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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: medic77 on September 23, 2015, 07:17:00 PM

Title: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: medic77 on September 23, 2015, 07:17:00 PM
Felt so heavy that it boggles my mind?  I have had umpteen bows at 56" long and the same 60@26 but all reflex/deflex longbows.  I got the itch to have a Widow again so I had a KBX 56" 60@26 bow built and this thing feels like I'm pulling a TON.  It is
B-E-A-UTIFUL and I have no doubt that the Widow boys hit weight (although I have never scaled it).  Their customer service is top notch.

Is it as simple as a recurve to longbow comparison?  This bow is wearing my fingers out and I'm a stout fella.  Maybe I'm just getting old.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: on September 23, 2015, 07:42:00 PM
Have you checked it on a scale to see if it is actually what it is marked? I have seen some bows that were way off from what they were marked!

Bisch
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: medic77 on September 23, 2015, 07:44:00 PM
Honestly, no.  I guess I'm going to have to do it and get it over with.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: medic77 on September 23, 2015, 07:47:00 PM
I just figured there was no way they missed weight
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: katman on September 23, 2015, 07:49:00 PM
No nothing about widow bows but what is the maximum recommended draw length on that model?
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: Michael Arnette on September 23, 2015, 08:05:00 PM
Hhhm, I've owned some stackers for sure, can't so I've noticed much between LB/recurves
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: medic77 on September 23, 2015, 08:11:00 PM
I am only pulling it to 26 so I don't think it is being overmatched.  It's just me being beat down
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: Big Ed on September 23, 2015, 08:16:00 PM
Be sure to take another bow that feels "good" at the same weight. Who knows they may be light.
Ed
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: Stump73 on September 23, 2015, 08:22:00 PM
Could you try a big shot glove? With thicker finger stalls it might help with the pain.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: rolltidehunter on September 23, 2015, 08:26:00 PM
Man you and I like the same length bow and we have the same draw length. Some bows do stack more than others. I have noticed that it's hard for guys to drop in weight if they are use to shooting heavy. I'm telling you if you are feeling beat down and that 60 lbs bow feels like it's 70 try shooting a 50-55lb bow. Borrow one from somebody and try it. Man I love 56 inchers myself and I am a short armed bow brother too. 50lbs bows feel so good man. Just try it. You won't regret it. I've killed elk pigs deer turkey all with lighter weight. Go for it
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: medic77 on September 23, 2015, 08:27:00 PM
I do think that a better tab/glove would help but it's just flat heavy to the point that I'm inconsistent with it.  They only good thing is screams an arrow at 30-40yds with hardly any drop.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: awbowman on September 23, 2015, 08:28:00 PM
I'm with Bisch.  Not likely that you would feel a lot of difference if it's at design DW
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: medic77 on September 23, 2015, 08:32:00 PM
My Thunderchild is 72@29 and feels 10lbs lighter.  I do have a 52lb Thunderchild that is sooo nice to pull but I have no confidence in the speed it generates although I shoot a 650ish grain FMJ just fine.  I've just never shot at an animal with that light of a bow
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: rolltidehunter on September 23, 2015, 08:40:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by medic77:
[QBI've just never shot at an animal with that light of a bow [/QB]
That was my point. It's hard for guys to consider dropping weight bc you have confidence in heavy weight. and feel lighter is inferior. There is  Nothing wrong with heavy weight. I also like to shoot as much as I can and still be confortable. Good luck
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: medic77 on September 23, 2015, 08:55:00 PM
Thanks for the confidence Rolltidehunter.  May just have to give it a whirl.  MIZZOURAH!
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: Danny Rowan on September 23, 2015, 09:06:00 PM
that thunder child would be around 62# at 26". very likely the widow could be mismarked, it happens with any bowyer. Check it on a scale that you know is correct.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: medic77 on September 23, 2015, 09:31:00 PM
I will.  I know they didn't hit weight twice before they sent mine out.  They called and told me.  I'm sure it is just me being a wuss.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: BWallace10327 on September 23, 2015, 09:58:00 PM
I once had a 64" 3 pc longbow that had carbon core limbs and a very pronounced hybrid profile.  Its was extraordinarily fast for a #50 bow but the limbs were a little too efficient for me. The bow picked up 40% or 20lbs in the first 5-6" of draw.  Because of this, the bow actually felt heavier than my #57 BW PLII, not to mention it wasn't as fast.  I opted for the heavier bow that felt lighter and shot faster then the lighter bow that felt heavy due to the high early draw weight.  So, in short, I do know exactly what is meant by a bow that feels heavy.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: Biathlonman on September 23, 2015, 10:07:00 PM
I just had a #50 that felt 10 heavier then marked.  It happens.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: MCS on September 24, 2015, 05:06:00 AM
Medic we all reach that time in our lives where we have to admit to ourselves. That this may be to much weight. I just sent both my Widows back to have a few pound shaved off. They did a great job and I shoot them much better. My shoulders are loving it.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: Bladepeek on September 24, 2015, 10:17:00 AM
Don't forget on that 52# TC, you are shooting 12.5 GPP arrows. You might try a lighter arrow, closer to 10 GPP and see if the speed is closer to your liking.

