Trad Gang

I was wonderin if ur draw weight effects the range at which u can shoot???  I would assume soo.  All u guys that shoot bows 54lbs to 65lbs tell me what yalls maximum range is.  Im only shootin 44lbs and can only shoot 20yds instinctive.  The reason i wanna kno, is cause im thinking of buying a new bow, im gona have one made to fit me.  I wanna something i can shoot better and also to increase my range.  Tell me what yall think.

It doesn't. When shooting the same grains per pound, two bows of the same make will shoot at the same speed. The heavier bow will have more momentum and kinetic energy but that doesn't increase range in a meaningful way. The 20 yard limit is set by many because of the speed at which game can duck an arrow and effective accuracy for some. Get a bow at a weight you can comfortably control in all the conditions you hunt and practice with it, that will maximize your effective range.

I would think your ability to shoot accurately at longer distances increases you range.

You say that you can only shoot instinctivly out to 20 yards.  Thats only because you haven't spent enough time shooting at longer ranges.  It will take more than shooting a few shots at longer than 20 yards to get the feel for it.  Out past 20 yards is where a lot of errors in form will start showing up.  Also past 20 yards is where mismatched arrows for you bow will show.

I generally shoot bows in the 70 to 80# range and 90% of my practice shooting is over 40 yds. at stumps etc...but when I hunt I haven't taken a shot beyond 20 yds. in years.  I guess if everything felt right I would but a lot of the reason I hunt with my bow is to get them close.  So, no, I don't believe extra weight increases your range but like others mentioned practice "could".

No, but confidence does. And that only come's to me by practice.

I think it might a little.  Only because a heavy arrow becomes more important with a lighter draw.

ie) If one was shooting a 40# bow most would agree that a 500 grain arrow is good and heavy at 12.5grains/lb allowing for max penetration from a lighter draw.

That same 500 grain arrow out of a 55# bow is 9grains/lb is still plenty heavy for whitetails but is gonna be moving faster and shoot flatter making 20+ shots easier imo.

Trajectory is one part of the equation for sure, but being able to pick a spot is critical for instinctive shooting. For me, that is more of a limiting factor than trajectory. With practice, on can extend the range with most any hunting weight bow up to a point. On whitetails, I have trouble focusing on a spot (rather than the whole animal) once things get much beyond 25 yards. A heavier bow won't help my vision any, so I wouldn't buy a heavier bow to increase range. The main advantage to heavier bows is the ability to shoot heavier arrows on the same trajectory for greater penetration. That's my theory anyway, and I'm sticking to it.   :readit:

What 30coupe said.  :thumbsup:

With all the variables that go into making a bow, the draw weight alone will not determing the speed of the arrow.  It's entirely possible to buy bows of identical weight that perform quite differently.  Just a few things that come to mind are:
mass of limbs, material composition, limb design, string weight.  

You simple have to shoot the bow to see what it does.  Going heavier is no guarantee of better performance.

I believe that if one can handle the weight with complete control than the heavier bow will increase the range a little.  It is possible to get a good cedar arrow that flies perfectly out of 70 pound draw from a longbow that does not weigh all that much more than a cedar shaft out of a 50 pound draw. It is advisable to always practice shooting these same shafts at long ranges to see what the accuracy is that can be obtained from them.  However, I have found the situations where a guaranteed stable target for live deer with anything over 30 yards are very seldom. When I shot with sights and wheels and long recurves back in the early 70s, I could shoot very tight groups at long ranges.  However, twice a two year period, I had perfectly shot arrows completely miss calm deer simply because they took a couple of steps while the arrow was in the air. Even if one is confident and proficient at the long stuff, it will always be a tough call because every situation will be different. I would hate to make rules for those new to the sport for specific yardages, but the longer the shot the more things can happen that you were not counting on.

I can miss just as easy with both set-ups. Shooting the same arrow out of 2 different weight bows just allows me to miss slower or faster!

QuoteOriginally posted by 30coupe:
The main advantage to heavier bows is the ability to shoot heavier arrows on the same trajectory for greater penetration. That's my theory anyway, and I'm sticking to it.     :readit:  

True... OR shoot the same weight arrow faster and flatter.

500 grain arrow out of a 40# bow or a 55# bow...which is gonna be more forgiving from 20-30+ yards?

It will give you more speed but not necessarally more "range." If you think it is tough to shoot past 20yds with your current set-up wait till you try to do that with a bow that is 10#'s too heavy for you, with lightweight arrows.
 Go slowly up in weight if you want, 5#'s or so, just remember the laws of nature, like the one about equal and opposite reactions, a "faster" bow is less stable, a stable bow is less "fast."

Short answer...no

The longest deer kill I ever made was w/ a 50# Red Wing Hunter shooting a 520 gr cedar, 35 yards. The Stos head passed through but the arrow hung up on the fletchings. For a time I shot bows in the mid-60s draw weight and they seemed to hit harder but I don't think it extended the range much if any.
 
