I have settled on the bow I am buying. I am buying a 60" CheckMate Falcon, but I am trying to choose between 45#@28" or 50#@28". I know the ultimate decision is mine to make, but I would like to hear some of your experiences if you switched from compound to recurve. I don't want to overbow myself to start out but I would like to be able to hunt whitetails with the bow this fall. I have been leaning toward the 45# in an effort to more easily learn to shoot the bow. I will be drawing approx. 29" with a recurve, and I have normally shot a compound with 30" draw set at 65# with 65% letoff.
I have hammered LBR with questions on recurves and he has answered them all. He has give me his thoughts on this subject, but I was hoping to hear some of everyones experiences with converting from modern to traditional.

When I converted I went from a 58# compound to a 45# recurve. I drew 29" on the compound and 27" on the 'curve. I very quickly found that the 45# was no problem and after about two months progressed to a 50# longbow. Based on my experience, I don't think you would have any problem with the 50# to start with.

Jack

If you get the 50 you'll regret it for the first week or so, if you get the 45, you'll regret it after the first week or so. I believe I'd buy the 50 lb draw weight, learn to shoot it, and enjoy it as long as you own it. Good luck & welcome.
Darrel

I'll pick too light over too heavy any day. 45# is plenty to take a whitetail, and may be really appreciated after a few hours on a cold stand when the shot presents itself. You might be able to handle the 50# with no problems, and you will probably build up pretty quick, but.........

When I swapped, I was shooting a 70 or 80 # compound (forget which). My first trad bow (recurve) was 55@28, I probably pulled it between 29 and 31" (didn't have a clue what I was doing). Next bow (longbow) I was pulling 80#--way too much. Had to overcome a lot of bad habits because of it--some I still fall back into.

Hard call to make, but the safe bet, in my opinion, is the 45#.

Chad

Hobbes, you definitely don't want to overbow. I started back shooting a 62# recurve, that I had stored away for twenty years. I did okay for about a month straining and tugging pulling back to full draw. Now I'm paying for it. The tendons are finally starting to get back to normal after three weeks. I'm down to shooting a 40# lomgbow whenever the old arm isn't hurting too bad.

Rem. 222

If you have never shot a trad. bow before you are going to need to shoot it ALOT to get really good with it and the five pound difference you are talking about is alot when you start shooting hundreds of arrows a week and besides with a 45# bow you can kill anything in North America, so don't overbow yourself.
Mike

I guess after reading the others' posts on this thread, I have to revise my earlier opinion. Thinking back on my intro to trad shooting, I believe the 45# was a good way to start, and I remember the problems I had even at that weight with short drawing, etc.
While I agree with Broker that you very shortly will be wanting to shoot heavier poundage (I know I did), the 45# bow will just give you an excuse to get another bow. And we all know you can never have too many bows. Just ask John Nail!

Jack

Seems to be the concensus & I agree. Better 10# too light than 1# too heavy when starting off. Having said that, I bet you'd do fine with either coming from a 65# c-pound. Lol, didn't help much did I?

When I switched over, my wheel bow was pulling 68-70# @29" and the recurve I bought was 50#28. It was all I wanted to handle at the time.

Going with the bow your thinking about, I'd say go with the 45#der which will be almost 48# at your draw. Add to that a dynaflight97 string and it would be like shooting a 55# bow. Match some 500g. arrows and a razor sharp broadhead and you will have a more than adequate hunting rig. Capable of taking most anything you'll be wanting to hunt.

I would go with the 45# bow to start-it will feel like a lot more than 45 at first.Also,when learning to shoot a trad bow you'll be shooting a lot and I tend to think that you will be glad that you didn't pick more weight. CAM <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>