I might watch it some time - but I reiterate, I've tried shooting things close up and at a distance. Arrows, particularly the heavy shafts shot from longbows, don't lose much speed over distance. Their penetration depends on momentum and that is hardly diminished by distance.
Why does it seem Americans shoot bows with heavier draw weights?
- Thread starter Handmade Matt
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I might watch it some time - but I reiterate, I've tried shooting things close up and at a distance. Arrows, particularly the heavy shafts shot from longbows, don't lose much speed over distance. Their penetration depends on momentum and that is hardly diminished by distance.
If a castle seige was planned with a trebuchet that might toss 600+lb rocks, etc, over and over, I read that the treb was built/placed 300 yards from the castle.
The reasoning was that any closer and volleys of arrows from the castle would and could kill the treb building crew.
The reasoning was that any closer and volleys of arrows from the castle would and could kill the treb building crew.
I don't need longer arrows thanks. However, are people saying they have never overdrawn a bow or anybody that they know has done, especially drawing a light one light one?
The overdrawing thing is a problem with technique. Some beginners will pull a bow as far as they can, no idea, or simply forgetting, that they are meant to anchor. If the bow is light, they run out of arrow before they run out of muscle. I wouldn't consider it a problem with light bows, more a case of ignorance overcoming prudence. With more clue about technique, the light bow becomes an asset for learning form.
Run out of arrow before you run out of muscle? Quite possible. But you should never run out of arrow before you you run out of your personal draw length which is predetermined (limited) by your arm span divided by 2.5. Or alternatively by using the draw length measuring bows at most good hunting shops here (I would think your archery clubs would also have them?) www.learn-archery.com/proper-draw-length.html
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Hey guys. I have been having loads of fun with this bow and am totally happy with the 24 lbs draw weight for now. Infact I'm shooting so much I am still feeling it in my shoulder muscles! It's enabling me to practice hard and improve rapidly. If it were a stronger bow this would be harder I'm sure.
I can can now group my shots into a bullseye from five meters 90% of the time which is quite amazing to me considering I've only been shooting since Thursday. (I have had many "try" goes over the years so am no stranger but hardly some proper practice.)
I've actually destroyed one arrow already shooting the nock off it like Robin Hood! Oops!
I'm shooting instinctively, It's so satisfying to stare at a spot and put an arrow on it, pow! It's almost like telekinesis! It's totally about the way I look at the spot, the way I use my brain. It's just like throwing a rock, it's ancient and feels really good.
I made a target by rolling up 30cm strips of carpet into a big cylinder and the squeezing it tight with some ratchet straps. It works well although it's a bit small and hardly very attractive, fine for now though.
I can can now group my shots into a bullseye from five meters 90% of the time which is quite amazing to me considering I've only been shooting since Thursday. (I have had many "try" goes over the years so am no stranger but hardly some proper practice.)
I've actually destroyed one arrow already shooting the nock off it like Robin Hood! Oops!
I'm shooting instinctively, It's so satisfying to stare at a spot and put an arrow on it, pow! It's almost like telekinesis! It's totally about the way I look at the spot, the way I use my brain. It's just like throwing a rock, it's ancient and feels really good.
I made a target by rolling up 30cm strips of carpet into a big cylinder and the squeezing it tight with some ratchet straps. It works well although it's a bit small and hardly very attractive, fine for now though.
To answer the original question: It is because of hunting.
Archery is one of the fastest growing sports in the USA. While competition archery is very popular, the #1 major driving force for archery in the USA is bow hunting (and this also includes bow fishing). Some of the competitions even involve simulated hunts.
While each of the 50 states has their own hunting laws, every state has an archery season. Most states also now allow hunting with crossbows, but the rules on that and the seasons allowed vary wildly.
General rule of thumb is that in almost every US state the minimum draw weight on a bow for legal hunting is 40 pounds. Because of this, the market for bows of a draw weight of less than 40 pounds is somewhat limited to children's training bows and some competition bows.
For crossbows the minimum legal draw weight for hunting is generally 120 pounds. This is why the vast majority of crossbows made in the USA are at least 120 pounds in draw weight.
The huge market for bow hunting gear in the USA is why you can buy things like a compound crossbow that does over 400 feet per second and carbon fiber compound bows.
