How far can a 55lb compound bow shoot?
around 500 feet
Is it hard to use a compound bow? How did you learn to use one?
Not hard, once you’ve learnt it a bit and gained some confidence and strength in the right places (although there exist very adjustable bows that would let you start with very low poundages). There is a couple of tricky things that usually get beginners (especially ones with equipment they bought used and/or without knowing what they really need):Arrow rests could be providing more or less support for your arrow, they are designed for different situations. Hunting setups would have a rest that does a lot to keep the arrow in place: you are supposed to be able to move around in a forest and be ready to shoot, right? Target competition bows’ rest wants to have as little contact with the arrow as possible while still being a rest, those might be pretty tricky for a beginner: if your draw is shaky and bow hand unsteady, the arrow will dance around and might fall off the rest while you draw back. It might be best to first start with a more secure rest, even if it affects the flight of an arrow more.Release aids could be hard to wield, depending on the type. In any case, premature firing (during draw) is not fun: you might hit yourself in the face with your draw hand, arrow might shoot somewhere other than the target and most importantly you might lose a bit of confidence in your equipment - surprises aren’t welcome. Best to start with a release aid that isn’t super sensitive, easy to understand, like a thumb trigger release.But no, it isn’t hard. Best to start with a bow that has room for adjustment (draw weight, draw length) and have someone with experience to eliminate bad habits before they develop. Don’t be afraid to ask and you’ll be fine.
If I buy a bow, can I learn archery on my own?
My answer is bit late, but still maybe will be of use for someone.I live in a pretty small city of 200k citizens and any kind of bow shooting is pretty exotic here. There are no shops or even shooting ranges here and basically 0 people to advise.Anyway in this case, if you can afford traveling to another city to consult or learn basics-do it.Before buying a bow you should read tons of articles on how to choose bow. A perfect beginner bow is a complete out-of-the-box recurve. Do not buy riser and limbs separately for now. Find out your height and draw length and pick up a bow(there are a lot of tables in the internet to calculate what length should be your bow). Also calculate your actual draw weight(since most bows indicate draw weight with 28 inch draw length by default. If you draw length is 31 inches, the draw weight will be higher as well). Make sure you can handle the weight, don’t buy too heavy bow.Lean how to string your bow. I would recommend buying bowstringer-it makes the procedure safer and easier.Now when you have your bow ready to shoot.Now you need to learn about stance, arrow nocking, pulling, releasing and tons of other details. There are multiple step-by-step guides on the web.Look for Easton arrow charts and see how stiff and heavy your arrows should be. This is important step since too light arrows may break your bow.Buy simple plunger and sight. Learn how to tune them, by shooting from different distances.Basically that’s it. If you can handle these basics steps of learning, you will be able to develop your skills further.Still i recommend visiting professional to see if your self-learned skills are good and fix if there are some inconsistencies.
(Archery) Target practicing?
When you say an indoor range, are you talking about a DART system range. The video screen shoot where you shoot at wild game and such that are walking around. If so, you may be trying to lead the target that appear on-screen to be walking or running, but are actually staying in one spot on the screen. I have had this happen to me at times shooting these systems. If it is just a normal range, I agree with the tunnel vision and pressure suggestions given by the others. I tend to shoot better under pressure, but that's just me, we are all different. You seem to have the technique down, so I would discount that. You could try shooting out of a large blind outside that creates a tunnelling effect to test that theory out. I don't really think this is the case, because when you focus on the shot, all you really see anyway is the sights and the target. You naturally tunnel out when you focus and concentrate. I would go with pressure, but don't let it bother you, because you have to realize that people that may make fun of how you shoot, really can't shoot very good themselves. Another suggestion, and this has caused me some problems shooting indoors, is that you may have the good sense to realize the potential of an errant arrow going through something and causing damage you have to pay for. Don't worry, it passes, LOL.
Why do people use guns for shooting at the range? Why not use BB guns or air-soft guns?
Decades ago I read a phrase that has stuck with me: The author was telling stories about gun malfunctions. He said, “If you are doing serious social-work, carry two.”When I was at my very best - 40 years ago - I did hip-shoot cloths pins at fifty-feet. After a two day break, I would have to “re-calibrate” my hand/eye - my muscle tone would have changed and my point-of-impact would have changed.I read that people who are serious about building and maintaining their skills, need to shoot 10,000 rounds a year. Some of that can be dry-firing (practicing without ammunition), some of it can be practicing with wax bullets, some of it can be done with reduced loads, but some of it has to be done with the real thing.The ubiquitous .22 is called “small bore” because it was envisioned as a cheap way of training soldiers whose “real” guns were .45 to .60 caliber.There is still a place for “small bore” weapons in the form of Airsoft, pellet and BB guns, but that practice does not test your skills with real weapons and real ammunition.Nor does it test the weapon and the ammunition - both of which have been known to fail.The failures you remember, are the ones that were most inconvenient… as when someone was shooting at you.Actually, I became a gunsmith because a burglar shot at me. He got off one round and his gun malfunctioned. I thought I would become a gunsmith so that I’d know that my guns wouldn’t malfunction. I came away from the school knowing that guns change-zero with the weather, get dirty, wear out, jam, mis-fire, hang-fire, break and just generally misbehave.Live experience is the only way to learn how to safely cope with those problems.Sometimes it is the target shooting that will tell you that you are allergic to a particular food - your heart-beat elevates and your accuracy goes to pieces.No. There is no substitute for live fire.
Can i shoot a bow in my backyard...?
As long as you're in a safe place to shoot (nothing behind your target that can be damaged, arrow never leaves your property, etc). You should be fine unless there is a local ordinance where you are that prohibits it. A quick call to your town hall, mayors office, or police station will be able to tell you for sure.