Bows: New vs Used, Hoyt vs Matthews

Go to a bow shop and shoot all the bows

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Just wanting opinions on what bow to get. New vs Used?

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ArcheryTalk classifieds have some really good bows due to so many guys changing every year or every other. As far as Mathews is concerned, you're going to be happy with anything Halon or newer. Really happy. I've been shooting them since the original Ultralight and have upgraded several times. For me, the jump they took at Halon was the biggest of their existence.

I bought my brothers old one last year as I am wanting to get into bow hunting as well. He had an older Bowtech. I'm a cheap bastard so I'm waiting to see if I enjoy this and possibly kill a deer before I go all out on something more expensive.

I’m ready for the downvotes but there’s no way I’d get a Hoyt or a Mathews for a first bow. Get a used elite or bowtech that has SET(elite) or deadlock(bowtech). You can clean up tears, adjust your drawlength within 1/4”, adjust poundage, and letoff all with a normal set of Allen wrenches.

Your first attempt at guessing your preference for drawlength and letoff will almost certainly be wrong. When your broadheads won’t fly and you wish your draw length was 1/2” shorter on September 15th, you won’t have to deal with ordering mods from a busy shop.

Take the money you saved and buy any of the great made in the USA sights (spot Hogg, hha, black gold, etc.) with an adjustable third axis, a fresh dozen Easton axis, and a QAD or Hamskea rest. Shoot a lot and you will not be missing any capability in your setup.

I got into bow hunting last year. Went the used route just to make sure I enjoyed it. The bow I have is roughly 10 years old so I plan on upgrading soon. I'll probably still buy used just because you save a lot of money that you can spend on a good sight, arrows, etc.

I’m not guessing anymore. I know my draw length after finding where I shoot best and measuring it on a draw board. What shop can tell you what draw length you’ll shoot best at? The draw length between bow manufacturers doesn’t even measure the same. They just tell you to put your fist on the wall or something and hand you a bow in that draw length then tie a 1/2” to 1” loop on the back.