How far of shooting distance opportunity
expectations did you have with a 65 lbs bow verses 50 lbs?

( Yes, I'm answering a question with a question. )

 

If it was me (and I'm getting there) I'd settle in with 50lbs and adjust arrow and broadheads to match. Then kill alot of animals. I shot 50 for 2 seasons and killed my two biggest bucks to date with that cpxl. I'm now back to shooting 70 and 80lbs but would not hesitate to kill everything with 50.

If you hurt those shoulders that effects other things in life.

 

Probably 50 yards. That’s my furthest kill to date and I don’t think with any poundage I would shoot further than that.

 

I made the decision to hunt with a 50# setup this season. I just shot my first deer with this set up a couple days ago. Big mature doe at 19yds from a ground blind.
The arrow was an easy 8-10 yds past where it passed through the deer.
I'm shooting 50# @ 29" 460 grain arrow tipped with a Magnus stinger buzzcut.
The deer had no idea what happened, basically trotted off a few yards then just walked off before dying. At that shot distance I couldn't tell the difference between 50 and 60# setup

 

I wouldnt want to lug one around...

 

You will be fine with 50#...

 

50 is the new 60 don't yeah know! Shooting 50 lbs since 2013. Arrowed turkeys and bears with 50 lbs.
Just do it, your body will thank you the first session!

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been shooting 52#-54# for years.

Deer drop the same at 50 as 70 with correct shot placement

 

I shoot a 50 lb traverse. Shot a 10 pointer that dressed 210 at 15 yards with a 400 grain arrow and iron will and it was a clean pass through just like when I shot 70 lbs. I’m going up to 480 grains for 2020 though.

Also, on my fast Eddie I can max the bottom pin at 82 yards with the 480 grainers, and 90 yards with the 400.

 

I’m looking to get a 50 pounder also cause I’ve seen what 47#’s can do. My son shoots 47#’s & has shoot a couple hogs, one complete pass through, the other it exited the brisket & hit the leg bone. Shattered the bone & the pig went about 30yrds. The main thing i believe is broadhead choice. His arrows come in at 392grs with a 125gr Solid broadhead & 20gr fact weight in the insert. Here’s the damage from the first hog.

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Thanks for your replies!

 

There ain't no way I'm ever going back to more then 50lbs. I've been killing deer with it for 3 years now, and my shoulder hasn't been sore since. I can sleep on both shoulders again. I turn it down to 38lbs after the season, and I don't turn it back up until just before bow season. Guys at my bow club were dropping like flies with torn up shoulders about 10 years ago, so I started turning my bow down in an attempt to be proactive and fend off having my shoulders blow apart. For the most part, it has worked. I wish I had gone to a 40-50lb bow right away.

The only deer that I didn't get a pass through with my 50lbs was a deer I hit solid bone on the far side, which made a huge thud! He dropped inside 30 yards.

 

28# with a sharp broadhead properly placed will take a deer. So yes 50# is more than enough. For several years I only hunt with 52# 53#. There is nothing in North America I won't hunt. I just know my limitations.

 

Your good I shot 2 Midwest deer SD WI. Thank goodness for being able to drive to the kill and having a steep down hill drag on the WI deer. My arrow set up is much different then what has been mentioned above. Killed a bunch of turkeys with it. I have several bows from 50 max to 80 pound max and that 50 pounder gets the most use. In fact will be getting the exact same bow for a back up.

 

I've hunted with around 50 lbs for years now. Never had a problem with pass thru on deer. I don't shoot over 30-35 yards at animals though. I regularly practice at 70 meters and have no problem reaching that distance. I have shot deer with muzzy, Magnus, rocket and even the +p rages and the only non pass through shot have been ones that angled into the opposite shoulder. Both those were with muzzy 3 blade bh

 

Sure you can women and kids are killing deer all the time at less than that but IMHO you really aren't getting good answers just generalizations.

If you have a 30.5 inch draw and have the SAME bow as a guy with a 27 inch draw it's very close to the same FPS or the energy transferred to the arrow at 50 as his would be at 63 -65 pounds.....so 50 pounds without any more info is just guessing at what you will see.

Then if you look at the different bows, the arrow weight the broad heads you choose just talking about draw weight as a lone factor is pointless. If I had to hunt with 50 pounds all that would mean to me is I would have to make some changes in my setup...…..but it would have no affect on my hunting success...….you just have to put the right system together.

But when X tells you he has no problems with 50 pounds and gets pass-throughs all the time in reality that means nothing because they left out SO much other info you can't be sure that will transfer to you.

If you told us about the bow, the arrow weight your draw length and the broad heads you chose we then could actually have a meaningful conversation.

But in the meantime I'll just say sure you can.

 

Draw weight alone is not enough information! A guy with a 27” draw shooting 400 grain arrow cannot be compared to say my buddy with a 33” draw shooting a 550 grain arrow. So if you’re a shorter draw I’d want to eventually get a bit stronger, no 65lbs is not necessary. I’m more accurate based on my holding weight so that is what I focus on. Sharp coc heads and shot placement is paramount in lower weights and shorter draws imo.

I’m also a fan of heavier arrows, momentum is a big advantage so might as well use that as well. With today’s rangefinders shooting super flat isn’t really necessary anymore.

 

I shoot 50#, 27 1/2 inch DL. Currently shoot a 460 grain arrow, next year it will be over 550 grain.
Missed a doe the other day. Thought she was 40 yards away, but was 47 yards away. First time in years I have shot at a deer that far away. A faster set-up might have made up for that, but I have no regrets.
Most of my shots are 25 yards or less.
The 10 point I shot this year was at seven yards, and the doe was at 17 yards.

 

With 32 years experience, and a whole pile of critters down, I’d arm myself with a 40lb bow and set about establishing new PR’s. You’re only 52, find challenge in the second half of your career to do what you used to at extremely low poundage. My $.02. Good luck!

 

I try to limit my shots to 30 on live game and as far as dealing with poundage it’s all about smooth drawing bows and broadheads. For lower poundages a good fixed head will get the job done. I’ve been shooting 50-54 for a few years now.

 

There has been a ton of animals taken with 40-45 traditional bows so I would say match up the right arrow and broad head. I shoot 48# longbow and 57# compound. Both work really well....

Ron

 

50 will be fine with the rite setup, after a car wreck I was forced to go from 70-42 the season following, killed my biggest to date at the time with 42lb have worked my way up to 58-60 and have the most confidence in my setup than anything I’ve ever had in my 35+ yrs of bow hunting

 

I’m shooting 50 and it gets the job done ! Bad shoulders and elbow ! Get a 50 liber it will make ur hunting career last ! Just get a good coc broad head and u will be fine !

 

Heck, many killing animals with a 45# recurve....a 50# compound has 1.5x the energy.

Just use a fairly heavy arrow- 8-10GPP, and a very efficient BH- best is 2 blade.

 

Blew clean through a big mature doe in 2018 at 56 yards at 61/30" 500 grain arrow and over the top expandable. Ill be shooting 57-58lbs in 2020 with 550 grain arrows and COC broadheads around 20% FOC. I have more than enough confidence in this setup to 50 yards