After going slow, taking my time and being careful, I have worked into a 72 lb longbow which I now handle and shoot well, but my personal goal is to get to 80 lbs. Im looking for opinions from you heavy longbow shooters, on which longbows you prefer at these weights. Thanks, Paul
For me, its the Howard Hill. Doesnt stack at my 30# drawlength and throws a heavy arrow with authority. You cant go wrong with a Hill.
I am a far cry from an expert, but here is my questionable opinion. The only longbow I have near that weight is a 78# Dan Quillian Bamboo Longhunter. I like it, if you can find one. Otherwise, I took would recommend Howard Hill, but my 2 heaviest Hill bows are at 65#, so I may not be well qualified on that statement. Consider talking to Northern Mist also.
I guess i should have added into my original post, which bow lengths and limb materials you prefer as well. Going that heavy, im thinking that bow length and limb material might be a factor. I pull a standard 28" draw length.
I shoot a 62" Monarch Imperial which is 82#@28", it has Flat elm lams with Clear glass and a black glass core. Shoots very smooth but due to the glass core it is a little heavy drawing from the start.
Also have a 66" Imperial, 92#@29", same as above but Osage lams. Also a very smooth shooter.
Don't believe Monarchs are being made at this time.
I also shoot a 102# Bamabow Hunter, 65" amo. It is made of 5 lams of Bamboo with black glass belly and back. Very fast, very smooth, and very stout.
You can see Nate of Bamabows shooting this particular bow on youtube just search "shooting 102# longbow".
You can't go wrong buying a Bamabow, and the price is right. Nate is very easy to talk to and will go out of his way to help with your purchase. And he isn't happy until your pleased with your bow. Fantastic after sale service!
When going heavy, longer length bows are generally smoother drawing and little more stable. But I don't really see any major difference between my 62"-66" bows. To me they seem to all draw about the same. I can switch between them at any given time and have no problems.
My Hill is 80lbs and is 66 inches long, it is bamboo with brown glass. I too do not claim to be an expert but most of your heavy bows will either be all bamboo or a combo of bamboo and some other wood. Per the Howard Hill website, they offer bamboo bows up to 200lbs, but do not guarantee other woods in bows over 90lbs.
QuoteOriginally posted by scottfix:
Per the Howard Hill website, they offer bamboo bows up to 200lbs, but do not guarantee other woods in bows over 90lbs.
Scott maybe this is why Monte put the glass core in the Imperial's when he designed them. Although he had the same core in the lighter bows also. I think the glass core was the main difference between his "Royal" and "Imperial" models.
These bows don't have bamboo lams, but it has never been a problem. They are both smooth, fast, and quiet.
My Quillan Bamboo Longhunter is 80# @ 28" since I pull 30 1/2" it is about 87#. Smooth shooting with virtually no handshock.
Hal, I think u may be right in regards to the Imperial. Ive seen the video of the 102lb bamabow. That is one sweet looking bow, and I agree, u cant go wrong with a bama bow, and Nate is a class act for sure. Im thinking I may have to order a similar bow from Nate as a Christmas present, from SCOTT, to SCOTT.
Howard Hill, they can build whatever you want and deliver in less than a month. I just ordered an 80# take down last week and am expecting it in about middle July.
O yeah I got mine with alternation yew and juniper and 68" long.
For hill bows the recommended length is 40"+ your draw length or longer. (40"+28"=68")
At 80# limb material shouldn't matter that much.
Thanks for the great info. guys. I figured theres no better place to get answers on a question like this, than from the guys that shoot them.
It really depends on what kind of longbow you are thinking of. It seems that most of the answers you have received are recommending D style longbows. Pat Kelley recently got a Morrison metal riser, 3 piece longbow that is about 80 pounds at your draw length. It is a great shooter, but not a Hill style. Pat also has a Super Shrew Safari that is around 80 pounds and a Hill style bow that is even heavier. Are you just looking for weight or instead trying to get the performance needed to launch heavy arrows as good speed so you can kill heavy animals, because you can get the same performance as an 80 pound Hill style bow by using a more efficient longbow that has significantly less poundage. I am all for the thrill of shooting a heavy bow just to do it -- except I can't shoot more than about 70 pounds anymore!
