[Tiago]

Hello

Being a new guy to the forum, let me first say that my very limited experience in archery has been with recurve bows - I did some meddling and had some club lessons a few years back, and now I'm wanting to get back into the sport.

The problem is, it seems there's only a couple of archery shops in the country, about 4 hours and about 100 USD in gas and road tolls away from me (each way). So I'm pretty much screwed as far as support goes, and will have to depend on a retailer from abroad.

So, I'm now at a sort of crossroads - either buy myself a nice recurve bow, which I can properly maintain, or dive head-first into the world of compound bows, which I admit, I've never even tried. For that, I was looking at a Mission Craze, which seems to be a nice little bow, and has all the adjustments I could ever need in a neat little package.

So, how often do compound bows need regular maintenance (as in anything requiring a bow press), and how hard is it to do it alone? Shipping it out of the country for regular maintenance is a big no-no - the shipping alone to an authorized retailer and back would be about half the value of the bow. I'm a bit of a tinkerer myself, so I'm not daunted at all by tools, I just want to have an idea of how much trouble would it be.

Thanks mates, and have a happy 2013!


- Tiago

 

[12pt]

This is the third season for my Z7 and after getting it setup, which I done myself, all I have done is wax the string. I keep my Bow in a soft case when not in use and also when carrying to the stand. Keeps it clean and looking like New.

 

[nuts&bolts]

Hello

Being a new guy to the forum, let me first say that my very limited experience in archery has been with recurve bows - I did some meddling and had some club lessons a few years back, and now I'm wanting to get back into the sport.

The problem is, it seems there's only a couple of archery shops in the country, about 4 hours and about 100 USD in gas and road tolls away from me (each way). So I'm pretty much screwed as far as support goes, and will have to depend on a retailer from abroad.

So, I'm now at a sort of crossroads - either buy myself a nice recurve bow, which I can properly maintain, or dive head-first into the world of compound bows, which I admit, I've never even tried. For that, I was looking at a Mission Craze, which seems to be a nice little bow, and has all the adjustments I could ever need in a neat little package.

So, how often do compound bows need regular maintenance (as in anything requiring a bow press), and how hard is it to do it alone? Shipping it out of the country for regular maintenance is a big no-no - the shipping alone to an authorized retailer and back would be about half the value of the bow. I'm a bit of a tinkerer myself, so I'm not daunted at all by tools, I just want to have an idea of how much trouble would it be.

Thanks mates, and have a happy 2013!


- Tiago

Hello Tiago:

I have a guide,
written for NEWBIES,
where I have lots of photos,
and explain the basics of Shooting and Tuning a Compound Bow.

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1399457

150+ pages.

Browse through it,
and if you have questions,
feel free to send me a pm message.

 

[rand_98201]

yeah definitely read NBs guide its great.I agree that compounds really dont need alot of maintenance and the tuning and everything you can do yourself.

 

[rhythmz]

Nuts and Bolts guide is pretty darn comprehensive and is my go-to manual when I need to fix my bow. I'm now building my own strings, fletching\wrapping my arrows, and tuning my own bow thanks to the knowledge shared by fellow archers and Nuts & Bolts guide.

 

[tarleet]

Nuts&bolt got a wealth of info he shares with everyone. Follow his book and you'll be alright.

 

[ike_osu]

This video covers the basics of bow maintenance.

 

[pabuckslayer08]

Can I ask where your located at that so few shops exist. But really once you buy your bow and get it setup for you it should be pretty maintenance free other than string wax for 2 years then youll probably need new strings and another trip to the shop

 

[Tiago]

Wow, that was quick! I'm pleasantly surprised with your replies, guys!

@ Nuts&Bolts : Thank for the link for that book, and especially for writing it! I'll dig into it over the next few days.
@ pabuckslayer08: I'm in Portugal. The only two shops that I know of are in Lisbon and one of its suburbs, whilst I live in the mountains up North. I am not counting those selling bows and crossbows who have little idea of what they are doing (having to explain draw weight and draw length to a hunting shop's clerk made clear their business is mostly with rifles & shotguns).

Once again, thanks for the replies.

- T.

 

[me.hunter]

You might consider a compound bow that can be taken down or worked on without a press. I understand there are a few of that style out there. Or a bow that can be worked on with a portable press. You need to be able to relax the limbs. Something as simple as a peep adjustment or new string. No matter how careful you are bad things happen. Check out the DIY section and maybe you could build your own press. Mel

 

[auspanner]

G-Day mate my son shoots a Mission Riot nice quiet little bow easy to maintain. It takes a portable bow press with adapters , the bow string can be relaxed by placing pins in the cams behind the limbs , very solid bow with a good finish. He has had the bow for a year & only maintenance needed is waxing the strings.Recommend this bow for easy maintenance & adjust ability.

 

[nochance]

Hello Tiago:

I have a guide,
written for NEWBIES,
where I have lots of photos,
and explain the basics of Shooting and Tuning a Compound Bow.

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1399457

150+ pages.

Browse through it,
and if you have questions,
feel free to send me a pm message.

