Bows

[Smokeyyank]

So I'm not a huge gun guy but I like to go shoot. I have a 9mm, few .22s and a .45 carbine. I don't hunt or go overboard into buying stuff. Just like to bring some boomsticks camping or wheeling. Well I'm really fn pissed off I can't find ammo anywhere. Stopped by sportsman's warehouse earlier and shelf's are bare. From talking to a few buddies that are bigger gun guys then me said it's been like that for a while and has compounded with recent government events which I think it's crap but different rant. Anywho as I meandered through empty isles muttering obscenities I came to the archery area stocked with plenty. So I got to thinking maybe bows might be better to have fun with then guns. Help at the store was no existent and other than 6th grade outdoor camp never done anything with a bow. So anyone know anything about bows? Good places to start? Pros cons? 

[mnkyboy]

Find an archery shop, they will set you up with everything you need, adjust the bow to you and will have you shooting half decent by the time you leave.

 

Sportsman's Warehouse is good if you know what you want, but a place that exclusively does archery will be far better.

[Ωhm]

39 minutes ago, Smokeyyank said:

So I got to thinking maybe bows might be better to have fun with then guns.

 

Some what Off Topic and I have no expertise, but I've noticed around town here, axe throwing is becoming popular for both indoor and outdoor fun.

[Dzimm]

100% agree mnkyboy, find an archery shop!  So that you aren't going in completly blind, my advice would be to find a YouTube channel that specializes in archery to get some basic knowledge and maybe get an idea what kind of bow you'd want.  The Hunting Public is one I have come to enjoy as they have great content and are local to my area.  The reason I mention them, is they have some good videos about what to expect in the archery shop and a couple walkthroughs of the bow purchasing experience both in Bass Pro as well as an actual archery shops, so those would be perfect for you to watch.

 

I myself am a gun guy and lucked out once in the last 8 months walking into the ammo section at Bass Pro as the shelf was being stocked.  I got the limit of 9mm for my dad and watched the rest get picked while I was still standing there.  Would really love to find some .22lr and 5.56 but luckily I quite enjoy black powder guns so I am still able to get ammo and powder and do some shooting.  

[89 MJ]

I have a Matthews bow that I won at a church event. I agree with finding an archery shop. 

[75sv1]

I was in a Gun-Archery shop a weekend ago. I was there this last weekend too. The previous one, I watched as a new to archery guy was getting fitted to a bow. It was a compound, but being more of a beginner one. He needed to get used to the draw poundage. So, I would 3rd it to go to a local shop that does archery. The setup for this guy was $150. It was a used bow, but not really used.  Watching how the angles of pull and length and to the nose. 

    As for ammo and guns, its been this way since at least last spring. I think there are a few factors. First is Covid. It has reduced the work force. Ask around and I think you will get at least a 1/4 is out any given week. That also affects supplies and materials. The next is roughly 4-6 million new guns owners in the past year or so. So, now you have a shortage. Sort of like tolliet paper last spring. So, now people are hording. I've found some stuff. It a box here a box there. Basically,  any ammo on the shelf will be gone in an hour or two. There are exceptions. The Local Raul King had a bunch of Norma 300 Win Mag. I was told they had a bunch of 300 Blackout. I bought a few boxes of other stuff. 

[mjeff87]

Great post Yank.  I shot a bow years ago but sold all my stuff off when we moved down here to VA.  Wish I wouldn't have....I've been thinking about getting back into the sport.

 

On ammo, my local gun shop actually had some 9mm the other day when I stopped in to pick up a sling mount for the shotgun.  I was able to grab a couple boxes, then went back a bit later and got 2 more.  I'm going to run down this morning to see if they have any more.

[Smokeyyank]

Cool, thanks for the info. I'll try to drop into a archery shop and get some info. Was looking around google last night and may pick up a pistol crossbow at least for now. Cheap and looks like fun for plinking. 

 

4 hours ago, 75sv1 said:

So, now people are hording

 

And this is what sucks, freaking toilet paper all over again. I just want a few rounds and don't need an armory but unless that the route to go kind of stinks owning a gun for fun. 

[derf]

The benefit of not having been shooting for a while:  I have a bunch of ammo sitting on the shelf.

 

The downside to not shooting for a while:  I haven't been out shooting in a while.

[mjeff87]

^^^truth...sadly.

