20 Year Old Bow vs. New

[bigbassin]

How much better will a new bow be over one that’s 20 years old? Current bow I’m shooting is a 2006 Reflex Compound, 50-70 pound draw. No clue on draw length, maybe 27”. Bow was a gift that someone else wasn’t using.

Shoot at most 10 times per year (every weekend leading up to now season, once or twice during) and use for whitetail stand hunting.

Looking at the last season the string on the bow will still be good, need to restring next year. Does the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it mindset apply here, or if I’m already $100-150 in the hole for the string I may as well just get a new bow all together?

 

[Taudisio]

How much better will a new bow be over one that’s 20 years old? Current bow I’m shooting is a 2006 Reflex Compound, 50-70 pound draw. No clue on draw length, maybe 27”. Bow was a gift that someone else wasn’t using.

Shoot at most 10 times per year (every weekend leading up to now season, once or twice during) and use for whitetail stand hunting.

Looking at the last season the string on the bow will still be good, need to restring next year. Does the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it mindset apply here, or if I’m already $100-150 in the hole for the string I may as well just get a new bow all together?

It’s honestly your choice. If you have the money and want something new, go shoot a few bows at a shop in the price range you want to spend.

Your bow isn’t magically going to stop shooting if you have taken care of it. You can definitely get a setup that is smoother and quieter and probably faster. That said, people still kill stuff with stick bows, so a fairly recently manufactured compound bow model will still “outperform” one.

 

[summs]

New vs 20 years old. Big improvement.

New vs 10 years old... 10 fps? Not much has changed in the last 10. The Mathews triax of 2018 to today uses pretty much the same cam.

You can get a used bow and see much improvement. Lately they haven't focused on performance, just selling accessories.

Just looked it up 2018 343fps, 2026 348.

 

[blackveltbowhunter]

Reflex had a few models in that era, and knowing what components are on it and if it fits you well are all variables in the "is it better" equation. Based on your stated level of practice time and hunt use, my first instinct is that a new bow won't "shoot better" for you. It will likely be more quiet, faster, probably easier to shoot and tune. But not necessarily stack anymore arrows into an acceptable group.

If your current bow is not tuned well, doesnt fit correctly, your components are wore out and failing, those could have big impacts. However, if all that is as it should be, then improvements at 20 yards on deer size target with limited practice time is probably not going to net a big gain from a purely killing efficiency payoff.

 

[doc holiday13]

2010 is roughly when bows had their last big jump. 2025+ all the bows are becoming user friendly in terms of tuning. A newer bow will shoot much better, but its your money so spend how you deem necessary

 

[bigbassin]

Reflex had a few models in that era, and knowing what components are on it and if it fits you well are all variables in the "is it better" equation.

Reflex Denali.

Biggest issue is screw holes that hold sights and quiver seem to constantly work themselves loose. Seems to only hold zero for 15-20 shots before working itself lose.

 

[peterk123]

How much better will a new bow be over one that’s 20 years old? Current bow I’m shooting is a 2006 Reflex Compound, 50-70 pound draw. No clue on draw length, maybe 27”. Bow was a gift that someone else wasn’t using.

Shoot at most 10 times per year (every weekend leading up to now season, once or twice during) and use for whitetail stand hunting.

Looking at the last season the string on the bow will still be good, need to restring next year. Does the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it mindset apply here, or if I’m already $100-150 in the hole for the string I may as well just get a new bow all together?

The big difference I found when I switched from a 2006 bowtech to a 2018 bowtech was the draw cycle. It felt ten pounds lighter. Way smoother as well. Sure, tuning had become easier with the new bows but that is not a big deal for someone like me who sets it up once and leaves it alone unless there is a problem.

Is it worth it? Yup.

 

[surfr716]

i was in this same last year with a 19 year old Martin. shot a lot of deer with it, never thought of it as a limiting factor, would probably have continued killing animals just fine. However swapping from it to a new flagship hoyt was night and day different. More speed and flatter shooting, quieter, better balanced, easier draw cycle, and so much less harsh in the hand. Is it necessary, no not really but it sure is nice if you've got the money and desire.

 

[wildwilderness]

Based on how much you don’t shoot and how little you know about bows, or care, then I doubt you will see much difference.

To a dedicated archer there would be a big improvement in performance and consistency for long range archery.

Whitetail stand bow- keep using what you got, you probably shoot better than most trad guys anyway!

 

[BuckshotB]

Last time I tried I like my higher end older bow over the new low/mid end bows. May be familiarity?? At the time I wasn’t budgeted for top end. I did handle a few and they were nice. Find a shop that will let you shoot them and decide from there.

Keep your old one around for that rainy day you might need it.

 

[Zking]

Comparing a 2006 bear single cam to a 2021 elite there’s about 20-30fps gained with the elite. Both shoot good groups, I can shoot a little better with the elite but I spend a lot more time shooting it. 20fps is not really that noticeable inside 40 yards.

I don’t think you spend enough time behind the bow to appreciate or enjoy the gains. If you shoot every other day all year round then the newer bows are more enjoyable especially if you like to tinker with stuff.

The newer bows add a lot of tuning features, but tuning requires a consistent shooter, consistent shooters are built with time behind the bow. I think it’s a rare individual who can shoot a few weekends out of the year be able to tune their own equipment.