Allan
I have had a number of super heavy Hill style bows. From my experience one can expect performance improvements when going from say a 55 to a 65 pound bow of the same design, those lines of difference kind of disappear with the extra heavy bows. It is entirely possible to get an 80 pound bow that can out perform a 90 plus pound bow of the same make and length. The extra heavy bows pull better with a slightly longer length at the same draw lengths, which also tends to give diminishing results. I would most certainly stick with a bamboo core in any case. A super heavy hardwood longbow can really pack a wallop as far as hand shock is concerned.
Shoot what fits you, and go with a longer bow (66 or 68 for a 27-28"draw). Most important is to shoot often, rest a day after long sessions. Draw the bow 10 to 30 times, at leat 3 days per week year around.
Oh, a question near and dear to my heart!
Big Bow Makers that I have had personal experience:
Big Jim
Ken Roloff -Whippenstick
Dave Heniff - Hitman
J D Lund
Howard Hill - Craig Ekin
Border bows - Scotland
Nate Steele - Bama Bows
Bows not made anymore, but if you can find one used, buy it.
Jack B Harrison
Dave Johnson
John Schulz
Bows I have not shot:
Sunset Hill
Robertson
Lengths: prefer 64" or more for less stack at full draw
Grip: just seems easier to draw heavier with the lowest wrist possible. My favorite is a slight dished.
Training to go up 10# in draw weight? That's a whole different topic.
Matt
Limb materials:
I have a strong opinion, I love this combo:
Bamboo, Carbon, and Yew. (order of lams, ask your bowyer)
Strength, Cast, Stability, Forgiveness seems best with that combo.
Matt
No other thoughts?
Howard Hill for me.
Gil
Last up.
Love my Morrisons, 60#,63#,73# and 82#. All are foam/carbon or foam/glass, all except 82#er are 60" bows. The 82# is 62", I find the carbon/foam combination much easier and smoother to draw than my older heavy boo limbs in same weight range. You'll not beat the Morrison for performance,smoothness and quality.
I can see that this is gonna be a tough decision. After researching some of the fine bowyers and limb combos referred to on here, ive got my work cut out for me.
Matt you are not wrong my friend, going up 10# is gonna take some time and patience. At 150 lbs, in good physical condition, and determination, i made it to 72# so 80# is on my hit list. Have no fear, this little guy will persevere! :biglaugh:
IMHO, i think there a lot of folks who underestimate themselves and what they can accomplish, when it comes to shooting heavier bows. With a good physical routine, patience, and taking care not to over do to fast, I think anybody can reach any goal they have in mind, given that one is in good physical shape.
QuoteOriginally posted by moleman:
IMHO, i think there a lot of folks who underestimate themselves and what they can accomplish, when it comes to shooting heavier bows. With a good physical routine, patience, and taking care not to over do to fast, I think anybody can reach any goal they have in mind, given that one is in good physical shape.
100% Agree. Either in draw weight or in life. Less Couches more Crunches!
Matt
a little off topic but how many grains are your arrow at 80#s,i'd think that they heavier draw is for the ability to shoot a heavier arrow?yes,no?that's what i like best abouit my bows, 70-76#
QuoteOriginally posted by ironmike:
a little off topic but how many grains are your arrow at 80#s,i'd think that they heavier draw is for the ability to shoot a heavier arrow?yes,no?that's what i like best abouit my bows, 70-76#
As close to 10 GPP as I can get.
For me the attraction is cast and release.
I like the cast of a heavy arrow to be as flat as possible. I have enough issues with aiming left to right so, that kind solves up and down issue.
The other issue is release. I find my grip strength to torque the heck out of a lighter draw bow. I enjoy how the string pressure equals my grip strength and I get a cleaner release.
My 2 Cents,
Matt
how many grains are you 80 pounders shooting?
I too try to shoot around 10gpp. For bowyers that do well with heavier weights, northern mist is up there as the bowyer himself shoots those weights. Same for Craig Ekin at HH. If you can find a Byron Ferguson made bow buy it, most were 72-77#. Byron is my favorites. His son Zach is making them now, but I don;t have one of his.