There are many that prefer to hunt with more traditional gear. However, oddly enough, some states have laws banning primitive, stone or glass arrowheads even though they will go through a deer just about as well as a steel tip. Steel generally only has an advantage on penetration when it hits bone.
Archery is one of the fastest growing sports in the USA. While competition archery is very popular, the #1 major driving force for archery in the USA is bow hunting (and this also includes bow fishing). Some of the competitions even involve simulated hunts.
While each of the 50 states has their own hunting laws, every state has an archery season. Most states also now allow hunting with crossbows, but the rules on that and the seasons allowed vary wildly.
General rule of thumb is that in almost every US state the minimum draw weight on a bow for legal hunting is 40 pounds. Because of this, the market for bows of a draw weight of less than 40 pounds is somewhat limited to children's training bows and some competition bows.
For crossbows the minimum legal draw weight for hunting is generally 120 pounds. This is why the vast majority of crossbows made in the USA are at least 120 pounds in draw weight.
The huge market for bow hunting gear in the USA is why you can buy things like a compound crossbow that does over 400 feet per second and carbon fiber compound bows.
There are many that prefer to hunt with more traditional gear. However, oddly enough, some states have laws banning primitive, stone or glass arrowheads even though they will go through a deer just about as well as a steel tip. Steel generally only has an advantage on penetration when it hits bone.
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Thank you, MROSTOV. I do believe that the conditions and regulations are very much the same as up here at 53N in the mountains.
My next door neighbor hunts with a bow, both here and in Africa. He is very successful.
My next door neighbor hunts with a bow, both here and in Africa. He is very successful.
I find these sort of questions frustrating because the simple answer is that Americans do not use heavier bows. Both sides of the pond use bows of all sorts of weight. I expect there are Americans drawing the 120 lb plus bows that are being drawn by the war bow people in the UK. Kiddies equally are shooting 10lbers in each country etc ad nauseum.
To answer the original post; we shoot light draw weight bows in the UK because we don't hunt,don't often use compound bows and heavier weight bows are simply not an advantage when learning to target shoot.
First part is spot on ,, bow hunting in the UK is prohibited by law.
Second part,,, not so much !.. There are a lot of compound archers in the UK & growing. Myself included ,,, I shoot an Oneida Kestrel and a Mybo Origin.
I shoot trad recurve too and target recurve as well.
The draw weight comment is spot on ,, start small ,, work up to what you are comfortable with.
You dont need a 70lb draw bow to hit the gold on a target,,,, you need practice.
Give me a 24lb recurve and an 30 mins to get acquainted and ill put two of 6 in the gold at 40 yards.
I see so many new people who have gone out and bought there first bow without any advice and there horribly over bowed.
This is an injury in the making.
A Topic for another forum
On the discussion of the penetration of a Long bow arrow ,,, on Youtube there is a video of a bag of sand with boards secured in it and an soldier shooting with three different calibre of small arms,,,the highest calibre made it to the last board in the sand.
The arrow went further because of its penetration value. Bullets crumple on impact ( severity depending on what its hitting ) Arrows not so much .
Found the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOM4IQjQtM4
First part is spot on ,, bow hunting in the UK is prohibited by law.
Second part,,, not so much !.. There are a lot of compound archers in the UK & growing. Myself included ,,, I shoot an Oneida Kestrel and a Mybo Origin.
I shoot trad recurve too and target recurve as well.
The draw weight comment is spot on ,, start small ,, work up to what you are comfortable with.
You dont need a 70lb draw bow to hit the gold on a target,,,, you need practice.
Give me a 24lb recurve and an 30 mins to get acquainted and ill put two of 6 in the gold at 40 yards.
I see so many new people who have gone out and bought there first bow without any advice and there horribly over bowed.
This is an injury in the making.
A Topic for another forum
On the discussion of the penetration of a Long bow arrow ,,, on Youtube there is a video of a bag of sand with boards secured in it and an soldier shooting with three different calibre of small arms,,,the highest calibre made it to the last board in the sand.
The arrow went further because of its penetration value. Bullets crumple on impact ( severity depending on what its hitting ) Arrows not so much .
Found the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOM4IQjQtM4