as an engagement-based hunter-target match. You will be using the bow for an activity that requires you to exert maximum effort.
When it comes to choosing what compounding bow you’ll need, bowhunters should familiarize themselves with the following:
Materials or materials needed
You’ll need at least two types of materials to make your own compound bow. The first is your choice of material for the handle: maple or ash will take a lot of age to get very soft, so it’s usually best to start with that. You want the handle material to be durable enough to withstand repeated bends and uses without the bow going out of style. The second makes up the rest of the body: fir wood, spruce, poplar, mahogany... again, all of these have different kinds of properties.
How To Decide On The Right One For You?
Conclusion: There is a lot of choice when it comes to compound bows and choosing one can be difficult if you don't know what you're looking for. However, we hope we have helped you to make an informed decision! Good luck and happy hunting!
The first thing to do is work out what you want from your bow. Do you want something with a fast enough draw speed for hunting? Do you need something compact and easy to carry in the woods? Perhaps you are looking for something to practice with? Once you have decided on the right product for you, it’s time to start looking!
It gets very expensive very quickly when hunting with a compound bow. Some things to consider before you buy your hunting bow are power output, draw weight, and arrow drop.
Working out how much power you need for the type of shot you enjoy the most is essential. Remember: less power usually equates to longer shots and are best for hunting non-poaching birds like quails, ducks, and geese.
The draw weight your bow has is determined by the manufacturer. The heavier the bow, the more power it needs in order to draw a shot that is rated for that weight.
Once you have decided what type of shot you prefer and how much power you need, work out which bow would be the ideal match for that. Compound bows may not be the right choice for a beginner; however, they are usually compatible with most hunting stocks.
“Quick-draw” vs “steady-fire” becomes a big deciding factor in the ultimate hunting bow. If you want to get the most bang for your buck, a quick-draw bow is the way to go. Your brace of shots won’t be as long as with a steady-fire bow, but the end result is that you can shoot with much faster speed.
A compound bow’s draw weight and power output are always in relation to the amount of weight they contain. Depending on the size and construction of the bow, draw weights of smaller and larger amounts can be used depending on the shot you prefer and the target animal. A bow with a 10-inch draw and rated for 500 arrows will generally have a higher power output based on size and weight than a bow with a 20-inch draw and rated for 400 arrows.
