Whats up guys. Im looking to convert from compound to traditional archery because i want to get back to the roots of the sport and i really look up to and respect people that still keep this part of archery alive. Its been a dream of mine to harvest white tail deer with a recurve ever since i got into archery at the age of 12. no more of these bows with training wheels and scopes crap! Haha but im looking into purchasing a recurve or giving it as a gift idea for christmas. I was wondering what is the normal # draw you guys shoot. Im 20 years old and want to get something heavy enough my arrows are quick and have good kinetic energy but light enough that i can draw it fairly smoothly. Any suggestions.. i was thinking around 60 myself but is that over doing it? under doing it? i shoot 65 in compound and can draw it with ease. Also what brand of bow should i look for.. whats good for a reasonable price? Ive been looking at fred bears and they have a few in the 400-500 $ range which isnt too shabby but i could use some opinions on other brands and such. Thanks guys
A 60lb bow will literally kick your butt real quick. You should be considering around 35lbs to start...which is still twice the holding weight of a 65# compound. A take-down would be a good place to start. When you feel like your ready to go up in weight, buy heavier limbs. ILF bows are another option. You can find a nice set-up for a couple hundred bucks and there's so many options with ILF. I see you're in western PA....too bad you're not closer. I'd let you shoot everything I have from 24#-60# to give you an idea of what works for you
i find it hard to believe i would have to start that low.. if i were to go to a bow shop would they let me draw some and see what i can do? do shops still carry recurves any more?
Alot of beginners will get a 50 or 60lb recurve and think it's the same as a 50-60lb compound. They find it hard to believe that they should start at 35-40lbs...and that's why they shoot like crap. There's no let-off...you're holding all the weight and a 60# bow is quite an animal. A light weight bow will let you develop good, solid, repeatable form. And a 40# bow with the proper arrow/BH combination will kill anything you'd most likely be hunting. And my favorite weight for hunting and shooting is around 50lbs. I've been shooting traditional bows for about 40yrs and I shoot every day year round. Call some shops and see what they have to shoot
My buddy just pulled out his recurve that he made in woodshop in high school. Its set a #50 lbs and its pretty dang stout.
I've been shooting recurves for almost 50 years. Everything Jim just said is 100% correct. The most weight you should start with is 40 lbs. So you know that is also enough weight to hunt whitetail deer. My goto bow is a 54 lbs. Pittsley Predator and I get pass through every time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Traditional is about building muscle memory and shooting form, not dialing the sights in to your shooting style like a coumpound. It takes time and year round practice, not to get good but to stay proficiant. Jim is correct. HITMAN CUSTOM LONGBOWS HIT'EM HARD. LEAVE YOUR MARK
You want to start light. Don't plan on the first bow you buy being your hunting bow unless you buy a three piece and just change limbs. Starting too heavy is a very common mistake news guys to trad make and it often turns them off. I recommend 35-40# for a starting weight. Remember trad bows are measure at 28" so any inch past that you can add 2-3lbs per inch. So if it's 35@28 and you shoot 30" that's close to 40# at your draw length.
there's a huge difference in bows. I've got 50# bows that are terribly uncomfortable to shoot and others that actually feel like much less poundage. a longer draw length favors a longer length bow. Find someone local who knows about traditional equipment and how to shoot it. Go to some 3-d shoots and ask the guys shooting trad. bows.. Most will let you try their bow and give you some pointers. woodsman
