How do you guys determine bow poundage?

[WAmuleyHunter]

Hey guys, new to the bow scene, just starting the information gathering.  Any help is much appreciated.  How do you determine what you set your bows at?? obviously its what you can pull back but how to you come up with the initial weight?? and what is the differences between diff. weights? besides the obvious 50,60,70lbs. i mean more on the effect on the arrow, on the animal etc. 
thanks

[MtnMuley]

IMO, you should set your poundage to what you group best with.  I started at 70, then went to 63 and worked up.  65 is where I set my bow, because it shot very consistant at that poundage with my arrows and broadheads.  I would imagine you will be buying a 60-70 lb bow.

[pianoman9701]

I had this discussion with my bow guy. What he said made a lot of sense. He told me to start at the bottom weight for my bow and see how it shoots at different yardages up to 40. If you're shooting a modern bow and are accurate with a 50 lb pull and can shoot all day long, why not leave it at 50? I used to pull 70 and my chiropractor told me that the imbalance between my right side and my left side was contributing to by alignment problems. I backed it off to 60 and rarely have alignment problems. I can also hold back at full draw for much longer. Both my chiropractor and my bow guy agree that less is more.

[MtnMuley]

I can also hold back at full draw for much longer.

Technically, with any modern day compound, it doesn't matter what poundage you're drawing back.  The let-off will be the same, reguardless of the draw weight.  Am I wrong?

[pianoman9701]

When I backed down to 60, my let-off was only 60% on that bow. So I was holding back 24 lbs instead of 28 lbs. That 12% made a difference. Also, getting to the let-off point takes that much more strength. When you're pulling 60 instead of 70, the initial pull will also positively affect your holding time at full draw.

[MtnMuley]

Gotcha.  Seems like most newer bows are going to 80% let-off, which sure is nice.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Then the argument comes in about bows being most efficient/accurate at there designed peak poundage!

[pianoman9701]

I love my new bow with 80%. I was so glad when they took let-off out of the regs.

[Button Nubbs]

Then the argument comes in about bows being most efficient/accurate at there designed peak poundage!

I will say that my maxxis 35 shoots noticeably better when its pegged at 70, I  notice a little accuracy loss at 65 but its much more comfortable to shoot. My next bow will have custom limbs 55-65.

[huntnnw]

what your comfortable with.... you will know if its too much

[huntnfmly]

good rule of thumb is sit on a chair with your feet off the ground and you should be able to pull back the bow with out your feet touching

[Special T]

My Cousin Runswithbeer Shoots a newer PSE set at 85lbs. He is getting 340FPS with a huge aluminum arrow!  He's kinda a big guy tho... 6'3" 280lbs...

[carpsniperg2]

good rule of thumb is sit on a chair with your feet off the ground and you should be able to pull back the bow with out your feet touching

That is a very good trick for finding out what your max should be.

My Cousin Runswithbeer Shoots a newer PSE set at 85lbs. He is getting 340FPS with a huge aluminum arrow!  He's kinda a big guy tho... 6'3" 280lbs...

I shoot a x-force at 83lbs maxed and I am 6'1 and 250. You must be STRONG LIKE BULL I get right at 335 with my bow and use 125g heads I can hit 340 with a 100 grain head. But I like all the cutting surface I can get.

[sakoshooter]

I'd have to say that finding the right draw weight on a bow is similar to finding the right caliber in a rifle. These days the "Magnum'' craze has hit folks so bad they gotta have one even if they flinch so bad they can't hit well with it.
Like stated above, find a draw weight you can shoot comfortably and accurately. An accurate shot with a 270 beats the hell out of marginal hit with a 300mag. A bow wouldn't be any different in my way of thinking.

[WSU]

Go to a bow shop and shoot some bows.  If you can pull back a 60 pound bow fairly easily I would get a 60-70.  If you can't, figure out what you can draw fairly easily.  Then, start at the lowest weight your bow can be set at and work up from there.  If you are knew, starting as light as your bow will go helps with developing good habits rather than bad.