 

To that end, I picked up a cool little .22 semi auto rifle (Mossberg 702) for myself over black Friday for cheap.  My wife has an AR in .22 flavor, and we have copious amounts of ammo for it, so I got it as something to keep up my range time with until other ammo prices come back down out of the stratosphere (and, if you can even find it).  I added a cheap scope and a sling to it and have put about 600 rounds thru it so far.  Good fun, for cheap, and it keeps me in practice. 

 

I did go back to the gun shop today.  All they had left from the other day was a crap-ton of Hornaday critical defense HP's, they sold slam out of all the other 9mm's they had last week, including some crappy aluminum case import junk.  The Hornaday they did, and still do, have is $35 per box......of 25.  I think most everyone is fed up with the "shortages" and ungodly price gouging and have said enough is enough.  At least around here anyway.  And thats not a bad thing in my book.

 

 

[Pete M]

you guys are still a bit spoiled.  it's always a bit of a challenge to find Winchester 32 special ammo.  always.    why my dad couldn't have gotten it chambered in a more common cartridge is beyond me.  I mean, not being able to predict 50 years into the future to see what would be common is no excuse!

 

 

[BeatCJ]

No worries Pete, 32 Special is easy to load, and it is really easy on brass. Roll your own.

[Pete M]

I don't shoot enough to have actually gotten that far into the sport, but I do hang on to all my brass for just that reason.   some day... 

[Swampy]

Bows are great. If you are not looking to be a match shooter buying second hand can get you a great deal at a fraction of the price. Companies are coming out with new flagship, high end bows every year. Some people buy them new and I would too if I could afford it but being the way I am, second hand is better than none. I shoot a bear anarchy HC which was a $1500 bow back in 2014/15 but I bought it in 2019 for $275. Hell of a deal if you ask me. 

 

As you mentioned with archery your ammo is "reusable" as long as you don't lose an arrow. It is fun to shoot. I love it. I actually use my bow for hunting as well.

[Eagle]

6 hours ago, mjeff87 said:

I did go back to the gun shop today.  All they had left from the other day was a crap-ton of Hornaday critical defense HP's, they sold slam out of all the other 9mm's they had last week, including some crappy aluminum case import junk.  The Hornaday they did, and still do, have is $35 per box......of 25.

 

 

That's not that bad. Most of the good self-defense ammo (brand name JHP) was over a buck a round in .45 ACP and getting up there for 9mm even before this latest crunch. For giggles, I just received an e-mail from J&G Sales. They are offering some Russian, steel-case .380ACP in FMJ (not JHP) for a special price: $69.95 per box of fifty. Yep, that's right -- $1.40 a round for crap ammo that most people would never allow in one of their guns.

[75sv1]

Where I am at, I don't see .22 ammo, no 9mm, I snagged a box of .380 auto. Primers, good luck. The GS I go to, said he could get reloads, if he could supply primers. There was the .22 shortage probably 10 years back. It was cheaper to shoot .223. 

[89 MJ]

We have a contact in a gun store. That is the only way we can get ammo around here. 

[75sv1]

The GS I deal with sells what he can get in, with no limit. Sell a box of ammo or a few rounds with a purchase of a gum, if available. I believe I get some consideration since I've dealt with them over the past few years.  RK has a 1 box limit. 

[Smokeyyank]

I already got enough hobbies/money pits as is. Getting into .75-$1+ range a shoot just kind of sucks. Think the last time I bought ammo was 3 years ago. I remember a while ago when .22 was impossible to find and I couldn't for the life of my figure out why. .22s are probably my favorite to shoot because it's fun and cheap. One of my buddies just bought a lower jig (if that's what it's called) and reloading equipment. He spent a small fortune and that's his vice. Mine is still clapped out $h*t box jeeps . 

[mjeff87]

20 hours ago, Eagle said:

 

That's not that bad. Most of the good self-defense ammo (brand name JHP) was over a buck a round in .45 ACP and getting up there for 9mm even before this latest crunch. For giggles, I just received an e-mail from J&G Sales. They are offering some Russian, steel-case .380ACP in FMJ (not JHP) for a special price: $69.95 per box of fifty. Yep, that's right -- $1.40 a round for crap ammo that most people would never allow in one of their guns.

 

Yep.  Not arguing that point at all.  But, I (and 9/10's of the shootingim  sports enthusiasts in this country) are not shooting JHP on the regular at the range every week/month.