I gave it my best!

[longbowman]

I bought a Brackenbury T.D. and a Northern Mist longbow both mid 60's at 27" and while they shoot a good arrow I just felt like I was carrying toys in the woods.  I know that they both were all the weight I need and I even killed a doe with the recurve but my brain was having a hard time with the weight.  Tomorrow I'll have a new T.D. longbow 83#@27" and I'm going back to what works in my head.

I don't want to stir up any more discussion on bow weights but I'm mainly writing to you guys who shoot the moderate weight bows out there and wonder if you ever tried to go down and if you did how did you make out?

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

Archery is a head game...go with what works for you! I enjoy playing with different bows/weights all year but when it comes time to head to the woods I go with what I'm confident with. Good decision!...Ryan

[Chris Surtees]

I went from shooting high 60's and low to mid 70's weight bows to shooting 45 to 50 pound bows after tearing my shoulder up. I have built back up to shooting 55 pounds bows and am more than happy with their performance. I have no desire to shoot anything heavier and would not hesitate to shoot anything in North America with them.

Initially I had issues, like you, with shooting low weights but after some help with tuning I was soon back to hunting with just as good of success as when I was shooting heavy bows.

[steadman]

What Ryan and Chris said. Archery is very mental, if you are not confident, it won't work. I won't go above 60 ish pounds again. But I've seen personal results that help with my decision. Good luck!

[straitera]

Know exactly what you mean. Once you;re used to the flight characteristics of stiffer bows it's hard to readjust. No apology needed. Best of luck. Good hunting.

[Stumpkiller]

Archery is a head game . . .

It certainly is.  If you don't have confidence in your equipment, or abilities, you will not succeed.  Defeatism is a self-fulfilling prohpecy when it comes to instinctive shooting.

I'm happy with 50 to 65# recurves and 600 grain cedar arrows (30" draw, 30-1/2" BOP).  But I chose my shots carefully and stick with double-edged heads.  I like being able to take my hunting bow out roving/small game hunting and launch maybe 70 arrows in a day.  I got into trouble (bursitis/arthritis) trying that with my 70# Dan Quillion Patriot and backed off.

[FerretWYO]

If your head is not in the game then the game is lost. There is a great amount of importannce in having the utmost confidence in your equipment.

I can say you are a lot tougher than me though  

[Orion]

I used to shoot in the low to mid-60s, but have had to drop down to the low to mid-50s with advancing age.  Initially, I kinda felt like I was underbowed as well.  But after killing a few critters with the lighter weight stuff, I no longer feel that way.  Lucky for me, because moving back up in weight isn't a realistic option anymore.

[bigbadjon]

As I move up in weight I notice the gain in performance is substantial. Performance generates confidence so shoot the heaviest bow you can.

[TDHunter]

I used to shoot 60's then injured my back. the next season I used a 50lb recuve and took a Mt.Goat, 10pt, Mulie, and a 9pt, whitetail and a moose and in each case the arrow either passed through or was hanging out the other side. I'll never go back up over 55. I now have better form and hold tighter groups.
cheers

[bornagainbowhunter]

I shoot two Robertsons right now one is 53#@28 and the other is 67#@28. I draw just a little under 29.  I have shot heavier bows, 86#@28 was the heaviest, but settled in with the 67#er and sold all of my other bows (except for 1 bowfishing rig).  I bought the 53# last spring and really like it.  I feel better hunting with my 67#er, but I have killed deer with the 53#er.  

I just like the way the 67#er shoots.  Plain and simple.  They are both plenty of bow for anything I will ever run across.

God Bless,
Nathan

[BlacktailBowhunter]

I shoot 52lbs for elk, but I have switched to my 47lb limbs for the off season and plan to use my 47lb limbs for deer next season.

I have much better from and consistancy with the lighter weight.

I have been shooting the DART Virtual Hunt at a local shop and was shooting my 44lb Bear Alaskan last night with great results.

A sharp well placed broadhead from a 40lb bow will kill a deer just as dead as a 80lb broadhead.

I like to shoot a lot as well and the lighter bows, I can shoot a lot and I mean a lot, but I add 5 or 6 lbs and my consistancy and the amount of arrows I get to shoot drops off the radar.

Just my $0.02

Paul

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

I think that anytime you make a change it affects you memtally.  Not just with weight but anything, serving, arrows, fletching, any change.

They're just things that you either have to work with until your comfortable or go back to what you are comfortable with.

[Over&Under]

Originally posted by Manitoba Stickflinger:
Archery is a head game...go with what works for you! I enjoy playing with different bows/weights all year but when it comes time to head to the woods I go with what I'm confident with. Good decision!...Ryan

My thoughts exactly.  Go with what make your brain say " I can make that shot with this bow"

[buckeye_hunter]

No confidence equals poor performance.


I have the title on this one... trust me.  

Go with what you are confident shooting and don't look back.