Help me design a bow for my needs

[Don Armstrong]

I can only shoot about 47 lbs with a non compound bow. I draw 28" and live in Virginia which is not the osage capital of the country   :D  . A really nice guy gave my son some osage about a year ago but it's about gone. I am thinking of a bow to hunt with that takes into account my inability to shoot high pounds. I will need an efficient design to wring as much cast as possible. I am thinking a hickory board bow glued in Perry reflex with a hickory backing and 64" NTN. I think bamboo would probably be better but I haven't been able to find a resonably priced source anywhere close.I had also concidered ipe but can't find a sorce anywhere close.So what do you think taking into concideration I'm getting ready to buy a house and can't spend alot on this bow. Don

[4est trekker]

Of the choices you mentioned, I would opt for the hickory backed hickory, provided you've been some bows before.  If not, I would start with a simple board bow and learn how to tiller a bow.  

Hickory or bamboo backed ipe would be my second favorite (actually first favorite, if it weren't for the way ipe burns my nose and lungs.)  Hickory and bamboo are both champs in tension and the ipe resists compression well.  I would not go for the bamboo backed hickory option because hickory is terrible in compression.

I would design yourself a bow that is around 40-43 pounds, well under your limit, but that incorporates static recurved tips, healthy reflex, or the like.  That will give you more performance from a lower poundage while keeping you from getting overbowed.  Such a bow, well designed and executed, will shoot like a 45-47 pound bow with a touch or more of string follow.

[Don Armstrong]

Thanks, I've built about 15 bows so far. I just finished an osage with static recurves and have a couple osage D bows under my belt. I have a couple of hickory, with Perry reflex and hickory backing, but really can't see enough difference to make a call on which is better. My shooting ability may be part of the issue   :D   . Don