If you have a normal draw, you will soon find the 50 lb easy enough. If you overdraw(past 28&quot then go with the 45, because it'll be close to 50 at a longer draw.

When I made the switch from compounds to trad, I was shooting a compound at 57# because my shoulders were hurting. I had the benefit of being able to shoot a trad bow in the archery store and it was 54#.

My draw with the compound was 29.5", with the recurve it is about 28". I bought a 53# bow for my first bow. I handled it fine. Of course, I was in the bow shop shooting the owner's 54# recurve alot in the four weeks it took for my bow to be made. I handled the 54# fine.

Around a year ago, I bought a second bow, a used Chekmate Firebird. It is 57#@28". At first, I was very uncomfortable with the weight. I had Chad looking for a lighter ser of limbs for me. But, by the time they were ready, I had shot the 57# enough that I was very comfortable with it and canceled the extra set of limbs.

I would recommend you buy the 50# bow. You will find the 50# easy to draw, whereas the 45# would be very easy to draw.

Bill

Hobbes - I went with a heavier 52# bow and I honestly think I would have been better off with a lighter weight. Form is everything, and I think I picked up some bad habits shooting a little too heavy a bow. Besides, go a little light and it'll give you an excuse to buy another bow later on !

Hi and way to go w/ picking a checkmate, I really love my TD hunter. When I bought mine I wanted #55 but the store only had #50 and#60 so I bought #60 (I am a large lad). What I then did is I bought a #45 for $40 at a pawn shop and shot this till I biult up (approx 3 weeks). Everything depends on how strong you are but you don't want to overbow yourself- if you do you will never shoot great and won't enjoy it as much. Your local archery club may have some lower weight bows for you to shoot to build up to #50's. If you are just going after deer #45 is all you need but If larger animals or tougher animals are your target the #50 (if you can shoot it) should be your choice.

Eric

My opinion is go with the 45#. You don't want to develop any bad habits by overbowing yourself and the 45# will be more that sufficient to take a whitetail. Proper form is very important.

If you've been shooting a 65# compound comfortably and are in decent shape, I see no reason why a 50# @ 28" bow (or ~53# @ 29&quot would present any dificulty. I'm 5'8", in my late 20's, and shot a 68# @ 27.5" compound before switching to my first longbow, which was 55# @ 28" (actually ~49# @ my 26" high wrist draw). The bow was very easy to shoot, and I immediately regretted not buying one in a heavier weight. After 3 years of trad bows, I now shoot bows drawing 60# @ 25" (I use a low grip now instead of high wrist) without tiring after a full day of 3-D shooting and have a couple of bows in the works now to draw 65#'s.

Either way, a 5# difference in draw weight doesn't make a "great" deal of difference in the way of feel, trajectory, or penetration. Which ever you get, shoot alot an have fun!