let off 65% or 80%

[bayfire300]

what do you prefer?
are arrows faster w/ 65%?

i crony'd my bowtech mighty mite w. 80% let off #65...28" draw and got 285's
tomorrow i'll try it w/ 65% let off. ran out of light tonight.darnit.i'm really curious now.
personally i like the 65% let off

otto

[Bradkoz]

i like 65% because i feel more stable, ive read that more let off makes you relax to much and your form is easier to mess up. with less let off your tight with your form (unless your overbowed)

[Arthur P]

Theoretically, 65% is a smidge faster than 80% because the lower let-off stores a smidge more energy. But the cam designers are aware of that and they tend to design their 80% let-off cams to jump up to peak a bit sooner and break over a bit later than 65% cams. The longer dwell at peak weight makes the bow store as much, or more, than the original 65% cam would. So the 80% can have as much or more speed than the 65%, but it makes the bow harder to draw.

Also, the lower holding weight with 80% makes it much easier to torque the bow. That can make the bow a bit touchy about grip placement, especially if you have a crappy grip that won't force your hand into the exact same position every time. If your grip wanders around, the bow won't shoot as accurately as it should.

To top it off, anything over 65% let-off is illegal in a few states. So be sure to check the regs wherever you intend to hunt before you buy.

Some people say they want higher let-off because of bad shoulders. Well, that's fine and good but they still have to fight their way through the long dwell at peak draw weight. Side issue is the almost instantaneous plunge into the let-off that so many cams have these days. That, I am sure, is going to eventually cause huge numbers of today's younger bowhunters to have severe shoulder problems by the time they hit 50.

Anyway, these folks don't do their shoulders any favors unless they also back off on their draw weight. Naturally, they lose arrow speed by doing that. Trade-offs. Personally, I backed way off my draw weight, got an easy drawing bow and 80% let-off. Now my shoulders are so happy that I don't miss the speed.

[BGfisher]

What's been said is true. I chrono'd several Pearson bows a few years ago with 85%, 75%, and 65% modules and only got about 4 fps faster with the 65% mods.

Something else can be said for the higher letoff. Most people draw a bow too far back along their face and with the higher letoff the string can actually be contorted which leads to inaccuracies.

Arthur is so right about the higher peak weights and high letoff causing shoulder problems. I'm walking proof of that. Even though a young, strong person can draw 70# easily now, repetitive motion over a period of years does wear out the joint faster. And the heavier weights just speed up the process.

Whereas I used to shoot 67-68# years ago, as I get older and wiser I've dropped back into the mid 50's with less letoff. The effect is almost the same as shooting a smooth drawing cammed bow and somehow my arrows still seem to bury into the ground substantiallyafter a pass through on deer sized game. The other benefit is that I can easily draw my bow from any position, in any weather, first time every time. And there is little to no loss in speed. I shoot a comparably lighter arrow taking into consideration that I'm not hunting elephants.

[cynikalHC]

I have not tested either but I liek the 80% let off that I am shooting and see no reason to fix something that isn't broke.

[bayfire300]

very interesting guys...thanks for posting.
well today i shot the 65% module at 65lbs.28 inch draw i shot 3 arrows through the crony and got 292 292 292.not bad for a short draw huh i picked up 7 fps.
i though i might try the 80% letoff but i think i'll stay w/ the 65% i am used to it and i think the bow is a lil more accurate.i guess due to torque as mentions by arthur.


otto

[MeanV2]

I prefer 80% anydayBinarys are actually faster set on 80%.

Dan

[PABuck_HNTR]

Anyway, these folks don't do their shoulders any favors unless they also back off on their draw weight. Naturally, they lose arrow speed by doing that. Trade-offs. Personally, I backed way off my draw weight, got an easy drawing bow and 80% let-off. Now my shoulders are so happy that I don't miss the speed.

I couldn't agree more. Its too bad people don't listen until it's too late.

[gibblet]

80% letoff bows shoot great for me for about 2 weeks. by then i've gotten lazy, and i couldn't shoot a 65% letoff bow for snot. i shoot 65% now because it makes me mind my p's and q's every shot.