Sorry Len. but it is true.
I shot between 500 to 700 arrows a week.
I Shot for bear archery (clinic specialist) for almost 5 years and bear had to make me a special
bow. It would go to 87 pounds. Then I found that PSE made a composite limb that with a few mods
(Ball bearing axles) and special cams would exceed 100 pounds draw weight.
I had planed to go to Africa and they required 100 pounds and 1000 grain arrows for the big 5.
There were several in our group that hunted with 85+ pounds and one that had a re curve built
by Viking archery that exceeded 80 pounds @ 30" draw.
One year I won the Texas state broad head championship using a PSE Vector set At 92 pounds
and had to have a match official and the maker of the targets (Stanly Hip) accompany me because
I was shooting through every target.
I know that is more than nessary. but it did have its advantages.
This was before graphite arrows and high speed bows were available and weight was the only
way to get speed. Light weight arrows did not have enough spine for the longer draw lengths
32+" and the low percentage let off of the bows of that time (20 to 30% was max).
At 70 years of age I can still comfortably hunt with 86 pounds of draw weight Even with a bad shoulder.
Until the TAC 15 came out there wasn't a cross bow that could match the energy and distance
of the heavy compound bow, plus only the handicap could use cross bows for game.
It's kind of like when you used to hear of someone making a 1000+ yard shot on game no
one believed it now it has become commonplace because of technology and quality of
components.
I normally don't boast about my accomplishments but felt that you needed to know that it is/was
not only possible but lots of archers shot heavy bow weights. and many that I knew shot as much or
more than I did. In fact there was a long bow that was made to test the archers strength that
was brought to many champion ship shoots to wager on. A shaft was knocked and drawn to see how
far you could draw it and the longest draw won half the pot(The other half was donated to charity)
I came close but never won.
Come see me and I will be happy to show you my equipment and let you try your hand with it.
J E CUSTOM