Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Joe Subler on November 12, 2011, 07:44:00 PM
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Just curious who has switched from shooting high poundage bows (say 60 # and above) to lower poundage bows and why? In my younger days I used to shoot 60 to 65# bows but am now shooting nothing above 55# due to back and shoulder problems.
Joe
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back when i was younger and tougher i would shoot mid 60# range @28 drawn to 29
but gettin older and wiser finally takes effect
i found that i didnt need all that weight and shoot low to mid 50s @30 in now and my accuracy has greatly improved with much less fatigue
kevin
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I can't say that I totally switched from my 74# bighorn but I've been shooting a 56# widow psa and it's kinda growing on me. It's shot thru every critter since I got her.
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I used to shoot 70#, but I'm happy with 55# now. The deer don't seem to notice the difference.
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Used to shoot bows in the 75# to 85#@28" range. Dropped down to the mid 50#s and have noticed that every animal I shoot is just as dead. Seriously, if my bow shoulder would allow me to I would still probably be in the 60#s somewhere. Mike
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At one point i was shooting 70# in a Martin recurve and then down to 60. It's a continuous downward slide! :) Shoulder problems have been tough adversaries. Having the problems results in a gradual loss of strength in the shooting muscles to boot. Now I'm down to 37 and 42 but hope to be able to recover strength to be at 50 eventually.
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I used to shoot a 67 lb. Bighorn t.d. recurve in the early 80s. I started shooting again 5 or 6 years ago and my bows are now from 52 to 58 lbs. I shoot practically nothing but 3d animals (haven't lost one yet). With that said, there is nothing in North America I would not hunt with the heavy arrows I shoot and I don't feel I need a heavier bow.
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Getting lighter all the time. For years it was 64 at 64 my favorite combination.
Now I elk hunt with 58 and preferr shooting 40 to 50 lb bows just for fun.
God bless you all, Steve
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I started at 45, worked my way up to 65, then worked my way back down to 45. The journey took me 25 years and a couple thousand dollars to end up right where I started.
My elbow, shoulders, back, and neck thank me every day for making the change.
AND, I'm shooting better than ever!
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My first real trad bow, is a 72# 68" long bow, that I don't shoot realy often, after that I went to a 60# hybrid 62" longbow, that I shoot the most, and i just recently got a used BW PSA 46#@28(52# at my draw) and like it a lot!! I think if it was to do all over again, i would go 50# on all my bows.... But I aint bying more bows... unless I sale some...
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Started back in the 50’s with a 40# bow and worked my way up to 80# over the years and here lately 55 felt so good I now shoot 50 to 52 # :dunno:
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Used to shoot 85 on a regular basis and up to 100 on occasion... nowaday 50-52 is about my max although it isn't a big chore to pull more... just don't see the need...
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Shot 60-65 on average and 75 for awhile. But advice from older guys who all said the same thing...wear and tear is inevitable made me think. Can still shoot in the 60's but dropping to 50-55 has made shooting easier for me, more fun, honed my accuracy, comfortable, better all around. If I go for Bison again I will work my way back up to the 70's, but for most hunting situations I personally do, these heavier draw weights are not needed.
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It's amazing what a little age and seasoning does to your preferred draw weight. 20 years ago i hunted with 84# and could draw a 100# . i think it had something to do with swinging a 2 pound hammer for 15 years 10 hours a day. ;)
About the time i gave up the wood framing i started backing off on draw weight. i love 45-50 for 3D and deer hunting, and about 57# for elk hunting now.
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I used to shoot a 60# recurve then went to a 46# Black Widow. I have a vintage Super K at 45# and I just unintentionally "won" a 52# 1966 Kodiak on a certain auction sight. I bet it's a great bow however. I'm so lucky.
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I finally wised-up and moved down from a 73# schafer and a 70 # widow to a 58# Wapiti. More control and confidence with the same killing power. It's all about a good placement not the poundage.
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Back in the day I hunted with 71. 36 years later I hunt with 50. Hope this ain't a pattern!
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I shoot between 63# and 72#,however,traditional archery is like any other martial art, you must physically train to be strong and healthy. A good flexibility/strength routine will help keep your shoulders healthy and give you more years of pain free shooting.
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I'm only 60 so maybe I will when I get old.
I try to do at least 200 pushups every third or fourth day. I take a walk and do 50 reps every 1/8th mile until I get done with them.
I also row on a water rower machine for 30 minutes twice a week.
So far I can pull my 68 lb bows without any problems
Lower back problems are my nemesis ....car accident
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I used-to shoot an 80# recurve, and quite a few bows in the 70#s. I am now trying some in the 50#s, but think I prefer the 60#s.
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Something like duncan ID and bobman :thumbsup:
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At 55 years old, I am shooting in the 50's. My go to bow right now is 53# and I have a couple that are 57#. I used to shoot 72# for a few years when I was in 30's, then moved to 63-65#. I am comfortable with what I shoot now. Working in construction all my life has done 2 things. Kept me in pretty good shape and has taken a toll on my body, so I try to take care of my shoulders.
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I got up to 60#. I shoot 52# much better and all my bows are from 50-52
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#45 pounds for me. I shot 55-70 for most of my life. I dont shoot elk or mooose so its more than enough bow for me. I love to shoot and I can shoot alot longer at #45 than I could at #70
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My go to bow was a 66@26 Robertson Purist up until 2yrs ago when I made my first 3pc TD Hybrid and the weight came in around 57@27. I shoot it so much better that I see no need to go back to it.
