have you ever had a bow that....

[Bladepeek]

Don't forget on that 52# TC, you are shooting 12.5 GPP arrows. You might try a lighter arrow, closer to 10 GPP and see if the speed is closer to your liking.

I'm not going to open the lighter/heavier bow can of worms, but like the great Yogi said, "It's 90% mental and the other 10% is all in your head". If you are convinced you shoot a heavy bow better, than you no doubt will. That 52# TC should, however, shoot through any animal in North or South America. I got total penetration (but not a complete pass through) on a 230# pig with my 43# RER and a good sharp 2-blade.

[KentuckyTJ]

Do put it on a scale to make sure, but all limbs aren't created equal. Some store the energy consistently throughout the draw cycle and some store most their energy late in the cycle. Those limb designs that store it later feel heavier in pounds.

[monterey]

Put it on the scale, but also scale your old bow(s) to see what their actual weight is.

I have some older bows that I've actually observed to lose weight over the years.  Funny, all that time I've been gaining weight.  

[Ulysseys]

I have a PCH and PMA...both are 58" and the exact same weight (marked) but the PCH feels much heavier on the draw.  You'd think that one would be smoother with the longer working limbs but its not at all.  Both shoot great but have a noticeable difference.  Maybe I'll scale them....can't see why the shorter riser bows would feel different by design.

[medic77]

I guess each bow has a life of their own for sure.  I'll put them on a scale at the local shop when I get off this never-ending 72hr shift.  
These kind of topics get brought up when A) It's the only bow I brought with me and B) I'm dilerious  from no sleep.
I really just chalked it up to it being a recurve and it had been a few years since I had one.

[ChuckC]

Yup, a RD hybrid. made by an elder gentleman bowyer who made a (big) mistake in lam calculations, then knowing I was looking for a heavier bow just finished making it and gave it to me.  

I was told (by the friend who helped him and arranged for it to be mine) that said bowyer had it on his bow scale and got it up to 80# and couldn't pull it anymore so he just wrote 80+# on it and called it good.    

Yup OMG.  We made up a few old Beeman (skinny hunter) shafts of old , complete with wrapped solder inside for a total weight over 1000 grains.  After it hit the target, all the feathers were pointing forward.

Never bloodied that bow. We were teasing that the first deer killed had to be three of them standing in a row ! Doubt I can pull it now.

Edit. .  I guess I did bloody it.  When shooting it, without an arm guard, a nock broke on release ( those Beeman outsert nocks were not up to that bow, had two break) and the string hit my arm causing half a baseball to magically appear, blood, purple discoloration, and lots of swearing.  

ChuckC

[damascusdave]

Spend some time on the peteward.com website comparing force draw curves...when you are shooting a weight you can comfortably handle the force draw curve makes little difference...when shooting a bow that is on the edge of the maximum draw weight you can handle it is a big factor...static tip bows, for example, tend to build draw weight quickly initially and then taper off as they reach their full draw length

DDave

[Zradix]

curious to see what the scale says.

[medic77]

Me too.  This 72hr shift is killing me.  I'm ready to go home

[Zradix]

NO OFFENSE TO YOU BUD!
we all work the hours the boss says.

But a paramedic scheduled to work a 72 hour shift just seems like a sleep deprived accident waiting to happen.

..or do you do an "on call" type of deal where you do get to sleep a few hours here and there at the station or whatever and jump in the truck when the phone rings?

[sheepdogreno]

I feel your pain! In the middle of a 9 in a row 12hr shifts after having 1 off between previous 5 12 hr shifts...trying to put food on the table as a cop is rough sometimes.

[medic77]

We get to catch a nap here and there so no worries there.  I even have a target here to shoot at.  I just miss my girls at home really.

[Doc Nock]

Anxiously awaiting the conclusion of this one.

I had to drop weight for some medical reasons...and got into things I won't discuss here in detail but heavier front of center, etc.  I've had no problem with penetration with just under 50# and good cast.

Each bow is different. I've had more then one custom that missed weight and they just marked it within their "guaranteed range".  But a scale told the tale once a few heavier bow fans pulled mine and just looked at me with a blank stare.. a 50 clocked in on 3 different outfits scale at 56#.  Got great speed.

Indeed, different bowyer's designs harness energy differently.  Each bow can be different!

Easy to miss weight.  Easier when 2 others were missed to grab the wrong one on send out too!

Looking forward to your report!

[Zradix]

so...what the scale say?

[Kris]

Your force/draw curve is more plump with your Widow....you store more energy earlier in the draw making it feel heavier.

Kris

[medic77]

I haven't made it to the shop yet to have it checked.  I should make it there tomorrow.  I will let everyone know.