• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Anyone use 70-80lb limbs?

Weldabeast said:
Silly question maybe a little unrelated.....if u have 2 identical model bow and verify with a scale they both set the same draw weight and they are both tuned are they both going to shoot the same speed? I have no idea but I bet a couple dollars they are gonna be different
Click to expand...
How different is different?
 
Weldabeast said:
Silly question maybe a little unrelated.....if u have 2 identical model bow and verify with a scale they both set the same draw weight and they are both tuned are they both going to shoot the same speed? I have no idea but I bet a couple dollars they are gonna be different
Click to expand...

I have the setup you describe. Same bows, arrows, rest, release, pin gap, arrow drop, arrow speed, etc. It is quite nice. Have had to use the backup bow a couple of times on out of state hunts and was very happy to have them both the same, filled tags both times.
 
PaulK said:
I am a Vermont whitetail hunter, typically looking at 15-30 yard shots in heavy wooded forest. I shoot a Prime Ion with 60-70lb limbs, maxed out. I am a fit 39 year-old hockey player, distance runner and mechanic. I shoot a couple times per week and have worked my way up to that draw weight. The 70lb setting now feels almost... I won’t say effortless, but I hardly notice it. The few chances I had to come to full draw during a long sit this season (before tagging out by bagging a nice 10-pointer ) felt the same- required effort, but not prohibitive.

So, I’m considering ponying up for a set of 70-80lb limbs. Cost is probably $200, or maybe $100 if I can find a used set. I’d love to have extra energy to spend on heavier arrows while keeping the forgiveness of a flat trajectory, all things being equal.

Anyone else go this route? On one hand it sounds a little ridiculous. I’m not taking 70-yard shots at elk. On the other hand, let’s get these 550 grain suckers movin’, shall we?

let me know your thoughts. Thanks, everybody.
Click to expand...
I could be completely wrong here so maybe someone else can chime in, but I believe most limbs now on modern bows are rated much higher. For example, I bought a mathews vertix at 60# draw weight a few years ago. I now have 65# and 70# modules that I can switch out with a few screws. I use my 60# for white tails during the winter and gradually work my way up to 70# before I head to Wyoming in September.
 
You should always warm up your shoulder muscles before you shoot but if you're going to shoot a 70 but especially 80lb+ draw weight bow warming up your shoulder muscles very well is IMHO absolutely mandatory or risk injury as I did from little to no warm up.
 
Howard Hill used mostly 80-90 lb longbows when hunting or exhibition shooting. He used a 115 lb bow to take an elephant in 1950. He switched to a 70 lb bow in his old age. I say shoot a bow that you can draw comfortably, especially on cold days. He was a remarkable athlete and held the record for over 50 years for shooting a longbow with a draw weight slightly over 170 Lbs.
 
FletchDeep said:
IF you do end up going down the adult bow path, do yourself a favor and look into the Firenock 6" Carbon Inner Tubes. This will vastly increase your number of available arrows that are stiff enough to handle the poundage. They allow you to take a 29" arrow and consider 24.5" of it when selecting for spine. I shoot 80 lbs with a 31" draw length.
Downfalls -
1. You better invest in a good quality target
2. risk of injury if your drawing form is wrong.
Pros -
1. Shoot big mechanicals with no fear of poor penetration
2. Don't have to shoot at granny speeds with a 500 grain arrow.
3. Bunch of old farts on the internet will tell you its not required and 50 lbs is all you need.
Click to expand...
I think you meant seasoned veterans.
 
Sipsey said:
Howard Hill used mostly 80-90 lb longbows when hunting or exhibition shooting. He used a 115 lb bow to take an elephant in 1950. He switched to a 70 lb bow in his old age. I say shoot a bow that you can draw comfortably, especially on cold days. He was a remarkable athlete and held the record for over 50 years for shooting a longbow with a draw weight slightly over 170 Lbs.
Click to expand...
And IIRC Howard Hill said he made a point to take again IIRC 100 shots a day 6-7 days a week year day in and out so his muscles were very well developed and properly fit to shoot bows in the 80-120lb draw weight and I am certainly no doctor but I feel it only common sense to warm up before you shoot a heavy draw weight bow if you have not done so for and extend period of time.
 
DMTJAGER said:
And IIRC Howard Hill said he made a point to take again IIRC 100 shots a day 6-7 days a week year day in and out so his muscles were very well developed and properly fit to shoot bows in the 80-120lb draw weight and I am certainly no doctor but I feel it only common sense to warm up before you shoot a heavy draw weight bow if you have not done so for and extend period of time.
Click to expand...
I used to shoot a 65 lb Bear “Brush Bow’ years ago. I did a series of daily exercises that were recommended in “Bowhunter Magazine.” I used a set of springs with handles on each end. There was a set of exercises specifically for recurves and one for compounds. I later shot 80 lb limbs on my “High Country” compound and it helped.

Hill was a “unique” athlete. He played basketball, football and baseball in college. He also played semi-pro baseball and was an excellent golfer. He won 196 consecutive Field Archery tournaments and is credited with over 2,000 animals taken with a bow on 12 continents.

Ones proficiency at any endeavor is directly proportional to their commitment.
 
Last edited:
From personal experience of a baseball related shoulder injury, it sucks just navigating normal daily activities like brushing your teeth or wiping your ars when you have a shoulder injury say nothing about trying to do something you love like archery. It isn’t worth the risk of a blowout sitting on stand one cold day after sitting idle for several hours.
 