I'm not going to open the lighter/heavier bow can of worms, but like the great Yogi said, "It's 90% mental and the other 10% is all in your head". If you are convinced you shoot a heavy bow better, than you no doubt will. That 52# TC should, however, shoot through any animal in North or South America. I got total penetration (but not a complete pass through) on a 230# pig with my 43# RER and a good sharp 2-blade.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: KentuckyTJ on September 24, 2015, 10:22:00 AM
Do put it on a scale to make sure, but all limbs aren't created equal. Some store the energy consistently throughout the draw cycle and some store most their energy late in the cycle. Those limb designs that store it later feel heavier in pounds.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: monterey on September 24, 2015, 03:08:00 PM
Put it on the scale, but also scale your old bow(s) to see what their actual weight is.

I have some older bows that I've actually observed to lose weight over the years.  Funny, all that time I've been gaining weight.   :)
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: Ulysseys on September 24, 2015, 05:36:00 PM
I have a PCH and PMA...both are 58" and the exact same weight (marked) but the PCH feels much heavier on the draw.  You'd think that one would be smoother with the longer working limbs but its not at all.  Both shoot great but have a noticeable difference.  Maybe I'll scale them....can't see why the shorter riser bows would feel different by design.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: medic77 on September 24, 2015, 06:49:00 PM
I guess each bow has a life of their own for sure.  I'll put them on a scale at the local shop when I get off this never-ending 72hr shift.  
These kind of topics get brought up when A) It's the only bow I brought with me and B) I'm dilerious  from no sleep.
I really just chalked it up to it being a recurve and it had been a few years since I had one.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: ChuckC on September 24, 2015, 10:04:00 PM
Yup, a RD hybrid. made by an elder gentleman bowyer who made a (big) mistake in lam calculations, then knowing I was looking for a heavier bow just finished making it and gave it to me.  

I was told (by the friend who helped him and arranged for it to be mine) that said bowyer had it on his bow scale and got it up to 80# and couldn't pull it anymore so he just wrote 80+# on it and called it good.    

Yup OMG.  We made up a few old Beeman (skinny hunter) shafts of old , complete with wrapped solder inside for a total weight over 1000 grains.  After it hit the target, all the feathers were pointing forward.

Never bloodied that bow. We were teasing that the first deer killed had to be three of them standing in a row ! Doubt I can pull it now.

Edit. .  I guess I did bloody it.  When shooting it, without an arm guard, a nock broke on release ( those Beeman outsert nocks were not up to that bow, had two break) and the string hit my arm causing half a baseball to magically appear, blood, purple discoloration, and lots of swearing.  

ChuckC
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: damascusdave on September 24, 2015, 11:18:00 PM
Spend some time on the peteward.com website comparing force draw curves...when you are shooting a weight you can comfortably handle the force draw curve makes little difference...when shooting a bow that is on the edge of the maximum draw weight you can handle it is a big factor...static tip bows, for example, tend to build draw weight quickly initially and then taper off as they reach their full draw length

DDave
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: Zradix on September 25, 2015, 10:04:00 AM
curious to see what the scale says.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: medic77 on September 25, 2015, 02:04:00 PM
Me too.  This 72hr shift is killing me.  I'm ready to go home
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: Zradix on September 25, 2015, 02:21:00 PM
NO OFFENSE TO YOU BUD!
we all work the hours the boss says.

But a paramedic scheduled to work a 72 hour shift just seems like a sleep deprived accident waiting to happen.

..or do you do an "on call" type of deal where you do get to sleep a few hours here and there at the station or whatever and jump in the truck when the phone rings?
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: sheepdogreno on September 25, 2015, 02:45:00 PM
I feel your pain! In the middle of a 9 in a row 12hr shifts after having 1 off between previous 5 12 hr shifts...trying to put food on the table as a cop is rough sometimes.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: medic77 on September 25, 2015, 10:40:00 PM
We get to catch a nap here and there so no worries there.  I even have a target here to shoot at.  I just miss my girls at home really.
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: Doc Nock on September 26, 2015, 08:04:00 AM
Anxiously awaiting the conclusion of this one.

I had to drop weight for some medical reasons...and got into things I won't discuss here in detail but heavier front of center, etc.  I've had no problem with penetration with just under 50# and good cast.

Each bow is different. I've had more then one custom that missed weight and they just marked it within their "guaranteed range".  But a scale told the tale once a few heavier bow fans pulled mine and just looked at me with a blank stare.. a 50 clocked in on 3 different outfits scale at 56#.  Got great speed.

Indeed, different bowyer's designs harness energy differently.  Each bow can be different!

Easy to miss weight.  Easier when 2 others were missed to grab the wrong one on send out too!

Looking forward to your report!
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: Zradix on September 28, 2015, 04:56:00 PM
so...what the scale say?
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: Kris on September 28, 2015, 05:30:00 PM
Your force/draw curve is more plump with your Widow....you store more energy earlier in the draw making it feel heavier.

Kris
Title: Re: have you ever had a bow that....
Post by: medic77 on September 28, 2015, 10:50:00 PM
I haven't made it to the shop yet to have it checked.  I should make it there tomorrow.  I will let everyone know.