Bear bows weighing in heavy?

[PICKNGRIN]

A friend of mine has picked up a couple older Bear Kodiak Hunters and a Grizzly in hopes of getting one close to 35#.  We have checked these bows on two different scales and are sure we are getting accurate readings using an arrow marked at 28" from the throat of the nock and pulling 28" to the front of the sight window.  They all seem to hover right at 40#!  The two Kodiak Hunters are marked 35X# and the Grizzly is marked 36#.  Has anyone else noticed this much of a difference in actual pull weights on Bear bows?

[Shane Reed]

I have had 2 57 Kodiaks that came in 5 to 6 pounds more than marked.

[TonyW]

This reminds me of Fred Bear's philosophy about draw weight. Anytime Fred felt he needed a little extra zip, he just drew the arrow back a tad bit more.

This is why it is probably a good idea to measure draw weight by actually drawing the bow and feeling the strain. My first real bow was a 73 Super Grizzly marked "40X" on the riser. Years later I replaced the leather strike plate and saw the hidden "45" measured weight. If I really pull back, I can get about 48 pounds from my 40X. The only accuracy that really matters is where the arrow hits.

[Shane Reed]

Yup, have a Grizzly that was signed by Fred and given to Ben Lee. That bow is a bit of a custom. It's marked 70X but behind strike plate says 73.

[Phil Magistro]

I font see this as too innacurate. Certainly not as far off as i have seen Martins and Jack howard bows. From what I was told the "x" denotes a pound (or less than 2 pounds) more than 70. Depending how the bow is weighed the physical weight of the bow could be included making the bow appear to be 73#.