80# limbs shoot no faster than 50# limbs when all else is equal. 400 grain arrow out of 50# bow is 8gpp 640 grain arrow out of 80# bow is 8gpp. Same draw length bows will shoot the same speed. I shot 90#s for close to 10 years than at 28 years old i went to 75-80#s for 10 years and so on. I also was an athlete and played football in one form or another for 30 years. Now I am 56 and havr had one shoulder replacement and due for another in March.. I shoot 55#s and an arrow a bit shy of 9gpp of draw weight. It kills everything just as dead as my 80-90 pound bows did. No need to shoot crazy weight on whitetails. Shawn
 
Frigging do it bro. Get some of those forged single bevels while your at it and slam through everything. I got my Nitrum Turbo at 74# and I whip 495 Grain arrows really fast and they hit hard. Not worrying about shoudler is nice.
 
ofor said:
From personal experience of a baseball related shoulder injury, it sucks just navigating normal daily activities like brushing your teeth or wiping your ars when you have a shoulder injury say nothing about trying to do something you love like archery. It isn’t worth the risk of a blowout sitting on stand one cold day after sitting idle for several hours.
Click to expand...
Brother I KNOW where of you speak. I need surgery on both shoulders and sleeping for me is a adventure in pain management and tolerance.
It's why I have gone from a 72lb DW bow to a 58lb DW bow. I found after even just 2 hours on stand in below freezing temps pulling back a even a 65lb DW bow was causing a enough pain I realized I could either heed my bodies shoulder pain as warning and drop my DW or risk a injury that would at a minimum end my deer season and at worst could end my bow hunting long term if not permanently and I have no desire or intentions of ever using a Xbow.
 
I've been shooting a 2013 80lb Elite Answer since 2013. That bow draws & holds easier
then my Switchback XT at 70lbs that it replaced. I still shoot them side by side & the Answer
is way smoother & easier in every aspect. When I hit the back wall it feels like I almost have
to push it forward to let down. I can hold at full draw (effortlessly) for a long time & can
let down just as smooth & easy as I can draw. No problem.

I've had a dozen people draw that bow & swear it couldn't be more then 65lbs.

I've yet to find a current bow that offers anything better or has any advantages over what
the Answer at 80lbs produces. Shame Elite stopped using 80lb limbs. A 80lb Enkore with
all the new easy tune features would be amazing.

I really can't understand why people get so bent out of shape when any one mentions anything
over 70lbs. If you can do it & find a bow that's comfortable to do it at, then by all means take
advantage of it. If you have shoulder issue's like I have knee issues then it's maybe not for you.
 
I've added a couple of posts to this thread already, will add another here.

I've been shooting heavier draw weights for quite a few years now. Why? For a variety of reasons: I have a shorter draw length, am hunting bigger game animals than "just" deer (elk, moose, bear), the heavier draw weight bow provides the ability to shoot a heavier arrow at the same speed as a lighter arrow with the same trajectory, (or the ability to shoot a similar weight arrow at a higher speeds and thus a flatter trajectory, depending on how you prefer to phrase it) etc. Is this necessary for shooting deer within 20 yards? Likely not, but then again, my situation is different.

Over the years it's gotten a bit tiresome to have people say "you can't....." or "you shouldn't..."..... It works for me, so that's what I do; do what works for you. I've never quite understood the comments about going from 70 lbs to 80lb+ draw weight in a bow. ? Nobody really even comments about shoulder surgeries, blowing out your shoulder, drawing in cold weather when in stand when someone is using a 70 lb bow. So, that 10 lbs makes that much of a difference? (It's an odd phenomenon, mention 80 lb limbs and those cast of characters are brought up; not so with 70 lb limbs.)

It really kind of depends, doesn't it? Are you familiar with someone else's fitness routine, physical capabilities, etc.? Sure, sharing your experiences is a good discussion point on a forum, but it would also be helpful to know how long you were active, the types of proactive exercises you were doing, if any, wouldn't it? Everyone's physical abilities are different. For instance, would it be a good idea for an out-of-shape, non-exercising, couch-potato, or someone with previous shoulder issues to slap on 80 lb limbs and start yanking away? Nope. Would it be a good idea worth considering for a fit, active person that has strengthened his or her shoulders to work up to a heavier draw weight bow, whether that be 50lbs, 80lbs, or 100lbs, if they are performing shoulder-specific strength building exercises (pullups, standing or seated rows, one-arm rows) and shoulder/rotator cuff-specific, stabilizing exercises (internal and external shoulder rotations in several planes, among others), on a regular, year-round basis? Probably something they could consider. (Obviously, there are some limits - as we age, the number and size of muscle fibers decrease, this loss of muscle mass reduces strength, it takes muscles longer to respond, tendons become stiffer and less able to tolerate stress, connective tissue becomes more rigid and brittle, etc. It's a great ball of fun.)

The OP is a fit and active 39 year old that has already stated he is easily pulling back 70 lb bow. I'd say get the 70-80 lb limbs, set them at 70 lbs, and work your way up from there. If it gets too hard, back them down a bit. It it continues to be easy, crank them down to a higher draw weight. And be sure to do your proactive shoulder exercises, regardless of draw weight, physical fitness level, or age, before an injury occurs.
 
Just because you can draw that much weight doesn't mean you should. I wouldn't go with the heavier limbs . Save your money and remember the saying if it's not broke don't fix it . I went from a 70 pound bow to a 60 pound bow and glad I did. I shoot 55 pounds and never had a problem. I think that would be a lot of wear and tear on your shoulder my advices is don't do it.
 
Is it needed? Absolutely not and neither is 70,60 or 50. Just my opinion but what I think is needed is a lot of focus on proper draw form and training those muscles. You can wreck a shoulder with very little draw weight if the bow is drawn wrong. Otherwise, shoot what works for you.
 
If it works for you then go for it. Keep the old limbs as a back up if you need to lower the weight back down. Bottom line is do what you feel is right for you. Good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top