would you feel comfortable buying any bow before you shot it?

bayhunter · July 25, 2011, 12:32:00 PM

the question says it all. im kinda of asking if there is any way to tell if a bow will shot good for you without shoting it. its not that a dont want to shot before i buy i just dont know where i could go to shot before i buy. Thanks for any responses

jcar315 · July 25, 2011, 12:34:00 PM

I have bought alot of bows over time and in thinking about it nearly all of them have been purchased without shooting them. Most have been bought without holding them too.

Going to a local / semi-local traditional archery shoot is always a great way to shoot all sorts of bows. From vendors to other shooters there are usually lots of bows to try.

jamesh76 · July 25, 2011, 12:35:00 PM

A great majority of the bows I have bought. I have not shot before I purchased them. I always check the reviews and ask questions on here. I figure if it does not work for my applications then there is always the classified ads on here to put it. Typically the grip is what I do not like on bows.

buckeye_hunter · July 25, 2011, 12:39:00 PM

Nope!

1. Most bows, even twins, will shoot slightly different.
2. I have tried a number of bows where I looked at all the specs and was really amped up over the bow. Then, I went and shot what I thought was going to be the perfect bow for me and was totally underwhelmed by it.
3. I am rediculously picky about the grip on my bow. It has to be "exactly" right or no deal.

My point is, go shoot BEFORE you spend the cash!

toehead · July 25, 2011, 12:43:00 PM

Never have bought a bow I shot prior to purchasing. So far So good though.

mscampbell75 · July 25, 2011, 12:50:00 PM

yes, every bow I own has been bought without shooting it

No regrets. YET!

Hopewell Tom · July 25, 2011, 12:57:00 PM

I've never shot or held a bow before I bought it. Not by preference, just no way up here to do that. Getting out to the shows is a dream, but not much chance of me making a trip southward. The grip is definitely the problem, so either it's rasp and sandpaper time or into the classifieds. Maybe into the classifieds even after the rasp. I'm envious of the opportunities most Americans have around archery. We never had it in school and although there is some trad up here, most shops are wheel oriented.

archer66 · July 25, 2011, 01:01:00 PM

No worries as long as you trust the seller when he or she says the bow is sound.

scedvm · July 25, 2011, 01:01:00 PM

Not much for trad events where I live and I have yet to make it back east to the shows where there are lots of vendors so I buy almost exclusively without shooting first. I have had a few bows that didn't work for me but was able to recover most of my money when sold.

Blackhawk · July 25, 2011, 01:02:00 PM

If I am ordering a new one, I gotta shoot first. Buying used is a different matter for me.

I do read the reviews and ask questions, but also know that a bow can be re-sold or traded if I don't like it but it still has a good reputation.

Cyclic-Rivers · July 25, 2011, 01:09:00 PM

if the price is right! That way I can get rid of it for what I paid for it.

pdk25 · July 25, 2011, 01:10:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Blackhawk:
If I am ordering a new one, I gotta shoot first. Buying used is a different matter for me.

I do read the reviews and ask questions, but also know that a bow can be re-sold or traded if I don't like it but it still has a good reputation.

X 2

dink · July 25, 2011, 01:38:00 PM

all my bows bought without shooting new and old only had issues with one

bosteldr · July 25, 2011, 01:45:00 PM

May not shot before I buy, but I need to see and feel it in my hand. Some bows just dont fit my hand or style of shooting.

BradLantz · July 25, 2011, 01:45:00 PM

I bet I've bought/sold/traded 150+ bows here on Tradgang, Archerytalk and that auction site .... I reckon most of them I'd not shot before.

Some stunned me, some disappointed me, most were just good shooting bows.

heck I just bought two bows from a Tradgang member, didn't even see pictures of them! Zipper Extreme and an SXT ....... and both are stunning bows !

joekeith · July 25, 2011, 01:51:00 PM

All but 1 of my bows were bought without shooting.

My first was bought from a TG'er who told me to try it first, and if I liked it send the money, if not return the bow. Who could pass up a deal like that? Thanks Manny.

All my bow deals have been good, no regrets.

ron w · July 25, 2011, 01:57:00 PM

Depends what it is and whether you have faith in the seller. I have bought more than my share of bows off the classifieds here and so far the seller have been up front with me and I have not been disappointed....have I kept all the bows..no but traded or sold them to other Trad Gang members and so far all have been pleased or they resold or traded them....not one was shot before hand.

Bjorn · July 25, 2011, 02:00:00 PM

I have bought new bows both ways.................these days if it is a bow from a new-to-me bowyer I will havta' shoot it for several days first.

Swamp Yankee · July 25, 2011, 02:08:00 PM

All of my bows were purchased without shooting. Only one regret out of a dozen bows.

Easykeeper · July 25, 2011, 02:10:00 PM

I would never order a custom bow without living with a used specimen from that bowyer for a while. Even then, every bow is different. I have never bought a bow that I have shot before it showed up at the post office. I ordered my first made for me custom this winter after owning two different bows made by the bowyer.

Half the fun of traditional bows is buying, trying, and selling all the different models. Fortunately if you take care of them you can usually re-sell a used bow for about what you paid for it. The classifieds are addicting.