My friend at work bought a Matthews Drenalin and is not too happy with it. He says it is so noisy that the deer he shoots at jump the string and he has missed two this season because of it. Now, this guy is a good shot, and he practices from his climber stand in his back yard. I have seen him shoot targets, and he is impressive.

I do not hunt with a bow. I used to shoot a recurve, but arthritis in my elbow prevents me from enjoying it anymore. My state recently started allowing crossbows for hunting, and I thought that crossbow hunting might be an option.

I'd be interested in hearing opinions on types of bows and thoughts on the different brands, styles, etc.

I'm also limited to crossbow due to an injury to my left arm. I shoot a PSE Viper. I have a Tasco 2.5x20 shotgun scope on it.

I might be able to go back to a compound next year with a much lighter draw than I've shot before. My brother-in-law bought a Martin Jaguar which he has set at 55lbs. and I can pull it without hurting my arm.

McPherson. But I havent hunted with it this year cause of my shoulder surgery. Although I shot targets before surgery, 10 shots is all I could get before i needed pain meds.

I shoot a PSE Brute. There are a number of good bows out there nowadays. The best way to shop for one is to go to a pro shop and shoot as many brands/models as you can. Some will just fit and some won't. As far as cross bows I realy like Hortons for the price they are made well.
Joe

I shoot a Mathews Legacy 70#. I've shot archery for about 30 years. I use a Rip Cord drop away rest which I just put on this year, and love it. If your friends Drenalin is noisy he must have something out of tune. I've shot them before and they are quiet. As far as Deer jumping the string, that's just Bow hunting. If you are looking to get into Archery, like Joe said go to a pro shop and shoot a bunch of different ones to see what feels good to you. Good Luck

Mathews makes a very good bow, a little pricey but a good bow.[They got to pay for all that advertising some how???????????]
All the Mathews bows I've been around are exceptionally quiet. If your friend has a noisy one something is wrong somewhere. Get to a pro shop and have it checked out.

I shoot a McPherson set at 63lb. Its a great bow and shoots very well. To do it all over again I'd buy the Hoyt I was looking at.

By the way, does anybody know that Mathews last name is McPherson?????????

I've got mixed feelings about crossbows.I understand the need for them but I dout I'll own one any time in the near future. Its great that those with a injury or those getting up in years can still particapate in archery. But theirs a big differance in the two. A compound requires alot of time in the backyard to stay in tune, and then you've gotta draw that arrow back and sometimes hold it without the deer busting you.
I know guys that have been forced to use crossbows and they've said the same thing. Its not the same and they've lost some of the thrill in it.

Thinking about buying a crossbow. Spend the extra money and buy the TenPoint.

Mathews Legacy & prior to that a Mathews Feathermax.

No complaints on either one. They are more expensive, but now-a-days all the big names are and I keep a bow for atleast five years or longer. Look at Hoyt prices compaired to Mathews.

As for noise, I don't think my bow is any noisier than other bows that my friends shoot (non-Mathews).

I got a Barnet Quad 400, execpt its a crossbow not a plain compound bow.



Dimitri

Nice crossbow Big-D, one of these days ill get myself one too!

Yeah, I am looking at the Excalibur Exocet for my alligator hunt. And you will appreciate this, Dimitri - it's made in Canada, eh!

Phil,

In my honest opinion, everyone I hunt with or know personally (execpt ONE) has a Excaliber, firstly, its not all made in Canada, but thats besides the point.

My grip with them is that the Exocet (and the rest of their product line for that matter) is needs 200 pounds of enegry to get it cocked, it shoots a 400gr bolt w/ the head to go that 330 fps its advertised at and you get a sore back cocking it.

On the other hand, my Barnet Quad 400 (they call it the Quad AVI now) lets say is only 150 pounds so you can cock it without any aids, and it shoots a 475gr bolt w/ the head to get to its advertised speed of 345 fps, and delivers more energy on the target then the Excaliber Exomax which is their biggest that requires a cocking force of 225 pounds and only shoots a 400gr bolt at 355fps.

Dimitri

I shoot a bowtech extreme VFT at 73# I shoot a 490 gr arrow at 280, I like the heavier arrow because I mainly hunt elk with a bow.

I shoot a Mathews Outback.

I have looked at and shot the newer Mathews bows since mine came out and I don't feel any need to change to one of the newer ones.

A Weatherby MK V .257 WBY MAG shooting a 115 grain "ARROW"

In reality I don't bow hunt yet but I have an older Browning Rage that I'm gonna mess with a bit.