Hand held bow scales ?
 

Does anyone have an explanation as why the hand held bow scales generally read 3-5 pounds lower than the hanging scales used in most shops ? We just sold a new bow that was ordered as a 29-70. It came in around 67-68 pounds and the customer was told that acouple twists in the cable would give him 70 if he wanted it that high. He has a handheld scale that only shows the bow as being about 63 pounds and is not happy. He tied weight plates together that total 65 pounds and when he lifts them off the floor he gets 65 pounds. We checked our shop scales with a 5 gallon bucket of water that we weighed on certified scales and they were the same. The bow is shooting a 405 grain arrow at 276 right now so I don't feel the bow could only be 62-63 pounds. Anyway, that would mean that NONE of the 70 pound bows we have sold over the years was really 70 pounds! Everyone I have talked to agree that their handheld scales read low but noone can explain it ? Any ideas ??

RE: Hand held bow scales ?
 

Isn't a hanging bow scale actually measuring the draw weight plus the weight of the bow? I could be wrong.

-Chief

RE: Hand held bow scales ?
 

My bow set on 60lb 28" draw 400gr arrow is doing 280 so chances are it could be right.

I have seen the hanging shop scales be way off the mark specially if it is an older scale that has had a lot of use the spring looses some of the tension and will give a false higher reading.

The best thing to do is get a digital bow scale that is if you have about 700 smackers to spare;)

RE: Hand held bow scales ?
 

I wish !!!!!

RE: Hand held bow scales ?
 

I was told long ago that peak draw weight is also based on 30 inch draw , I am a 27 inch draw and i rarely get 70 lbs with any bows, unless i tweek string or cables, so i got to say i agrre with pa on this one most bows unless you have a 30 inch plus draw length never see a true 70 lbs. I can get real close 67, 68 maybe but that is usally it. just my two cents worth here. hey how about that PA we agree somewhat

RE: Hand held bow scales ?
 

I knew we would agree sooner or later ! Hope you are having a good year so far ? We have been shooting every weekend but the weather has been sucky ! Also, the ranges have been VERY easy and not much good as far as practice for the REAL DEAL .

RE: Hand held bow scales ?
 

I'm not sure why your two scales are different, but the hanging scale will only measure the draw weight of the bow. All the weight of the bow will do is start to draw the sting back when you hang it on the scale. If your bow weighs 5 lb and you hang it on the scale by the string, the string will have 5 lb of draw force acting on it.

All that really matters is that you can hit what your aiming at. Good luck

Jaybird