draw weight ?

[Southern Sam]

I have decided on my new bow.  Currently I'm shooting 43# and shooting it very very good!  I'm leaning toward having my new bow built at 47# max at my drawlegth.  What opinions do yall have on just bumping up a few pounds in weight?  since its not a huge bump like goin from 43-50# is it worth the extra really?  Gonna be shootin alot of 3D and hunting.  
Thanks, Sam

[chopx2]

I like to shoot the maximum I can comfortably shoot for hunting.

For high volume shooting I drop to a lighter bow.

I don't think going from, 43 to 47 gets you that much more performance (assuming the same bow). I'd probably go 7-10# higher as my personal preference and a heavier arrow so they both shoot the same approx. speed and I can go back and forth easily.

[crgaston]

Really depends on if you are just at your limit now, or if you feel like you can handle a little more.  Sounds like you can handle it.

I'd say... Go for it!  If you spec that weight as max then you might end up a couple pounds under anyway.

[McDave]

I think the difference between 43 and 47# is significant when you're considering hunting with the bow.  I would be reluctant to hunt with a 43# bow (although I know many people do so successfully), whereas I would feel comfortable hunting with a 47# bow.

[legends1]

Choose a weight you can shoot without problem all day at a 3d shoot.

[Southern Sam]

thanks fellers, keep them coming!  No doubt I can handle the extra weight. My new bow will be alot smoother than what I'm shootin now. I dont want to really go above 50# ever.  I had bad bouts with a bow several years ago that was too much bow, 56# to be exact.  got me in bad habbits ect.. When I got back into trad archery I fell in love with these light limb bows and shooting better than ever! I'm gonna be spending alot of money on this new bow and want to make the right decision.
thanks!

[S.C. Hunter]

I think that is a descent bump in weight. I would agree that a little heavier is always good if you can shoot it well. When I don't have to shoot a lot I have shot bows as much as 10-15 lbs over my normal weight. Most of my bows are between 53#-57# and have one at 60#. I can shoot all of them pretty well. For some reason I feel I get a better anchor when I shoot a heavier bow. I shot a couple that were 60#-68# and found I shot them very well, the anchor felt really solid. Would I try to shoot them all day no way.    

[Steelhead]

Sounds like since you shoot the 43 #er very well it would be a very good 3-D bow possibly and a good bow to work on your form with.Or to shoot alot of arrows with without tiring.

I shoot from 50#s to 56 #s at 30 inches and enjoy both the lighter bows and heavier ones.

If I am tired or my focus is off a bit I grab a lighter bow.Or if i dont feel comfortable at anchor I choose the lighter bow.When well rested I shoot the heavier ones with no problem.

You will get a little better performance from the heavier bow if its the same model or style.Some of my lighter bows may outperform the Heavier ones do do high effeciency though.So its hard to just compaere the poundage of the bow for strictly performance purposes.

You may get a crisper release from the heavier 47# bow as the string may pull away cleaner as long as you maintain back tension and have a strong solid bowarm.Thats very possible.As long as you can control the bow well and not callapse or get the yipps.

You will want to maintain your same drawlength with the 47# bow as the 43 # bow.Dont shorten up or scrunch together.

Sound like you will be able to handle it to me if the 43 # is a piece of cake.It is about a 8-9% increease in poundage.At some point a bow is gonna feel too heavy or less comfortable to shoot.Only you will know what the answer to that question is.

[30coupe]

A lot depends on what you intend to do with the bow. If you are hunting whitetails, 47# will be plenty. A 4 # increase won't feel like a lot. A 7 # increase will!

That said, I shoot a 46# Kanati and a 53# Orion. Generally, I shoot either one equally well. Both bows are smooth. I can hold the Kanati at full draw longer, but I certainly don't feel over bowed with the Orion.

I think your best bet would be to try a similar bow to the one you plan to buy at around 50# and see how you do with it. A 50# bow will do for just about any critter on this continent. Heck, with a sharp, two blade broadhead and a heavy arrow, I'd shoot anything on the continent with my Kanati!

[Southern Sam]

I have to make my mind up by this Thursday. I like to hear all the different oppinions, you guys are the best and thats why I enjoy reading and posting here.

[cbCrow]

I'd like to just say that a 43# bow will do the job whether on 3D or deer. If you want one for eack endeavors than go up about 10% in weight and use it for hunting and use the 43#r for 3D. Me I use one bow for all and believe that sometimes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

[Pat B]

If it will be next season before you plan to shoot the new bow(not hunt with it this year) you will have plenty of time to get used to the extra weight. You will have plenty of time to build up your muscles so you can draw that bow comfortably when crunch time comes.
  I prefer to shoot the same weight bow whether I'm shooting 3D or hunting. The fewer veriables my brain has to deal with the better. If a bow is too heavy to shoot 3D I'd say it is too much to hunt with. JMO

[stykbender]

I am not a 3d shooter--just shoot to practice for hunting. That said for hunting shoot the max you can comfortably handle! I would ask fellow archers to shoot their bows-most will readily allow- and then I recommend from sitting position, extend the bow in hand and smoothly draw to length. If you can't handle from this position, you are "overbowed"! I know folks who shoot elk with under 50# but the shot has to be perfik! Just my opinion! My bows are 60 to 70#....

[maineac]

I have two sets of limbs for my recurve.  One is around 53# at my draw length and the other is 65#.  I can shoot the 53# a little better.  For whitetail I shoot the 65# for a month before season and then switch over to the 53# a week before season. Then the 53# feels like nothing and my accuracy is much better. The 53# should be more than enough for whitetail, and when I eventually draw moose tag I'll shoot he 65#

[Ward / Texas]

Most bowyers have a plus or minus 2 lbs range for finished bow weight, and so if you ordered your new bow at 45 lbs, you'd be guaranteed not to exceed 47 lbs.

[Southern Sam]

My PSA should arive middle of December.  So I plan to hunt with it in late January or February for hogs. I believe I'm gonna get the.47#  should be enough for anything I want to do.

[royking]

I shoot 43# roving and 3d
hunting with proper placement would be ok
a little more weight sure wouldnt hurt for hunting.

[BWD]

Wouldn't going from 43#s to 47#s, in effect, be similar to adding an inch to your draw length?
Wouldn't we all like to add an extra inch...to our draw length?

[damascusdave]

Here is something you did not think of.

7 is my lucky number so I was going to order my Chek-Mate bow with a 47 pound draw weight until I realized that 49 is seven 7's so now that is what I ordered. Do not care if the bow draws 47 or 51 as long as it says 49# @ 30 inches on the riser. I have other lighter and longer bows that are far better suited to 3D shooting.

Right now I have one bow for hunting mule deer and another for hunting whitetails. The mulie bow is marked 42# and the whitetail bow 40#. My effective range is 10 metres and I might take a little longer shot under just the right circumstances.

[Southern Sam]

Well, today is the day I send my test drive bow back and place the order.  Like I mentioned before, John at BW said it would be mid Dec when I get her. Thanks to everybody for the help!  Its just a big decision to make when it gonna be a bow for life and I wanted to do the right thing. I have decided on the Iron wood PSA 28.75@47# or close. 60" bow. I really like the bamboo lams in the limbs.