Len in Maryland

We've set up a few customers with heavier bows for Africa. All of them have gone with the two cam bows over the single cams because of the draw cycle being much smoother.

The way to check this is to obtain a manufacturer, like Hoyt, who makes both the dual and single cam versions. Have a Dealer set, for example, both cam styles of the same model 70# bow (usually they'll peak at about 72-75). Pull them both back very slowly and you will definitely feel the difference. As I told one customer, "now imagine that difference at 80+#".

One customer came back from Africa with big smiles and a big "thank you" to us. He had to slowly draw on a Cape Buffalo at 35 yards from a kneeling position. He said he was glad the bow pulled smoothly because the animal was facing him during the draw cycle.

moonge

Hey thanks everyone, yes the mathews makes a bow that goes to 100 & Hoyt has some nice stuff. I used to shoot high poundage for a long time & miss the solid feeling that I used to have when I shot 80+ lbs. I also plan on elk & moose hunting here soon & really would like to have something more than 70lbs (I know 70 works on anything!)

Biteme/Paul Mohr

Some just like heavier draws. If you can do it, more power to you. I have a friend that prefers 75 lbs or more if it draws smooth.

Paul

moonge

yea I just feel like I am drawing nothing when I shoot 70, I'm not a he-man or anything but have shot archery since I was 6 & am now 32 so I am just conditioned well to shoot. I used to shoot 85 lbs for everything & for a while shot 90. I just miss the feeling I had at full draw with the heavy poundage, I felt locked in & shot better!

Ky_Bowhunter

If it feels better for ya than go for it. Im comfortable with 70 myself.

Arthur P

I shot 80 pounds for field archery for a number of years, so I know what you're talking about, moonge. Problem is, now that I'm closing in (rapidly) on the big 5-0, I can't hardly lift my arms over my head.

Enjoy, but be careful. Make sure you warm up your shoulders before shooting those heavyweights! Each year that goes by makes warming up even more important than it was the year before. Trust me on this one.

moonge

Arthur I know here you are coming from....I am 32 & not feeling like I did at 22! oh well, better enjoy my days of high poundage now because I know in the future I will have to tame it way down! it sucks growing old dosn't it?

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JeffB

As long as the cam is smooth, I prefer 75 to 80 Lbs as well. I'd rather have a 60Lb bow anyday, but I just get too sloppy when I shoot them.

Last true 80 Lber I had was a 98 Hoyt Raptor Carbonite w/ C-cams that peaked at 81 LBs, and was fairly nice to draw, but was loud as all getout, and constantly went out out of tune. It had alot of vibration,shook everything loose and really stressed the cables and string even w/ 520 grain 2315's.

I'm now shooting 76 out of my Q2 and it's quite smooth to draw and has little to no recoil. You can order any of Mathews standard bows w/ &quot;Heavy XX&quot; limbs (where &quot;XX&quot; is 60, or 70, or whatever peak) and they generally come in about 6-8 Lbs over. I'd shy away from the MAthews Safari models. They use a Black Max cam which is a bear to draw as is, they have had a pile of trouble out of them and they cost around 1000 smackeroos. They will send a heavy arrow out really fast. The former owner of my local Mathews dealership was shooting the 100 Lb model w/ a 31&quot; cam w/ 700+ grain Carbon Express 400's stuffed w/ AFC 2540's in the high 290 FPS range. That's some SERIOUS K.E. He not only took it to Africa, he hunted whitetails with it locally! (he's a big boy, and nuts too!)However, he went through 4 sets of limbs, several bushing swaps, afew cables, and finally gave up and went back to his ..now get this...His 70 LB MQ32...Talk about apples and oranges..hee hee

Been thinking about ordering me up an 80 LB Hoyt as well. I can get an 80LB Bowtech Sampson back w/out much trouble, but I know after awhile it would kill me w/ the somewhat abrupt/late letoff of the PF/Infinity cam.

Hell, Buy a 70 LB 2001 Bowtech BK2 w/ 65% letoff. It feels like 90

Seriously, a 70 LB Bowtech has more than enough speed/KE for just about anything on the planet.

JeffB