 Carpshooter 
Member
Joined: Mar 2011  IA, USA
 Posts: 2 Feedback: 0% (0) |
Posted: 11/22/2011 1:42:20 PM
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT 
|
|
|
|
krpind
ARFCOM Czar
Moderator
Joined: May 2004 TX, USA
 
Posts: 37331 Feedback: 100% (9) Link To This Post |
Posted: 11/22/2011 2:06:41 PM
Back in the day, we used 80lb bows and overdraws and still couldn't get a bow much over 220fps. I was a young man back then and I'm pretty sure deer could hear my shoulder creak when I drew. lol
Bow technology has gotten so good that every year I think, "this is the year it plateaus" and they all introduce stuff better than before. I think I shoot at about 65 now. There is no real reason to go over 55lbs or 60lbs for deer and pigs except for the ego aspect. Which is awfully hard to overcome. 
I shot a P&Y black bear and had a pass through at 20 yards with a Hoyt Ultra-tec set at 70lbs back in 06...hell that bow has to be close to 8 or 10 years old by now. I'm sure a 55 lb bow today would do it too. |
|
|
|
Posted: 11/22/2011 2:34:56 PM
[Last Edit: 11/22/2011 2:35:41 PM by gunut]
I havent hunted in a while, but my wifes 2010 PSE chronos about 30fps faster at 45lbs than my old PSE did at 70lbs. With Easton lightspeeds she was getting around 250-260 fps, 24"arrows. I would not feel underweight in the deer woods shooting a modern compound at 60lbs.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 11/22/2011 6:51:24 PM
Due to a torn rotator cuff, I switched to a 60 pound draw this year. Always been a 70 pound shooter, but I'm pushing more kinetic energy now due to wonderful advancements in technology at 10 less pounds.
 |
|
|
|
VLODPG
Member
Team Member
Joined: Aug 2004 CT, USA
Posts: 6052 Feedback: 100% (41) Link To This Post |
Posted: 11/22/2011 7:31:03 PM
62#
|
|
|
|
buhog7979
9.67@150
Team Member
Joined: Feb 2008 OH, USA
Posts: 1933 Feedback: 100% (90) Link To This Post |
Posted: 11/22/2011 7:37:41 PM
If I didn't love my 70 lb. Alpha Max so much, I would switch to 60lbs.
|
|
|
|
Zoomer302
Member
Team Member
Joined: Oct 2007 NY, USA
Posts: 2364 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 11/22/2011 8:35:50 PM
60 lb limbs on my new Z7x. Shop scaled it last week at 59 lbs.
Apleasure to draw , hold and shoot now. Blown rotator cuff w/ full open surgical repair too. |
|
|
loonybin
non compos mentis
Team Member
Joined: Oct 2001 KS, USA
Posts: 2829 Feedback: 100% (6) Link To This Post |
Posted: 11/22/2011 8:55:09 PM
I have 60-70# limbs on my Maitland Retribution, currently set at 62# due to a separated shoulder a few months ago. I'm hoping to get up to 70# by next season. I have a short draw length, so going up to 70# will give me a "normal" speed with the heavy arrows I shoot (470gr with a F.O.C. of 16%). I'm planning on this so that I will have only one setup for any animal I shoot –– whitetail, hogs or elk. This bow is incredibly smooth to draw, and other folks shooting the Retribution at 70# say that it is just as easy as some other bows at 60#, so why not go for the extra speed and momentum?
|
|
|
heron163
Team Member
Team Member
Joined: Apr 2003 NH, USA
Posts: 2940 Feedback: 100% (5) Link To This Post |
Posted: 12/10/2011 3:33:08 AM
[Last Edit: 12/10/2011 3:34:30 AM by heron163]
70 ils seems to cover all the bases for NA - but for whitetail 60 is more than enough
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/2/2012 9:47:11 PM
86 lbs Oneida
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/3/2012 11:26:00 AM
I found what ever weight is the most comfortable for you to draw back. If you try to shoot a weight thats too much then you will never practice in the off season. That be said, I shoot 55lbs
|
|
|
|
M4Madness
The Eye Of Arfcom
Site Staff
Joined: May 2001 IN, USA
Posts: 25865 Feedback: 100% (90) Link To This Post |
Posted: 2/5/2012 3:59:13 PM
The last 15 deer I've arrowed have been from a 52-pound draw weight.
