Im currently shooting a 55 to 57 lb bow depending what scale i check the weight on. I know im over bowed. I shoot pretty decent but tire quickly and things start to break down. Ive been thinking hard about purchasing another bow but im unsure of how much poundage i should drop. I would still like to be able to hunt with it but also want it light enough to comfortable shoot longer to help build form and build up the back muscles. I can feel back tension when i practice draw without a bow or when i use a band but i cant feel it well when shooting the bow i currently have. Was thinking of dropping to 45 lb but question if thats enough drop to achieve what im looking for.
You could buy a take-down with 2 sets of limbs. One set 45 # for hunting and another set say 35 # for target shooting.
Is that 55-57lbs at YOUR draw length, or are you verifying what is marked on the bow?
Txsportman the weight is at my draw length.
The only way to be able to shoot heavy poundage is to build up.to it with a bow that is a bit too heavy for you now.
That is the attraction of take-downs and ILF.
After a lay off over the winter, I struggle at first. But starting out with just a few shots and increasing each shooting session brings me back.
But you have to decide how heavy you can go in the end. Two years ago I shot 55# but had to shoot 3 days a week. Currently at 48# with no problems. Waiting on a set of 52# limbs later this week.
Wheels2, sonin your experince dropping 10 lbs i should notice a pretty significant difference?
There's been a lot of big game harvested with bows 45# and under.
I wouldn't hesitate to deer hunt with a 40# bow.
I think 45 will give you a light enough weight to handle comfortably, and plenty poundage for deer size critters.
45#"s could be good and then it may not be good at all.
Hopefully, you would be able to locate one to try before buying.
On a real cold morning 45 might feel pretty nice compared to 55.
I shoot every day sometimes both at lunch and in the evening as my office is close to home. I am 52 and relatively healthy. Given this background, 5 pounds in traditional bows is a big difference to me. For example, I own two 60# bows and still enjoy hunting with them a few times each year, however if I shoot them too often as in 20 or so shots a night I can feel it and I no longer like that feeling. I also have three 50# and two 45# bows. Right now I can shoot the 50's pretty much as often as I like. The 45s even more so. But we are not all the same. My advice would be pick up a 50 or borrow one from someone and see how you like it.
I hunted with 60 to 70 pound bows for years.I do believe in shooting what you can handle easily in any situation.From when your cold,tired and also from unorthodox positions.I now shoot 40-50 pounds as I get older
Is 45 pounds enough.Definatly!You might even expand your draw length and get a more dynamic release which will improve your arrow speed from the lighter bow.Your form might improve which will lead to better accuracy.You can work on form more.You can shoot more.You can hold the bow longer.
If a bows too heavy it can lead to serious shooting problems for an archer that are hard to remedy.Thousands of shots from a bow that's too heavy is gonna be a problem for many archers.Constantly reinforcing bad habits that can become deeply ingrained.
You might look for a high performance bow and good string.A high performance bow and high quality string can make a 45# bow shoot like other 50 pounders.
Other than that its most important to have a well tuned arrow and high quality sharp broadhead from lighter bows for hunting.
I hate to see draw weight used as the only measure of a hunting bow.
A high performance recurve vs a classic Bear Grizzly? Lots of guys use both with success.
I like to follow my signature line and shoot as much weight as you can with accuracy.
That coupled with a reasonably heavy arrow...
You can find lots of posts about game taken with lighter draw equipment. If you can get it, the extra draw weight and corresponding arrow weight gives you an edge in arrow momentum.
I guess my original post was a long winded way of asking if a 10 lb drop in weight is enough to see a difference in feel and more easily work on form longer. I have no concern on hunting with a 40 lb bow. I killed my first deer with 32 lbs.
Yes, you will be amazed at the lighter difference in feel and I'll bet you shoot a lot better with 40#.
You will notice the difference and its all good.
Willing to bet you find yourself shooting better.
10-12# of draw weight is a big difference. You'll certainly notice it.
Shooting my 45# limbs vs 55# limbs/bow is becoming more enjoyable. At 75 I still can shoot the 55# LB I have but the recurves are not so pleasant anymore. I like to shoot so when I go to the range I want to take as many shots as I want. I know some guys that say you only get one shot at a game animal and that's all they take at a target. That's not me. As for hunting I wouldn't hesitate to take on a deer size critter with a 45# bow. After all it has been the most popular weight since old Fred started to make bows for the 2 season hunter.
I've been looking at this myself , I've been shooting 58# for a long time, ( I'm 66)
I just went through quite a bit of health issues and kinda freaked out thinking I wouldn't be able to shoot my current set up. I have a close friend that's a bowyer and makes a very nice longbow. He shoots 40@29 and shoots through several deer a year with no issues. He recommended 45# for me , so I had him build me a bow. It shoots a 520 gr arrow with authority BUT I'm having a hard time adjusting to the lighter weight and the affect on my release and anchoring. I did kill a deer earlier this year with it , with a pass through, but it wasn't a fluid shot, I had to think about it. It made me uncomfortable learning to shoot a new bow while hunting , so I went back to my normal heavier bow and killed a 8 point a few days later with a perfect shot. I think I really should have only dropped maybe 5-6 lbs instead of 13 , or wait till summer to give me time to learn a new bow/arrow set up. In the long run the lighter bow will probably be a positive move with increased accuracy while still maintaining the ability to shoot a good hunting weight arrow.
I went from 57# to 52# about 7 or 8 years ago. My body is feeling the effects of 40 years in construction. I've been very comfortable at that weight until last winter. I pulled something in my left shoulder lifting plywood on a job and it hurt to try to pull my bow. I actually couldn't do it as that shoulder would collapse. I ended up buying a 48 # bow and was able to shoot that. I babied that shoulder for months and shoot the 48# bow regularly. I am now able to shoot my 52and 53# bows but figure why? All I'm hunting right now is deer and I'm confident in the lighter bow. I'm just about to turn 65. So 4 or 5 # made a big difference to me.
