I bought a SWA Spyder XL 2 years ago and I've become very confident with it. I originally took the very good advice of a lot of people to not over bow myself. I bought my bow at 40lbs and at my 30.5" draw length I'm pulling right at 46lbs on a good bow scale. I'm about to buy a Black Widow and I'd like to go up in weight but I don't want to make a mistake on a $1400 bow. I know I can demo a BW but I'd like your opinions. I'm thinking 45lbs for my new bow which will put me right around 50 at my draw length. Think that's a good jump? Too light, too heavy? Anyone ever jumped like that and regretted it either way? I'm a whitetail deer hunter by the way. Thanks!
I doubt seriously if the 4 # is gonna make a comfortable shooting bow too heavy. Also you can order the BW 50# at your draw you don't have to guess at it from the 28" standard.
I shoot 60-65 I also have a shorter ASL that's 70# that 5 pounds doesn't feel like much more cause I'm not at my maximum. If 45# was your near max then any pound added would feel like a lot. I'd order 50 # at your draw and you'll be fine
Most people in decent shape and not too old can pull 50 pounds pretty easily. A heavier bow is always better if you can handle it.
If you're close to your max even an extra 2 feels massive. Like Gordon said most folks can handle 50# fairly easy,
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
I have the same draw length as you. I second having the bow built to be the weight you want at your draw. I have a 41#@ 30, a 42@ 30, a 44@30, a 47@30, and a 49@30, and a 48@28. The heaviest bow at 30.5 pulls 54, and the heaviest bow at 30" pulls 51#. I agree, 50# shouldn't be a big deal if you aren't at your max. The 47#, which pulls 47.7 at my draw is my favorite of them all. The 51# isn't a big deal. I usually shoot it one practice session a week. Hope this helps
Black Widows can be order exactly at the weight you want and your draw length.
You might want to contact Roger and get a trial bow of your preferred make and poundage (it might not be exact depending on what they have available in the rack).
Can you easily draw your bow after sitting an hour or two in the cold?
Can you shoot forty or fifty arrows with your current bow without shooting to fatigue?
If your answers are yes you're probably gtg.
I think your good on your thinking, the bow your shooting now is fine for deer and anything smaller, if you want to pursue elk or moose maybe go up in poundage a bit, you obviously don't need another bow but you want one, I think the advice that's given is fine. :shaka:
Perhaps a more important question is whether you're drawing the bow efficiently. If you are, fine; you'll get used to a four pound increase in a week or so.
If not, then adding four pounds will only hasten the almost inevitable onset of shoulder problems. If you're not drawing the bow efficiently, i.e. with your back muscles and shoulders back and down, but you learn how to do it, pulling 50 pounds will seem easier than pulling 46 pounds was before.
While this is not the only way to pull a bow efficiently, this video by the late great Arne Moe illustrates the best way I know of, and the way I use successfully with no shoulder injuries at the age of 78: https://youtu.be/6c8_-96h6BY
Don't guess at it, make an informed decision...go find a shop or some one local that will let you shoot one that compares to what you are thinking, then ull know... :thumbsup:
I concur with the others, order your bow for the weight you want at your 30.5" draw.
Then you will know for sure - instead of having to calculate/guess at what you need to order at 28" to make come out
where you want it. Black Widow will be all over it.
Then back to your original question, you just need to determine what that magic number is. I personally like a 48# bow if the bowyer
can hit close to that. It is pretty close to 50# but not down in the low 40's. Gives me a little margin on my aging joints...etc,
If you do order a Black widow I'd not worry about that extra few pounds. I've owned 4 and each one I felt I should have gotten a little heavier in pounds. There design is a very smooth pulling bow imo. And if you follow there limb length recommendations for your draw your gonna love the bow. Just my opinion
If you go up in poundage just make sure you dont develop any bad habit due to the increase.Like short drawing,snap shooting,poor allignment etc.
With your draw length anything from 45-50#s at 30.5 is gonna have plenty of power IMO.Accuracy and a well tuned arrow are gonna be most important.
If you get a T.D you have the option of getting another set of limbs.So you could have a bow with 2 choices.
So much depends on the bow itself and how comfortable you are holding a given weight for more than a few seconds. More often than not, we find ourselves at full draw and our intended quarry moves behind an obstacle, or doesn't move, so you better be able to hold for a bit for the right shot. Accuracy and a well placed arrow is far more important than a few more FPS. Get a bow that you can handle under the most demanding situations because that's when you'll need the most control.
I just sent my 58# @ 28" PL III back to Black Widow to have them reduce the draw weight by 3 to 4 pounds. When it comes back it will be my elk bow, and deer of course. I can shoot it just fine at 58#, but I want to be able to hold at full draw for 15 to 30 seconds without thinking about it because I know I'll need that in hunting situations.
If you're going to use your bow for other applications, please disregard my above ramble.
I started with 45#, gradually went up to 65#, then gradually back down to 45#. It took 30 years to get back to where I started. I should have never left.
Going up a few pounds should not be difficult as long as you are in good shape. Just don't take things faster than you can handle. Don't push your progress to the point you hurt yourself.