|
|
|
dbd870
which way to the classifieds
Team Member
Joined: Sep 2008 IN, USA
Posts: 4015 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 2/6/2012 10:11:23 AM
60# max for me.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/18/2012 12:18:45 PM
I hunted with #60 limbs maxed out to 64lb draw. I shot the hell out of it but after a few years and probably twenty thousand arrows I dropped it to 58 and sure as hell I shot better and felt better.
While I can draw and shoot 80 pounds does not mean I have too, 60 is fine by me, hell 50 pounds is fine by me. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/18/2012 12:30:34 PM
70lbs with 60% let off on my main compound bow, and 55lbs on my takedown recurve (factory weights I've never scaled them to see the actual). I've got a bunch of other bows at various draw weights, but those are my main two.
|
|
|
|
wag_bag
regular guy
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2012 FL, USA
Posts: 2090 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/11/2012 5:43:30 PM
It's been years, but last time I shot I had just upped the draw weight to 86 lbs from 84. I can't believe the speeds these new bows are getting with 55-60 lbs, these days.
|
|
|
|
M4Madness
The Eye Of Arfcom
Site Staff
Joined: May 2001 IN, USA
Posts: 26794 Feedback: 100% (90) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/11/2012 6:16:51 PM
Originally Posted By wag_bag:
I can't believe the speeds these new bows are getting with 55-60 lbs, these days. I'm getting over 300 FPS from a 340-grain arrow at 52# and 28" draw length. |
|
|
wag_bag
regular guy
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2012 FL, USA
Posts: 2092 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/11/2012 6:28:25 PM
Originally Posted By M4Madness:
Originally Posted By wag_bag:
I can't believe the speeds these new bows are getting with 55-60 lbs, these days. I'm getting over 300 FPS from a 340-grain arrow at 52# and 28" draw length. In the current generation of bows, is there any real advantage to going with a draw weight over 80#, if one can do it? That is to say, if you get 310fps at 52# would I get substantially more at 85#? Or are the bows made in such a way that the lower draw weight is in their sweet spot? |
|
|
|
loonybin
non compos mentis
Team Member
Joined: Oct 2001 KS, USA
Posts: 2959 Feedback: 100% (6) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/11/2012 7:03:49 PM
Originally Posted By wag_bag: Originally Posted By M4Madness: Originally Posted By wag_bag: I can't believe the speeds these new bows are getting with 55-60 lbs, these days. I'm getting over 300 FPS from a 340-grain arrow at 52# and 28" draw length. In the current generation of bows, is there any real advantage to going with a draw weight over 80#, if one can do it? That is to say, if you get 310fps at 52# would I get substantially more at 85#? Or are the bows made in such a way that the lower draw weight is in their sweet spot? M4Madness shoots a lightweight arrow to get those speeds. I shoot a 416gr arrow with a 27" draw length and 71lbs and get my arrows flying at 284fps. I have mine set up to take any animal I might hunt –– deer, boar, or elk. As your draw weight increases, the minimum arrow weight needed also increases (5gr/ lb), thus you don't necessarily see an increase in speed (but momentum goes up, which is a very good thing). 80# and up is not needed for North American game animals. The only reason to go over 70#, really, is if you're hunting huge animals (think African safari for dangerous game). 70# with a heavier arrow will kill a moose. |
|
|
wag_bag
regular guy
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2012 FL, USA
Posts: 2096 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/11/2012 7:10:22 PM
[Last Edit: 8/11/2012 7:10:54 PM by wag_bag]
Originally Posted By loonybin:
Originally Posted By wag_bag:
Originally Posted By M4Madness:
Originally Posted By wag_bag:
