How heavy did you start?

[jkm97]

So hiw heavy if a bow did you guys start with?

[medic77]

I started at 55lbs but I'm built like a fireplug.

[Petrovic]

70lb with a compound and still paying for it 5 years later.

[tippit]

Back in 1980, I was shooting 80# longbow...but back then that was more the norm.  I now due to age shoot 45-50#.  There is no reason to shoot that much even is you are younger & stronger...tippit

[m midd]

I started with a 63# longbow. I still hunt with that bow but i am shooting 45-50# more these days

[Shinken]

30# @ 28" RH with a Bear Grizzly (1979)

32# @ 28" LH with a Black Mountain Sheepeater (2009)

Keep the wind in your face!

Shoot straight, Shinken

   

[Scott Grella]

I was young and dumb.  My first bow was a #65 Martin Ventura.   I wish it would've been #45 like I shoot now, I'd probably still have it.

My first stickbow was a 50# Bear Kodiak Hunter. That was about 20yrs ago and I still shoot 50# at my DL.

Bisch

[Scott Grella]

Oh and that was around 1987-88ish.  Learned a lot in the last 25years.

[Cwilder]

I first started with a bear recurve at the age of 15 that was 45lbs @ 28". I then moved to a compound that was 65lbs. Now I'm back to a recurve 50lbs at 28". I do draw 29.5.

[Goshawkin]

Don't remember,probably a 40-50 Stemmler or bear recurve when I was a kid. The first bow that I bought new and picked the specs was a 67#@27" Black widow recurve in the late '80s or early '90s. Still prefer bows about 65-70#

[DennyK]

I started at 41# then 55# and decided I could handle more then that . I did shoot 70+ for a couple years but slowly came down in draw weight. So instead of drawing my anchor point to my bow I draw my bow to my anchor point and tend to stretch out just a bit at full draw. Knowing now what I shoulda known then I never would have gone up in poundage. Much Better!  

[VictoryHunter]

Too heavy. I started with 55 lbs and I could pull it fine but my form suffered. I dropped to 45 lbs and my form and range increased significantly.

[varmint101]

60@28 with over 29" draw.  I wouldn't advise it!   However, it worked out.

[Blueridge]

1972 a 47# Kodiak Hunter, I was 16.  Got into the 70+ pounders in the late 80's. shot that Kodiak for 13 years until it broke.

[Stump73]

Started out to heavy 50# @28. Wish I had started lower. Didn't know any difference and the guy who sold to me at ba** p** didn't know anything about trad equipment.

[2Blade]

Started with a 45# Howatt HI Speed now I shoot around 58-60lbs since my draw length grew and gave me some extra horse power    Im going to be 24 and I feel like I could shoot 70-80lbs but havent got to draw a bow that heavy yet to be sure.

[jkm97]

Interesting, most of you guys started relatively heavy. I'm shooting in the low 50's on my first bow, after 18 years of shooting 70-80 compounds. Over on Archerytalk everyone swears that is too much, but it seems to have worked out for you fellows.

[ron w]

Bought a Browning Nomad in 1966, 37# @ 28".....

[Wheels2]

43# but I was 14.  When I got back into it in my late 30's my first bow was a 63# Quillian T/D.
Much too much weight.  Settled in around 53#.  I got away from it for a while and recently came back.  First with a 50# 50's style but I am now shooting a 47# Fedora 560 one piece.  Now at 53, I find the 43-47# range best for me.  If I had the money to order a new bow, I would go with 44#.  I just don't shoot that often to be able to handle more.