What a difference 10 pounds makes

[tapeman1]

In draw weight anyway.

So, when I bought my new Mission compound last weekend the guy at the shop set it up for a 40 pound draw weight since I'm new to archery. He figured that would be a good place for me to start building up my archery muscles. No problem.

But when I was shooting it last weekend I was thinking it was a little too easy to pull 40. So I figured I'd crank it up to 50 today to see how that felt. It was harder, but still not difficult. So, I figured I'd see what 60 felt like.

So I crank it up, nock an arrow and draw...nope. OK, that was harder than expected, but now I'm ready for it. Draw...nope. D@MN! that is freakin impossible.

So, I cranked it back down to about 53 and draw that with a little effort, but not too much. I think I'll stay there for a while.

 

[Sticky]

It takes a while to build up the muscles that are used to draw a bow and with time, it will get easier. We always start new archers out at a lower dw and then have them crank it up after a couple weeks of shooting. A turn on the limb bolts, shoot for a couple more weeks and if you think you can handle more, give it another full turn (about 3lbs/turn on average).

I shot a 70lb bow for over 30 years, but now, 60 is plenty... LOL

Take your time, practice as much as you can and you will find it much easier over time... The worst thing you can do is overbow yourself... remember if you are hunting, that you have to be able to draw smoothly, quietly and with as little movement as possible (can't sky the bow, really need to be able to draw it straight back and settle into shooting position as smoothly as possible) and on a cold, freezing morning, that is a lot tougher than one would think..

 

[rouchna]

I bought my first bow in August (a Hoyt Charger). I had it set up at 50lbs. I practiced with it every single day for 2 months to get ready for hunting season. By the time hunting season started, I was up to a 63lb draw. It definitely takes time but the more you practice with it, the easier it will get.

 

[Inigoes]

50 lbs is a good draw weight to use pretty much any mechanical broadhead.

That is something to keep in mind, if you hunt 30 lbs and over, but less than 50 lbs, used fixed broadheads.

 

[tapeman1]

Take your time, practice as much as you can and you will find it much easier over time... The worst thing you can do is overbow yourself... remember if you are hunting, that you have to be able to draw smoothly, quietly and with as little movement as possible (can't sky the bow, really need to be able to draw it straight back and settle into shooting position as smoothly as possible) and on a cold, freezing morning, that is a lot tougher than one would think..

Interesting. That's pretty much why I settled at 53ish. That was the point where I could draw it with effort, but I didn't have to twist around or move my body out of line.

 

[tapeman1]

50 lbs is a good draw weight to use pretty much any mechanical broadhead.

That is something to keep in mind, if you hunt 30 lbs and over, but less than 50 lbs, used fixed broadheads.

I didn't know that. Thanks.


My goal for hunting is to pull a weight that will guarantee me pass throughs on well place shots.

 

[Scottysan]

+1
Yup, same thing applies when I have not shot for more than a couple months.
You have to snap in, as we called it with rifles, which involves toning muscles, joint stabilization(just like lifting weights), and getting your mind right.

I've found that the workout resistance bands can simulate the position and pressure, so you can work out on days when you're not on the range, which shortens snapping in.

 

[Shinny]

I'm glad you're enjoying it. I have mine set at 60lbs and love it, but I only hunt bag targets and range walls. Keep practicing and before you know it, your bow will multiply and your wallet will again shrink.

 

[outrider58]

I used to shoot a 80-90 lb Martin Black Ram. Eventually it got to the point where I couldn't draw it back on those cold, long days so I gave it up for more mature user friendly bows. Now I've got my Mathews cranked down to about 45-50lbs. (torn rotator cuff surgery in four weeks) til some time next year. Hopefully i'll be able to shoot it again.

 

[new_shooter]

Be happy you're shooting a compound. Imagine having to pull that draw weight all the way back and then hold it while aiming, like you'd need to do with a non-compound bow.

 

[outrider58]

Interesting. That's pretty much why I settled at 53ish. That was the point where I could draw it with effort, but I didn't have to twist around or move my body out of line.

A good rule of thumb for max draw weight for a person is easy to figure out. Sit in a chair an draw your bow. If you have trouble, crank it down until you don't have to go through all sorts of gyrations to get it back. Some guys will make you lift your feet off the floor, then draw your bow but that's a bit extreme.

 

[BenL]

I used to shoot a 80-90 lb Martin Black Ram. Eventually it got to the point where I couldn't draw it back on those cold, long days so I gave it up for more mature user friendly bows. Now I've got my Mathews cranked down to about 45-50lbs. (torn rotator cuff surgery in four weeks) til some time next year. Hopefully i'll be able to shoot it again.

For anything most people would likely hunt (unless it's moose, pigs, or bears), 50 lbs is plenty, even for pass-through on a whitetail, unless you hit shoulder.

Obligatory bow hunting pic from a few weeks ago (turkey):

 

[tapeman1]

For anything most people would likely hunt (unless it's moose, pigs, or bears), 50 lbs is plenty, even for pass-through on a whitetail, unless you hit shoulder.

So I should be good hunting whitetail with 60 pounds...eventually? I'm very concerned with being as humane as possible.

 

[BenL]

So I should be good hunting whitetail with 60 pounds...eventually? I'm very concerned with being as humane as possible.

Much like firearms, shot placement is more important than power. 60 lbs should be more than enough for an ethical shot within a reasonable distance, if placed correctly on a whitetail deer. If you gut-shoot the deer, whether with 50, 60, or 90 lbs, you're going to be tracking him for quite some time and he will suffer. I would stick with fixed broadheads. I like G5 strikers (100gr); on my setup, they fly like field points out to ~35-40 yards (probably beyond that too, but that's my self-imposed limit.)

 

[tapeman1]

Much like firearms, shot placement is more important than power. 60 lbs should be more than enough for an ethical shot within a reasonable distance, if placed correctly on a whitetail deer.

Cool. Thanks.

 

[wilcam47]

Much like firearms, shot placement is more important than power. 60 lbs should be more than enough for an ethical shot within a reasonable distance, if placed correctly on a whitetail deer. If you gut-shoot the deer, whether with 50, 60, or 90 lbs, you're going to be tracking him for quite some time and he will suffer. I would stick with fixed broadheads. I like G5 ; on my setup, they fly like field points out to ~40 yards.

If you go for a shot behind the shoulder instead of through the shoulder, typically a fixed broadhead will go straight through the ribs/lungs and out the other side. They wont go far with a double lung shot.

 

[tapeman1]

If you go for a shot behind the shoulder instead of through the shoulder, typically a fixed broadhead will go straight through the ribs/lungs and out the other side. They wont go far with a double lung shot.

So no face shots is what you're saying?

 

[wilcam47]

So no face shots is what you're saying?

lol...if you are good enough to hit it in the brain go ahead

 

[tapeman1]

lol...if you are good enough to hit it in the brain go ahead

Based on how many of those idiots I see dead on the road I'm guessing that's a pretty small target.

 

[Inigoes]

Based on how many of those idiots I see dead on the road I'm guessing that's a pretty small target.

You would be surprised at the number of deer running around with arrow shafts sticking out of their skulls.

People aren't thinking...