Author Topic: Optimal limb length  (Read 1262 times)

Offline Appalachian Hillbilly

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Optimal limb length
« on: December 08, 2021, 02:15:42 PM »
Is there an optimal limb length for good cast and accuracy? Too long and you noodle, to short and stacks?

Limb length to draw length ratio?

Maybe another ratio for speed optimization as well?

Offline Mad Max

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Re: Optimal limb length
« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2021, 03:35:51 PM »
R/D or Recurve?
Glass?
Recurve 62" 18-1/2" nock to where the fade ends
66" down to 17"or so
I would rather fail at something above my means, than to succeed at something  beneath my means  
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Offline Appalachian Hillbilly

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Re: Optimal limb length
« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2021, 04:59:55 PM »
R/D glass lam. Thanks! A target bow is on my mind for 3D circuit this year

Shredd

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Re: Optimal limb length
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2021, 08:13:08 PM »
   I am a firm believer in Fast and Flat is where it's At...   :archer2:

 A few things run hand in hand with a fast bow...  I have heard the more string tension at brace the less hand shock... I know for a fact that good bending fast limbs will give you a nice draw cycle... You can get better feeling draw cycle with limbs bending more towards their base but you will lack in performance...
  What I see out there is that 64" seems to be the magic number...  If you want longer go with a longer riser and shorter limbs...  I draw 29" and 64" works for me...  It is 40 lb. bow and gains only .15 lb. at 30"...  So it probably starts stacking at 32"...  Its all relative and some bows may be drastically different but I did some experimenting and found that a 40 to 50 lb. bow gets the feeling of stacking when it gains .25 to .30 lb. per inch...

   My R/D bows are a hair over 64" and take a 62" string... My riser is 19"...  I get an average of 184 FPS @ 10 gpp out of my bows...  I have gotten as high as 187...  I won a 3D event this year against some good shooters...  Got a score of 280 out of 30 targets... So the bow shoots well... 

   I would make the riser as heavy as you can...  Maybe use a 1/2" fiberglass I beam and/or some heavy a$$ wood...  Depending on you design, make your limbs bend consistent out to about 7 to 8" from the nocks, where they start to stiffen up and the last 3 or so inches should be dead static... My bow is a classic 'D' shape with maybe a hair reflex near the tips...

Fast = Flat = Accurate...   :thumbsup:   Especially at unknown distances...  I suck at judging distance...  I know that bow and it's speed buys me points...

  Hope this helps...
« Last Edit: December 08, 2021, 08:25:28 PM by Shredd »

Offline Appalachian Hillbilly

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Re: Optimal limb length
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2021, 09:41:05 AM »
What weight bows are you getting 180 from?
I have about 8 longbows from 40-50 pounds.
My 50 pound is 64 inch, slight reflex and is in the low 180's. I have a 62" R/D 41# with bamboo cores that is pretty fast. In the 170's.

My 64" D bow is one of my most accurate, but one of the slowest even at 46#.

Shredd

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Re: Optimal limb length
« Reply #5 on: December 09, 2021, 11:01:23 AM »
  I get 180 and over from about 37# to 47#...  I don't really make anything over 47#...
 I made a 60",  28#, 3 pc. R/D bow with a tad more reflex in it and that shoots 179...

Offline Appalachian Hillbilly

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Re: Optimal limb length
« Reply #6 on: December 09, 2021, 11:02:54 AM »
That's fast! What do you use for cores?

Shredd

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Re: Optimal limb length
« Reply #7 on: December 09, 2021, 11:52:45 AM »
   Hard maple... 

I spent all my free time for about three years making, testing, DFC's, notes, mapping, comparing, inventing, more testing, experimenting, more notes...  Very Frustrating...  Wanted to quit about a hundred times...  It's heart breaking when you think you got it figured out, you think you got the right recipe, you know this bow is gonna shoot 180, design and work three days of your life and the bow shoots 172...   :banghead:  Throw it in a pile and start all over again...  I kept thinking, other people are making bows shooting 180 plus, why can't I...  I would really like to hit 200 fps...  Right now I am at about 191 to 192...  If it wasn't for chasing speed I would probably get bored making bows...

Offline Slimpikins

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Re: Optimal limb length
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2022, 04:00:01 PM »
  I get 180 and over from about 37# to 47#...  I don't really make anything over 47#...
 I made a 60",  28#, 3 pc. R/D bow with a tad more reflex in it and that shoots 179...


Thats pretty much where I am at. Similar design, 10gpp, 38-45# bows drawn 28.5" shoot 170-175 depending. (I havent figured out how to consistently break the 180 mark.)

I just built a few 60" bows. 31# bow is shooting in the high 160's with 10 gpp

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