A man among Gorillas

[Bob G]

I have been faithfully loooking at the Bows for Sale listings every day. I see something that I would be interested in and WHOA it is a 64# bow. If you look at the listings today in the first 9 listings 7 are between 54# and 64#. I couldn't draw those bows with the help of a winch.
 Is there a trend that everyone is using a higher draw weight, or am I a wimp?   :confused:

[Apex Predator]

I think they are selling the heavy ones because they finally realize that they aren't needed.  

[Tom Anderson]

Bob, funny you posted this - I almost made the same post just yesterday.
Call me a "wimp" among gorillas...I'm down in the low 40's now.

[BobW]

I thought I was light at 56 & 59 @ 32".....

[newtotrad]

I feel your pain.  I am new to trad archery and have considered buying used for my first bow.  I also look at the listings everyday.  I am looking for something in th mid 40#s.  Oh and I am also a lefty.

[pdk25]

I reckon everyone is different.  I see alot more ads for lighter weight bows than heavy, which can be frustrating if you are looking for something heavier.

[madness522]

Light or heavy either way it seems we are in the pre-season buying slow down.  Lots of bows listed and it seems fewer and fewer being sold.

[pdk25]

Barry, whatcha taking with you to hunt with Ray in the spring?

[tradtusker]

maybe bows are more efficient these days and we know more.....maybe they don't make men like they used to?

does seem lighter bows are more common or more sought after now.

[oxnam]

I thought it would be fun to pick up a bow in the #75-80 range but they are hard to find.  Never considered myself a gorilla before but my wife my think so.  First bow I purchased was #65 and I have never shot anything other than that weight.  Over time I have picked about a couple Bear recurces in the 45#-50 range but they seem sooo slow ;-)  Then I have to start thinking more about trajectory and distance.  gorillas can't handle that much thinking.
oxnam

[bbassi]

oxnam, but can you read philosophy?  

[jhansen]

The pendulum swings.  Back in the 60's most bows were in the 40-50# range and that was considered plenty for hunting North American game.  Then thinking went the other way and suddenly anything lighter than 60# was thought to be marginal.  I think opinion is swinging back the other way again.  If enough of us blow shoulders or just plain get older, we will rethink what is "adequate".  Personally, I shoot two bows.  One pulls 50# and the other 45#.  I shoot the lighter one better.

John

[JStark]

I've been overbowed somewhat since day one, buying a bow in ignorance.  One day I'll get (or better yet, make) a 45# @ 28".  I had no idea that people thought this was a marginal draw wt. - the only reason I bought 55# @ 28" was because it was available.  

Sometimes I wish I'd heard a little bit less.  I'm going back to ignorance, once I get a 45lb. draw!

[BobW]

Originally posted by BobW:
I thought I was light at 56 & 59 @ 32".....

Gee, at 28" I guess I am.....  

[MI_Bowhunter]

My hunting bows tend to be in the 50# range.  Primarily because I needed 48#+ in Canada where I had a bear hunt last year, and will return to next year.  

For target shooting and just playing around I sometimes use use lighter bows.

[Orion]

I think some of it has to do with folks getting older.  Not many newbies in the ranks, and as we older folks age, we're dropping down in weight.  I sold most of my heavier bows over the past few years.  In my 30s, 40s and 50s, I shot 60-65# bows.  Now I'm in my 60s, and I've dropped to bows in the mid to upper 50s, though I still have one Hill that's 62#.  In another 10 years, I'll probably go down another 10 pounds.

[Mike Bolin]

I will be 53 next month and I have been shooting 55-65# for the better part of 20 year. This summer I have been suffering from neck and shoulder problems from some pinched nerves. I had to drop down to 48# and I am up to shooting 20-25 arrows every other day. The 48#@28" Rose Oak Tomcat I am shooting seems to be delivering my 590 grain arrows to the same spot that my 57# longbow was. I will keep an upper 50# bow around in case it ever works out that I get to hunt Moose, but the performance of this 48#er has got me to thinkin'........Mike

[b.glass]

How do you get to the "Bows for Sale" area?

[b.glass]

I found it!

[Wednesday Caste]

41 this year and shooting 45#.  Last year had a 55# that made me feel like a wimp.  Sorta glad that thing blew apart on me as it made me get a bow (2) that better suited my level.

b.glass: I was just about to recommend you not look.  It's a very dangerous place.