People buy used equipment for two main reasons – you can get better equipment for less money, and you can do your bit for the environment by reducing waste. The downsides to buying second hand include the possibility that the item is past its best days or has something wrong with it. When it comes to buying a used bow, you’re risking buying a defective weapon and a potential trip to the hospital for you or a close friend.
How do you make sure that you can save some money, but still pick up a quality bow? Can you really get a great bow at a bargain price and avoid throwing money away on an accident waiting to happen? A common question we get asked is: Should I buy a used bow?
The simple answer is that while it is possible to get a good deal on a used bow, you really need to know what you’re doing when shopping around for one. It’s important to carefully inspect every aspect of any prospective bow for signs of damage, and if possible, get the bow looked over by a professional before you buy.
Don’t worry, we’ll cover all the bases here, so let’s get started…
Do Your Research
Before going out to buy any used bow, it pays to do your research into the following areas:
Manufacturers – What are the best bows on the market, and what are the quality features you can expect?
Prices – Understand the amount you can expect to pay for a new bow (with all your desired accessories), so you know if you’re getting a bargain price in the secondhand market.
Reviews – Check out what people have been saying about these bows, their potential flaws, and any recalls.
Replacement Parts – Be sure that all the bow’s replacement parts are still available and affordable. Otherwise, you won’t be able to maintain your bow in top condition.
You can research in advance of looking for a used bow to create a shopping list of potential makes and models. Alternatively, you can research after you find a model for sale to see if it is worth pursuing. The first approach works well if you want a high end bow at the best price, and the second works better if you’re on a fixed budget.
Know Your Parameters
If you are an experienced archer looking to upgrade your bow, then you already know your basics of:
- Your dominant eye
- Which hand is your bow hand
- Your draw length
- Your draw weight
If you are looking for your first bow, then it’s worth having a session with a bow technician either at an archery club or shop to figure out exactly what these are. Whether you’re right or left handed doesn’t really matter with crossbows, but with a recurve, compound, or longbow it’s important. Don’t try to save money by trying to shoot a left handed bow if you’re right handed! Why make things harder than they need to be?
Draw Length
Your draw length is simply your total arm span (from your right fingertips to your left) divided by 2.5. Your body will determine your draw length, and therefore, the size of bow you can handle comfortably. Draw length matters when buying a compound bow, recurve bow, or longbow. When you know your draw length, you can consult a chart to find your bow size – the proper bow size varies between the different bow types. Some charts offer guidance on bow length with your height, but you’ll get a better fit for you if you go by your arm span instead.
The bow you are looking at needs to fit your draw length or have an adjustable draw length to fit you properly.
Draw Weight
The draw weight you start with as a beginner is not permanent, because regular practice builds up your muscle strength to your ideal draw weight over time. Your draw weight is going to be different depending on the type of bow you choose. You can fit a crossbow with a mechanical crank instead of using the cocking stirrup if you have trouble cocking it by using your muscles, but all of the other bow types require physical strength to draw back.
If you don’t know your draw weight, try and get it assessed by a professional. Otherwise, you can start with a beginner draw weight based on your age, gender, and bow type. Don’t be tempted to get a bow with a heavier draw weight in the hope that you’ll grow into it. This is what’s called being overbowed.
Being overbowed means:
- You get tired quickly and don’t enjoy your practice time.
- You can’t shoot enough arrows to benefit from practice because of muscle fatigue.
- You don’t adopt a good shooting stance and acquire bad habits because the bow is wrong for you.
It’s better to get started with a bow that suits your current capabilities and accept that you may outgrow it and need to upgrade later. Some bows give you the option of increasing the draw weight over time. Takedown bows let you simply buy new limbs when you need to increase the draw weight while compound bows have a range of draw weights that the bow can be tuned to.
Knowing your parameters gives you a checklist to use when you’re shopping for potential used bow bargains. No one buys shoes that don’t fit, and it should be the same when it comes to your bow. Your body won’t thank you for making it struggle against an ill fitting bow.
Finding a Used Bow
There are plenty of sources for secondhand bows, but you want to be careful about making sure that you’re picking up a functioning bow and not an expensive paperweight.
Archery Shop
Many archery shops offer a trade in service for the customer who wants to upgrade to the latest and best bow. As a result, you can sometimes buy a used bow from the shop at a fraction of the cost of a new model. Plus, most shops will check for condition and maintenance and may offer some form of warranty or return policy.