   I have to shoot regularly, 3-4 times a week, to shoot a 65# bow well, I just don't have time to shoot that often anymore. I've settled into high 40s-low 50s draw bows and I find it much easier to maintain accuracy.

Howard Hill said that he always shot heavy bows, because he thought that the faster he shot, the smaller the error in misjudging the distance, and the only significant way to increase speed was to shoot more weight.  Keep in mind he didn't have a whole lot of options as far as arrow materials goes.

The way to increase your range is by practicing. I like roving; in fact I love roving and shooting. When I am roving and see a flower; or weed head; or something safe to shoot at ( I live in rocky country) and know- just ~know~ I can hit it....and do- its normally 33 paces from me.
I remember roving with a friend; and he shot at a flower and smacked it; and I followed up with a dead on shot on the remains; and we paced it off at 90 steps.
Out here; we don't do a lot of sitting on stand; knowing the range to a trail. We do a lot of spotting and stalking; and I take shots I know I can 'complete'.
I really like the arrow flying 30 yards- I like to see the arrow in flight.
 I have shot deer at the length of my bow away; and fifty yards too.
 I shoot enough that I can feel if a shot is going to be a good one- before release; and I will 'pull' a shot if I think its not going to hit.
Oh yes I miss - but I can miss at 5 yards as well as I do at 30.
 I also shoot at the beginning of the hunt; and if I am having a bad day - then I just stop right there and work out whatever form problem I am having. Some days are diamond; some days are stone. Learn to recognize this !
 I have shot a 74 pound at my draw bow for over 30 years; and I have very often used a 2216 aluminum arrow.
I get yelled at for that( that's too light an arrow!!); but if I say I am shooting a 65 pound bow- well then the 2216 is quite OK to use.
 Well - a 2216 out of a 74 pound bow has less arc - shoots flatter. That makes errors in range less critical.
 When your seeing hundreds of deer a day; and shooting rubber blunts all day while hunting; a 35 yard shot is a close shot. And having a flatter trajectory helps that happen.
 I am proudest of the shots I make up real close- but I do like seeing my arrow arc out to the animal and hit perfectly.
 Shoot within your ability to hit accurately.

NO, more draw weight does nothing for increasing range.Lighter arrows,better strings ect to increase performance helps with that.Many times useing less weight with lighter arrows will increase performance as far as range is concerned over a heavy bow because your draw length might increase a little.

Longer arrow flight used to be called cast. There is some relation to cast and draw weight and to bow performance. However, cast had to do with how far away one could start lobbing arrows at an enemy in battle, not about hunting.

Eye sight and longer range practice have been mentioned and both are the limiting factors for me. Its hard to "aim small" if I can't see small. It is surprising how far one can shoot accurately with practice and especially with good form. Common target archery distances were up to 80 yards in the lawn archery days and Olympic archers shoot 90 meters.

Your form is the issue if you can't shoot past twenty yards with a 44 pound bow.  My point on with a 45 pound bow is app. 55 yards, with a 470 grain, 28" arrow.  Work on your form my friend, and maximize performance through full draw, dynamic release and good follow through.

Dead nuts on Brian with confidence, technique, & distance benefits practiced through stumpshooting variety for 31 years now.

I just dont have the focus and concentration to pick a small spot at 40 yards or whatever..

Dave- nothing wrong with that: 'a mans gotta know his limitations'. Tip of the hat for staying within them !

Only matched equipment and lots of practice will extend your range.

I too have a hard time focus and concentration to pick a small spot at longer ranges. When I was younger it wasn't as much of a problem. At one time I had a short range to practice and would think if the target is too large to be a challenge, pick a smaller target. Like if a bottle cap is too big shoot at an asprin but to hit the asprin you have to pick the center of the asprin.

Mike Lee

Short answer: Yes, significantly

I don't see how draw weight would not possibly increase your range. As arrow speed goes up, the arrow will travel further before slowing down, which will - all in moderation - increase the range of your bow.

I personally love flight shooting, and where draw weight may be an important factor, technique and timing is equally important, when shooting for a distance.

Going up in draw weight does not necessarily increase your arrow speed. If you shoot a lower grains per pound arrow, yes. If you shoot the same g/#, trajectory will be the same so there's no advantage.

Not exactly true, because a heavier bow/arrow combo at the same g/# MAY retain its down-range velocity better, but the difference at realistic ranges will be insignificant.

accuracy increase your range nothing else. (SO PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE)

When you go to a heavier bow, your arrow weights also increase(remember 8-10 gr. per pound), so I don't really see how the range would increase at all, your simply putting more "punch" on target.

And what has already been said before, practice, practice, practice...

Guys who shoot heavy bows will fight over it but the fact is, it's only true if you can shoot accurately and consistently with heavier bows and you shoot lighter arrows to allow more distance.

