How many shoot over 60lbs, and do you use a longbow or recurve.
I backed off 10 lbs on my newest bow. I used to shoot 71-72#. I love my 62# Sunbear though.
Both.
black widow longbow 65# @ 28"
Both up to 80lbs
I do, both.
recurve 64lbs
SL
recurves -65 to 75 lbs.
Longbows and selfbows
both..64-65....I've backed off some in my middle years.
longbow 65
All LB, all #60 + or - a couple pounds at 30"
Eric
the reason for my post is, it seems whenever I say I shoot 60lbs I get looks like I'm crazy. But in reality I see nothing wrong with it. As long as I'm not modifying my form to make up for it.
60-70#...I know what you mean by the funny looks. Im probably more accurate with the heavier wt's. though.
65 out of both
Both
Nothing wrong w/ modifying your form--If you are not modifiying your form somewhat for diff. bows, then you are ignoring the particular nature of a given bow and your particualar physical strengths and weaknesses. I have 3 distinct forms of shooting, to adjust to particualr situations and the characteristics of the bow I happen to be shooting at the time. When I shoot heavy bows, Iam bent over and shooting with the limbs horizontal- which has very little in common w/ the upright posture and slightly canted bow form that I use w/ligther weights-- its just a matter of adapting("modifiying) to circumstances. Shoot what you like, how you like. There are no rules here. Just enjoy, learn, adapt--its all part of the traditional spirit.
why would you get looks like that?
Both. 60#-66#
The 'curve I hunt most with is about 63# at my draw...I get funny looks too...mostly from the wife so, its probably not because of the bow...
David
My longbows are between 65-70 .Used to shoot bows 74-78 years ago.
Silvertip is 63# @ 28"
But I've been shooting the "Tembo" ( Howard Hill ) exclusivly for about 2 months now, it pulls 75# @ 28"
Every thing else that I own is 60# or less.
between 65-75
Its more normal here in the west I think.
65# savannah. Any body know formula for calculating kinetic energy?
Longbow, 62#
LBs 65-70, I'm not a very big guy either, you should see some of the looks I get.
63# @31" Recurve
I was at a 3-day shoot last year. byron furguson was there . he shot all 3 days.It wasent until the third day I found out he was shooting something like 70-75 lbs. He made it look like he was pullin a 40.lb bow.he said once you see your target you pull back. You gotta let it go there is no holdin back. Iguess you have to be phyically fit but there must a lot of form involved.I have heard of little guys betting big guys they cantpull back bows.the little guy being a avid archer.while the big guy is running on ego.That must be funny to see.Iam talkin high poundage bows of corse.
both. 61# MOAB 65# recurves
68# BW recurve
70# HH longbow
78# BW longbow
80# Schafer recurve
60# Martin recurve
61# recurve and 62# longbow. Those are light bows for me. :bigsmyl: My friend commented that I was shooting his 70# bow smoothly but in truth I only went with even a 60# bow when I was buying my first custom because NH required that for moose and at the time I wanted to hunt EVERYTHING! :D Now it is as light to me as my starter bow.
All the talk you hear about developing shoulder problems with heavier weight bows is a lot of hooey IF you keep yourself in shape and are not just a "weekend warrior." They've done studies-you can keep most of your strength into your 80's with a good workout program. I've never had a guy who could comfortably shoot a heavy bow give me that look or lecture you refer to.
62-63# longbow & recurve.
I shoot from 70 to 80# all the time with both recurves and longbows. I don't own anything under 70. I can't shoot the little things worth a hoot so I shoot what's most accurate for me.
I have a 58# now, and a 62# on order...both longbows
Curveman, you're wrong about the heavy bows possibly hurting your shoulders. I was shooting around 100 arrows a day for years, shooting a 67# longbow. I was in top shooting shape, able to draw pictures with my arrows at 20 yards. I rarely entered a tournament without taking 1st place.
I overdid it one weekend, after warming up on the bales, shooting the 30-target 3-D range, then shooting the 50-yard target for too long with friends, just for fun. I held longer on the 50-yard target, aiming with the point. I felt no discomfort until time to leave, but when I rolled up the window on my truck it felt like I had been stabbed with an ice pick in my left shoulder.
I couldn't shoot at all for about a month, and my shoulder is hurting right now as I sit typing. I have good range of motion, but the ache is there nearly all the time. I dropped to 55#, then 50#, trying to get my accuracy back. I've never recovered the level of skill I had, and now I'm shooting a 40# recurve most of the time, happy to be shooting at all. I can shoot a heavier draw weight for a short while, but for regular practice I have to stay low, and I can't shoot every day. Last season I hunted with a Dean Torges longbow, 57# draw, and found that the broken-wrist style grip aggravated my shoulder even more. Not being able to stick with Dean's bow REALLY hurts!
