Have You Ever Bought a Bow And Wished You Had Gotten A Different Draw Weight?

[sorefingers]

If your worried about a few pounds stick with the lighter weight. Accuracy is the important thing. As you get stronger you will know not wonder.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

thats my eternal problem!

[vermonster13]

Always remember when ordering that shooting a bow in summer while practicing in shorts and a t-shirt while it is warm does not equate to being able to handle the same weight when dressed in hunting clothes and the temps are freezing and it's been a few hours since any walking in warm-up shots. Try to practice with a heavier weight and hunt with a reduced weight for when the shot comes. Better to draw a little easier than you like than to struggle and miss what may be your one chance that season.

[Stumpkiller]

First bow I bought for hunting: a Bear Kodiak in 55#.  I had been a target archer with a 30# recurve for years and figured I could do that.  After a week it went back and was exchanged for a 45# Bear Kodiak (which I still have).  I went as high as 70# over the years since but that, too, was too much and I wasn't very good with it.  Now I'm happy in the 50 to 55#@28" range.  I draw 30" so I'm at 54# to 60# actual.

[sorefingers]

Thats a vital point David bows get much harder when your frozen, seems like they freeze to.  LOL

[vermonster13]

Yeah it stinks when the ice cracking on the string when you draw back gives you away. lol

Even worse when it's your bones cracking.

[Bowwild]

I got my first recurve just right. Then on my 2nd one I jumped 7 pounds -- bad move. Next one was 5# hot and I almost sold it. Instead I spent Another $150 to  have the limbs reduced. Now it is perfect.

As soon as I get a nock locator on a bow I check the weight at 28" to compare with the specification and then at 26", my actual draw weight at a very firm anchor. I've only weighed bows I've owned and that's less than 15-16. Most of them are within 2 pounds of rated weights. Two have been off by 4-5 pounds--both heavier than rated.

Like others have said, I wouldn't want to be a pound over-bowed. I'd rather be 3-4 under than 1 over. Under doesn't impact my form but over does. Maybe, when I was in my 20's-30's I could have built up to heaivier weights without risk to form or body.  Probably, if I was willing to work at and new how, I could even at my age -- I'm sure there are some here who do and have. However, now at 57 I'm fighting the body's strong urge (hormones)to weaken the muscles.

For instance, I just recently learned (according to the ortho-dude & his MRI) I've been living with a severed ACL in the right knee since 1972. However, my leg muscles were strong enough (5,000 miles as a cross-country competitor) they compensated for this injury and I didn't even know it until the muscles in this leg could no longer keep me up and they wham, down I came. Now I have a right leg that feels like its 18 years old and a left one that feels like 70! Reckon I'm going to have to start contouring to the right!?

[free2bow]

I bought and endured the wait for a new Blacktail at 46# and since I have another at 45# wish I had ordered #42.  Low poundage is easy on the body.

[Orion]

GrayR: Can't say that's happened to me very often, maybe once a long time ago when I bought a bow a bit heavier than I normally shot to hunt moose.  I've been shooting sticks for a long time, and that's enabled me to know what bow weight is right for me.  I also make it a practice to shoot other (heavier/lighter) bows whenever I have the opportunity, so I've always had a pretty good idea of what my preferred, maximum (and minimum) draw weights are. Several pounds one way or another from my preferred weight doesn't make much difference.  However, as I age, I'm pushing 65 now, some of the bows that I ordered 10 or more years ago are becoming too heavy for me, but they weren't when I ordered them.

I don't think it's a good idea to order a bow heavier than one is comfortable with in the hopes that one will work up to it.  Better to work up to it first, with a borrowed bow or a cheapie used bow. BTW, one can err on the side of ordering too light a bow as well.  

Guess when it comes down to it, I'm suggesting that the longer one shoot sticks, the easier it becomes to order the draw weight that's the best fit.

[Friend]

One question you must have fully answered is, why do you need to go up in draw wt?. If you can't meet your expectations by an improved over-all arrow design, then you should possibly consider a heavier draw wt.

For me shooting five days a week, I really don't percieve more effort until the difference is ~5#'s.

Sixty pounds is comfortable for me and 55#'s is great, however I shoot in the low fifties because I have a bad habit of not exercising moderation with my pratice sessions.

Note: Even if you can work up to a heavier weight, will the trad shooting experience be as enjoyable.


Best of luck in what ever you choose.