I'm still going to keep my recommendation for a Hill bow because of craftsmanship and fast shipment; but if you want a heavy R/D bow try out a Howard Hill "Black Badger". It's an extreme reflex deflexed bow with a carbon lamination, Craig only makes them on special order.
Mr. Cannon, After doing some looking and being the owner of several Hills, I find myself leaning very heavy towards the Hill recommendations. The quality, smoothness and shootability of the Hills is hard to beat no matter what the poundage. There are other great bows out there for sure, but without the opportunity to shoot them, ill more than likely go with a product ive owned ,shot, and trusted for a long time.
QuoteOriginally posted by ironmike:
how many grains are you 80 pounders shooting?
Okay, time for blasphemy. Names will not be shown, to protect the innocent.
A son of a well known bowyer made me some 650 grain woodies (including the field point) for a 80# plus bow, that his Dad made for me.
I asked about that low of a grain weight and the son said, "Dad is too conservative, his bows are too tough for that to damage the bow".
Oh, the horror of it all!
Matt
QuoteOriginally posted by ironmike:
how many grains are you 80 pounders shooting?
Okay, time for blasphemy. Names will not be shown, to protect the innocent.
A son of a well known bowyer made me some 650 grain woodies (including the field point) for a 80# plus bow, that his Dad made for me.
I asked about that low of a grain weight and the son said, "Dad is too conservative, his bows are too tough for that to damage the bow".
Oh, the horror of it all!
Matt
At what point in bow weight is the point of dimminishing returns? Where the gains are not as great as the growing poundage.
i think the returns increase as long as you can consistantly pull the bow back without doing any muscle damage and shoot as accuratly the first shot as your can the 40th shot
my fred anderson bow is rated 71#@27,i pull about 29" and shoot a 15 1/2 gpi fmj /50 grain insert and a 135gr blade,my overall weight on those arrows is about 650gr and they are ideal for that bow .i don't know what i'm accually getting for draw weight,maybe 75#,so thats about 9gpp ,the bow loves it.
my 72# bow is rated at 75#at 28 i draw 27.25 so it comes in at 72-72# and im shooting a icsbowhunter 340 cut to 31.5 with a 300grn head its a bit weak but i havnt tuned arrows to this bow seriously yet it comes up to 614 grains so its around 8.5 gpp and it flings like a bullet
QuoteOriginally posted by atatarpm:
At what point in bow weight is the point of dimminishing returns? Where the gains are not as great as the growing poundage.
I think that depends on the bow designs, I've read that Mongolian style bows max out in speed in the mid fifties or sixties, but I've also read that deep cored longbows (R/D or straight limbed) the limb mass doesn't over shadow the energy in the arrow cast until extremely high poundage's.
I'm just parroting information, but I'm sure an engineer will come along and give you a real answer
I have several bows in that weight range. I have a Hill Wesley 68" bamboo limbs at 80#. It is a sweet shooter. Craig is building them as good or better than most.
I would recommend finding a cheap workout bow around 80# to help you work up to that weight. A Tradgang member sold me a 83# one for $70 shipped as a workout bow.
When you feel comfortable I would then look for a used Hill or Schulz bow in the 80# range. The heavier weight bows can be purchased inexpensively, but you have to act fast since there are few people that look for them and will gobble them up.
Good luck
Gil
At 150#, you're a heavyweight. I'm 135# and have worked up to a 71# quite quickly. I plan on carrying the Hitman pass around bow sometime this year. I think the next 10# will come easier than you think.
The arrow thing I haven't nailed down. I'm hoping to use GT 75/95. I have the same draw as you do and think that if I keep my arrow length around 28.5-29.75 I will have enough spine to load the front pretty good. We will see.
Ttt
well I'm in the same boat as moleman with an 8# jump in bow weight. Do yall have any workouts/ warm ups for shooting the heavier bows
I can pick up the 71# and shoot it without a warm up.
To get to this point I did, and still do a multitude of core and back exercises. Deadlifts, squats, crunches, and lower back once a week. After a day or so of rest, its all upper back with seated rows (one arm and two), reverse flys, lat raises, etc. Your body will quickly tell you what is weakest. For me, its my biceps and triceps so I work on them more than other things. Core strength is important though. I've learned that.