Self bow curiosity ...

[Bob B.]

I have been wondering ... midwest deer hunters,

A) what length and poundage are your self bows?

B) how much penetration do you often get?

Bob.

[glenbo]

Hey Bob,I am not a midwest hunter,but I do hunt with selfbows.Most of my bows are around 50 lbs with a few under by a couple and a few over.Pass thru shots are not uncommon.Even with bows mid to high 40s should bury a heavy arrow to the feathers.I keep my shots to 15 yds max.Most of my bows are 66"to 68"long.I use mostly Hickory because it is free,but I sure love osage.I like your choice of bows.I also shoot a Mohawk and a Whip.glen

[Jack Skinner]

I am not midwest either but we hunt deer out west. My selfbows are in the 55-60lb draw weight range. My arrows in the 650-750 weight range. Shots 20yds or so max. Like glenbo pass-thrus not uncommon as matter of fact I would say the norm is pass-thru, maybe not thru and to the ground but two holes neither-the-less. Mostly osage in the 64-68 inch length range.

[Walt Francis]

1.  64", 52-60#@29"

2.  Penetration correlates directly to how well the arrow is tuned the bow and where it is placed.  The past couple of years only one of my shots was not a pass through on  Montana whitetail deer; the one that was not a pass through buried to the fletching.  Most of my shots are 10-15 yards but on occasion, it reaches out to 25.

[frank bullitt]

I'm a Midwester! Have shot many whitetail, both large and small! My first in 1991 with osage bow, 48lbs. My first succes at building an osage.

My last, 2 years ago, large doe, with a black locust, 55lbs. 64"- 68" length. Ground and tree stand kills.

Some pass-thrus, some not. But always a sharp broadhead. No different than my glass bows!

Hope you get at it!

[smoke1953]

I just picked up a 66", 53#@28" osage form Bob Brilhart with no cut in shelf, actually a bearclaw is used for the shelf. I use heavy ash arrows and currently are using 60-65# spine. I'm thinking 55-60 may be better performing because of the lack of the shelf but don't have any yet to try. I shoot about 200 gr. upfront. Any thoughts?

 

[Bob B.]

Bruce, that is one awesome looking bow!

Bob.

[frank bullitt]

Nice bow, Bruce. You might want to try 50-55's or even 45-50's!

No shelf and archer's paradox make alot of differernce. Or try putting a heavier point on to weaken the spine.

And then some of my bows don't mind light or heavy spine.

Put a high performance string on it, and see how those 60-65's shoot!

[New Wood]

Hey Bruce,

That bow looks great!  Before you go out and buy a bunch of differant shafts look me up at either Horicon or the PBS shoot.  I will have some arrows you can try out in it.

Chris H

[smoke1953]

I'll make sure to do that at PBS. Won the bid at Comptons for this bow. Here is the belly. Bob don't mean to steal your thread but I was sure excited to get this bow and for a real reasonable price.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I have killed a bunch of deer with selfbows. I have had two, stick in the ground on the other side pass throughs on smaller deer, all the rest were buried to the fletching.55-60# bows, snap shot(I shoot quickly in the heat of a battle) with somewhere around a 24-25" draw.

[Ranger B]

I've killed a boat load of deer with the selfbow and I'd say 50% were pass throughs.  I hunt with bows ranging from 43# - 50#.  A 45# bow is a 45# bow - doesn't matter what it is made out of.