a heavy bow article worth reading

Homebru · August 04, 2013, 09:43:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by Birdbow:
The question may be more one of heavy arrow vs. light arrow. I killed a 1200# bull moose with a 54# LB pushing a 750gr. arrow and got complete penetration. Seems to me that a heavy arrow is the equalizer.
Todd

Momentum is king.
homebru

Homebru · August 04, 2013, 09:45:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by carpin'mark:
Native Americans killed 2000# buffalo with selfbows and stone tips and we have fiberglass and high carbon steel and we still debate a few pounds.

I'm not so sure that Native Americans hunted alone and put single arrows into those bison.
homebru

kbetts · August 04, 2013, 10:05:00 AM

I have to agree with the past statement about people being lazy and soft. My most athletic buddies from our school days can hardly get out of their own way any more. They don't have half the strength I do even though they're anywhere from 50-70 pounds heavier. If my little 130lb butt can consistently shoot a 66# recurve, I know the big boys can......they just don't try or push themselves.

stik&string · August 04, 2013, 12:50:00 PM

I think the most important thing to take away from these debates is that everyone should shoot the heaviest weight bow THEY can still shoot accurately. There is no magic number separating heavy from light as it is all based on anatomy. For me it has never been an "I'm more ethical" decision, dead is dead. I shoot heavy because I can and it is fun for me, but I'm also built like a T-Rex so my draw is only 26ish. Again that is my anatomy, I have hunted with a 115# bow and for me that was about as heavy as I could go without sacrificing accuracy and form. With that being said, I would gladly give up 30-40 lbs of draw weight if I could add about three inches to my draw but that is never going to happen.

August 04, 2013, 02:27:00 PM

One other small point. Sometimes those old articles have a predictable amount of BS in them. He wrote the article about shooting heavy bows, do we really know how well he handled them? We have seen it on here as well with one former tradgang poster, making fun of those that were not manly men like himself, while he could not begin to handle the bows he had. Now I know lots of guys can handle the heavy stuff, I did, but it took a lot of work on my part. A weak shot from a super heavy bow, where one gets sloppy arrow flight, is rarely as deadly as a strong shot from a moderate bow, where one gets predictable good arrow flight.

stik&string · August 04, 2013, 02:38:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by pavan:
A weak shot from a super heavy bow, where one gets sloppy arrow flight, is rarely as deadly as a strong shot from a moderate bow, where one gets predictable good arrow flight.

I agree 100%, yet again this is why this is such a difficult topic because it is so subjective. I would say someone who can not master the weight they are pulling is overbowed and good arrow flight ties in with the as heavy as you can shoot accurately.

stik&string · August 04, 2013, 02:39:00 PM

Sorry double post

Trumpkin the Dwarf · August 04, 2013, 02:52:00 PM

A heavy bow lets me shoot a larger broadhead. I like short, heavy bloodtrails. I can drop weight gradually as I get older. But I wouldn't have that option if I started on the low end of reasonable draw weight.

Caughtandhobble · August 04, 2013, 03:15:00 PM

OK, I'm a wimpy 50# guy, well my heaviest bow is 50#, lol...

I truly enjoyed the article, the man really was ahead of his time, or at least I think so.

Thanks for sharing.

LimBender · August 04, 2013, 06:39:00 PM

Bisch,

I often shoot more than 100 on a typical week, but counting life's obligations, trips, horrible weather, short days, and other things, I pulled that number as an average. The real point is we shoot a ton of arrows (you certainly included) and that causes repetitive stress using good form or not.
So, using the debt and dollar bills analogy - if we took all the arrows Bish has ever shot and laid them tip to tip, they would go to the moon and back.

gringol · August 04, 2013, 07:17:00 PM

We always rehash this topic and end up exactly where we started.

Bladepeek · August 04, 2013, 07:18:00 PM

You know, this discussion keeps coming up and always seems to have some common threads:

1. If we really tried, all of us could be shooting 100+ # bows. It's just lack of interest or effort that keeps some of us from doing that. Come on guys, if that were the case, there would be no need for the second two steps on the podium at the Olympics. Everyone would be standing on the same step. All those people put time, effort and practice into developing their bodies. Some are just better than others.

2. We owe it to the animal to shoot a heavy weight bow. The heavier the bow, the heavier the arrow we can throw at the same speed - therefore the cleaner the kill. So why shoot 100# stick bows instead of 100# wheelies?

In my 72 years I've never managed to accululate as much wisdom as I'd hoped, but I have learned to site my blinds to give myself a good angle on a close shot and I'm willing to pass on those shots with which I'm not comfortable. I still enjoy my hunting immensely even though I may have to let a few keep on walking that others might put on the ground.

I think we need to get back to enjoying our traditional sport and the camaraderie that exists in that sport and quit bashing each other.

Just one wimp's opinion.

jsweka · August 04, 2013, 07:51:00 PM

Fred Eichler has done OK with only a 54# bow.

ironmike · August 04, 2013, 08:12:00 PM

i tried shooting my 90# longbow today,new to me,and have a long way to go.i'll shoot 75#rs all afternoon with good accuracy,but i'm sure it'll take a while for me to get there with to 90#..take a look at this video of my trial with it today,i cannot nearly hunt with it yet..................http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR9P3i1BuBg&feature=youtu.be

ironmike · August 04, 2013, 08:13:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by ironmike:
i tried shooting my 90# longbow today,new to me,and have a long way to go.i'll shoot 75#rs all afternoon with good accuracy,but i'm sure it'll take a while for me to get there with the 90#..take a look at this video of my trial with it today,i cannot nearly hunt with it yet..................http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR9P3i1BuBg&feature=youtu.be

ironmike · August 04, 2013, 08:16:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by ironmike:
[QB]
QuoteOriginally posted by ironmike:
[qb] i tried shooting my 90# longbow today,new to me,and have a long way to go.i'll shoot 75#rs all afternoon with good accuracy,but i'm sure it'll take a while for me to get there with the 90#..take a look at this video of my trial with it today,i cannot nearly hunt with it yet..............
..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR9P3i1BuBg&feature=youtu.be

ironmike · August 04, 2013, 08:20:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by ironmike:
[QB]
QuoteOriginally posted by ironmike:
[QB]
QuoteOriginally posted by ironmike:
[qb] i tried shooting my 90# longbow today,new to me,and have a long way to go.i'll shoot 75#rs all afternoon with good accuracy,but i'm sure it'll take a while for me to get there with the 90#...

guk · August 04, 2013, 08:39:00 PM

if I shoot 55 at 30 and you shot 65 at 28 am I a light bow guy and your a heavey bow guy. get over it go shoot have fun enjoy life

stiknstringer · August 04, 2013, 09:09:00 PM

QUIET...While everyone is arguing about this, the deer are getting away!

stik&string · August 04, 2013, 10:51:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Bladepeek:
So why shoot 100# stick bows instead of 100# wheelies?

I am all for the brotherhood of the trad bow and I have the utmost respect for anyone on this journey. That is why I don't get this portion of your post at all. When I shot wheelies I did shoot a 100# bow, not because I think it's macho or whatever but because it was fun for me. The same reason is why I shoot heavy trad, it's more fun for me this way and its something I have to continue to work at daily. To each their own, I have no animosity towards anyone shooting any weight and I would hope no one has animosity towards me because I shoot a heavy weight.