8mm, you' re not the only one with an old bow. I have an old one that I think is from about 1976, judging from anything I can find. I do get a little laughed at in bow shops and such. Usually the employees hold back but the customers are a little more vocal. I have a 33% letoff, and I agree with it being quite difficult to hold, but I think I' m getting up to about that 20 second mark. I just hope I don' t get old.

I' ve been kind of planning to get a new bow also but I kind of like my 48" axle to axle length, except in the tree stand, or brush, the truck cab, ...I just can' t bring myself to spend $300-400 on a new bow just yet.

Short-range,
Welcome to the old-bow club (it currently has 2 members, you and me) My bow is from around 1980, and is a PSE Laser, 35% let-off, 2 round wheels rather than any eccentrics. It is smooth, fairly quiet when I keep it tightened, waxed and lubed, and I get good groups but keep my shots within 23 yards. But holding it is a bear. I can HOLD it for 20 seconds easy, but holding it for 20 seconds and being able to get off a relaxed good shot is another story. I held my bow the other night to check and see when I thought my form and concentration started to wane. About 10-11 seconds and I was sure that I would be hurting my shot and chancing wounding rather than killing a deer. Mentally, I went over my typical shots from draw to release, and I' m pretty sure I usually release within 5-6 seconds of coming to full draw. Course, with the bow at around 67# and with a 35% let-off I' m trying to hold 44 pounds.....WITH FINGERS.
I' m looking forward to a new bow....it' ll have to wait for a little while though.

Mine is an old Wing Archery Impact that is supposed to be 65# but has dropped a few pounds over the years to about 62-63 with a 33% letoff. Although my bow is huge it really seems lighter than many of the new bows on the market. I use a release, and I got a fancy new rest this year. I think I will get a new sight next year, then maybe buy a new bow another year after that, and move all my parts over to it.

I have found that I either need to shoot in the first 8 seconds, or wait a little while until my arm quits shaking (too tired?) around the 15 second mark(with great concentration) but then it is a short window again before letting down. Like many others say, I play around out further at 35-40 yds, but I really have no plans to shoot anything out there. I can keep things pretty good at 25yds though.