So update. Ive fitted antler nocks that look really cool ( antler tines ) the bow is deflexed so the tines help reduce how the deflex looks. Pictures to come.
Ive put the bow on bathroom scales and at full draw ( 32 inches ) its 45-50lbs nock to nock i think the bow was 65 inches its the maximum draw weight i can physically manage and still achieve reasonable "long range accuracy".
The bow is stiff in the handle because of a number of knots which i don't want to stress too much. I dont know what hand shock is but i guess its vibrations and jarring of the bow in the hand when firing?.. well i dont have any of that it seems fine, the bow probably isnt the quickest a good bowyer could get out of the stave, but then again, this is my first bow.
it is lighter than i would like, but this is my first bow. The bow is naturally curved in the same direction the bow bends ( deflex? ) Which has resulted in the bow taking a lot of set, but it seems to have settled and is reasonable.
Im currently making a set of arrows from natural materials around my permission.
I used a quickly made test arrow from the top of the hill in the paddock on a windy day at almost full draw and i found the bow will throw a arrow ( from the top of a hill on a windy day ) down hill about 150 ish yards, still with plenty of power to penetrate my target ( a large box that a freezer came in ). I couldnt believe i actually managed to hit it, considering i just guessed the "holdover". Im thinking this was probably beginners luck as the other times i tried i was within a few feet of it.