I have to disagree with you. Your guide is for more than just Newbies. Many experienced archers can learn from it. I know I did and still do. Thanks

 

[blakeman]

I think if I was in your shoe's I would buy a nice recurve. Very little maintenance and its a great way to hunt as well as fun.

 

[hunt123]

You might consider a compound bow that can be taken down or worked on without a press. I understand there are a few of that style out there. Or a bow that can be worked on with a portable press. You need to be able to relax the limbs. Something as simple as a peep adjustment or new string. No matter how careful you are bad things happen. Check out the DIY section and maybe you could build your own press. Mel

Totally agree. There was a list on here about a year or so ago of who all makes bows like that. If you can't find it, maybe start a thread "Which bows can you tear down without a press". You could also get one of those little pocket presses with the cable - can't remember right off what they're called.

How often you have to work on your bow largely depends on how much you shoot, how fussy you are, do you constantly want to try different things, etc. but unexpected stuff does come up. My friend never fools with his compound but he doesn't shoot much. I'm constantly working with mine but I shoot a lot, like to try different things and am fussy.

Considering how far you are from bow shops you don't have much option other than getting some basic equipment and learning to work on it yourself if you want to shoot a compound. And the Nuts&Bolts guide is fabulous.

Also, matching up a particular compound to you and your preferences is a whole other subject. However as long as the draw length is right, you can adapt. That's what I did on my first compound. Didn't have the luxury of going around testing lots of bows to see which one was "perfect".

 

[Padgett]

I shoot my bow all the time and I rarely have to do anything to it, make sure you get a bow with a good set of strings made with 452x and that will really help. I love shooting in general and have been shooting for 35 years and to me shooting a compound is one of the best thing I do in my little life. I shoot a recurve on occasion but just to fling a few arrows, in my area all of the real competitive shooting is done with compounds and most all hunters use them. Get to a bow shop in your area and look on the used bench because a lot of awesome top end bows have been traded in to get the new offerings this fall and winter and are way better than the mission stuff.

 

[Lien2]

For the most part, it's not hard at all. Once they are set up correctly, there is little to do. Maybe wax the string once in a while but that's pretty much it imho.

 

[Tiago]

Thanks for all the input. Since I'm in no hurry, I'll check N&B's guide before committing. It's not a big deal, but as I'm dead set in getting back into archery , it's just a matter of deciding whether I'm getting a compound or a recurve.

@padgett : If I had bow shops nearby, or any sort of 2nd hand market, and I'd go that route. Alas, I do not. The few archers I've met shot recurved (all but 2) and compounds are fairly rare around these parts. And people on Ebay or the classified ads section of forums are reluctant to ship bow abroad, which is understandable.

 

[aread]

In your situation, a compound may not be the best choice. If you don't have a bow press, you are very limited in the bows on which you can do the necessary work. Some of the portable presses are inexpensive, but they won't work on all bows.

The day to day maintenance of a compound bow is very easy, but getting it set up & tuned requires a bit more knowledge. Nuts&Bolts guide is excellent, but it may not be enough for a new archer with no one to give him hands on help. You can probably do it, but it won't be easy.

To shoot a compound bow well, it has to fit you as perfectly as possible. You can learn to do this, but judging by the people that I see at local tournaments, this is difficult enough with help.

Don't let me discourage you from buying a compound bow. Just understand that there is a lot of knowledge and some equipment required to get one set up and tuned to shoot to your maximum potential. You can get a lot of help here and that may be enough. There are some extremely knowledgeable guys here and most are very willing to help a newbie.

JMHO,
Allen

 

[Tiago]

In your situation, a compound may not be the best choice. If you don't have a bow press, you are very limited in the bows on which you can do the necessary work. Some of the portable presses are inexpensive, but they won't work on all bows.

The day to day maintenance of a compound bow is very easy, but getting it set up & tuned requires a bit more knowledge. Nuts&Bolts guide is excellent, but it may not be enough for a new archer with no one to give him hands on help. You can probably do it, but it won't be easy.

To shoot a compound bow well, it has to fit you as perfectly as possible. You can learn to do this, but judging by the people that I see at local tournaments, this is difficult enough with help.

Don't let me discourage you from buying a compound bow. Just understand that there is a lot of knowledge and some equipment required to get one set up and tuned to shoot to your maximum potential. You can get a lot of help here and that may be enough. There are some extremely knowledgeable guys here and most are very willing to help a newbie.

JMHO,
Allen

Allen, that's exactly why I started the thread. I can always get a recurve, improve and have fun with it. I am pretty sure I can handle the maintenance needs of recurve, so I just wanted to get an idea of what sort of issues I'd have to deal with if I chose a compound. For my intended use (i.e. in my property, unless something interesting comes up) both will do the trick.

The interest on the Mission Craze is due to its facilitating factor : it encompasses my draw length with a bit of room for adjustment if needed, seems to have good reviews, and apparently some guys in South Africa dialed it down to 15 lbs and installed peep sights on it without using a bow press, so it should be easier to maintain. The price seems right as well

 

[rock monkey]

For some, a nightmare

For most, pretty easy.