Advice for 37# shooting 3 blades?

[Bud B.]

I have a #40 longbow that I'm seriously considering hunting with due to how hard it rocks the target after sending a 450 plus grain arrow downrange.

As long as the 2 blade broadhead is sharp, the distance is short, and the shot is well placed then #37 is more than enough as long as the arrow it a good weight ratio to the power of the bow.

Just know the limitations.

But I'll say this too, there are limits to how low to go, but how low is a gray area. I think you're well in the gray. So is my #40 bow, even though it's legal in NC.

Please post a pic of her success if it plays out.

Good luck.

[Mojostick]

This thread is starting to remind me of when I owned the sport shop and all the guys that came in saying that a .243, .250 or 20ga slug was too light for deer. Then they told stories of how they flinched all over from the recoil of their .300's.          :D  

There's no reason to "build up", unless you are seeking really big/dangerous game and maybe a big co-pay doctors bill for rotator cuff problems that often develop from being over-bowed.

From our conversations, Dan Toelke told me that he had made himself like a 37lb bow for his elk hunting, when he had some shoulder issues and that he wouldn't think twice about that weight, and that's for elk. He also said he has Canadian customers that specifically order 40lbs-for moose and kill every last one they shoot!

From my experience, I'd argue that one will get passthru's on deer not just with 40, 37 or 35lbs, but all the way down to 30lbs.

With my rotator cuff problems and 40lb bows, I have to look for my arrow after it skips away after the complete pass-thru on deer as it is now. Why should I bother hurting my shoulder more, shooting less accurately and having to look farther for my passthru arrow, just to have bragging rights about how much weight I can bench?

I'll take some pics this season and show what 30-something bows can do. I'm probably going to start the season out with either a 39lb 1958 Kodiak Special, a 38lb 1960 Kodiak Special, a 38lb 1961 Polar, a 38lb 1962 Grizzly, a 40lb 1959 Kodiak or a 40lb 1959 Grizzly. I fully intend to get complete pass-thru/50 yard kills with any and all of them.

I'd argue that shooting too heavy of a bow and not a light bow is which is the unethical of two.

Go to a shoot and watch all the guys struggling with weight, short drawing, not opening up the limbs, not using back muscles and shaking as try to draw to an anchor. I'd suggest that 70% of the guys out there would be much better served knocking 10lbs off their draw weight, instead of trying to add 5lbs.

[curtinmo]

I agree 100% with Mojostick.Well said...

[RLA]

Absolutely correct Mojostick! Let her struggle with and short draw a heavy bow, then send an arrow wildly down range off it's mark!

Or have her pull 37#@ a full (29") and shoot it confidenly, pretty easy choice isn't it! after all we're only hunting deer, how dead is dead.

I'm thinking 37#@29" is about like 44#@27" or better?

I'll be shooting in the 50#s this year, but have killed 5 deer with bows under 45# in the past, not a big deal.

Again, dead is dead, let's hurry up and get fall here! I think we're all getting board and cranky from these 100 degree days!


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[ericmerg]

i'd like to point out that not all guys that shoot heavy are super overbowed and totally out of control with their bows infact heres video of my shooting my 72# this is a group shot done at 15 yards      

and here's me shooting you'll notice that theres very little shaking going on here  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqo4PbPs0ac&feature=plcp

heres me pulling my 90# bow i havnt shot it yet because 1, i dont have arrows for it yet ,2 im giving all my focus on my 72# bow for the upcoming season

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=INr8wUDjSjY

[cbCrow]

Mojo, I could not agree more. I to have problems with my left hand which will not allow me to be heavy bowed. My 38# longbow gets the job done on deer sized game and I'm not gonna fret over it. I say those that feel the need to shoot their heavy bows go for it, one day you'll be older or get injured and I'm sure your mind will change.

[bawana bowman]

I've been shooting bows between 50 and 115# for over 50 years now. Have never had any shoulder problems. Guess that kind of shows if you build up in draw weight gradually and don't start out 20 pounds over bowed there is minimal danger of doing damage.

Eric, you know there are  many folks shooting light weight bows out there and you are never going to change their opinions.
I like to think it has a lot to do with the fact that many of them come from the ranks of cable gun shooters that have converted to trad but still do not have the dedication to the sport to put in the necessary time to develop their muscles. They are satisfied with shooting light because it provides them with instant gratification without the effort or dedication required to shoot heavier weights.

This is the last I'll say on this thread. Not getting into a shouting match with folks that as Eric said see nothing wrong with hunting deer with a .22. Eric if you feel the need to vent, you know where you can do that.

[Charlie Lamb]

Looks like the thrust of this thread has changed to a heavy bow vs. light bow thing. If it continues it won't last that long... promise.   :(

[Roger Norris]

To get back on track....I would recomend  arrow that is heavy (relative to draw weight), and a 2 blade head.....I would choose something like a Zwickey Eskimo. Razor sharp, but you know that.

Some of the guys have mentioned shot placement, because it matters. The lighter the bow, the lower your margin of error.

I would not choose a 3 blade head for that set up.

[mongoose]

I would also go with a good sharp 2 blade. Also I just don't get the "my way or the highway" attitude of some      

[hvyhitter]

.......With your setup a razor sharp three blade Woodsman, snuffer, MA-3 or VPA will work just fine on an arrow of 450gr or heavier.....

[Fish Finder]

To those who stayed on topic thank you very much for your input and I believe it will come down to several factors.  I will weight out options tune some setups for her and we'll see what she likes shooting the best.

For those who got off topic..Mr. Lamb will deal with you guys.

You never stated the type of bow or the draw length, that would make a difference.  A couple of weeks back I shot with a fellow with a longbow that,he thought, was drawing an inch and a half longer than I was with my Grooves Spitfire recurve. We were shooting the same weight cedar shafts. Although the bow was ten pounds heavier it was not nearly as fast as my recurve, he had enough power and his accuracy was coming along nicely.  However, if draw weight to power was in question, I had a lot more power. Numbers on a bow at times can mean very little.  The Woodsman has killed lots of deer for folks with lighter bows, just has good two blades have.  The big question is the flight of the arrow, the placement and the sharpness of the head in relation to the available cast. Of course a quick 37 pound bow with a decent draw length will do the job on a deer.

[Fish Finder]

I posted it in page 1 or 2...

Black Widow 37#@24" draw shooting an 28" 3"x4 fletch 1816 with a 150g tip shoots straight and hits hard for 37#'s.

[Traxx]

Im shure youll git it figured out.Good luck to your wife and Happy huntin.

I see you have added the 24" here, with 15 feet up, unless that arrow is over 160fps I would go with a sleek two blade.