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the draw weight is how much strength it takes to pull it back which is equal to how much force is put into the arrow. so basically pulling back a 50 lb draw weight bow is equally as hard as lifting a 50 lb sack with one arm

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16y ago

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Its the amount of power needed to draw the bow back to release position. With a compound bow you'll have a certain percentage of 'let-off' (usually 75 or 80% with modern bows) which means once youre at full draw, you'll only need to hold the remainder of the draw weight back to set your shot, aim, and release. For example, if your bow's draw weight is 50 lbs. and it has an 80% let-off, you'll only need to hold back 10lbs at full draw. This is the purpose of the cams and cables you see on compound bows and why they are much easier to shoot consistently than a traditional bow.

With a traditional bow, you'll be dealing with the full draw weight through the entire shot. That's why it takes a bit of instinct and a lot more practice and training to be accurate at range with a longbow or recurve.

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13y ago
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to pull back

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13y ago
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Q: What is a draw weight in archery?
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Why is archery called archery?

The bow has had a HUGE impact on human history, from war to hunting. So it's preserving a very important and old tradition. It does require strength as well. A bow's power is told by how hard it is to pull the string back, it's called the draw weight and is given in pounds. For example, a bow with a 45 pound draw weight, an average weight, would be just as hard to pull back as lifting something weighing 45 pounds. You have to hold that with your fingers all the while your arms are shaking because that's what happens when you strain your muscles. Then you have to release all fingers exactly the same time and hope the wind doesn't kick up!


How much draw weight does a recurve bow have?

The answer to that question will change depending on what type of recurve bow and for what purpose you will be shooting. For example, if you are hunting and are planning to kill a large animal, you will likely want a recurve bow with over 50lbs of draw weight. If you shoot with less weight than this, you may only injure the animal and that would be cruel. Bows with over 50lbs of draw weight are more difficult to pull back and hold steady, therefore the accuracy of your aim will be reduced. If on the other hand you want to shoot targets and need to be as accurate as possible, such as in a field archery competition, you will want a draw weight that is under 50lbs. In fact 30 - 40lbs would be a likely choice. This will allow you to hold more steady on the draw and line up your target. The lower weight will be acceptable as all you need to do is reach your target, not kill it. Please note, this is in regard to recurve bows only, not compound. That's a whole other world.


What size should an archery bow be for a 10 year old?

20 pounds, with a 24 inch draw would be a good starting point.


What is the legal bow draw weight to hunt deer in SC?

http://www.dnr.sc.gov/regs/pdf/huntingregs.pdf No restrictions on draw weight in SC.


Is it hard to cock an 80lb crossbow?

80 pounds is a very low draw weight for a crossbow and a very high draw weight for a standard bow