by Jackson | Mar 3, 2014 | Compound Bows
First off, I love bow names. The Sinister just makes me happy. Don’t let the name fool you. For a ready to shoot package, this beast not only gives you super performance, but you’re going to get a much lighter and smaller bow that makes it easier to take anywhere and that is what makes it Sinister.
This bow shoots fast, quiet, and it’s deadly. Here is the Amazon link so you can check it out yourself.
PSE Sinister Ready to Shoot Package
Bow specifications
- Axle to Axle – 28″
- Brace Height – 7 1/4″
- Weight – 3.9 lbs
- Draw weight – 50-60, or 60-70
- Draw length – 25.5″ – 30.5″
- Arrow speed – 319-327 fps
What’s included
- Aries bow sight
- Whisker biscuit arrow rest
- Mongoose 6 arrow quiver
- Flextech stabilizer
- Neoprene bow sling
- peep sight
- nock loop
Not included
- arrows
- trigger release
- bow case
- target
Special notes
- This is the Ready to Shot Package version.
- Easily adjusted with Allen wrenches
- Comes in right and left hand options
- Comes in different draw weight ranges
There are several Pros for this bow. The first is that this bow is smaller than many other bows. The second is that it’s lighter than other bows. These two things make it great for taking it into to tree stands, long hikes, or thick brush areas. You can adjust your own setting with just an Allen wrench. The PSE Sinister has 10 different notch settings for you to choose.
The ready to shoot package takes so many things out of your mind. It comes ready to shoot, you just need the arrows and something to shoot at. The Aries sight is a 3 pin sight with fiber optic strands to help catch light. You get a Mongoose 6 arrow quiver that mounts to the bow. The bow sling is really handy for making sure you don’t drop your bow. The nock loop is for your trigger release that you use. It really comes ready to shoot which is great!
PSE Sinister Ready to Shoot Package
There are a few cons that you should know about as well. First, the bow has a bit of a strong cam cycle that might take a bit of getting used to. It does have a 75% let off once you get drawn back all the way. The peep sight isn’t the best and it might need to be replaced after a short time. That’s about it for the negatives.
The price can vary a lot for this bow. The one that I’ve linked to is a ready to shoot package. If you already have all the other accessories, then check out getting just the bow. It’s a great bow no matter what and I’m sure you’ll like it.
As always, I recommend you take it to a bow shop after you get it just to make sure everything is good to go.
Checkout the PSE Sinister Ready to Shoot Package
It’s one that you’ll greatly enjoy shooting and hunting with.
I do use affiliate links to Amazon in this post. If you click them and make a purchase, I will make a small commission, but it won’t cost you anything. It will help me to make this site better serve all your archery needs. My PSE sinister review is my own and I was not given anything for this review.
by Jackson | Nov 17, 2013 | Compound Bows
If you’re looking for a real compound bow for a young archer, then this might just be the right thing for you. The Crosman Elkhorn Jr. Compound Bow
is the ideal bow with a low draw weight, but with enough features to make it the real thing. It come with the things you need to get shooting almost right out of the box. All you’ll really need is something to shoot at.
Bow specifications
- Axle to Axle – 33″
- Brace Height – 8″
- Weight – 3.3 lbs
- Draw length – max of 26″
- Draw weight – 17-21 pounds
What’s included
- Bow sight
- arrow rest
- 6 arrow quiver
- arm guard
- finger tab
- 2 arrows
Not included
Special notes
- comes in right hand, I couldn’t find a left hand option
- Consider getting extra accessories when you buy.
First off, I put this bow in the group that every child goes through. They don’t want a toy anymore, but they aren’t ready for a full-fledged compound bow. This is the perfect bow for that category. With a light draw weight, it works well for most kids 9-13 depending on the child. It does come with everything to shoot out of the box. Assembly IS required.
I’m going to break this into two parts: the bow itself and the accessories.
The bow is a good value and rugged enough to stand up to a fair amount of abuse. The cable string with the bow is made for no maintenance which makes it very reliable, but not easy to put a peep sight on.
The accessories are going to work okay for the younger crowd. You’ll probably want to get some extra arrows and consider some small upgrades as the bow gets used. It does fit the young archer very well.
The price is around $50 and you might spend an extra few dollars on arrows when you get it. For that price, you’re getting a really good deal.
The Crosman Elkhorn Jr. Compound Bow review is brought to you by me, all words are my own. I don’t endorse any specific product, yet, and I didn’t receive this or any product for any kind of reimbursement.
by Jackson | Sep 25, 2013 | Compound Bows
The Genesis bow is one of the most popular bows for young archers. For many, this is the product that bridges the gap from child’s toys to a real bow. I shot one of these when i was young and it was just as easy back then as it is now. I always recommend getting a kit when you’re getting your first real bow. It comes with everything needed to start shooting right out of the box. That’s why it makes an excellent gift.
Bow specifications
- Axle to Axle – 35.5″
- Brace Height – 7 1/2″
- Draw length – up to 30″
- Let off 0%
What’s included
- arrow shelf rest
- 5 aluminum arrows
- arm guard
- two paper targets
Not included
- bow sight
- stabilizer
- bow case
- release aid
Special notes
- comes in right and left hand options
- draw weight is changed with an Allen wrench
- comes in 6 different colors
Genesis bow kit – Lime
Most kids can handle this bow starting around 2nd to 3rd grade. You should adjust the draw weight for them too. It adjusts easily and you’ll have no problems using it between adults and kids. The bow is made of aluminum and can stand up to years of enjoyment. The 0% let off means that it acts like a traditional bow. This is so that you can use it at any draw length.
