Best/most enjoyable older compound bows

[Danny Hoey]

I've thought about going back to my Bowtech Tomkat. Really nothing wrong with it, easy and fun to shoot. Killed a lot of animals with that bow.

 

[TheTone]

I’m still bummed I sold my Hoyt alphamax 32

 

[bowhuntercoop]

Sbxt is the goat imo. It’s the only compound I have left since I went full trad years ago. Still shoot it from time to time, pure joy to shoot and hunt with.

 

[trevvamos]

I'm still shooting the VW Beetle of Mathews bows, the No-Cam (Slo-Cam) HTR. I love it. Total confidence in my accuracy when hunting.

I paid $450 with single pin sight, QAD rest, Arrow Web quiver, some stabilizers that I ditched and Mathews SKB case. Original owner was obviously devastated by his chrono results.

+1. I still have my no cam hanging in my shop. Even though I drink the Mathews kool aid and upgrade every other year, this is hands down the smoothest drawing bow. 70lbs feels like 55.

 

[Coveyleader]

For guys with shoulder issues, there is nothing better (from my shoulder's point of view) than a single cam bow. These new bows even if set low, just hurt pulling, and letting down.

I'm still using a 2001 Mathews Conquest (41ish A2A bow) for everything. Funny, my arrows have changed over the years, but the bow has pretty much stayed the same. 65% letoff, round wheel up top, no shoulder issues. I tune it once between string changes and never touch it until the next set go on.

 

[Pilsner]

What draw weight and length are you looking for? I've got a fully set up Mathews Triax sitting in my shop unused since my last shoulder surgery. 50-70# draw weight. My draw length is 29"-ish. I can toss up details and pics if you are interested.

 

[LostArra]

My son in-law started hunting in his 30's.
He's a deer killing machine with a used Parker Viking that cost $150. His new strings cost more than the price of the bow.

 

[S.Clancy]

The older Hoyt Carbon Spyder or Faktor bows are pretty sweet. I still have a 2013 or 2014 Faktor 30 with 80lb limbs that knocks critters down every year.

 

[PredatorX]

For guys with shoulder issues, there is nothing better (from my shoulder's point of view) than a single cam bow. These new bows even if set low, just hurt pulling, and letting down.

I'm still using a 2001 Mathews Conquest (41ish A2A bow) for everything. Funny, my arrows have changed over the years, but the bow has pretty much stayed the same. 65% letoff, round wheel up top, no shoulder issues. I tune it once between string changes and never touch it until the next set go on.

Man those xx75 gamegetter shafts take me back in time.

That conquest pro was one of the smoothest pulling bows for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[F16pointy]

I started shooting Mathews back in 2003, started with the Q2. Then moved to the Creed XS in 2014 and now the ARC 30 which is my first non solo cam Mathews. All three are great shooting bows IMO. A lot of killer bows in between all these also. If I were looking for an older bow I would try to get hands on it and shoot it before buying it. Just make sure things are all intact and not damaged. I wouldnt hesitate to hunt with my Q2, it kills things just as good as all the others!

 

[Joe Holden]

As someone with a 2013 Hoyt Spyder turbo, here's some maintenance I've had to do (outside of strings)
1. I'm at least third owner. Bought from a buddy for $200 in 2017 - initial price
2. It was snow camo....so two cans of rust oleum fixed that ($15 seems right)
3. New set of limbs in 2021 ($250-$275)
4. New ball bearings 2022 ($10-$20; have access to bow press and a buddy that swapped them. Otherwise - shop labor need be factored in)
5. Had to epoxy the front stabilizer bushing back in somewhere along the way
6. New limbs had some carbon come up last year (Square limb hoyt issue, still shooting it)

Point being, unless you can find some wicked deal, finding a couple year old flagship model kitted out will probably save you in long run depending on what you want to experience.

 

[Swampwise]

Still enjoy shooting my Hoyt Alphamax 32 and Turbo Hawk.

 

[isItFallYet]

Traverse or Vertix or travertix, as someone on here made before.

 

[Buglebrush]

Bowtech Experience is still a great bow

 

[Skunkworks]

Well I ended up almost getting scammed on a switchback xt and then again on a rival pro.

Ended up buying a minty Elite Pure off of EBay. Now the fun of trying to accessorize it (Realtree Max 1). Still may get a single cam one day.

 

[Luxin Tenebris]

Well I ended up almost getting scammed on a switchback xt and then again on a rival pro.

Ended up buying a minty Elite Pure off of EBay. Now the fun of trying to accessorize it (Realtree Max 1). Still may get a single cam one day.

ebay is always fun to buy stuff on. i went thru the same process as you. Used the waybackmachine to look at the old outdoor life bow review/comparisons. ended up with a darton spectra e. 2022 flagship i think. It's a bit slower, but was the most accurate bow in their tests. very fun to shoot.