Buy Local
Ideally, you are going to inspect the bow before you consider buying it. If you can, arrange for your seller to meet you at an archery shop or with a bow technician so you can pay for a professional inspection before negotiating the purchase. The small cost of inspection helps make sure you are not going to make an expensive mistake, and the bow technician can give you an assessment of the cost of any necessary refurbishment or repairs.
Even if you can’t get to an archery shop, it’s still better to physically examine the bow yourself before buying, to check the condition and get some additional information from the seller.
Sight Unseen
The internet puts you in touch with sellers you may never meet. Not examining any bow before you buy it is a risk. You may get a bow with cracks and damage that you simply couldn’t see in the photos. If you can’t examine the bow yourself or arrange for an examination, then don’t pay more than you can afford to lose.
You can minimize your exposure to a bad purchase by checking the seller reviews and asking plenty of questions about the bow’s history. You don’t want a bow that has been stored in a garage for a couple of years, or worse, inadvertently acquire a stolen bow.
Inspect It Carefully
Whether you want your bow for hunting or target practice, you need it to function safely. A careful fingertip and visual assessment – checking each component for potential damage, lets you see if there are reasons for you to pass on buying the bow.
Although you can replace all the components (theoretically), it all adds additional expenses that may make it less of a bargain. There are plenty of used bows out there, keep in mind that you’re buying a bow secondhand, not substandard.
Limbs
You’re looking for hairline cracks and any evidence of twisting or warping. A poor shooting technique by the former owner can put torque on the bow and pull the limbs out of alignment. The kinetic energy backlash from a dry fire can also damage the limb’s physical condition.
Cams System
You’re looking for damage (chips, dents, cracks) and signs of uneven wear. Cams are also susceptible to damage from dry fires.
Bow String
Check along the bowstring for evidence of fraying, uneven wear (near the cams), and any broken threads. Ask about the last restringing, so you can decide if you need an immediate restring or can get some test shots in first.
Other Components
Look at every component on the bow: the arrow rests, sights, and any accessories that attach. Check them all for damage and condition, as these give you a clue to how the seller treated the bow. You want to buy a treasured possession – the equivalent of one careful owner if you were buying a car.
See It in Action
If you can, get the seller to demonstrate that the bow works properly. While the bow is in use, listen for any odd noises and vibrations. Also have them hold the bow at full draw while you inspect it, as many compound bows will only show that they’re out of alignment when they’re at full draw. Be sure to take a few shots yourself, if possible. You should be able to tell if you have a “feel” for the bow.
Ask Plenty of Questions
As part of the buying process, ask as many questions as possible, and pay attention to the answers. Some of the best questions to ask include:
- Why is the bow for sale?
- When was it last serviced?
- What has it been used for?
- How often did you shoot it?
- Where did the seller buy it?
- Was it bought new?
- Have there been any modifications?
- Has it ever been dry fired?
The current owner may be upgrading, abandoning the sport, or getting rid of the bow because it is no longer accurate or has suffered damage. It’s imperative that you find out which one! A bow in use daily for several hours wears much differently to one with less frequent or only seasonal use.
All your questions have one goal, to figure out: Has anything happened to this bow that means it is no longer safe to use, or at the end of its useful life?
Different Types of Bows
Different types of bow have various areas to examine for signs of wear and damage. It’s important to know what you’re looking for when you’re shopping for each of them.
Compound Bows
The compound bow has a lot of intricate moving parts due to it’s let-off system. The ‘let-off’ reduces the compound bow draw weight, allowing you to hold the bow at full draw longer – without having to support the full draw weight of the bow. All of these moving parts should be thoroughly inspected before buying a used bow.
Pay attention to the bow’s body for cracks and warping, the string for wear, and the cams and pulley system for breaks and uneven wear. Compound bows (fully rigged) have hundreds of fasteners, and these can work loose. You can pluck the string – by pulling it less than an inch back and letting it go and listen for any rattles. This tiny movement of the string is not like a dry fire, it creates a small amount of vibration – just enough to rattle any loose components.
When you look over the bow, check to see that the cams are symmetrical, and both reach the same mark at the let-off. There’s plenty that can go wrong with a secondhand compound bow depending on the use (and abuse) the previous owner put it through.
