What is the lightest draw weight bow you own? I recently came across a 25# bow at 28 inches and is 66 inches long. It is an older bow so Dacron strings only. How is performance with these light weight bows regarding target shooting/recreational use or do they just make great form bows? Also, how is limb strength? Are the limbs too wobbly? Thanks for your input in advance.

I have a 23 ,26 , and another new 26# longbow , and 2 40's , 2 15's . I plan on putting modern strings all the kids bows to assist with performance . Just have to pick up some. as for there limbs , they are just what you would expect for such light weights . Aside from checking the out and tuning them I seldom shoot them . I safty check the kids bows weekly , they seem to hold up better as they lower weight does less damage to rest and strings .

Depends on the arrow. Find something light enough so the bow shoots like you are used to. I have ILF limbs that I can get 30-35#. You will learn a lot about your form and release shooting light bows.

I have a 27 pound Wing that was originally my wife's. I shoot it regularly to warm up with or when I just have a few minutes to shoot. With the same GPP arrow weight the sight picture is very close to my hunting bow. It is probably over 40 years old and still doing just fine. I have a 38 pound Zebra wood Bear Polar. It is 66" long and I find myself picking it up to shoot more and more. It just seems to fit and feel nice.>>>-----> Ken

I have kid bows around that are fun to shoot. Lightest is a 30 pound Pearson, a friend gave me. My lightest me bow is a 52 pounder, though there are lighter ILF limbs around that I don't shoot, but could.

Shooting lighter bows is fun, and it is good for working on certain aspects of your form. Since I mainly shoot heavier bows (because that is what I own from the 90s), I don't find shooting light bows helps me entirely with form for shooting the heavier ones. You have to recruit a full spectrum of muscles for heavier bows, and the experience is just different.

36@28. Been shooting it a ton!

60# Jerry Hill Wildcat ll

Deno

28# Colt Firearms Heritage (still would love to know who the bowyer was for these things) that I pull to 35# or so. Great bow to keep my form in line!

All 3 here are Colts. The Heritage is the one on the right 8^D

28# Colt Firearms Heritage (still would love to know who the bowyer was for these things) that I pull to 35# or so. Great bow to keep my form in line!

All 3 here are Colts. The Heritage is the one on the right 8^D

37@26" Cascade Night Hawk....I've owned it since Monday.

I still have the 2nd bow my father bought me. a 28# Gordons Plastics Jester

55# Hoyt n. Martin Saber

30# Pearson Javelina.

28# bear tigercat

45# Bear Green Fox ( my first bow ) my Dad bought me for Christmas in 1969. I still own it but it just hangs on the wall now days.

30#@24in or about 38 to 40#@28in It's about 35# at my draw length.

Have a 25#@28in Damon Howatt target bow, but don't shoot it. It's just for the family to enjoy. It will kill a paper plate though.

I have a 40# Darton Classic that I found at a garage sale ten years ago. I'm recovering from some major back surgery, so I'll probably become more familiar with it eventually.

Sage with 35# limbs

30#

I have a Ben Pearson 64", Silver Sovereign that draw about 2 pounds maybe 3 pounds.

It was sent to us from Pearson as an instructional bow. It has no wood in the limbs. the limbs are just fiberglass. Looks like a regular bow until you draw it back.

First bow I ever own I got it Christmas of 1974 and I still have the bow. It is a Red Bear I believe it is 15#

I taught myself to shoot right handed, after 50 years as a lefty, with a 26# Howatt Ventura and it opened my yes at how enjoyable shooting a light bow with well-matched arrows can be if you take it seriously, especially from longer ranges.

Like Mangonboat, I find shooting a light bow to be an exceptionally pleasurable experience. Lots of zip and accuracy with well-matched arrows. Actually, they're a hoot to shoot even with overly-heavy woodies if that's all you've got on hand and aren't inclined to spend money to nail tuning them as you might do with your regular shooters.

I have never noticed wobbly limb or construction integrity issues with any of my light bows. They're just ... lighter.

The 20# bow is an excellent form bow and allows technical experimentation and muscle-memory embedding minus the weight-lifting component. Oddly, an uber-light bow can actually feel quite heavy and fatiguing when using it to aggressively fine-tune your technique within the "micro" and exactingly complete muscular finessing that you may be attempting to achieve during this type of study and repetitive shooting.

I do find a significant difference between 20# and 25# in matters of outdoor cast. My 20# bows have a bit of "lob" in their cast, which is why I use them only in my garage for form work. My 25# bows don't exhibit this "lob", but rather cast the arrow more like a heavier bow. Their zip is surprisingly satisfactory, even when using the higher-than-ideal gpp woodies that I usually shoot with them. A light carbon shaft with a light point ... if that is one's preference ... will significantly amplify cast. (I just like woodies better 'cause I'm stubborn that way!)

