Choosing A Compound Bow
by Justin Phillips
The beginner is strongly advised to use a compound bow rather than a traditional long bow or recurve bow. The compound bow is characterized by eccentric wheels or cams on the upper and lower limbs. The maximum force necessary to draw a bow to its full extent is called the draw weight. The cams allow a compound bow to be held at full draw with only a fraction of the draw weight. That fraction expressed as a percentage is called the letoff. The letoff of most compounds is between 50 and 80%. In other words, when you draw a compound bow you have to use the force of full draw weight, but suddenly the draw weight falls off to the letoff fraction when fully drawn. This is very useful in hunting situations where you may have to wait after drawing the bow for an animal to move into range or favorable position to shoot.
When you draw a bow in your right hand you aim with your right eye. The opposite happens with the left hand and the left eye. People say to use your comfortable eye to aim, and to buy a bow. Of course you know better which bow you should be using, and what is most comfortable. If you close one eye and the other opens by accident, you most likely know which is the dominant eye.
In choosing a bow, the draw weight is one of the main factors to consider. The minimum draw weight for hunting deer should be 45 lbs. Although you can kill a deer with a weaker bow, you will end up wounding many that you do not recover. Most bows used in deer hunting have a draw weight of 50-70# and are somewhat adjustable in draw weight. Bows tend to shoot best when at maximum draw weight. The major advantage of a higher draw weight bow is that the arrow trajectory is flatter. You have to estimate the distance to game when aiming, and a flatter trajectory makes errors less of a problem. When choosing a bow you should choose one with a draw weight that you can draw quickly and smoothly. Also keep in mind that a bow that you could easily draw in practice may be too hard to draw smoothly after sitting in the cold in a tree stand for an hour or more. To build up my strength for hunting I set my bow at maximum draw weight for practice and then adjust it down 5 lbs for hunting. This requires changing the sights of the bow.
The next thing to consider in choosing a bow is the draw length. A proper draw length is one that brings the bow string about even with your lips when the bow is fully drawn. Most bows have adjustable draw lengths that will accommodate the arm length of the average adult, 28-30". The draw length is changed on a bow by changing the attachment of the cables to the cams. This is better left to a technician since a limb compressor is required to release the cables. The bow could be damaged if it is not properly bent to release the cables. If you are buying a new bow from a sporting goods store the seller will probably set the bow up to your needs. You will pay at least $200-600 for your bow there. Wal-Mart may have bows for less, but you have to set them up yourself or find someone to help you. After bow hunting season Wal-Mart stores sell out their remaining bows and arrows for bargain prices.
When you are just getting started it can be expensive, so if you can by a used bow on ebay. You will find them at a fraction of the price during the off season. When it is hunting time, expect to pay retail or even more. Make sure you look at the draw weight and draw length when shopping. If you are buying online, check out a sporting goods store just to hold them for fun. Remember you have to buy for the eye is that is most dominant as a recommended rule.
Learn more about <a href='http://bestbowguide.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/how-to-pick-a-recurve-bow/'>recurve bows for sale</a>. Stop by Justin Phillips's site where you can find out all about <a href='http://bestbowguide.wordpress.com/2013/07/13/shooting-a-bow/'>buying a hunting bow</a> and what it can do for you.
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New Unique Article!
Title: Choosing A Compound Bow
Author: Justin Phillips
Email: hope.valerie@gmail.com
Keywords: archery, sports, extreme sports, hunting, bows, arrows, archer, outdoors, compound bows
Word Count: 690
Category: Hobbies
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