QUESTION: Archery Takedown Bow

Apr 2 2013 | Yosemitest

[Yosemitest]

What takedown Bow would you recommend for someone who is right handed, but due to shoulder rotator-cup damage, doesn't have full strength in his right arm? He's interested in backpacking and wants enough pull strength to kill medium sized game, up to deer.
Budget is a concern, but I don't want to buy him a piece of junk or a toy.

[Yosemitest]

I've read that the Spectre Compact Take-down Survival Bow and Arrow Set is a cheap toy, and very poor preformance.

[freedumb2003]

>>What takedown Bow would you recommend for someone who is right handed<<

I don’t think it matters if the target is left- or right-handed...

[varmintman]

There is no traditional (non compound) bow with which somebody with shoulder problems could kill deer. A compound bow set at 45 - 55 lbs could kill deer if your friend could pull it.

[mountainlion]

A mechanical bow pulls hard at first then lets off to a lighter pull while you aim it. This is done with cams and wheels. Some are narrow enough that you might change your mind about the take down idea.

[Yosemitest]

My focus was more on his weak shoulder joint, due to a military accident.
He's got a little better than 50% strength due to that injury.

[beebuster2000]

you looked into crossbows?

[freedumb2003]

>>My focus was more on his weak shoulder joint, due to a military accident.
He’s got a little better than 50% strength due to that injury.<<

Not very sporting of you. Give him a head start at least!

[freedumb2003]

I am SOOO sorry — but you walked into that! ;)

I think it is great you are helping a Soldier out and you have certainly come to the right forum.

My brother is a bow enthusiast and I’ll ping him in RL and try to get back to you...

[moose07]

Could a Crossbow come into this conversation?

[Yosemitest]

Thanks. I haven't used a bow since I was a teenager, and I think he could handle 45-55 lbs, but I don't know where that is in range of today's technology and limits.
Any particular brand you recommend, or it does it matter?

[Yosemitest]

Yeah, I did.
Thanks.

[ottbmare]

I am a lady with some shoulder tendon damage, but I can use a compound bow. A lot of them either have a gas cartridge to rewind themselves or have a mechanical rewinding arrangement such that you can stand on them and easily pull them up. And you can certainly kill a big buck.

[Dusty Road]

Ping for when I get back from the ranch and I’ll help you out.

[Yosemitest]

From what I’ve seen about crossbows, it would defeat his backpacking desires, and he’s concerned about weight, and unnecessary features he wouldn’t really use.

[moose07]

Okay ,fair enough.
But do have a look before totally discounting them, my crossbow and re-curve weigh almost the same.

[Yosemitest]

What bow would you recommend?
I know nothing about brands, types, (although I do understand the difference between compound and recurve) and I know you can get into the silly prices real fast.
I think he likes recurve, but I'm not sure, and if he can't kill with it, with his weak should, he'd probably be disappointed in the long run.

[Dusty Road]

Native americans average bow weight was in the 35 to 40 pound range.

[Bryanw92]

>>What takedown Bow would you recommend for someone who is right handed, but due to shoulder rotator-cup damage, doesn’t have full strength in his right arm?

I would think that a bow would be the worst thing in the world for a person with these limitations. The action of pulling back the string would require extensive flexing of the rotator cuff and then keep it under tension as you hold and aim.

[Yosemitest]

But wouldn’t a crossbow take up too much room in his pack over a one week hiking or camping excursion?

[Oberon]

If you have shoulder problems, I would recommend a crossbow. They’re equally quiet, equally lethal to game, and much more manageable.