Recurve Bows
On a recurve bow, the part that receives the most wear is the string.
When you are checking the limbs of a used bow, look for warping due to poor storage or bad technique. Check with the owner that they kept the bow unstrung between shooting sessions to avoid string stretch and minimize stress on the bow’s body.
Long Bows
A longbow adapts to the archer, so when looking at a used longbow, always check the limbs carefully. The limbs can become permanently bent, a condition known as ‘string follow’ because of not resting the bow horizontally and not un-stringing the bow between sessions. You can easily replace the bowstring, but a distorted limb is practically the whole bow when your dealing with a one piece longbow. Use your fingers to check the string grooves and see if any areas are worn or damaged.
Crossbows
If you are looking at a used crossbow, don’t just examine the limbs once, go over them two or three times. Look hard for cracks, flexing, and any cracking noises. There are many components with a crossbow (stock, trigger, and accessories), and you need to check them all carefully. If it’s a compound crossbow be sure to go over the cams and the entire string system. Look for cracks and dents on the cams, as well as any string fraying by the cams and other areas where the string encounters friction.
If you have plenty of experience with crossbow archery, you can check over a used bow with confidence. Otherwise, you may want to have it looked over by a professional.
Affordable New Bows
While it is possible to find a good deal on a used bow, there are plenty of high quality, affordable bows on the market today.
Keep in mind that even if you were to buy a lower priced used bow, once you add in the costs of additional gear (arrows, sights, etc.) and any re-tuning at an archery shop – it can often add up to the cost of a brand new higher end bow.
When buying a new bow, you’re assured that you’re not buying a broken or damaged bow. You’ll be covered by the online store’s return policy, and most quality bow manufacturers today include a warranty on their bows at no additional cost.
Before you buy a used bow, check out some of the bows that are high quality, affordable and available online. Here are my top picks:
Compound
If you are looking for an affordable compound bow that you can use straight out of the box, look no further. This compound bow is 100% adjustable for teens, women, and men. It features a wide draw weight range (30-70lbs), 100% aluminum construction and everything you need in the box to start shooting right away.
It comes with a 5 pin sight, stabilizer, arrows, quiver and other accessories. Plus, as you are buying new, you don’t need to service it, replace components or restring. It’s designed so that you can adjust and tune it yourself, without having to go to an archery shop. It’s also covered by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Recurve
If your budget is less than $200, skip the used market and go straight for a Samick Sage. It’s a lightweight, sturdy maple bow that suits left or right-handers equally. It’s an ideal bow for a beginner to intermediate archer and is my go to recommendation for anyone looking to pick up a recurve bow. Because it’s a takedown bow, you only need to buy new limbs for it when you decide to change your draw weight.
When you first start archery, and while you are improving, you may not have the experience to properly judge the quality of a used recurve bow when you’re shopping around. This bow will put you on the right track from day one.
If you have never fired an arrow and you are looking for a beginner’s bow, then check out this one, you can usually pick it up for pretty cheap. It’s a great starter bow with a low draw weight, so you can get your technique right and build strength and accuracy as well.
Longbow
There are still well made longbows that are affordable on the market today. This one is available in a range of draw weights and is crafted from steel, beech, and leather. It’s an attractive and functional recurve longbow. If you need some flexibility to increase your draw weight, then the ergonomic design of the SinoArt 60″ Takedown Longbow, gives you that flexibility for a few dollars more. It has several different limb sizes, so it can go from 30 to 60 pounds of draw weight in 5 pound increments.
Crossbow
If you are new to the crossbow, you might want to invest in an affordable beginner’s bow like this one, it’s a great crossbow that’s very affordable. As you put it together, you’ll get to know your crossbow and how it works. It’s got a 130 pound draw weight, arrows and quiver are included and has an adjustable stock. You get a lot of crossbow for the money, and it’s a great choice for beginner to intermediate archers.
Used vs. New
Buying a used bow offers the possibility of picking up a high end bow at a low price. If you’re an experienced archer and either have access to a bow technician or bow maintenance skills yourself, you can get a significant savings on a bow costing several hundred dollars.
If you’re a beginner or just want a reliable bow that you can take into the field or on the range, don’t discount the new bow market. There are more and more great bows that are very affordable being released every year.
Also, package deals are much more economical, as you get everything you need for one fixed price. Plus, you know that the bow doesn’t have any hidden issues from its previous life.