I can't believe the speeds these new bows are getting with 55-60 lbs, these days. I'm getting over 300 FPS from a 340-grain arrow at 52# and 28" draw length. In the current generation of bows, is there any real advantage to going with a draw weight over 80#, if one can do it? That is to say, if you get 310fps at 52# would I get substantially more at 85#? Or are the bows made in such a way that the lower draw weight is in their sweet spot? M4Madness shoots a lightweight arrow to get those speeds. I shoot a 416gr arrow with a 27" draw length and 71lbs and get my arrows flying at 284fps. I have mine set up to take any animal I might hunt –– deer, boar, or elk. As your draw weight increases, the minimum arrow weight needed also increases (5gr/ lb), thus you don't necessarily see an increase in speed (but momentum goes up, which is a very good thing). 80# and up is not needed for North American game animals. The only reason to go over 70#, really, is if you're hunting huge animals (think African safari for dangerous game). 70# with a heavier arrow will kill a moose. Please pardon my ignorance, but is the 5gr/lb rule for carbon arrows or is it to save the limbs and strings from self destructing? Last time I bought arrows, carbon was just coming out, if that gives you a rough timeframe of when I stopped shooting.  |
|
|
|
loonybin
non compos mentis
Team Member
Joined: Oct 2001 KS, USA
Posts: 2960 Feedback: 100% (6) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/11/2012 7:29:02 PM
Originally Posted By wag_bag: It's the standard set by the IBO (International Bowhunters Association), and is considered the minimum safe arrow weight per pound to avoid damaging your bow. For a 60# bow, the minimum arrow would be 300gr. 70# ~ 350gr, 80# ~ 400gr, etc. That does not mean that it is the ideal weight for hunting, though.Originally Posted By loonybin: Originally Posted By wag_bag: Originally Posted By M4Madness: Originally Posted By wag_bag: I can't believe the speeds these new bows are getting with 55-60 lbs, these days. I'm getting over 300 FPS from a 340-grain arrow at 52# and 28" draw length. In the current generation of bows, is there any real advantage to going with a draw weight over 80#, if one can do it? That is to say, if you get 310fps at 52# would I get substantially more at 85#? Or are the bows made in such a way that the lower draw weight is in their sweet spot? M4Madness shoots a lightweight arrow to get those speeds. I shoot a 416gr arrow with a 27" draw length and 71lbs and get my arrows flying at 284fps. I have mine set up to take any animal I might hunt –– deer, boar, or elk. As your draw weight increases, the minimum arrow weight needed also increases (5gr/ lb), thus you don't necessarily see an increase in speed (but momentum goes up, which is a very good thing). 80# and up is not needed for North American game animals. The only reason to go over 70#, really, is if you're hunting huge animals (think African safari for dangerous game). 70# with a heavier arrow will kill a moose. Please pardon my ignorance, but is the 5gr/lb rule for carbon arrows or is it to save the limbs and strings from self destructing? Last time I bought arrows, carbon was just coming out, if that gives you a rough timeframe of when I stopped shooting. |
|
|
TeeRex
Aspiring Stamp Collector
Team Member
Joined: Oct 2009 OH, USA
Posts: 6968 Feedback: 100% (2) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/11/2012 7:33:36 PM
70# with a bowtech that has to be about 7 years old now. I don't keep up with the new stuff, but if I bought a new bow today I'd probably go with 60.
|
|
|
wag_bag
regular guy
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2012 FL, USA
Posts: 2098 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/11/2012 7:34:29 PM
Has it been retested recently? Since a 340gr arrow is enough to kill a whitetail at 52#, has it been tested in the newer parralell limb design bows at faster speeds and heavier draw weights? I can see where being set at one point in time at a certain point in tech develpoment would be a good way to set a safety standard, but is this something that is tested periodically as tech advances?
|
|
|
|
M4Madness
The Eye Of Arfcom
Site Staff
Joined: May 2001 IN, USA
Posts: 26795 Feedback: 100% (90) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/12/2012 9:45:00 AM
Originally Posted By loonybin:
M4Madness shoots a lightweight arrow to get those speeds. At 6.5 grains per pound, those are bricks.
