[RI Swamp Yankee]

in reply to: woodarrows #11810

Do we really mean draw length here, or is actual arrow length the more important factor in chosing the correct spine?

[RI Swamp Yankee]

in reply to: Dry Fired bow #13995

Treetopflier wrote: What Chad says. The man absolutely knows his stuff … except that you should never let anyone else shoot any bow you intend to keep and use! I equate it to “loaning out your wife” but perhaps that’s too extreme. 😉

I agree, never loan your bow.. 😛

[RI Swamp Yankee]

in reply to: Heavy Bows – Are they now a part of our past #64016

Couldn’t have said it better. In my view, today’s composite laminated 45# bow would have been 55# in 1965 and earlier for the same energy delivered. With 60 birthdays under my belt, that’s a good thing that keeps me in the game!

David Petersen wrote: At risk of echoing other and better posts here — from a bowyer’s point of view, yes, they tell me they’re making far more lighter and mid-range bows today, and far fewer heavy bows (which we can ballpark at 60# and up) than 10 or 20 years ago. Clearly this is thanks to an aging hunter population (which shouldn’t worry us all that much, as this merely reflects the national aging of the Baby Boomer batch, including myself, which in turn is the predictable product of millions of terminally horny returning military after WWII). But too, top-end custom stickbows are far more efficient than even 10 years ago, so far as cast/speed. I experienced this myself several years ago when a shoulder injury due to over-practicing, forced me to drop from 64# to 55s which I’m still shooting today at 63 but won’t always be able to … yet I gained 10 fps while losing 10 pounds draw weight just due to the increased efficiency of the newer lighter bow that replaced the older heavier one. So traditional bow technology alone makes heavy bows less essential today for lethal penetration on really big game. Add to this the almost magical facts that Dr. Ashby’s research is delivering to us regarding the bow/arrow relationship, Specifically, heavier arrows combined with other research-proven essentials, esp. EFoC, deliver more penetration and lethality from lighter bows than “standard” arrows do with heavier bows.

So in sum, in my view, the trend to lighter bows today is a combo of three primary elements: aging and weakening of archers, greater speed of newer stickbows per-pound of draw weight, and greater knowledge of the dominance of arrows in the bow/arrow combo for killing efficiency … and there you go; here we are. I also agree with those who say they can’t shoot as accurately with heavier bows. Yet I have no problem with folks who can pull 80# or whatever and shoot it accurately. Maybe a bit of envy, however. dave

[RI Swamp Yankee]

in reply to: One piece or Takedown whats your favorite? #22315

I prefer one piece bows for their simplier more “traditional” look more than anything else. I do have one three piece widow that’s the go to bow for travel; but I rarely travel with a bow.

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