It all depends…

Shooting a bow that heavy requires a lot more commitment than a lighter bow. It takes more physical conditioning to keep the body happy. If you lay of shooting a bow like that for a week, when you come back it will be much harder to shoot again.

Then there is the increased risk of injury to joints, ligaments, and tendons.

Then there is the likely reduction in accuracy. Shooting a bow that heavy is hard to master.

Some folks can handle a bow like that without consequence. Not me. I could probably work up to it, but it would be a constant struggle to stay there.

Byron Ferguson shoots a 70 lb bow. If you are built like he is, go for it. Otherwise, I’d think twice about it.

And if you decide to move up in weight, I’d suggest doing it in smaller increments and over a long period of time.

Steve Graf wrote: Some folks can handle a bow like that without consequence. Not me.

Nor I. I’m sticking with my 60# bows, but Steve Turay sure can…and does. A well done piece ((by member “jasonsamko”) about Steve and his bows, with pics of him shooting his 102# bow:

http://tbwpodcast.com/steve-turay-of-northern-mist-longbows/

Abel, I didn’t notice any difference in speed between my 60# Sage and 70# Barta longbow when shooting the same ~600grain arrow. They were probably different, but not enough for me to notice with the naked eye.

I used to shoot a 65 lb Sentman long bow. I now have a 56 lb RER longbow. The RER is by far faster. The limb design creates the difference in speed not the draw weight. If you are interested in the Sentman send me a PM. I have no need for it anymore.

I shoot a few low 60# r/d and d shaped LBs with approx. 650 grain arrows and they shoot nice. Then I go and shoot the same arrow in my 78# @ 29 r/d LB and there is no comparison in speed and energy on target, and the arrow is not even tuned to the 78# bow. Then if I shoot a finely tuned 800 grain arrow from the 78# bow the speed appears similar to the 60ish bows and the 650 arrows but the target penetration and impact AIN’T EVEN CLOSE! I have wished for more penetration on several occasions with the 60# bows. The 78# bow and 800 grain arrow is in another league and I can only wonder about the power of Turray’s 102# LB.

Yes, you MUST train for the fitness required for the heavy bows and it is worth it.

Also, many heavy bow shooters have better accuracy because of a cleaner release and proper form is required.

Shoot what you wish but I like the 70 something # bows.

Patrick wrote: [quote=Steve Graf]Some folks can handle a bow like that without consequence. Not me.

Nor I. I’m sticking with my 60# bows, but Steve Turay sure can…and does. A well done piece ((by member “jasonsamko”) about Steve and his bows, with pics of him shooting his 102# bow:

http://tbwpodcast.com/steve-turay-of-northern-mist-longbows/

Here is a couple of the groups Steve shot with that 102# bow.

20 yard group is the group with the bow. 15 yard is the 3 arrows in the top bale. He shoots that bow better than i’ve ever seen anyone shoot a bow. on the 20 yard group you notice the arrow that is kicking up. its because he busted the knock off the arrow next to it.

jasonsamko wrote: Here is a couple of the groups Steve shot with that 102# bow.

20 yard group is the group with the bow. 15 yard is the 3 arrows in the top bale. He shoots that bow better than i’ve ever seen anyone shoot a bow. on the 20 yard group you notice the arrow that is kicking up. its because he busted the knock off the arrow next to it.

Most impressive.

I worked my way up to a 74 lb. recurve in my younger days and shot it pretty well. Then one day I heard a tearing sound in my shoulder. It didn’t hurt but it was an unnerving sound. I continued to shoot the heavy bow for a number of years but not as well. Now, in my older years, I struggle with a 55 lb. bow and I’m not having as much fun. My shoulder aches every time it gets damp in the spring or fall. It ain’t worth the anguish and early end to a bow shootin’ career to shoot the heavy bow. I agree with Steve on the injury issue.

Thanks for the link to the story on Steve. Nice photos and very interesting time to share. He’s built for that bow. I’d look like a ballerina standing next to him. I can feel my arms ripping out of there sockets thinking about it! Dwc

I think almost anyone can build up to a heavy bow but like Steve said it takes dedication. 68# is heavy to me and the heaviest longbow I have owned. To shoot it well I had to practice with it regularly and as mentioned if I laid off of it awhile I found myself back at square one and starting over with it. So, I relieved myself of that roller coaster ride and dropped to 45# and 50# and never looked back. To work on my form I use a 40# bow.

Interestingly I read where some guys have difficulty with accuracy with lighter weight bows, saying they need the heavier weight. This may be true for some archers but not this one. My accuracy improved when I could hold my draw briefly before releasing and a bow I can handle makes that possible. To me accuracy is much more important than how much weight I can pull.

I believe form also has a lot to do about draw weight. Locking the bow arm, extending the bow arm shoulder forward, extending your draw and having a static target form that requires a longer hold and draw is just not conducive to heavy draw weights.

Having a Hill style form, bent bow arm elbow, having the bow shoulder back and down, leaning into your shot and remaining fluid allows a person to shoot the heavier weights more comfortably and safely.