Looking at the last 15 deer I've killed with my bow, 9 were with 300-grain arrows and 6 were with 340-grain arrows. Granted, I hunt nothing larger than a whitetail, so I don't "need" heavier arrows nor a heavier draw weight. In fact, if I could get 300 FPS out of a 40# bow, I'd drop down to that in a heartbeat. Seriously. You can't beat a light draw weight on a cold morning in the deer woods, not to mention that it'll spare you shoulder surgery later in life. Heck, Ted Nugent hunts with 48#, and Dwight Schuh of Bowhunter Magazine 50#. The legal minimum to deer hunt in my state is 35#. Higher-poundage bows do have their place though, such as thick-skinned, dangerous game where a much heavier arrow is required for penetration. They're just not necessary for deer-sized game. That said, I feel that anyone should be able to use as high a draw weight and arrow weight as they see fit. If they want to use an 80# bow, it doesn't affect me. I wouldn't want someone saying, "Why does a person own a .50 BMG, when all they need is a .22LR." |
|
|
wag_bag
regular guy
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2012 FL, USA
Posts: 2110 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/12/2012 9:57:28 AM
I guess what I'm curious about is speed, not energy. Deer around here are pretty small. Has the 5gr/lb limit been tested in newer bow designs? If I can launch a 340gr arrow from an 86lb bow, without the bow tearing itself apart, the speed will be greater and the deer will have less time to react to the sound.
The questions with this are: 1. can a bow that can do this without exploding? 2. can the arrows themselves handle this type of stress? 3. will this give us any appreciable gains |
|
|
|
M4Madness
The Eye Of Arfcom
Site Staff
Joined: May 2001 IN, USA
Posts: 26798 Feedback: 100% (90) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/12/2012 10:16:43 AM
Originally Posted By wag_bag:
I guess what I'm curious about is speed, not energy. Deer around here are pretty small. Has the 5gr/lb limit been tested in newer bow designs? If I can launch a 340gr arrow from an 86lb bow, without the bow tearing itself apart, the speed will be greater and the deer will have less time to react to the sound. The questions with this are: 1. can a bow that can do this without exploding? 2. can the arrows themselves handle this type of stress? 3. will this give us any appreciable gains I personally wouldn't attempt it. I'm sure that the 5 grain per pound minimum was set for a very good reason. Granted, bow companies do dry-fire tests (which would be 0 grains) on their bows without the limbs exploding, but why take the chance? Speed is quite beneficial, but not really in the manner in which you assume. The faster the arrow, the less gravitational drop. That means that it is more forgiving to errors in yardage estimation –– you could misjudge the yardage to the animal and still get a killing shot. The speed of sound is around 1100 FPS –– that's three times faster than the fastest bow on the market (366 FPS), so speed isn't going to affect "jumping the string" as much as many would hope. |
|
|
wag_bag
regular guy
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2012 FL, USA
Posts: 2114 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/12/2012 10:34:35 AM
You're right about the trajectory. I overlooked that. I don't expect any bow will get anywhere near the speed of sound, but we don't neccassarily have to. We just need to beat the animals reaction time to the sound, not the sound itself. I'm probably focusing on this part as I've had it happen to me before. A flatter arrow trajectory would likely be a more tangible benefit, anyhow.
|
|
|
|
M4Madness
The Eye Of Arfcom
Site Staff
Joined: May 2001 IN, USA
Posts: 26800 Feedback: 100% (90) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/12/2012 1:32:28 PM
Originally Posted By wag_bag:
We just need to beat the animals reaction time to the sound, not the sound itself. I'm probably focusing on this part as I've had it happen to me before. It's best to shoot at relaxed animal, rather than those on alert, as the chances of them reacting to the sound of the shot would be miniscule. However, if you must take a shot at an alert animal, aim low. An animal must drop first to put tension in their leg muscles to spring off quickly, so if you can anticipate this drop, you are one step ahead of them. If they drop into the arrow, you get a good lung hit. If they don't, you still get the heart. Shots taken from elevated stands tend to go high as well, due to anchor point changes for those who don't bend at the waist. |
|
|
loonybin
non compos mentis
Team Member
Joined: Oct 2001 KS, USA
Posts: 2961 Feedback: 100% (6) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/13/2012 2:51:26 AM
Originally Posted By wag_bag: I guess what I'm curious about is speed, not energy. Deer around here are pretty small. Has the 5gr/lb limit been tested in newer bow designs? If I can launch a 340gr arrow from an 86lb bow, without the bow tearing itself apart, the speed will be greater and the deer will have less time to react to the sound. The questions with this are: 1. can a bow that can do this without exploding? 2. can the arrows themselves handle this type of stress? 3. will this give us any appreciable gains Even if it were safe to do so, the other problem you run into shooting a light arrow in a heavy DW bow is the increase in noise. A heavier arrow absorbs more of the energy, so less of it is transmitted as sound. The lighter the arrow, the louder the bow, which will work against you. |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/17/2012 10:25:26 PM
I used to hunt with 70-72 pounds all the time, now I'm down to around 58 pounds.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/26/2012 2:53:57 PM
I can shoot comfortably up to 70#, but I tune it down in season for easier draws with difficult positions.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/28/2012 12:48:07 AM
I think Im under 50lbs. I think its between 45 - 50 lbs. I cant remember.
