Going up in bow weight. Whatcha think?

[JamesD]

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.

[Terry Green]

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!!!

[Hal Hartness]

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

[John Cholin]

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

[JohnV]

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.