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G'day Mike,

I don't know much about compounds, although my first bow was an old Hoyt compound (I killed a brumby and a donkey with that ancient bow).

Draw length is a little bit tricky to nail down exactly without a bow, but I think we can get you close: One old method is to place an arrow (or other straight stick) in that hollow at the base of your neck, and hold your arms straight out in front of you, pointing with each index finger and making each index finger tip touch, supporting the other end of the arrow (or stick) on the two finger tips. Your arms should be straight, forming a triangle in front of you. I hope this makes sense. Now, your theoretical draw length, with a traditional bow, would be the distance along that shaft from your neck to your finger tips. However, with a compound bow draw length is usually longer, at least an inch, possibly up to two (now, I'm not an expert with compound bows, but I think this is roughly right). So that doesn't give you an exact length, but one that you could take a good stab with. The best thing would be to try somebody else's bow, someone about the same size as you. Is there a club nearby? Another consideration with draw length: Sure, you can worry about getting it exactly and precisely right as time goes-on - and although I don't know how to do it I believe you can buy a bow press and make the adjustments yourself - but you will find that you can still get a good start with a bow that may be an inch or so out either way. I know that I could happily, as a beginner, shoot my friend's compound bows even though their draw lengths were longer or shorter than mine. So, in summary, if you can't find anyone who really knows how to set you up, you could use my method and be off to a very good start. Another idea would be to call Lancaster Archery, and I bet they could offer very good advice over the phone. They deal mostly with compound bows, perhaps one of the biggest, if not the biggest, online modern archery / bowhunting shop around - good service, too.

Yep, sights are easy enough to install, at least the front sights are. The rear peep is something I have never installed personally, having been lucky enough to have an archery shop set that up for me on my one and only old compound bow. But I don't think it would be too hard. I'd say you'd get the answer from Google if you didn't have somebody nearby to help.

And, with a modern compound, carbon arrows are the best bet, not wooden one. Sorry, Bob and I naturally think of bits of wood when it comes to bows!

I hope this helps, although I sure am not an expert. Now, Mick (.264?) on this forum certainly is.

I'll PM my number through.

Cheers,

Ben