For you serous survivalists, survival bows offer you some really unique designs, and in respectable draw weights up to 55# - there’s even a sling-bow available now that uses a frame mounted to a slingshot for shooting arrows. One of the most-featured in the reviews I’ve seen is the SAS folding longbow. For something totally different to add to your arsenal, this is it.
2 Likes
I have a bad shoulder. Injured during Army. VA refused to operate because it might cause more damage. I’ve tried pulling a bow but it’s really hard and very painful. I have never been able to seriously throw balls to my sons. Lobbing at best. Do they make bows or devices to accommodate?
You can get high-quality bows made for children and women - look at Black Rhino Bows as one source. Many of these survival types have draw weights as light as 25# at different draw-lengths. These are not toys - I once saw a broadhead arrow that pierced a 1" thick pine board with a 25# longbow for a child! Your shooting style may have an effect, too - my actual draw length is 26", but after I taught myself Howard Hill’s “swing-draw” shooting style, it was 2" shorter. Most bows are rated @ 28" - for very inch over that, draw weight increases by 2 1/2 - 3# as a rule - for every inch shorter than 28", the opposite applies. The longbow and flatbow - with wider limbs - are still the most inherently stable and accurate designs. You might find a lightweight compound bow, too.
1 Like
Looks like a Rube Goldberg design, to me.
@KillJoy Have you looked at cross bows?
Today I looked them up. Great crossbows. Expensive. But good.
Edited to add 480fps
WOW!
180 ft -lbs
1 Like
Here is a link to another discussion if you haven’t seen it.
Crossbows - bow and arrow
Yes - I was especially surprised when some with compound limbs hit the market. Most of them can mount scopes, now, and many have self-cocking devices. If you want the ultimate in speed and precision to match your guns, this is it. Three brands to look at are Barnett, Horton, and Raven. I don’t like to get tied up with mechanics - that’s why I stayed with longbows and flatbows - If I had a crossbow, I’d opt for recurved limbs, and absolutely the heaviest bolts I could buy or make.
1 Like
I prefer the traditional cross bow also I have 2 now, besides they just look sexy and deadly. 
Kurt…not to burst your bubble or put you in check…but 55lb pull on a recurve is more than most people can draw. I have a 55lb and 45lb recurve and a 75lb and 65lb compound bows and frankly…I find the recurves harder to draw and hold than the recurves at lesser weights. For any hunting, you need at least a 45lb draw and I can tell you without any question that a 45lb recurve is a chore to hold for any length of time. I’ve also purchased a few folding/collapsible bows over the years and I’m NOT impressed. Buyer beware is my only suggestion. I’m old school…meaning I like to be able to string my bow without all the crap and strings they sell now a days. I like to be able to put the string on without the damn string they recommend using. Problem is…the newer bows tend to warp and twist pretty easily when you DON’T use the string and I wiped out a couple limbs by NOT using the stupid string they recommend. my point is, any collapsible bow needs to be versatile enough to allow you to string it anywhere without warping or bending rendering it useless. Sadly, most bows I’ve seen don’t handle old school stringing well…at least from my experience.
I went to longbows and flatbows from recurves because of their stability and deep-cored limbs, and made my own aluminum arrows and handlaid strings, gradually increasing my draw-weights by 3-5#, and alternating them every couple of days.