The proper answer is which one can you shoot accurately. If the answer is both then the 50-lb recurve will give greater distance and better penetration of the arrows shot with it. Whatever you are confortable with. On the other hand, both can be great for small game, with the adequate arrows heads.
Most 40 lb recurve bow shooters are going to keep shots inside 20 yards if they are using the bow to hunt. 40 lbs is in most starts the lower legal end for hunting game. For target shooting only you can probably stretch a 40 lb recurve out to 60 or more yards.
How far is a recurve bow good for?
While the effective range for recurve archers is typically between 20 to 35 yards, compound archers can typically shoot between 30 to 40 yards, and some competitive compound archers can shoot for up to 60 yards.
What is the highest draw weight of a recurve bow?
The heaviest longbow draw weight is 90 kg (200 lb), achieved by Mark Stretton (UK) at the shooting grounds of The Bath Archers, Somerset, UK, on 15 August 2004.15 ago 2004
How hard is it to pull back a 40 pound recurve bow?
The draw weight is basically, “How strong do I need to be in order to pull this thing back?” For a recurve bow, it's measured by pulling back to 28 inches. So for a 40 lb bow, it means that it takes 40 lbs of force to pull back the string 28 inches for a recurve.
What poundage bow is lethal?
As a rule of thumb, 40 pounds of kinetic energy efficiently kills whitetails, and 50 pounds or greater is required for larger game such as elk, moose or bear. When I bought my first Mathews bow, it had a 70-pound draw weight. I had no trouble pulling the bowstring back with the aid of a release — standing in the store.12 may 2014
What is a good poundage for a recurve bow?
Archer's Weight Suggested Draw Weight
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Small-Frame Male (120-150 lbs) 30-45 lbs
Medium-Frame Male (150-180 lbs) 40-55 lbs
Large-Frame Females (160+ lbs) 30-45 lbs
Large Frame Men (180+ lbs) 45-60 lbs
How far can a 55lb bow shoot?
The maximum range of a bow is about 200 to 500 yards, but the effective, accurate range for target shooting is 150 yards to 350 yards depending on the bow type and draw weight. The maximum hunting range for most bow types is 30 to 60 yards for an experienced hunter and 15 to 25 yards for beginners.
Is a 55lb bow good?
Today's bows are extremely efficient and 40lb compound bows are more than capable of harvesting many big game animals. For whitetail deer hunting anything above 40 lbs is fine. For larger game such as elk or moose a good recommendation is at least 60-65 lbs of draw weight.