Quote from: Gordon Jabben on December 05, 2022, 10:22:25 PM
A heavier bow is always better if you can handle it.
ABSOLUTELY!!!
Quote from: GCook on December 06, 2022, 10:09:54 AM
Can you easily draw your bow after sitting an hour or two in the cold?
Yes, that's why I move down from 70#s to 60 in winter....
Black Widow will measure the draw weight at your personal draw length and write those specs on your bow.
To answer your last question in your original post...lots of guys jumped up more than 4 lbs draw wt for one reason or another. I jumped 15 lbs (60 to 75) once for a particular hunt, took a couple months to get comfortable with it, but no big deal. Honestly if someone handed you a bow that was 50lbs at your draw length, with 46 written on it, unless you are pretty marginal already (either shoulder issues, or your bow muscles out of shape) I doubt you'd even notice it was heavier.
I think 50, better yet 55 lbs is a nice weight that gives you some room for error/recovery from unintended bone hit etc. I know, I know, some guy shot a moose with a 40lb bow one time. Good for him. I won't. For whitetails a moderate bow (like 50-55 lbs) is a step change from 40 as far as performance goes. Also gives you an option to step up to a bit larger critters when you are ready. 50-55 at your draw would be a great elk bow.
R
Just wondering if you want to go up in weight because that bow feels light enough to you that you want to go up in weight or is it because you think you need more weight for hunting. Because if it it the latter you don't. You already have a 30.5" draw that gives you a major advantage over most guys because there aren't a lot of guys with that long of a draw length. At 46# with your draw length you are going to be shooting a really fast arrow. Ask the guys at Black Widow how many bows they make over 50# and how many they make under 50# and the answer will probably surprise you. If your current bow feels light to you then go for it and order a heavier bow, if not I think you would be best sticking with what you are shooting now.
Another factor to consider, is how much arrow weight you are shooting out of your current setup. A 650 - 700 grain arrow weight at 46# will also have a bigger momentum factor and more bone busting potential than a 550 grain arrow out of a 50# bow at your draw length. I shoot 695 - 750 out of 47.7# at the same draw length. Blew through two whitetail does last week with 745 - 750 grain arrows last Saturday and both arrows penetrated an Osage orange (Bois D' Arc) tree on the other side of the does.
Quote from: Ryan Rothhaar on December 08, 2022, 06:36:38 PM
To answer your last question in your original post...lots of guys jumped up more than 4 lbs draw wt for one reason or another. I jumped 15 lbs (60 to 75) once for a particular hunt, took a couple months to get comfortable with it, but no big deal. Honestly if someone handed you a bow that was 50lbs at your draw length, with 46 written on it, unless you are pretty marginal already (either shoulder issues, or your bow muscles out of shape) I doubt you'd even notice it was heavier.
I think 50, better yet 55 lbs is a nice weight that gives you some room for error/recovery from unintended bone hit etc. I know, I know, some guy shot a moose with a 40lb bow one time. Good for him. I won't. For whitetails a moderate bow (like 50-55 lbs) is a step change from 40 as far as performance goes. Also gives you an option to step up to a bit larger critters when you are ready. 50-55 at your draw would be a great elk bow.
R
Great answer!!!
Sorry guys Im just a older guy. I have been pulling strings 50 years. Seen pistol pete shoot out of his rear and everywhere else. Why i get inta trouble with my thinking talk. To much is made of perfect every time shooting. Your mind can tell your body to throw the ball, football or shoot the shot from just about anywhere. Pro nba guys get to spots on the court and go up with man infront pick up the rim just before release and center punch the net. You have to train the mind.
Bow weight ? Shoot what you want. If 85lb work up to it. Your body can work up to it if you wish. I would advise hanging a 15, 20 lb bow heavier than you shoot on the wall and draw it 1 or 2 times every day and hold for count of 5. Funny how dew,in that with a 70 lb will make a 55 lb feel like 30. I shot 85lb yer round for 20 years even at bow shoot so I could feel good about hunting with it. . Not trying to rag on anyone just encurage (different than encourage) you on have great your made and what you can do.
best of luck
Friend,
Hal has come closest to my first question for you BEFORE I can formulate an opinion. What do you want to shoot? If you are interested in shooting only targets then all you need is enough arrow speed to minimize the effect of cross wind and gravity. If you aspire to kill a grizzly or cape buffalo you probably need a heavy arrow traveling as fast as possible. So, what do you plan to shoot? Your friends here might already know but I certainly don't.
I started shooting 60 - 65 # back in my early 20's. I've been doing that for close to 50 years. But now, at 73, I find that I hit much better drawing 52 - 54#. I have a 29.5 inch draw length to that's what I figure I am getting from a 50# bow. I plan to hunt whitetails and elk for as long as God will let me. With a 620 grain cedar arrow I can hold a 5" group at 25 yards and I figure that will do for whitetails, elk and similar game. That's what I plan to shoot. What do you want to shoot?
Best Regards,
JMC
Your current bow draw weight is fine for hunting deer in the southeast. Not so fine if you run across a big boat hog out in the cypress swamps. If you have future plans to hunt bigger critters like Midwest white tails and elk, then a little more bow energy is good, if you can handle it.