I just bought a used bow, what's your opinion?

[Lefty_Russ]

Hi,
I'm a newbie to archery. I just bought a used Buckmasters G2 bow. 60# for $165. It comes with an arrow rest, and a single pin sight. Does anyone have an opinion on the G2 bow? Would anyone care to share their tips and tricks for tweaking this bow? I called Jennings and they said the bow was made from 2002-2005. The technology did not change during those production years. They didn't have any recalls for the G2. Supposedly, they had shot over 600,000 times with a G2 during testing, and never experienced a limb problem. The only problem they had was one of the limb pockets began to fail. I'm not planning to shoot 600,000 arrows anytime soon, so I'm hoping it will last me!

Any opinions? :idea:

(I'd insert a picture but I'm not sure how. I'm new to this forum thing.)

[sullyxlh]

For $165 you can't beat it,
If you plan on hunting with it,start shootin now and don't stop till the opener,there's a shoot every weekend somewhere.
Good luck!

[Joe Archer]

It sounds like a great deal on a great bow! As for tweaking it, I would suggest making sure it is tuned for your arrows and tip weight. I like paper tuning and you will find some good links in these forums on how to do this.
Here is a link to a great review on the Buckmaster G2.. Have fun shooting!
http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/Anov01issue/buckmaster_g2_reviewJN.htm
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[w00d]

Hi Russ. Welcome to your new addiction. :)

Is your draw weight set to 60#? What is your draw length? What arrows do you have? How heavy are your tips?

I'll use OT2 to help you determine a properly spined arrow for your set up. It had me shooting bullet holes through paper in no time.

Adam

[bigbuckdown]

good deal

[michigan head hunter]

nice bow it shoot very smooth the limbs you can't go wrong go to a shop and have them check to make sure your draw is wright and you have the peep moved for you and the kisser if you have one check your arrows out to see if they fit your setup and good luck and welcome bloodbrother to the family.:yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes:

[radiohead]

Congrats on the new purchase.
You may want to take it into a good archery shop to get it tuned and make sure its fitted properly for you and not the guy you bought it from.

[Lefty_Russ]

Thanks to everyone for their positive insight and great tips!

I'll definitely take the G2 to an archery shop for a set up. I live in Battle Creek but work in Jackson, and the guys at Schupbach's will do a set up for $35. I'll be sure to ask them about setting up the peep and kisser for me too. Great tip! They also have the W4 module for shortening the draw length to 27" for $11. The G2 came 60# 29". I'm using Carbon Express Terminator arrows. I don't recall the model number, I'll have to check on that. I'm going to try 100 grain broadheads this year. Last year I used 125 grain broadheads because they came with my old bow. My hunting buddy said I'd get a faster arrow speed with the 100 grain. Last year I started out shooting the Proline at 58# but I later cranked it up one turn to 61# because I was getting stronger. I'm planning to try the G2 at the full 60#.

I'll have to read up on paper tuning. Thanks!

Thanks for the website link. Yeah, that's actually the site that convinced me to buy the Buckmaster G2! I emailed the writer, and he wrote back encouraging me to buy it. It's one of his favorite alltime bows.

Yes, my intention is for hunting. I bowhunted last fall with my buddy for the first time. I used an old old Proline Point Blank (25+ yrs old) I acquired in a trade for a set of my old golf clubs. It was a great experience, even though I shot over the back of a nice buck. Darn! I hear that's a common mistake made by newbies from a 15' treestand. Anyway, it was exciting enought that now I'm hooked! What an adrenaline rush! I bought an target cube for practicing, and try to shoot about 40-50 arrows a week in the garage. (My wife won't let me shoot in the basement. lol.) I live within a subdivision in Battle Creek so throwing arrows across my yard is probably not a good idea. Tempting, but not a good idea. I'm not yet confident enough to attend a shoot, but maybe sometime soon.

My hunting buddy has a Matthews bow. When he was helping me with the Proline I couldn't believe the speed at which his arrows flew in comparison to mine. I knew that if I liked bowhunting I'd have to upgrade to a faster and shorter bow. The Proline was long in comparison and sometimes tough to negotiate in a treestand.

By the way, I dropped a big spike and a big doe with my inexpensive .45 cal CVA Eclipse muzzleloader this year. So I do have a little meat in the freezer until next year! My buddy had instructed me to not shoot spikes except the mature bucks that were probably genetic wimps. So, in my best inexperienced judgement I actually made the right call. Go figure! The spike tastes great!

Thanks again for all the great tips! Please keep them coming!

[dougdad]

Hey lefty, Sounds like your on the right track, I bought my first bow used and my secound bow used, the secound was more to help a friend out of $$$ probs. then to get a new bow, but it worked out for the better. That secound bow was a Bear whitetail 2, now, I know for shure, 25 years old and I am still using it, prob. will till it falls apart. I kill deer with it every year so I figure why replace it? It works just fine! Good luck to you in your new venture, I know you are now hooked to artchery as most of us are, Its like an addiction ounce you try it, I think it is the up close and personal thing that gets me. GOOD LUCK AND HUNT SAFE!!!:D

[Lefty_Russ]

dougdad, Thanks for the encouragement.

I agree, there's nothing wrong with using the old bows. In fact, I beginning to wish I had kept the Proline as a backup. It shot really nice, which I'm sure made my first bowhunting experience so positive.

Next, I'll get bows for my daughters, 17 & 12. I know they'd like to try it. Both girls are 5" tall. I need to take them to an archery shop to get fitted. If anyone hears of a bargain on a kids bow(s) their size, drop me a line.

In a prior entry w00d asked for my arrow specs. I had included everything except the model number of the arrows I use. The Carbon Express Terminator arrows I use are #6075. I hope that helps.

Thanks again! :p

[grandblanc]

Good bow, you'll enjoy it. Sounds like you got a good deal. With all the money you saved, it's time to get some new arrows (don't cut corners here) and practice.

[w00d]

Hi Russ, I threw all of your info into OnTarget2 and it's reporting that your arrows are way too stiff for 60# of draw. Those arrows would tune very easily if you were shooting a 70# bow, with 125 gr. tips, and the arrows cut to 31". So in other words, you may have a heck of a time getting these things to fly well, especially through paper.

If you want to stay with Carbon Express arrows, the ideal arrow for your setup would be a something like the Carbon Express CX Select 200 with cut to 28" using 100 gr. tips. Theoretically, you'd be shooting those about 255 ft./sec. with about 51 KE. If you want suggestions on other brands, let me know.

You may shoot just fine with the arrows you have. But I've been told that the stiffer the spine on your arrows relative to your bow's set up, the more errors in your form will influence your arrow flight. In other words, you may not be able to get those arrows to paper tune properly, no matter what you try.

PM me if you need more arrow suggestions.

Adam

[Lefty_Russ]

Hi w00d,
Sorry it's taken so long write back. Computer issues, plus I didn't backup a copy of my Favorites so I temporarily lost this website. But, now I'm back! lol

Anyway, thanks for checking on the arrows. I'm going to agree with you. I'm still getting a very inconsistent arrow flight. I'll definitely look into the other CX arrows, but I'm open to other brands too.

Can you recommend an broadhead? I was reading about the G5 arrowheads and a few other brands. Someone recommended a one-piece head. What's your opinion?

-Lefty_Russ

[Mightymouse]

It was a great experience, even though I shot over the back of a nice buck. Darn! I hear that's a common mistake made by newbies from a 15' treestand.

You want to aim just a touch lower when in a treestand, it is a common mistake that has jumped up and bit many people, not just newbies. Another common issue when shooting out of a treestand is form breakdowns from people bending to shoot at a downward angle. If you can practice from a stand (or any elevated position) as much as possible that will help a ton.


Good luck with the new bow and good luck out in the woods this fall too!!!!!

[skipper34]

Hi w00d,
Sorry it's taken so long write back. Computer issues, plus I didn't backup a copy of my Favorites so I temporarily lost this website. But, now I'm back! lol

Anyway, thanks for checking on the arrows. I'm going to agree with you. I'm still getting a very inconsistent arrow flight. I'll definitely look into the other CX arrows, but I'm open to other brands too.

Can you recommend an broadhead? I was reading about the G5 arrowheads and a few other brands. Someone recommended a one-piece head. What's your opinion?

-Lefty_Russ

Broadhead brand and design is mostly a personal preference. ALL of today's broadheads will do the job WHEN AND ONLY WHEN THEY ARE ON TARGET. Which means in the boiler room preferrably with a broadside shot at reasonable range. By reasonable range, that which you can CONSISTENTLY group arrows within 3 or 4 inches. If that means 20 yards or less, so be it. Most deer are taken at less than 20 yards. My suggestion for broadheads are any which fly true with your set-up and which you do not have to sharpen by hand. Hand sharpening is an artform in itself and unless you have ample time to learn how to do it, stick with those heads with an insert. I have used mechanicals and fixed heads with success. For the mechanicals, try Tekan II or Snyper 3-blade. For fixed, I use Slicktricks and they fly very true. Just remember to practice alot with the hunting heads which you will use. Have fun!

[Lefty_Russ]

Thanks Mightymouse for the treestand insight and advice. I'll definitely start practicing elevated shots.

And, thanks Skipper34 for the broadhead lesson. Much appreciated!
I'm assuming the the one-piece heads have to be sharpened by hand.
It's probably a good thing my old 125g broadheads use the replaceable razor inserts.
Maybe I should just use these since I already own them. What you do think? :idea:

[Mightymouse]

^^^^^

I should add that a good rule of thumb for aiming on a broadside shot from a treestand is to aim for the heart. If you aim there and miss a bit high due to the angle you should be right in the lungs. If you aim heart and hit heart you will be all set as well. More often than not it is a win-win situation.

As for having to bend while shooting from a stand, remember to bend at the waist. That will keep your upperbody mechanics aligned and lead to better results.

[Lefty_Russ]

Wow! Great tips! Thanks! Keep'em comming!

[w00d]

Hi w00d,
Sorry it's taken so long write back. Computer issues, plus I didn't backup a copy of my Favorites so I temporarily lost this website. But, now I'm back! lol

Anyway, thanks for checking on the arrows. I'm going to agree with you. I'm still getting a very inconsistent arrow flight. I'll definitely look into the other CX arrows, but I'm open to other brands too.

Can you recommend an broadhead? I was reading about the G5 arrowheads and a few other brands. Someone recommended a one-piece head. What's your opinion?

-Lefty_Russ

I started with 100gr. Muzzy's and loved them. I'm trying Slick Tricks this year. I have read good things about the G5's as well. Personally, I would recommend going with Muzzy's initially because you get 6 for the price of 3 G5's or Slick Tricks. The Muzzy's come with a set of practice blades you can use to test your broadhead flight without worrying about ruining a set of hunting blades.

Adam

[Lefty_Russ]

Thanks w00d!

The Muzzy broadheads definitely sound like the way to go. Six in a package with practice blades sounds like a no-brainer.

I looked at the Muzzy website. There appears to be a few different 100g models. Is there a specific model you can recommend?

Also, going back to the topic of arrows, please recommend other makes/models along with the CX Select 200. I want to do a little price shopping. Along with the carbon arrows, I'm open to aluminum too.

Again, I really appreciate all the info you've generously shared.



_Russ

[w00d]

These arrows will all have ideal spine for your bow. All arrows have a 100gr. tip, are cut to 29", and the bow is set to 60lbs. draw unless specified otherwise.

Carbon Express Terminator Hunter (Size = 4560)
Carbon Express Terminator (Size = 4560)
Carbon Express Rebel Hunter (Size = 4560, cut to 30")
Pretty much any Beman arrow (Size = 400, 58lbs. draw)
Pretty much any Easton arrow (Size = 400, 58lbs. draw)
Pretty much any Gold Tip arrow (Size = 5575, 58lbs. draw)Those arrows will have as ideal of a spine as possible with your bow. You should find it much easier to shoot those arrows.

Adam

[w00d]

I looked at the Muzzy website. There appears to be a few different 100g models. Is there a specific model you can recommend?

Just the standard Muzzy 100-gr. 3-blade heads.