Over-draw on a compond bow

Gigmaster · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject: Over-draw on a compond bow

Is there any real advantage to putting an overdraw, on a 65 Lb. compound bow?

I have been thinking of putting an overdraw on one of my PSE's for small game. Rabbits are pretty quick, and I have had them jump arrows sometimes when they hear the feather fletching buzzing on the arrow's approach. I know plastic vanes are quieter in flight, but I used them before, and they are not accurate enough for me. Certainly not for small game. I figure a higher arrow speed would give the little critters less time to take off before impact. Squirrels are really good at ducking behind tree limbs at the last millisecond before impact, as well.

Does an overdraw increase arrow speed enough to really make a difference? I don't think 10-20 fps would matter that much. 30 fps might make a difference.

Semper Fi!

KYGunner · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: Over-draw on a compond bow

Bigger targets would help too! I wouldn't have even thought to hunt squirrel or rabbits with a bow. Ever tried turkey hunting with a bow? I am going to this year.

Gigmaster · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:53 am Post subject: Re: Over-draw on a compond bow

I already have my limit for turkeys this year, all but one with a bow (the other one was with my blowgun).

I have just about gravitated to primitive hunting exclusively. I hardly ever shoot my muzzle-loaders anymore except at targets.

I build primitive bows and atlatls. I am currently learning to hunt with a boomerang and bola.

It keeps me busy.

glockman55 · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:29 am Post subject: Re: Over-draw on a compond bow

Gigmaster wrote:

Is there any real advantage to putting an overdraw, on a 65 Lb. compound bow?

I have been thinking of putting an overdraw on one of my PSE's for small game. Rabbits are pretty quick, and I have had them jump arrows sometimes when they hear the feather fletching buzzing on the arrow's approach. I know plastic vanes are quieter in flight, but I used them before, and they are not accurate enough for me. Certainly not for small game. I figure a higher arrow speed would give the little critters less time to take off before impact. Squirrels are really good at ducking behind tree limbs at the last millisecond before impact, as well.

Does an overdraw increase arrow speed enough to really make a difference? I don't think 10-20 fps would matter that much. 30 fps might make a difference.

With the new light weight carbon arrows out today it is not necessary for over draws any more. yes they will increase your fps, so will a full length arrow at the same safe wt, that you should be shooting out of your bow..
A 70# bow with a 30" draw length should not shoot any arrow less than 350 gr. total wt. With the old aluminum arrows it was hard, if not impossible to get to that minimum wt. and stay with in your proper spine for your set up. So you could cut off 4" off that arrow to lighten it up and use an over draw to increase speeds. There's something about having a sharp broadhead behind my hand at full draw that makes me nervous. I shoot a 70# bow at 28.5" draw. I have some Gold Tip ultra-lite pro 22 seres carbon arrows that only weigh 355 gr. total wt. and out of my bow they fly 294 FPS. which in today's bows isn't that fast. As for feathers vs Vanes, I used to shoot Feathers only because I couldn't shoot Vanes because of the rest I was using at the time.( two prong TM hunter style) I could never get complete clearance with that rest. So I switched to a Drop Away rest and took care of that problem. It's just a matter of what you want and how far you want to change or try new things. Hope I helped you a little.. Take Care
Semper Fi!

Gigmaster · Last edited by Gigmaster on Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:46 pm; edited 1 time in total

Right now, for small game, I am using my PSE OneCam, 65lbs. @ 27". I am using Gold Tip Hunter Expedition 5575s, with 125 gr. Judo Points, bringing the total arrow weight to 385 gr. Last time I choronographed it, I was getting 300 fps with this combination. I shoot 2" groups at 50 yards with this set-up. Bludgeon Points are aprox 20 fps slower. I don't miss often, but once in a while, a rabbit or squirrel will jump the arrow at 40+ yards. It happens maybe 5% of the time. I think if I could get 340 fps, that would eliminate the problem.

Of course, the easy option is just to take closer shots, but I am addicted to long-range archery. I love target-shooting at 100+ yards.

I don't have any problems with Big-Game. I shoot a PSE Mach 6, 85 lbs. @ 27" with Gold Tip HUnter Expedition shafts and 125 grain Muzzy Broadheads. I get 330 fps with tack-driving accuracy with this combo, and no deer or antelope has ever jumped my arrow, even at 70+ yards.

glockman55 · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Over-draw on a compond bow

340 fps is stretching it a bit. I shoot a 70# Mathews 28" arrow, 350gr total arrow wt. and can only get 294 fps. The IBO on my Legacy is 308 fps. that was figured with a 30" DL and 350gr. arrow at 70#.

Gigmaster · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: Over-draw on a compond bow

I made a typo. I meant to say that I get 303 fps with my Mach 6.

glockman55 · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: Re: Over-draw on a compond bow

Gigmaster wrote:

I made a typo. I meant to say that I get 303 fps with my Mach 6.