If you need any other recommendation, the National Archery in Schools program recommends this bow for kids and it’s because it’s sturdy, light, and will work for all shapes and sizes. You can always add-on other accessories to make the bow fit your needs better. I’m sure you can find another genesis bow kit review, but honestly they’ll all tell you how awesome it is.
Genesis Bow Kit, Right Handed, Blue Raspberry
by Jackson | Sep 13, 2013 | Compound Bows
For those who want to get a good compound at lower prices, you should definitely consider this package. You’ll find that PSE has taken a good bow and put together a package that lets you get going right away. Very little needs to be done other than a checkup with a bow shop to get your settings checked out and sighting it in.
Bow specifications
- Axle to Axle – 32.5″
- Brace Height – 7 1/8″
- Weight – 3.5 lbs
- Draw length – 21.0″ – 30.0″
- Arrow speed – 308-316 fps
What’s included
- Bow sight
- arrow rest
- 6 arrow quiver
- stabilizer
- peep sight
- nock
- sling
Not included
Special notes
- comes in right and left hand options
- comes in different draw weight ranges
What you get is a bow that is almost completely ready to shoot. The stinger line has been around for a long time and is known for being a rugged bow that will stand up to lots of use. It’s small and light weight make it a great choice when you have to carry it with you for a long time. There’s also a lot of rubber on this bow. You’ve got the stabilizer, limb dampener and a string dampener. All in all, it makes for a very light, fast, and durable bow that will get you started extremely fast.
You have aluminum risers and with the cam, you can adjust your draw length without having to take it into a bow shop. Lots of reviews online mention how quiet this bow is and that’s one thing you can be sure of. You aren’t going to hear much at all. The 75% let off helps you wait for that perfect moment and the smooth action helps you have better accuracy and tighter groups at all distances.
Here is the link for the PSE Stinger X 70 on Amazon so you can check it out.
PSE Stinger 3G RTS Review is brought to you by me. I don’t endorse any specific product, yet, and I didn’t receive this or any product for any kind of reimbursement. All words are my own.
by Jackson | Sep 1, 2013 | Choosing a bow
Unlike some of its predecessors a compound bow is a modern bow that uses a leveraging system to bend or pull the limbs with pulleys and cables. When compared to a longbow or a recurve bow the limbs are much stiffer. This stiffness is what enables the bow to shoot arrows quicker and with more power because of the energy that is stored in the limbs. If you have decided to pick from the variety of compound bows that are available there are some considerations to think about.
Just like most pieces of sports equipment these bows can vary widely in price. You can see a variety of bows ranging from anywhere of $50 upwards to $1,500. A new upper entry to mid-level quality bow typically runs between $350 to approximately $600. Higher and bows typically start around $600 and go up from there.
Choose the bow weight
The first consideration is the power of the bow. Bows actually convert energy they do not create power. You need to find a balance between the power and your ease of use. If you find a bow with a 30-inch draw it may not be the best choice for you. You will get more power and strength from a longer draw, but you could be sacrificing a significant level of comfort and control with each shot that you make.
If you force yourself to draw too far the muscles in your arms tire quickly and will cause your aim to shake. The best solution for this is to choose a bow that has adjustable draw-stops. These stops are rubber-coated blocks to provide a limiter for your draw. This keeps you from overestimating your draw as well as underestimating.
Adjust for your strength
The bow you choose needs to fit properly and adjust to your strength. You want to be able to maximize the amount of energy that transfers to your arrow. A heavy draw stores higher energy and results in a higher arrow velocity. However, you need to find a draw weight that is as high as possible but still allows you to be able to practice regularly. You need to be able to draw for hours of target practice.
Find the let off
The “let off” of the bow is also important. When you draw a standard bow you need to release the arrow quickly otherwise you will begin to shake. A compound bow allows you to hold your draw for a longer period of time. This is called “let off”. Many bows come with interchangeable cam modules that allow you to switch between different let offs. Typically, the higher the let off percentage is the longer you will be able to hold your bow and maximum draw length comfortably.
Check limb design
Limb design is also an important consideration. When you start looking at compound bows you will notice that they have both split and solid limbs. People that choose to use split limb bows claim that they have less shock and are more durable than the solid bows. People who choose solid limb bows claim that they offer better stiffness and are more accurate.
There seems to be no significant evidence to support either claim. It comes down to personal choice. A significant part of the design revolves around recoil. Some manufacturers have designed a higher limb angle and they are called a parallel limb bow. This type of bow may or may not be more accurate, however they are very popular.
Decide on brace height
Brace height is also an important consideration that is often overlooked by an inexperienced archer. This is the distance between the top of the handle grip to the bowstring. If you are a beginner and want to shoot a bow that has a high forgiveness factor then you should have a brace height of seven inches or greater. More advanced and experienced archers typically use a bow that has a brace height below seven inches because it is not very forgiving.
Overall size of the bow
If you will be using your bow for hunting you need to consider your axle to axel factor. If you hunt from a tree stand you would typically want a lower axle to axel bow that is usually 32 inches or less. If you typically hunt from the ground a higher axle to axel will probably work better for you. The smaller axle to axel works better for carrying, going under tree branches, and small spaces but it does have the drawback of not being accurate at long ranges.
These are just a few of the many considerations to think about when choosing a compound bow. Your best bet is to try as many manufacturers and bow designs as you can before making your final choice. Eventually you will find the bow that feels right for you.
