The speed bow controversy
 

I find it odd how many bowhunters think increased speed is oflittle to noadvantage when bowhunting. I've heard it here and I've heard it in the proshop. Please explain why using a single pin out to 30-40yds is not an advantage. I guess increasing k.e., arrow penetration,and increasing your complete passthrough percentage isn'tbeneficial either.
For those of you that bash today's speed bows (for bowhunting), please enlighten me.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

Speed and weight is the ticket for bone crushing shots... and freedom out to 50 yards with a range finder. No Arguments here...

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

It is all relative,speed is fine but you NEVER gain as much as you hope and what you give up often times outways what you gain.[:D;)

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

And there is no such thing as pin point accuracy with 1 pin out to 40 WITHOUT COMPENSATION.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

My former bow shot my target arrow 337fps at 62#'s. If you're shooting one pin out to 30-40 yds.....your idea of "accuracy" and mine are different.

After jumping on the speed bandwagon myself for a while (obviously).....I learned I like drawing, holding, letting off 60#'s a lot more. I actually tried slowing my hunting arrow down on purpose. I love it. More KE....More momentum.....mo better.

Speed is NOT a dirty word, though. It has its' advantages. It has its' pitfalls. Its' greatest aid is the ability to shoot a heavier arrow than its' slower counterparts. A flat(ter) trajectory aids in misjudged yardage, too.

Speed comes at a price. I learend that, too.

I like where I'm at.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

I find it odd how many elitist attitudes have made it into hunting.

I shoot a speed bow, I also shoot a recurve. My hunting buddy shoots slow target bows when hunting. I don't think mine is better than his and he doesn't think his is better than mine. We think that we both shoot what fits our needs and wants. There is no controversy unless you are tying to create one.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

TFOX- Personally, I'd never take a shot on a whitetail out to 40yds. 30yds is my max.
"what you give up often times outways what you gain" Please explain.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

GMMAT- So you felt like you were sacrificing accuracy. What would you attribute that to?

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

Agree! But...there will be some that will try to argue this fact.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

I never said that, Brian.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

GMMAT- I apologize, I misread your statement. Did you experience a loss of accuracy?
Did you feel that you were sacrificing anything? Why did you go back to a slower setup?

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

I tip my hat to anyone that can go out w/ a recurve and kill any game. I never said one bow is better than another. I would never bash someone else's equipment, its not my character. That wasn't my point.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

No loss in accuracy.

"Sacrificing anything"? Tough question. I know I didn't appreciate the draw cycle inherent with speed bows. I didn't like the way it felt like it would roll over (the wrong way) if I flinched.

I went to a 60# bow because I felt it would allow me to draw, hold and letoff with more control. I'm not lying when I say I can put my intended target in my sight ring and draw, hold and then letoff....and it never leave it (sight window). It's not a flamboyant assertion. I had to sacrifice speed to get here.

I like my hunting arrow flying at the speed it's flying, now (250fps with a 470gr. arrow). I think I'm going to enjoy seeing my arrow in flight and seeing it make impact (which I wasn't seeing.....be that MY issue or a correlation with high arrow speeds....I don't know). I saw both on my last deer taken .....which was with a 5yd shot.

Like I said.....if a man can do what I'm doing with a 70....or even higher....pound bow....then he's maximizing his setup to fit his needs, too. More power to him.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

What does it matter. Everyone has their opinions. They way this is starting to go Im definetly not voicing mine.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

Depends on your definition of speed....my Mathews LX with a 28.5" GoldTip 5575 and 100gr. 3 blade Muzzy is shooting around 265-270fps.And I can tell you that switching to a bow shooting 70 fps faster wouldn't make a difference. I've never had a deer jump my string, and get a complete pass thru 90% of the time. And like GMMAT mentioned, I to can pull back and release without moving my sight window, those radical cam bows are fast. but also the draw cycle is different to say the least. I am not bashing speed bows, but300+ fps is WAY overrated.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

USUALLY,forgiveness is the first thing given up when going with a "speed" bow.


Shorter brace heights along with radical cams and some of the issues GMMAT eluded to all lend themselve to less forgiving in the moment of truth.


My bow is a fairly forgiving bow with a 7" brace and 36" a-a is a good setup for a 28" draw such as mine.This year I had to draw EARLY on a deer moving toward me UP a hill.So I had to hold longer than I would like and make a QUICK shot when I was busted by a deer with the buck I shot.The shot was dead center and I KNOW that if the bow was a speed bow,the shot wouldn't have been dead center as mine was.Yes,maybe the deer would have been killed at only 25 yards but speed really doesn't do much at 25 yards but shot placement does.

For the record,my bow is set at 53#'s and is shooting a whopping 230 fps.:D


I am getting a faster bow(actually on order) but it has a 7" brace and 35" a-a.The cams rollover is very forgiving so there are ways to achieve the best of both worlds.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

Well, there is an ass for every seat.

There are those who like speed, and there are those who like comfort and shootability. Today's definition of a "speed bow" is definately more shootable than what it was 10 or 20 years ago, but a lot of shooters honestly cannot handle them as well or better than they could a more shooter friendly bow... and DEFINATELY not in hunting situations.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

Fair enough.

