Fred Bear bow?

[96trigger]

I'm looking at getting a new bow this upcoming year, I don't want to spend a whole lot of money, I have a new baby coming in May and I'm not sure if I'll get out a whole lot the next couple of years. I don't like my old bow anymore. does anybody have any experience with the Fred bear bows? I'm looking at an element or an isntinct, I held the element last weekend and it felt good in the hand. Well weighted with a small grip. Any info would be helpful.

[BeerHunter]

Last winter after Hunting season I looked around for a new bow. I decided a Fred Bear Buckmaster was the one that was in my price range and was a single cam bow that would shoot fast.

I purchased a brand New Buckmaster g2 XL for $307 delivered to my house and completely set up. I switched to my wisker biscuit but everything else was very nice. SHoots very quiet and fast. Shot a nice buck and a doe with my bow this year and i love my New bow.

The buckmaster was the old model. I have not seen any of the new ones but i suspect they are just as good if not better of quality as mine is.

[LakeDocktor]

A friend of mine wanted to get back into bowhunting a few months back. He was looking around for a quality bow that fit his price range. To make a long story short, I recommended the Instinct to him. For the little bit more money that it is compared to the Element, you can see quite a bit of difference. They retail around $399 for the bow itself. Needless to say, he now is the proud owner of a fast, quality bow, the Fred Bear Instinct.

[DooWap]

Spend the extra money and get the instinct, you'll thank yourself later.

[Slow Jigger]

what kind of price range is this bow?

Looking for a parallel limb bow that won't break the bank. I hunt grond blinds and my high country bow is a bit too long axel to axel for me....

[96trigger]

From what I've seen, you can get a fully set up Element in your hand $350, From cabelas its $400, 300 without the set up. The instinct is $100 bucks more. From the research that I have done, they are a top quality bow without the name brand price. Beermaster,, I can pick up a buck master bow for $200 bucks brand new, but not set up. Is that a good price? It doesn't seem like it, I'll have alot more that $100 into if I get a new sight, quiver, rest, arrows, etc... I've seen those bows alot (ebay, amazon etc), I haven't been able to pick one up yet and see how they feel.

[ChrisT]

I have been fortunate enough to have an understanding wife who allows me to shoot mathews, but one of my friends just purchased a Fred Bear just before the season. He shot PSE, Hoyt, and Fred Bear. He went with the element. It is fairly quick and accurate. The biggest thing is how parallel the bow is. Meaning, when I look at a bow I think it is very important to have the top wheel match the cam on the bottom. This will increase its accuracy by making it more parallel. The biggest thing is to find the price range you want to go with and shoot as many bows in that range as possible. Your comfort is huge.

[Chasingame]

I have the new Fred Bear and absolutely love it. I can not speak highly enough of it for the price vs. value compared to other bows i have shot. No, it is not a Mathews but it does not come with that pricetag either. A friend of mine shot it, and went out and bought one too. I believe you will be extremely happy with this bow with a few mods.

[BeerHunter]

Looks like i should have waited a year for the new Bows to get on Ebay. Still love my bow and not disapointed at all.

The element looks like a very nice bow for an inexpensive price.

[DooWap]

Gander mtn has the element for $299 base price and a $350 set up. The instinct has a tag price of $399.

[tisch008]

I have a Fre Bear Epic Extreme and really like it. It's not available any more but I hope I don't need a new one for many years.

[96trigger]

Beerhunter, if you got it all set up for just over $300 and delivered, your still doing better than I am. I can find just the bow for $200.

[SartellMN]

I have a friend who is the archery manager at Sportsman's Warehouse in St. Cloud. He said wait to buy a bow until January. All the new models arrive then, and the old models are closed out. He siad there were pretty good discounts.

That is what I am going to do.

[96trigger]

Thanks, guys, you are reassuring my findings that the fred bear bow is a great bow for the price. I'll have to wait until after xmas, most of us know how tight that can get in the pocket book.

[so haaad]

I have heard very good things about the Bear Instinct. What I heard is that it has tested in the same range as many of the bows in the $700-800 range.

[bkft]

has anyone heard anything about the new Truth bow? I'm planning on a new bow this winter (upgrading from an early 90's Browning, so it's a big step for me!), and don't want to spend $800 on a Matthews, if I can help it.

[so haaad]

bkft, I shoot a 1990 Pearson and have been debating about getting a new bow for the last 5+ years. The Fred Bear Truth seems like a very nice bow. But personally, I refuse to spend that much money on a bow. Check out the Bear Instinct. I'm going to this winter. Maybe it's time to say Merry Christmas...to me.

[birdswacker]

I bought the Fred Bear Instinct before the season this year coming from and old PSE. It shoots alot nicer,faster,smoother and the bow itself is alot lighter and a bit shorter. I would say it would be money well spent.

[SnoManX]

I bought the Fred Bear Element pkg this fall - hard case, 6 arrows, field pts, whisker biscuit, tru glo quiver, tru glo sights w/ black field light, and quick release for $349. I love it!! After shooting my neighbors Reflex, I know I made the right decision for myself.

[DooWap]

The problem with waiting to buy a bow till the end of the season is that you better be left handed and want to shoot a 50-60 lb bow.

[theminnow]

I have a fred bear element and love it! Bought it from Gander Mtn. fully set up for $350

[ScottND]

Gander in Fargo was going to match the $315 Instinct price I found online but after trying the SQ32 Hybrid I bought it for $349. Talk about great service...WOW. Jeremiah gives unreal professional suggestions and dead on setups. After 20 years of not shooting he had me drilling a 2" group in the bullseye after 20 arrows. I'm impressed! and that takes a lot for me! I used to be a very loyal Scheels/Cabelas customer but now I've added another.

[NELS-BELLS]

I shot the Truth bow last weekend at Mike's Archery in St. Cloud and it was very smooth. I also shot the new Hoyt and they were very comparable with the Hoyt feeling just slightly better. Maybe that was a mental thing. The Hoyt was $100 more. I think that most bows with parallel limbs are going to be a lot smoother than the non parallel.

They were both set up with Trophy Ridge drop away and sights. Now I just have to figure out how to convince the wife that I need a new bow.

Nels

[almostthere!]

Quote:

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They were both set up with Trophy Ridge drop away and sights. Now I just have to figure out how to convince the wife that I need a new bow.

Nels

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That's an easy one. Purposely break your bow. Then tell her that it slipped out off the pull line while you were lowering it down from the stand and it broke. Or just break it down and show her the bow in pieces. Then, at this point start shedding tears and whimper a bit.

[NELS-BELLS]

Almostthere - I actually thought of that. Its tempting.

My Parker is only 5 years old and has almost every aftermarket vibration reducing products known to man, on it, and it still was no comparison to these new bows. You can't even tell that you've fired these new bows until you hear the arrow hit the target.

Nels

[96trigger]

I'd love to break my bow and do that to my wife. Unfortunately, shes smarther than that and would figure it out. She finally figured out that my guns had been multiplying in the gun cabinet. I had two when we got married, they have since multiplied exponentially. Thanks for all the great info on this thread. I will more than likely buy a fred bear. I'm going to do some looking over xmas break.