Bow weight

[bowmaster12]

Im currently shooting a 55 to 57 lb bow depending what scale i check the weight on.  I know im over bowed. I shoot pretty decent but tire quickly and things start to break down. Ive been thinking hard about purchasing another bow but im unsure of how much poundage i should drop.  I would still like to be able to hunt with it but also want it light enough to comfortable shoot longer to help build form and build up the back muscles.  I can feel back tension when i practice draw without a bow or when i use a band but i cant feel it well when shooting the bow i currently have.  Was thinking of dropping to 45 lb but question if thats enough drop to achieve what im looking for.

[Roy from Pa]

You could buy a take-down with 2 sets of limbs. One set 45 # for hunting and another set say 35 # for target shooting.

[TxSportsman]

Is that 55-57lbs at YOUR draw length, or are you verifying what is marked on the bow?

[bowmaster12]

Txsportman the weight is at my draw length.

[Wheels2]

The only way to be able to shoot heavy poundage is to build up.to it with a bow that is a bit too heavy for you now.
That is the attraction of take-downs and ILF.
After a lay off over the winter, I struggle at first.  But starting out with just a few shots and increasing each shooting session brings me back.
But you have to decide how heavy you can go in the end.  Two years ago I shot 55# but had to shoot 3 days a week.  Currently at 48# with no problems.  Waiting on a set of 52# limbs later this week.

[bowmaster12]

Wheels2, sonin your experince dropping 10 lbs i should notice a pretty significant difference?

[Pine]

There's been a lot of big game harvested with bows 45# and under.
I wouldn't hesitate to deer hunt with a 40# bow.

[Orion]

I think 45 will give you a light enough weight to handle comfortably, and plenty poundage for deer size critters. 

[Friend]

45#"s could be good and then it may not be good at all.

Hopefully, you would be able to locate one to try before buying.

[blacktailbob]

On a real cold morning 45 might feel pretty nice compared to 55.

[Tactical Draftsman]

I shoot every day sometimes both at lunch and in the evening as my office is close to home. I am 52 and relatively healthy. Given this background, 5 pounds in traditional bows is a big difference to me. For example, I own two 60# bows and still enjoy hunting with them a few times each year, however if I shoot them too often as in 20 or so shots a night I can feel it and I no longer like that feeling. I also have three 50# and two 45# bows. Right now I can shoot the 50’s pretty much as often as I like. The 45s even more so. But we are not all the same. My advice would be pick up a 50 or borrow one from someone and see how you like it.

[Steelhead]

I hunted with 60 to 70 pound bows for years.I do believe in shooting what you can handle easily in any situation.From when your cold,tired and also from unorthodox positions.I now shoot 40-50 pounds as I get older

Is 45 pounds enough.Definatly!You might even expand your draw length and get a more dynamic release which will improve your arrow speed from the lighter bow.Your form might improve which will lead to better accuracy.You can work on form more.You can shoot more.You can hold the bow longer.

If a bows too heavy it can lead to serious shooting problems for an archer that are hard to remedy.Thousands of shots from a bow that's too heavy is gonna be a problem for many archers.Constantly reinforcing bad habits that can become deeply ingrained.

You might look for a high performance bow and good string.A high performance bow and high quality string can make a 45# bow shoot like other 50 pounders.

Other than that its most important to have a well tuned arrow and high quality sharp broadhead from lighter bows for hunting.   

[Wheels2]

I hate to see draw weight used as the only measure of a hunting bow.
A high performance recurve vs a classic Bear Grizzly?  Lots of guys use both with success.
I like to follow my signature line and shoot as much weight as you can with accuracy.
That coupled with a reasonably heavy arrow...
You can find lots of posts about game taken with lighter draw equipment.  If you can get it, the extra draw weight and corresponding arrow weight gives you an edge in arrow momentum.

[bowmaster12]

I guess my original post was a long winded way of asking if a 10 lb drop in weight is enough to see a difference in feel and more easily work on form longer. I have no concern on hunting with a 40 lb bow. I killed my first deer with 32 lbs.

[Roy from Pa]

Yes, you will be amazed at the lighter difference in feel and I'll bet you shoot a lot better with 40#.

[Doug in MN]

You will notice the difference and its all good.
Willing to bet you find yourself shooting better.

[Orion]

10-12# of draw weight is a big difference.  You'll certainly notice it. 

[M60gunner]

  Shooting my 45# limbs vs 55# limbs/bow is becoming more enjoyable. At 75 I still can shoot the 55# LB I have but the recurves are not so pleasant anymore. I like to shoot so when I go to the range I want to take as many shots as I want. I know some guys that say you only get one shot at a game animal and that’s all they take at a target. That’s not me. As for hunting I wouldn’t hesitate to take on a deer size critter with a 45# bow. After all it has been the most popular weight since old Fred started to make bows for the 2 season hunter.

[Dave Lay]

I’ve been looking at this myself , I’ve been shooting 58# for a long time, ( I’m 66)
    I just went through quite a bit of health  issues and kinda freaked out thinking I wouldn’t be able to shoot my current set up. I have a close friend that’s a bowyer and makes a very nice longbow. He shoots 40@29 and shoots through several deer a year with no issues. He recommended 45# for me , so I had him build me a bow. It shoots a 520 gr arrow with authority BUT I’m having a hard time adjusting to the lighter weight and the affect on my release and anchoring. I did kill a deer earlier this year with it , with a pass through, but it wasn’t a fluid shot, I had to think about it. It made me uncomfortable learning to shoot a new bow while hunting , so I went back to my normal heavier bow and killed a 8 point a few days later with a perfect shot. I think I really should have only dropped maybe 5-6 lbs instead of 13 , or wait  till summer to give me time to learn a new bow/arrow set up.  In the long run the lighter bow will probably be a positive move with increased accuracy while still maintaining the ability to shoot a good hunting weight arrow.

[dnovo]

I went from 57# to 52# about 7 or 8 years ago.  My body is feeling the effects of 40 years in construction.  I've been very comfortable at that weight until last winter.  I pulled something in my left shoulder lifting plywood on a job and it hurt to try to pull my bow. I actually couldn't do it as that shoulder would collapse.  I ended up buying a 48 # bow and  was able to shoot that.  I babied that shoulder for months and shoot the 48# bow regularly.  I am now able to shoot my 52and 53# bows but figure why?  All I'm hunting right now is deer and I'm confident in the lighter bow.  I'm just about to turn 65.  So 4 or 5 # made a big difference to me.