The tone of your post came across to me as asking for opinions that you had predetermined were wrong.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

I never say you shouldn't have speed. I say, I like my big old slow QUIET bow. My bow is rated at 320 fps or something like that. Well, put on my shorter arms and my 475 grain arrows, we just lost speed Houston. BUT, my bow is whisper quiet. I mean, it's just a puff when it goes off. Everyone who ever stands next to me when I shoot says, HOLY CRAP your bow is quiet. Heavy arrows are easier on the equipment. High stress of lower weight arrows and speed takes a toll on equipement. As far as more speed to achieve a higher percentage of pass throughs.... It's pretty hard to get better than 100 percent. I honestly don't remember when I didn't have a pass through. So here I am with this barn burner slinging a pole at 263 fps. You want speed that's fine. Me.... I'm happy right where I am. I long for the old days when I used to shoot 525 plus grain arrows. LOL

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

I think speed is FAR over-rated for hunting whitetail deer. IMO, regardless of how "good" you think you are, a whitetail can react too fast when you start getting over 30-35 yards. The best archer in the world can't predict where a whitetail's kill zone will be when the arrow gets there. We will never catch up to the speed of a whitetail when it reacts tothe release of thearrow.

So, with that being said, I like a fast bow, but will put smoothness, ease of shooting, and forgiveness over speed any day.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

Exactly.:D This is only my second year bowhunting, so I've only arrowed nine deer so far, but every single time the arrow was stuck in the ground after the shot. My arrows weighs almost the exact same as yours, and even witha 70# draw@ 29" draw length, I'm only slinging them at 270 fps, but they pass through the deer like it isn't there and the bow is so quiet at the release. It's a good recipe.;)

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

I am quickly moving to the train of thought of shooting a “speed” bow slowly. I never really could discern much difference in harsh draw cycles compared to smooth ones on most higher end bows. They all feel relatively smooth to me. I like taking a fast shooting bow, and using a heavier than average arrow. That way I get a hard hitting, deep penetrating arrow. I too have also found when the bow shoots too fast I can’t see where my arrow hits. Wraps & a little heavier/slower arrow should take care of that for next season.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

Funny how things change in only around a year;)...although there are some folks around here that have been singing that tune the whole time

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

I shoot my 605gr arrow at 220 fps. My max hunting range is 25 yds. What would being able to shoot that same arrow at 275+ fps give me that would be a distinct advantage overwhat I have?

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

My hunting set up is 272 fps. Like Mr Mill I have had pass thrus on every deer I shot except when I tried the highly praised mechnical 2 blade. I'm buying a new bow this spring. WillI fall into the speed trap? Maybe, if it is comfrotable to shoot and floats to the target well. Is all the speed necessary? Obviously not.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

In my opinion, nothing. 605 grains hitting at 220 fps is going to go through anything you shoot, right?

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

Has so far :D.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

Not sure if this was meant for me or not. But it does make me want to clarify my stance. I've always shot a heavier than average arrow, but I used to do so out of a "slow" bow. Now I shoot them out of a faster bow so while yes I am increasing speed, I can also shoot a heavier arrow andhave no fears of being able to blow thru any deer that walks.I just like feeling like superman when I walk in the woods[8D]

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

Not at all Rybo - just seems like last year there were a TON of speed freaks out there.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

I personally don't care how fast anyone elses bow is. I have a question. I will admit that I know very little about the function of these newer bows. Here's my question: Can I assume that the faster the arrow flys the more critical it is to have your entire setup perfectly tuned? It makes sense to me that something flying thru the air at 300 ft/sec. would be affected by any minor difference between broadheads, arrow weights, etc. compared to something traveling 250 ft/sec. Does anyone notice an accuracy problem with faster bows? At what speed does this become real critical? Is there a speed where we will have to wind tunnel test every arrow to get consistant arrow flight? Or do I need to stop typing and go back to my bottle of Windsor?[8D]:eek:

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

With some practice you can learn to type with just one hand. [:-]

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

You might strike oil after getting a passthrough.

Think about Jed Clampet man..... black gold..... texas tea.... you could move away from there..... palm trees..... movie stars.....all this could be yours Bruce...

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

I had an interesting thing happen to me in WV a week ago. I had a broad side shot at 40 yds. This was a shot that I was pretty comfortable with but I missed. Just as I squeezed the release the deer turned away down the hill and the arrow took a chuck of hair from the chest. I was so happy to see no blood on the arrow and just hair. I watched the deer snort and walk off. Wow that could have been a real mess. Not that I won't take that shot again, but my mistake was that I saw the deer drop its ears imo. This should have been an indication to me to wait to see what happened knowing movement was coming up. I posted this because I shoot 312fps and it still was not fast enough, not that I would ever trade in that speed for anything. Also, I hope to pass along something that not alot speak of and that is the deer's posture, ears tuned in, eyes at or away, tail, etc. This was a lesson learned...

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

I have a better idea Jim, I'm gonna get one of those drinking hats with the long straw!

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

I agree with this. 1 pin is not accurate between 20 and 30 yards at 280 fps and a 400 grain arrow, and 30 to 40 yards it's real bad. Even at 350 fps, 30 to 40 yards will not be that close to only use one pin.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

LOL But the only woman that wanted him was Miss Hathaway[:-]

Besides, I was thinking more along the lines of striking marrow while getting a passthru with that arrow :D.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

I agree with Jeff, one pin to forty is a myth. I have found myself very happy to pull 63 lbs and send a 447 grain arrow 295 fps.

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

No, no, no! Miss Hathaway onlyhad the hots for his nephew Jethro!
(You know some of the younger guys on here are saying to themselves, "Huh???"):D

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

No sir I love the beverly Hillbillys. Been watching that show for quite some time!:D

RE: The speed bow controversy
 

to me a bow is a bow... yeah fast bows are great to have but, i have the new katera! but if you dont have one it doesnt mean anything i had a ultra sport for years and thought it was the best thing since peanut butter!!! it just depends on what you like in a bow!!:D