Bear Pioneer II Compound Bow

The Bear Pioneer II is a discontinued 2007-2008 beginner's compound that put genuine adult-grade hardware, a machined aluminum riser, compression-molded limbs and a 15-position no-press cam, into a package tuned to the softest real draw weight in Bear's lineup at 15 to 29 pounds. That construction is why it earns a look over the cast-riser starter bows it sits near in price, and the very low poundage is why it works so well as a true first bow: a small or new shooter builds form without fighting the weight. The 283-287 fps on Bear's chart is a projected figure at a 50-pound setup this bow never reaches, so read it as what it is, a carryover from the heavier twin, and expect a deliberately gentle, quiet shooter instead. My one practical note is the bare shot's slight buzz, which the forty-dollar string stop the riser is already drilled for settles nicely. With complete examples trading around $40 to $80 used, it is one of the cheapest ways to put a real machined-aluminum compound in a beginner's hands. An excellent choice for the youngest or most brand-new archer in the family, particularly strong as a soft-drawing first bow that teaches good habits from the very first shot. Buyers who want a bow that grows past the backyard into real hunting weight should also look at the Bear Apprentice, or the wider-ranging Diamond Infinite Edge... read full review