A 10 lb drop in bow weight will feel significantly lighter....you will notice it for sure.
Rather than going from 57# to 45#, why not go from 57# to 47#? You'll hardly notice the extra 2# in pull, but the extra weight will give you the assurance that you're always pulling at least 45#, regardless of small form or equipment measurement errors. I did this myself, and find it easy to practice enough with the 47# bow to hunt, although it would not be easy to shoot 100 arrows in a 3D tournament. But then I've got a 40# bow for when I want to do that.
I know what has worked for me may not work for you, but here goes anyway.
I am 68, and have shot for many years. I used to shoot 60#, but dropped to 55# awhile ago. Now I feel like I do much better with 50#.
I also have a beautiful 43# ebony triple carbon elk-heart .
I took some lessons a couple years ago from Arne Moe a member here who is an excellent archery coach). At the time I took a 52# JD. Berry and a 42# JD Berry, both 66" long. We started out with the lighter bow, and later moved to the heavier one. Almost immediately Arne commented that my release was noticeably better with the heavier bow.
That is why I shoot my 50# and 49# bows virtually all the time. My release is better than with that beautiful little 43# elk heart. It's just too light for me. That, and for the larger big game animals in my home state I have to shoot at least 50 lbs.
I notice a difference of 4#.
I would have trouble dropping 10# and then trying to go back up.
Quote from: MnFn on October 21, 2020, 12:18:52 AM
We started out with the lighter bow, and later moved to the heavier one. Almost immediately Arne commented that my release was noticeably better with the heavier bow.
This is a great point to consider when moving down in weight. I find that a lighter bow can be less forgiving of form issues. That is precisely why I start practicing with one after periods of not shooting. After my form is back in shape, then I work on building up the muscles to comfortably pull my hunting bow at my preferred hunting weight. Sometimes I even shoot a bow that is above my preferred weight to help with the process too. Once hunting season starts, however, I become a one bow shooter.
Also, I think you will notice a difference with as little as a 5 pound drop in weight. Anyway, good luck with your search for a new bow.
All good info. One thing I will second is bow length and how that can affect your perception of bow weight. With bows of the same weight, but one being a longbow and the other being a recurve (which are generally shorter) the longbow will almost always seem lighter. There are other variables like when a bow begins to stack etc., but the longer limbs generally have a lower perceived weight to me.
Over time I have dropped in draw weight several times. I went 78# to 65# to 55# to 53#. There were no problems adjusting to each of these weights. Also, I have been shooting 40# since last spring as a campaign to improve form. especially my release. It has felt a little mushy and took some getting used to. However, after a while, it feels good also. Injuries, as a basis for weight drop, may change the whole picture, and medical attention may be advisable. Overall, though I like my 53# bows and can still shoot them, so I will stay with them. If injury is not in the picture, an average guy should be able to move up 5 or so pounds with no problems. A couple of weeks of solid training will prepare those muscles adequately. Moving down in weight will require some training as well since light bows often feel too soft, which will take some getting used to. For me, it has taken more conscious effort to drop in weight. Odd, don't you think?
Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I believe from what i have read i wont drop more than the 10lbs down to 45lbs and Im now thinking a drop to 50 lbs might be better. Im currently shooting a J.D lund whisperstik recurve im thinking of purchasing a Dwyer dauntless. Wish there was more traditional shops around that a guy could go play with some different weights.
I hunted with a 50# Longbow, switched to 45 (same brand) was still a bit much, now I hunt with 40, and I found the difference between 45 and 40 noticeable to me. Feels very comfortable to me, so I am able to practice with it a lot more, and now may be stronger and be more comfortable with a 45, but I couldn't have gotten there just practicing with the 45.
Two rebuilt shoulders. Years of fights with inmates or perps on the street. Used to shoot heavy compounds. Now at 63 I shoot 40 lbs. Why? Because it doesn't hurt and even tho I could do 45, I know I can kill a deer which is the goal. And I can do the hunting thing for more years if I baby the shoulders. If you aint killin big stuff, go lighter....at my age that ego thing isn't what it used to be. Also the advice above to get a takedown is solid advice. You can swap out limbs if you need to. I am shooting a Bear Wolverine 3pc. And it's a decent shooter. I am still looking for a Black Bear Riser or a Bear Kodiak wheely riser to build a back up recurve so I can swap limbs on the cheap. Just sayin'.
The 45lb goal you mentioned might be a good draw weight to try since there are a whole lot of bows out there for sale at that draw weight. Bet it is the most popular draw weight among folks. If you don't like the next bow you acquire, if it has a 45lb draw, it might be easy to sell.
When I reduce my herd of bows soon, planning on keeping several in the forties for hunting and two in the thirties (one for 3-D and one for the family). Right now, I'm just in training to get old (in my mid-seventies) and younger than many here, but I'm already selecting bows to keep on my rack that I can grow old with.
You should be in great shape with 45#s.
I always get a kick out of bow weight discussions for deer especially. You need like what, 6-8" or 10" of penetration depending on deer size to get both lungs...use a 2 blade head and shoot em broadside. I've tracked deer shot with 32# longbows with wood arrows shot by women hunters all of 40 yds. I'd say they work just fine. I'm sure they're not drawing even the full 28"..
I use a Bob Lee Signature Hunter TD with 43# & 54# limbs. The 43# is used for targets, 3D, and hunting whitetails. The 54# is used for elk hunting. If you use arrows weighing close to same grains per pound of limb weight, ( 43#=450g or 54#=560g) your arrow flight, trajectory will be close to same. Makes the transition easier.
:archer2: