Predator bow limbs - The high and the low!!

[suttoman]

I am wondering if anybody has gone up in poundage when they particularly did not want/need to?  This sounds like a stupid question, but I will explain.  I bought a brand new Pittsley Predator recently.  Long story, but because of a mix-up/me being inconvenienced, I was gifted an extra set of limbs with the bow.  I now have the 45# set that I originally ordered (but had to wait for because of the mix-up), and the heavy set that was incorrectly sent with my order.  I now have one riser and two sets of brand new limbs!

I am pretty skinny and not that strong, (my darling wife says that I look like a 'worm'), so I find 45# enough for me.  The bow shoots like an absolute rocket launcher, so I do not need anymore speed with higher poundage.  However, I have this beautiful brand new set of 55# limbs that I look at often, and fondle, and wonder how they would shoot.  They are brand new, so I do not want to shoot them in case I want to trade them on here for a 40# set (then can honestly say they have never been shot).  My question - how much heavier is a 55# bow to shoot than a 45# bow (yes - for the smart a!!es, ten pounds - ha ha).  What I mean though, if you are pretty skinny and shooting at your max with 45#, is it a big deal/struggle to strengthen up and shoot 55#.  I hate that beautiful set of limbs going to waste and would love them to be used.  If it is too much struggle then I will swap them out!

Sutto

[Orion]

If you're at your max now, then the extra 10# is a lot.  How long have you been shooting?  If you've been shooting for several years and 45# is about the max you can handle, the55#ers will be too heavy for you.  Could you work up to them, yes, but it will take some dedicated effort. Good luck.

[suttoman]

I am in my 50's now and have been shooting for over 30 yrs.  I am certainly not a young one building his way up - I am probably an old one winding himself down - ha ha!!

Sutto

[yaderehey]

Being well up in my 50's myself I would recommend selling off the 55# limbs and buying a set of 40#ers.  They would be more useful for working on form or rehabbing and working your way back up to 45#'s if you were ever to suffer an injury or have a shoulder/arm surgery.  The 55#s should be popular with the young bucks and easily sell able.  Or like you said you could try to work out a trade.  Have a Predator myself (with 41# and 46# limbs)and they are great bows.

[Kip]

I used 55lbs. for many years since the 70's until about 2005.I will be 65 in a couple months and now use 48/52 and will not feel underbowed if I have to go to 45.I think you should trade or sell the 55.Kip

[elkken]

Originally posted by Kip:
I used 55lbs. for many years since the 70's until about 2005.I will be 65 in a couple months and now use 48/52 and will not feel underbowed if I have to go to 45.I think you should trade or sell the 55.Kip

Good advice ... get something you can enjoy. I have gradually gone down in draw weight as I have aged, now 66, I used to hunt 60#'s then 55#'s and now I am at 49-50#'s and can shoot that weight all day and have fun, but I have a 46# Caribow Taiga and it is starting to feel pretty comfortable too       .

Ten pounds is a huge jump, esp if you feel you are at or close to your max anyway!

Bisch

[mangonboat]

That Predator is a natural-born tack driver, so why risk development of form issues trying to jump up to 55#? Matched to the right arrows, that bow will be an absolute joy to shoot at 40#.

[Bill Turner]

I recently dropped in weight from 55@28 to 45 to 50 at 28". Couldn't be happier. Moving from 45 to 55@28 can certainly be done, but why do it. Shoot what you are most comfortable with, and you'll enjoy shooting for a long, long time.    

[ChuckC]

Well. . .  I  myself like the idea of having a set of limbs more (in my mind only) capable of launching heavier arrows for bigger game, like..  elk.  But as brought up earlier, that could be a big jump (or not) and you need to work up to it.

PP's are really awesome bows and they are FAST ! I had two also, albeit a bit heavier, but two for that reason, an everyday bow and one for going out west with heavier gear.

Bottom line. .  do what works for you. Only you know that answer to that.
ChuckC