Yay! I just came back from the archery range after about a 4 year hiatus. I was shooting my 50# Bear Montana longbow at 10 yards and was pleased given the time off. I need start shooting regularly to build up my strength. I was short-drawing a lot because of it. I know I'll get my strength back quickly, but it got me thinking. When family field archery was popular they made a ton of 30-40# target bows which can often be had for much cheaper than hunting weights. Does anyone here shoot these? I figure I could use the "but they're for you, honey" line. LOL.
-Dave
I regularly shoot The Wife's Martin Rebel 30# to work on my form. I find it allows me to work on my alignment, without putting any stress on my joints (If I get it wrong!) I can adjust my elbow up & down & increase or decrease back tension easily whilst at full draw. I kinda makes sense to me to be able to hold at full draw for ages without getting tired whilst adjusting myself.
I just bought a 45# Turkey Creek because I couldn't draw my 57#er. Torn rotater cuff.I have a 27" draw so the bow is actually 42#s for me and boy does it shoot.
Shooting vs hunting with low poundage bows are two different things. Which do you mean ?
I have hunted with a 46# pound selfbow and had no drama's at all acheiving excellant penetration on pigs or goats . I use arrows around the 650 grain mark , 2 blade head scary sharp chiseled point 20 plus % forward of centre.
The good Doctor Ashby has all the guff in his arrow leathality study . I will be changing my arrows to 25% plus FOC single beval edge 2 blade broadheads with a tanto style point and have already began making target arrows to the same formula and getting excellant accuracy . Read Ed's study , he has proven what ancient people knew and why they made there arrows with heavy foreshafts or long steel tanged heads . For interests sake the most accurate crossbow bolts have massive FOC OVER 70 % . regards Perry