|
|
|
|
RabidMonkeyPox
They took my soul to the darkest place
Team Member
Joined: Jun 2007  PRK
Posts: 7521 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/28/2012 3:45:32 PM
with my new hoyt I'm going 65 and easily could go into the mid 70's on the new RKT cams if I had the limbs.
|
|
|
avmech
Member
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2007 FL, USA
Posts: 1559 Feedback: 100% (10) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/29/2012 8:38:03 PM
70 lb limbs, set at 58 pounds
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/7/2012 8:03:00 AM
I shoot 62 pounds. It makes drawing in awkward positions or thick woods much easier.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/14/2012 11:56:57 PM
[Last Edit: 9/14/2012 11:57:22 PM by Towely]
61#s. My dad is shooting down at 52#s. I doubt his bow would have any problem killing a deer.
In fact I've been considering knocking my weight down a bit even more to help with those awkward draws. |
|
|
|
M4Madness
The Eye Of Arfcom
Site Staff
Joined: May 2001 IN, USA
Posts: 26964 Feedback: 100% (90) Link To This Post |
Posted: 9/15/2012 7:44:08 AM
Originally Posted By Towely:
My dad is shooting down at 52#s. I doubt his bow would have any problem killing a deer. That poundage will easily kill deer. 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/16/2012 10:51:46 PM
[Last Edit: 9/16/2012 10:51:56 PM by MagnusM4]
I'm shooting 60lbs right now.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/20/2012 5:37:58 AM
The max draw weight depends on the person, it's what ever you are comfortable with while achieving maximum accuracy. Too many archers want the absolute fastest bow possible. My mom (yes, she still bow hunts, killed a big eight point 2 weeks ago) shoots around 43 lbs and has no problems killing whitetail. The most important thing is keeping your bow quiet. I have seen dudes pull close to 90 lbs and shoot close to 400 fps (I am well aware of how stupid this is) that couldn't kill deer with their bow because it sounded like a firearm going off. No matter how fast you get your bow a whitetail will still dodge the arrow without a quiet set up. I personally shoot around 60 lbs on my G5 prime. Shooting the right broad head I would hunt anything in NA with it. Don't know how fast it is and really don't care because it is way more than fast enough.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/20/2012 8:23:55 AM
I am running 62 lbf on my bows.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/20/2012 8:25:54 AM
75# Robertson Stykbow
|
|
|
|
RRD3
The Second Amendment is the Equal Rights Amendment
Team Member
Joined: Mar 2009 CO, USA
Posts: 6957 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 9/21/2012 7:08:15 PM
I have a 60 to 70 and set it to 60 in the winter. Little harder to draw heaver weight in the cold and with heavier clothing.
|
|
|
steve8140
Member
Team Member
Joined: Nov 2009 MA, USA
Posts: 252 Feedback: 100% (8) Link To This Post |
Posted: 9/30/2012 9:51:51 AM
My old bow and my new Hoyt are both set at 60 pounds. I've never had the need or the ability so shoot distances where I hunt that would require a heavier draw.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/1/2012 9:19:47 PM
65# PSE Evo 7 with 70# limbs.
|
|
|