A good example is a field round where you must shoot up to 80 yards.  I could reach that target easily with a 35 pound target bow and 350 grain arrow.  10 grains per pound.

I can also reach 80 yards with my 45 pound hunting recurve and 470 grain arrows, which are plenty potent for killing game.  So tell me where I would have an advantage reaching longer targets with a heavier bow.

It is, and always has been, about good form and proper setup...and consistent release and followthrough on the shot.  If you can't shoot past thirty or forty yards, you need to revisit how to shoot a bow in the barebow style.  No reason a person can't shoot accurately out to longer distances with proper form and consistency.

If you can hit a target at 80 yards with a heavy bow and a heavy arrow, why shouldn't you? Certainly, I would rather get hit by a 500gr arrow shot from a 50lb bow, than I would be hit by a 1000gr arrow shot from a 100lb bow, both fired 80 yards away.

Really Fatboy?  Both will go right through you if led by a broadhead or even sharp field point!
The question was does it increase your range.  It can, but certainly not by much, and accuracy is the key.

I don't want to get hit at 80 yards with a 300 grain arrow from a 35 pound bow.

Shooting more weight gives you options.  At 44# you are forced to use a heavy arrow to maximze penetration.  That same arrow out of a 50-55# bow is gonna shoot flatter.  Flatter is easier to shoot farther.

Why would anyone use a lighter(faster)arrow 3D/targets etc. if there was no advantage?

Everyone is diff, light for you might be heavy for the next guy, not everyone is overbowed past 50#  
It is possible to practice, have good form, a well tuned setup past 50#

Does someone shooting a 65# bow need to shoot 11gpp for whitetails?  NO They have the freedom to slide up or down is arrow weight...shoot 9gpp if they want.  Someone shooting 40# might not want to shoot 9gpp.

kevgsp, says, "At 44# you are forced to use a heavy arrow to maximze penetration."   That's B.S. my friend.  I shoot 45 to 48 pounds, and 470 grain arrows that will pass through a whitetail and keep on going most times, and I can shoot point on at 55 yards.   Some of you guys have never done it, and are just speculating on what others have preached.  I've done it and I know.  

The bottom line is you still have to be accurate or it doesn't mean squat either way.  If you can shoot heavy bows, and don't short draw them to do it, and shoot accuately, then you have a slight advantage.  Anyone wants to come to my house and shoot some eighty yard stumps is welcome....the proof is in the doing, not the talking.

Right on, George.

James on laptop mentioned that a lighter draw weight bow can allow you to increase your draw length. That can have much more influence on your range than increasing draw weight. Dan Quillian believed that increasing your draw length by one inch was as good as increasing your draw weight by 10#!! Quoting Dan, "Pull that bow on back!"

It's rare to be able to shoot the same weight arrow from bows of the same design and different draw weights. The stronger arrows needed for the stronger bow will be heavier unless you change something else, the vast majority of the time. And if you change something else, it's no longer a valid comparison. Different materials, different diameters, different degree of centershot, different point weight, etc.

If ya can't hit where you want with a 45# bow, then a  60# bow isn't going to be "the magic bullet"..it's not the bow, it's the guy behind it that makes it accurate.

You want to be good at 40yds....practice at 60yds...


I believe the original ? was more about accuracy, than how an arrow penetrates at longer distances.

Michael S., Care to elaborate?  I'd like to hear the reasons for you answer.

IMHO Guru hit the nail on the head.  The best way to increase your hunting effective range is long range practice.  Long range stump shooting is great fun and really improves form.  Shoot at something at 80 yards and "you will get it back" as Dan would say. When you get good at 80m, 30 yards is not too tough.


Mike

Ditto on the long range practice. When you shoot a lot at 40, 50, 60 yards, those 20 yard shots are easy.

True. I shoot very well at close range, after shooting a bunch of arrows from a distance. Besides, it feels godlike to hit the bullseye from far, far away!

I think we have two camps talking about two different things.  
-Will a heavier bow improve your accuracy out at longer ranges ?  No only practice will do that.  Accuracy obviously has to be there or all the weight in the world isn't going to help.  
-Will a heavier bow allow you to literally shoot the arrow farther?   Well, depends on whether you start messing with the arrow weight.    If you shoot lighter and lighter arrows to help compensate  for a low poundage bow  then you can probably shoot just as far,  without a ridiculous amount of holdover /arc.  But assuming equal arrow specs a heavier bow is going to extend your range.
Take it too the extreme,  and picture yourself shooting an average weight hunting arrow (500-600 gr?)  out of your kids toy suction cup bow.   It's not going very far.  Now bump up to a 25# youth bow,  it will go a little further and flatter.   Keep going up the scale and the heavier weight bow is going to extend your range.   Not going to do anything for your accuracy or extend your "effective hunting range"  but it will shoot farther and flatter.

Heavier draw weight increases "effective" hunting range.