Steve
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My first two customs were 55# and 58#, then picked up a barely used bow that was 59#. Shot that for years. Bought a pair of discounted 52# limbs and loved 'em. Now enjoying 49-52# and seem to be using the 49 and 50#'s more often as the season progresses. Seems after sitting for hours as the temps. drop those lightweight limbs shine.
For me the same seems true of a recurve and a longbow. As the temps. drop and the body stiffens up a longbow seems easier to get to full draw. But that is a debate for a whole 'nother topic :saywhat:
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Always shot a 65# bushmaster, then around age 50 shoulder started to have issues resulting in surgery. Now 45# or so is still doable.
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Yup I started at close to 70 at my draw and am down to low fifties at my draw now with alot better results. You don't need that much weight to kill deer and bear .
I am all for shooting as much weight as you can handle well .
i believe alot of people are trying to shoot more than they should be but its all personal choice .
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I shot in the high 50's for years but could have handled more. Now I shoot below 50 and my go to bow is a gorgeous 44# 59 Kodiak reproduction that Ed Holcomb made for me.
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74 # for 20 + yrs. then 60 then shoulder issues then 54 more shoulder arthritis compressed nerves snap shot @ 30 physical therapy back to 51 back packed in this year more pinched nerves snap shot @ 40 now at 46. Docs said problems was cumlative over over the years. Low to mid 50's will get the job done . YOU YOUNG GUYS LISTEN UP! Loosing the ability to shoot is not fun and finding something you like to do as well @64 yrs isn't much fun either. Take care of your selves NOW.
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58Winters great advice, with most modern bows nowadays 50# can get the job done on most big game anyways.
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I listened to all the old guys and last year dropped from 74# to 64#. After several easy misses I went back to the 74# and now have 2 deer in the freezer. I am only 50, so I may drop in the future. I am too lousy a shot to shoot the lighter bows. I did draw a 94# this summer and could hunt with it, but 74 is right for now.
Cheers
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I used to shoot 60-66 lbs.Due to shoulder problems,a few years ago I dropped down in weight and sold the 57# plus bows.I worked a lot on form and tuning and managed to increase my draw length 2".The bows I shoot now are 50-55 lbs at my draw length.I also got smarter about how I put my arrows together and am getting quite a bit more penetration than I did with the 60 lb bows.
My shoulder has improved drastically as has my shooting.I could probably work back into some more weight but don't plan to.Things are working well and at 62,I'm not sure how long it would be before I would have to drop weight again.
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i shot 65 to 85 for many years and paid for it with shoulder surgeries. At 72 45# is my tops.
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I shot 60-65 for many years, but a fall down some stairs and a separated shoulder took me down to mid 50's now.
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Shot 63# for a lot of years,now shoot 50#
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Shot a 65# Bighorn back in my prime. Went to a 58# BW which I eventually had shaved to 53#. My next BW will probably be in the 45# range.
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Rotator cuffs. Long exaggerated draws. Expanding everything to the hilt, and then all of a sudden, a release. With every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. What about us "short draw" hunters. No, not small framed people, but people who bend that bow arm, and only draw as far back as too get the middle finger to the corner of the mouth? Not much twisting of the joints as we go through the motions of the draw, shorter, yup, but a WHOLE lot more STABLE. Don't think so. Take a, full, gallon of milk and hold it out with your arm extended all the way out, then try it with a good bend in the arm, which position did you LAST the longest?
Overhead, "military press" will keep your rotator cuffs much less injury prone. Don't strain that lift, it is an exercise of 10 reps NOT TO FAILURE but till you feel to uncomfortable to do another, or when you have to sacrifice form to get it up.
60#, only shooting every other day.
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When I was in my 20's 65 to 70 lbs. Now that I am 56, I find bows in the 40 to 50 lb. range do the job as well. Alot of the articles we read back then were authored by guys shooting heavier bows. I think that played a part in many guys shooting heavier bows back then.
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When I was about 30, I shot a 94# longbow. I stayed with 75-80 pound bows for many years. At 58, I now shoot 45# because my shoulders are ruined. I've shot completely through more deer with the 45# than I did with the heavier weights. I think it means I hit better.
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I use to shoot 60 but now I like 45 to 55 alot better and i have never shot better the 45 is new to me acs and I am realy starting to love shooting that bow plus I draw it 1/2 inch more . Widow
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I used to ... but at 38 years of age , arthritis and wear and tear now have me at 52# ... I keep a 70# in the faint of hope of one day again hunting Buffalo but I'd suggest that sooner rather than later I'll shoot "easier" bows [ d/r and less D shape/ reflexed ] and will soon be sub 50# 's ...
You want to shoot along time .. watch your shoulders and elbows .
The lst thing I want is to be 60 years old [ or heaven forbid even younger ] and unable to shoot ...
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I am 60 and have been shooting 68lbs give or take since college without any problems at all
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My first production bow at age 14 was a Bear Polar of 43#. By age 20, my favorite was a Hill Longbow of 72# then 80 and 90 lbs. I continued to shoot heavy bows until around age 56.
About 10 yrs. earlier, I had built a 69# longbow that out shot all my heavy bows, so I started to cut back, realizing the heavier was always best.
A car accident, when I was 56, resulted in neck and shoulder injuries, and forced a layoff for 10 yrs. After a great deal of therapy and exercise I resumed shooting, but with a used Robertson Stykbow "Mystical" in 64#. Today, I mostly shoot 54# - 66#.
I workout several days a week, and include shoulder exercises to strengthen my rotator cuff, following an impinged R.C. With the right exercise, I should be able continue shooting, pain free.