Used to shoot both in the 60-65# range, but now that I'm on the strong side of 60 myself, I've dropped down a few pounds to less than 60. 40-50 years ago, most folks shot 45-50#. Then there was a period 10-20 years ago when a larger proportion of those who shot stick bows were shooting heavier weights -- in the 55-65# range and up. Draw weight for most folks seems to be coming back down again to the 45-50# range.
both 60-70#
Both. Just a little over 60 at my draw length. Had shoulder problems until I started shooting traditional bow. All shoulder problems gone, now.
I shoot a 64# longbow and a 60# recurve most of the time. I do have lower weight limbs and bows that I also shoot.
Pulling heavy bows (65lbs. and over) at any age requires physical conditioning on the part of the archer. These days a person does not always have the time or engery to keep up the body necessary to pull heavy bows without having an injury sooner or later. I know at 64 years old I have to do more bow exerices to maintain my strength. I also find I shoot better with my heavier bows.
I know what you mean about the dirty looks i shoot a 90# silvertip with a 31" draw
I went through a short phase of shooting bows in the 60's. I had a Martin Mountaineer 60#@28 and a Blackhawk recurve 65#@28. I do admit they threw arrows like rockets and even shot a rabbit with the Martin, but had a hard time hunting squirrels with them.
Don,
Overuse injuries are common in sports and frankly could happen with a light bow if you shot it too much. I was not stating that you can not get hurt shooting a bow. You can get hurt doing almost anything if you do it wrong or too much. What I thought I was saying, or to further clarify now, is heavier bows inevitably causing shoulder problems is nonsense.
Curveman, I agree that it's not inevitable, but it's certainly possible even with good conditioning, and caution is in order. The statement I took exception to was:
"All the talk you hear about developing shoulder problems with heavier weight bows is a lot of hooey IF you keep yourself in shape and are not just a "weekend warrior.""
I was in top shape for shooting and shot many arrows daily when it happened to me.
60-70# longbows and only have one recurve above 60#.I like longbows more.
Yes, of course Don. I didn't mean to imply that getting hurt always meant you weren't in shape. Things go wrong even with world class atheletes. If by caution you meant that everyone should shoot lighter bows, and I don't think you meant that, then I of course would disagree with that point for the reasons stated.
I hope your shoulder gets better.
I am shooting a Black Widow PLX Longbow that is 63lbs @28in. I also own a 63lb Bruin recurve that I no longer hunt with. For some reason, I seem to shoot better with a heavier bow than say a lighter 50+ pound bow. Not sure why. I agree with JRY309, I like and shoot longbows better. Good luck, T
80# Frank SanMarco long bow and just ordered an 80# horn bow from Saluki.
Oberon
Im shooting bows well over 100# plus.Marlon
WOW..and I was begining to think that "no one" shoots heavier bows anymore.
Thanks, Curveman. I think folks should shoot as much draw weight as they can handle accurately when hunting big game. I would still be shooting heavier weight if I could. Probably where I messed up was not shooting lighter weight when shooting extensively for fun.
If I go for elk again, I'll do my practicing with the 40# limbs, and put the 61# limbs on just prior to the hunt, or use one of my heavier longbows. A good excuse for having several bows, at least! :)
I was at a archery shop and the man there took my bow and my buddies and pulled them both back, held them to anchor and let them down like it was nothing. Total draw, 55 pound Kodiak and my buddy had a 60 pound longbow. He also pulled a longbow for us that was over 100 pounds.
This is a good post. I go to the ETAR and other places and everybody is shooting 40 to 50# bows and I never understood it. I never thought you "had" to shoot heavier bows but considering what goes on when shooting a big game animal I thought everybody would shoot as heavy as they could handle. That being said, I get a kick out of seeing that picture of Justin Newell on his postings. His arms are bigger than my sons waist and my son shoots 80# bows. You really don't need to be a big guy to shoot decent weight bows.
I shoot both, recurves from 45 to 80#, Longbows from 50 to 108#. Prefer the longbows, but shoot both equally as well with no problems switching back and forth.
4 longbows, lightest - 65#.
63# and 60 and couple 51- 56... :)a good archery massage once month really helps...marco
60+lbs w/ both.Really like 62/68lbs
Marlon, you still got the distance record?
Yes i hold the national unlimited american longbow.Marlon
these # are from first bow till now, lots of shooting
25
40
48
little while later
45
67
75
85
67
58 stayin here
67lb hazel nut self bow.
I shoot 64# @ 29 inch recurve and my wife is doing well working into her 58# @ 28 inch recurve.
both!
Just selfbows now, 60# & up @ 26.5. I like the way the midweights throw an arrow.