I used to shoot a 50 lb. recurve and had my arrow bounce off a huge gar im talkin in the 9 to 10 foot range so i bumped up to a 65 lb . havnt had a problem yet i also use some of the new devices out there that stop complete pass through. if you go after smaller gar and carp 45lb to 55lbs is plenty but if you go after TYRANASAURUS GARUS then you need a little more.