Nothing ventured ... nothing gained. If you've got a hankering to give a light bow a try, don't take my word for it. Grab a bargain find and give it a whack. If you can't find one used, go online and buy one of the ridiculously inexpensive production bows in the draw weight that you want to explore and have at it.

It's all fun and games if one desires to deem it so.

Why do you think they would be "wobbly" just because they are light? They were made with dang good precision, mostly for reaching out to targets 80 to 100 yards away at times.

I've posted this before, but I'll do it again: Sandy Elott, back in the late 60's, shot a 500 on the field round. That was 112 shots over about a two hour period, on targets from 20 ft to 80 yards. Possible score is 560. Sandy's bow was 25# at her 24" draw. Now that should tell you how effective light bows are in capable hands.

36# '62 Kodiak Special 66"- ton of fun to shoot.

36# '62 Kodiak Special 66"- ton of fun to shoot.

Got to be the old Pearson Jet bow, #20 maybe.

Just like the one I first shot in 1970.

A late 50's 39# Damon Howatt Palomar. A real pleasure to shoot and sharpens the form.

This is a picture when I first got it.

Easy on the eyes as well as the body!

50# @ 28"

1972 Bear Victor target bow 25# 66"

I have some 35# limbs for my Hoyt Buffalo. Shoots fantastic.

I have some 35# limbs for my Hoyt Buffalo. Shoots fantastic.

29@28 1965 Bearcat. Dacron only for old bows has been proven wrong. Most of my old bows have low stretch string and the others will eventually.

DDave

I have a 28# Maddog that shoots great. I shoots 1516 out of it and it is fast for a light bow.

Agree DDave, but things move slow in these days of high speed everything else. 8^). It's all I have used for over eight years now on dozens of old ones.

#38 at my 26" inch draw. Luv it, my favorite bow.

45lbs at my draw.

58 bear Alaskan but its got so many verticle stress lines I don't shoot it. Its 38lbs@28 I believe. The lightest I own that I shoot is a Pearson Golden Sovereign series Knight I use for bowfishing. It's 40@28, 50@32.

My lightest is the #50 Bamboo Viper, #1 son has one of Nemah's Kodiaks at #42..... he's getting low #30s out of it.. Plenty to grow into but never grow out of.

Now I just need a good #30-ish@28" for little brother... And something for my wife... and....

And so it begins....

30# @28 Howatt Ventura. I have a 26" draw, so somewhere in the mid 20s draw weight. I absolutely love the bow, and performance is such that, if it was legal here I'd hunt with it. (not trying to kick the light bow hornet's nest, just saying...)

40# Bear Montana

60#@28" is as low as I go which relates to 53# and up at 26". Most bows are 65#@26. Rooty

25# @ 28" limbs on wife's Samick. I shoot it way more than she does actually. Very fun shooting bow.

17.3 lbs.... no wait...

1969 Blackhawk Avenger 45#@28"

My son's 30# Black Bear, which I end up shooting more than he does. Great bow, and just what the doctor ordered when my shop shoulders are tired, but I want to shoot without reinforcing bad habits.

There is nothing wobbly about my 30lb. Bear Tamerlane, I think the bow weighs as much as the draw weight..Ha!Ha!

I have some very light aluminums matched to the bow that do not drop at 20 yards, they go straight to the target at a very fast speed, I had a new string made by Champion and it sure made a difference from what was on it. I have no problem holding my 40lb longbow at full draw for any length of time, but it really is nice to shoot the Tamerlane, my bow arm gives out before my draw arm because of the weight.

I think everyone should have a light poundage bow with matched arrows, you would be surprised at how well it shoots.

My wife's 35# GN lil creep. Great bow

28# Wing Gull...super fun to shoot, great for me to work on form, anchor, release

My wife's Pronghorn longbow, 39@28, 56 in. As for me 58 in Kanati longbow, 47@28.

Bobby B, I'm surprised no one has answered your question. Those Colt bows were made by Bob Lee (Wing) My favorite light bow is a 27# Wing Gull.

I recently sold this 1962 Swift Wing to a gal in Alaska..29# @28 and more fun to shoot than ought be legal.

38#'s....

Which is also the DW of the heaviest bow I own...and I now only own two...

27 Dryad Epics on a 23'Hoyt riser, draw 32" so about 36lbs, it's a blast to shoot with CX 150's and a form buster.

Shakespeare, 35+@28 semirecurve. Got it for my 12th b-day in 1964. It mostly gets used when g-kids want to shoot.

MP

40#

Been shooting a Black Widow long bow it is 40@29"

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here