Ya had me going for a minute. wtf

Flint54 · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject: Re: Over-draw on a compond bow

I used to have a PSE 70# that I built an overdraw for. Having a 31" draw length really cramps the selection of arrows so with the overdraw I went to 26" target and 26.5" hunting shafts. I was able to use stiffer/heavier arrows that gave me absolutely fantastic speed, accuracy and penetration. If I had used normal 31" shafts they would have had to been very heavy and that kept the speed way down so I lost a lot of penetration. The short shafts went @ 295 fps and the long shafts clocked at 245 fps. That extra speed and stiffness greatly increased my accuracy and gave me complete penetrations on several whitetails. Prior I seldom got full penetration and that made a few very difficult to track. With a full thru penetration from a stand a broadhead gives you an interstate highway to follow instead of a game trail. Cool

glockman55 · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: Over-draw on a compond bow

Flint54 wrote:

I used to have a PSE 70# that I built an overdraw for. Having a 31" draw length really cramps the selection of arrows so with the overdraw I went to 26" target and 26.5" hunting shafts. I was able to use stiffer/heavier arrows that gave me absolutely fantastic speed, accuracy and penetration. If I had used normal 31" shafts they would have had to been very heavy and that kept the speed way down so I lost a lot of penetration. The short shafts went @ 295 fps and the long shafts clocked at 245 fps. That extra speed and stiffness greatly increased my accuracy and gave me complete penetrations on several whitetails. Prior I seldom got full penetration and that made a few very difficult to track. With a full thru penetration from a stand a broadhead gives you an interstate highway to follow instead of a game trail. Cool

A good example for the need of an overdraw. The new bows out today, and arrows are so fast there is not a need for them. When you can get speeds of 300 FPS with 60# bows with full length arrows has changed the way we look at Archery today.

Crackshot · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Over-draw on a compond bow

In my experience over draws make the use of a shooting release a MUST, and increase the bows sensitivity, makeing it more difficult to shoot accurately.
Not worth the extra investment.

TAMERIDER · Rookie Member Joined: Apr 23, 2008 Posts: 5

Gigmaster wrote:

Right now, for small game, I am using my PSE OneCam, 65lbs. @ 27". I am using Gold Tip Hunter Expedition 5575s, with 125 gr. Judo Points, bringing the total arrow weight to 385 gr. Last time I choronographed it, I was getting 300 fps with this combination. I shoot 2" groups at 50 yards with this set-up. Bludgeon Points are aprox 20 fps slower. I don't miss often, but once in a while, a rabbit or squirrel will jump the arrow at 40+ yards. It happens maybe 5% of the time. I think if I could get 340 fps, that would eliminate the problem.

Of course, the easy option is just to take closer shots, but I am addicted to long-range archery. I love target-shooting at 100+ yards.

I don't have any problems with Big-Game. I shoot a PSE Mach 6, 85 lbs. @ 27" with Gold Tip HUnter Expedition shafts and 125 grain Muzzy Broadheads. I get 330 fps with tack-driving accuracy with this combo, and no deer or antelope has ever jumped my arrow, even at 70+ yards.

Im amazed! I think you need a new Chrony and If your shootong 2" groups at 50 yards you should be on the pro tour.

glockman55 · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:11 am Post subject: Re: Over-draw on a compond bow

TAMERIDER wrote:

Gigmaster wrote:

Right now, for small game, I am using my PSE OneCam, 65lbs. @ 27". I am using Gold Tip Hunter Expedition 5575s, with 125 gr. Judo Points, bringing the total arrow weight to 385 gr. Last time I choronographed it, I was getting 300 fps with this combination. I shoot 2" groups at 50 yards with this set-up. Bludgeon Points are aprox 20 fps slower. I don't miss often, but once in a while, a rabbit or squirrel will jump the arrow at 40+ yards. It happens maybe 5% of the time. I think if I could get 340 fps, that would eliminate the problem.

Of course, the easy option is just to take closer shots, but I am addicted to long-range archery. I love target-shooting at 100+ yards.

I don't have any problems with Big-Game. I shoot a PSE Mach 6, 85 lbs. @ 27" with Gold Tip HUnter Expedition shafts and 125 grain Muzzy Broadheads. I get 330 fps with tack-driving accuracy with this combo, and no deer or antelope has ever jumped my arrow, even at 70+ yards.

Im amazed! I think you need a new Chrony and If your shootong 2" groups at 50 yards you should be on the pro tour.

Maybe I should check my Chronograph out, I only get 294 fps out of my Mathews Legacy at #70, 28" arrow weighing in at 350 gn. Shocked

TAMERIDER · Rookie Member Joined: Apr 23, 2008 Posts: 5

My bow is really slow! Im shootin a 62Lb Bowtech Guardian @ 28" with a very heavy 450 grain arrow (almost 7.5gpp) and its migrating down range at about 270fps. But it shoots well! Cant hold very many 2"ers at 50 though.

glockman55 · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:59 am Post subject: Re: Over-draw on a compond bow

TAMERIDER wrote:

My bow is really slow! Im shootin a 62Lb Bowtech Guardian @ 28" with a very heavy 450 grain arrow (almost 7.5gpp) and its migrating down range at about 270fps. But it shoots well! Cant hold very many 2"ers at 50 though.

Keep practicing, You'll get there..LOL
I shoot out to 50 yards during practice but my groups at that range are acceptable lets just leave it at that.