Ok so I know nothing of any of these and am looking for some advice on any of these. How do you decide which type of bow is best for you. What is draw length? HELP!!!!
Draw Length is the distance from the nock point to the throat of the grip plus 1 3/4". Typically, this length will also be about the same length of arrow needed by the compound archer.
To measure your draw length, stand with your back to a wall stretching your arms out against the wall. Measure the distance from the end of your middle finger to the end of your other middle finger, basically the length of both arms, hands and chest. This measurement, minus 15 then divided by 2, is your draw length.
Resist the temptation to make your draw length longer than it should be, as this will affect your accuracy.
Your wingspan typically is the same as your height in inches. So your height in inches minus 15 and then divided by 2 will be your draw length, or at least a very good starting point. Just use our handy dandy draw length calculator at the top of this page.
Draw Weight is the peak amount of weight an archer will pull while drawing the bow. With a traditional bow, the draw weight continues to increase as the bow is drawn. A compound bow will increase to the peak weight, and then drop in weight to the holding weight. The holding weight is typically 20-30% of the peak weight. So a 60# compound bow will only hit 60# for period in the draw cycle, and then will drop down to perhaps a 15# holding weight at anchor. This allows the archer to hold on target much longer than a traditional bow, whose archer would be holding the full 60#s. High performance bows will stay at this peak weight longer during the draw cycle thus storing more energy but typically creating a harsher draw cycle.
Compound bows are adjustable over a 10 to 15 # range. The weight listed is with the limbs bottomed out, or at the maximum peak weight. So a bow listed at 70#'s is adjustable from 60-70#, and sometimes 55-70#.
A new archer will be able to pull about 10 pounds more weight with a few weeks of regular practice as previously little used muscles gain strength.
Small child 50-70 lbs 10-15 lbs
Child 70-100 lbs 15-25 lbs
Most women, boys from 100 - 130 lbs 30-40 lbs
Women above average strength; youth boys 130 - 150 lbs 40-50 lbs
Most men 150-180 lbs 55-65 lbs
Muscular young men and larger men 180 lbs and up 60-70 lbs
I whole heartedly recommend this bow!! It is low tech so less to go wrong with it and it folds down to 2 ft to fit in any pack....
Good advice! I don't practice much, and really prefer guns, but I think the bows are a good backup. After all, prepping is about having backups for your backups. A good leather glove really does make it easier on the finger tips.Shoot a little once or twice a week instead of one long practice session and you stay built up to it . I use a glove and some times bare fingers , I dont want to get use to a triger releace I try to keep archery simple no gadgets .
got a pistol crossbow, do know it's more of a toy,but silent,which might be handy sometimes
tried one of those "new bolts" luckily I had everything in my tool box to fix that hole in the inner door and some paint too
Enter your email address to join: