Me and my gf looking to get into archery, starting gear?

[Redriot]

Your decision hasn't been influenced by the recent movie Hunger Games, has it?

[GW2lacky]

Awesome thank you for all the help with this.

So let me just recap what Ill be ordering:

-Samick sage (reviews were very good and its very affordable)
-half dozen arrows
-arm guard
-shooting glove
-bowstring wax
-ill look up diy quivers
-yellowjacket target


Few more questions:
-Should I buy extra bow strings or do they last a while?
-Is it difficult to string a bow or would just watching a how to video on youtube suffice?
-Any tips?

Your bow string will last you a while...but can be dependent on environmental factors and how well you care for it. The string that comes with the Sage is decent quality and good for learning on. Once it starts to wear out look into a "Fast Flight" string as a performance upgrade. If you are waxing your string often you shouldn't have to worry about a second one for quite a while.

That link I initially gave you for the Sage combo package (from Twig Archery) comes with what's called a "bow stringer" for free. It allows you to string the bow without risk of twisting the limbs or messing up the bow ends (this can happen when using the 'behind the knee' method. Here is a video on how to use one. A little awkward the first time you string and unstring your bow but its easy to do and will be second nature in no time at all. Twig Archery also puts the nock point on for you which most places do not (resulting in you having to buy a t-square or paying to have a local archery shop do it for you).

Only tips I can give are:
1. NEVER dry fire your bow. This can damage it and/or break it the first time you do it. There is a lot of tension on a bow when you have it strung up and it relies on the resistance of the arrow being shot to maintain that integrity.

2. Practice, practice, practice...That bag you are looking to get works really well even indoors. Even if you only have 5-6 yards to work with you can work on grouping and target practice.

3. Join a club...they are usually inexpensive to belong to and you'll interface with archers who have decades of experience under their belt.

I always wanted to learn archery, seems so fun.

See if there is a local club in your area. Many of them have beginner classes through the summer that are very low cost. If you decide its something for you the info will be here and should allow you to get into the sport for <$270.

Your decision hasn't been influenced by the recent movie Hunger Games, has it?

Meh...even if the OP or other people are influenced by the movie (or the book) then more power to them. There are far worse influences in the world. I haven't seen the movie and didn't really care for the book (one of the few I've never finished). I was HEAVILY influenced in my young life by the book Desert Solitaire...enough so that it changed my outlook on life as well as my personal pursuits quite a bit.

[DarkDakkar]

young hunter, huh? =)

[Synaxis]

I've wanted to get into archery for a while.. specifically mounted archery. Like this (archery starts at about 6:00). Nothing competitive.

Good luck to you two!

[Some Random Guy]

Archery is a bucketload of fun, but I'd really suggest that you hook up with a local club once in a while atleast, to get some tips and just discuss different bows/arrows/whatever. I used to be really good at archery 3 o something years ago. 4th place in the Swedish "3D" league for my age-group and 9th place in the indoor championship the year before that. I've always been shooting a "Compound", the more techy kind of bow, the precision you can achieve with those are incredible =O

Anyways, a string will last you at LEAST a year in my experience. Arrows, if you hit your target they can last a while, it's when you miss that they either die or you loose 'em =P Stringing a bow, depending on the type can be quite difficult and you might need special tools for it. A regular recurve/longbow shouldn't be any problems, just make sure you're not doing it upsidedown =P A compound on the other hand, will require some special tools. But as people have pointed out before, join a club, they can lend you some arrows and a decent bow for practicing with them. It's really good! =D

I used a 40-pound bow when I was around 14, and I wasn't particulary strong at the time, so there's your benchmark. It can be really tough in the beginning since the muscles you use is not what you normally use in your every-day life, so it will take a while to build up some strength and technique. Technique is really the key when pulling heavy bows, without the proper technique you wouldn't be able to pull a 30 pound bow.

If you have any further questions regarding whatever within the archery range please, send me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can =D

Best of luck to you two, and keep practicing =D

[BRO90X]

I love all the feedback im getting thanks a lot guys. So I went on the site for the samick sage and they didnt have anything under 35 pounds until just recently which has kept me from buying it because im afraid my gf wont be able to pull it and shell give up on it (she gets frustrated kinda easily). But as of today i saw the got 20-30 pounds on there so i think ill be ordering them today or at least mine.