Wider thinner limb vs. narrower thicker limb

[longrifle]

Will a wider thinner limb pull and feel smoother than a narrower deeper core limb if all things are equal? The reason I ask is I built a 50's style recurve with a narrow limb,and my Bear grizzly feels much smoother and they are the same weight???

[Crooked Stic]

My guess is your tapers are probably different in the two designs. The narrow limb will have to have a bit deeper stack so there may be a bit of different feel there.

[LittleBen]

limb profile from the side unstrung, strung and at full draw is the only thing which will determine the smoothness of draw. That will depend only on the side profile when unstrung and the taper in the stack.

My guess is those two bows have different side profiles which contribute to the difference in feel.

[onemississipp]

To answer the question. All things being equal, no.

You can't compare the two bows unless they are equal, as littleben said.

Then if so the thinner limbs will be faster.

[LittleBen]

dustin when you asy thinner, you mean wide and thin?

I would ahve said that a narrow and deep limb would be faster. This is definately the case with wood bows.

Anyway, honestly I think the differences are probably so small for two bows of otherwise identical length, shape, etc. that it's really just academic. I'd be suprised if there was a difference of 5fps between a 2" wide limb and a 1 1/4" wide limb.

[onemississipp]

Yes, I should have said, narrower deeper core limb.

Thanks for catching that.

I would agree, it would only matter to flight bow shooters, looking for the extra FPS or distance.

[LittleBen]

yeah my thoughts exactly ...

I get the feeling that wider limbs are often used to control limb twist in agressive recurves.