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I thought I'd share a little experience I've had in the purchase of a bow
recently, and detail a thing or two that an up-and-coming bow owner should know
before they set out. As I discovered, many a detail of the process isn't even
in the fine print and you're going to be doing some digging (or, in my case,
laying out even more cash) until the dark arcana have been invoked and you're
happily shooting bulls-eyes.
I bought a Mission UX-2. Black. I don't have anything against hunters or
hunting and I spent years of my life wearing camo pants and jackets, but I did
not want camo. (End of aside.) The documentation said that the UX-2 was
adjustable from 28 to 70 pounds, so when I was asked if I wanted the 70 pound
model, I answered yes. I should have asked for clarification on why I was being
asked what appeared to be a rhetorical question.
I'd loosed a UX-2 before, many times. The shop had a model that was adjusted to
45 pounds and it was perfect, so when I received the new bow and managed to get
it drawn by only a gnat's wing, I was surprised. The retailer offered to
adjust it down and I agreed, mentioning that I'd been at 45 before.
Here's the first bit where narrative gives way to substance: when I got the bow
back a few minutes later, it was at 60 pounds. After the huge struggle to get
a 70 pound draw, I think I'd pulled a muscle and couldn't easily do 60. The
shock came when I was told that 60 was as low as this bow could go.
Wait a minute. Mission advertises that this bow is adjustable from 28 to 70
pounds, but it can't be adjusted below 60?!?!?! It turns out that to 'adjust'
outside of a ten-pound range, you have to cough up an extra $250 for replacement
limbs!!!!! OUCH!!!!
I tried using the bow for a couple days - after my back had sufficiently
recovered, but I couldn't get more than one arrow per set, and frequently had
to take a break between sets. I was getting one arrow out for everyone else's
twelve, and I couldn't do more than a dozen in a day.
Now, if I were hunting, maybe this wouldn't be a problem. I am, however, a
target shooter. I need to get an arrow off every 30-40 seconds at worst. I bit
the bullet (not quite the right analogy for archery, but you'll have to pardon
it for now) and dropped the $250 plus tax for new limbs. I got the 40-50 pound
set and have been quite happy at 50 pounds. Of course, this means that I'll
likely need the 50-60 pound limbs as I develop some strength.
My friends will smirk at that last sentence, but I have - very rarely - managed
to increase my wiry frame's strength, even if I've never managed to put on the
appearance of bulk.
I do love shooting at 50 pounds, though the saga continues in that I can't hit
center without having the top pin of my sight nearly obscured by the riser. I
have been hitting a 2" radius at 20 yards in my first day, though, so once that
issue is solved, I'm going to be rather happy.
-rbarry
UPDATE 20100713
Ouch. Two days after this post, I had a little issue with my bow. I fired off
a shot, and the bow came unstrung. The string wrapped around my wrist as a
hundred pounds of tension were unleashed upon it. Black wrist for a week.
Soap opera as I dealt with every archery professional in the area. I've since
been shooting every other day and have had no further issues. I'm thinking
about moving up to the next set of limbs.
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