Long arrows?

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

I started shooting traditional several years ago, and I have realized that my draw length has increased by a solid 2-2.5 inches in the past year. I am now drawing 30.5-31 inches which means I have a problem now. My arrows are cut at 31 inches and they are now a little too short to use when tipped with broad heads. Are there any companies which produce a carbon or aluminum shaft that is longer than 32 inches? Could I possibly make a 32 inch arrow work? What is a good safety margin between my hand and the broad head?(I would hate to overdraw from excitement while hunting only to slash my hand open). *not sure if this thread belongs here*

[scedvm]

I too draw to around 31".  Full length Gold Tips will actually be around 32.5" and CX Heritage will finish at nearly 33" full length.  With either shaft you will have plenty of length and a little room to cut for tuning as well.  Good luck...Shawn

[Stumpkiller]

I draw 30" and get by with an arrow of 30-1/2" BOP.  

Can be dependant on whether your broadheads lay flat over your hand, rug/rest height, etc.

[Bill Sant]

General rule of thumb is you want an inch from the belly of the bow to the back of the broadhead.  There are lots of small factors that come into play, and make sure to tune all your arrows the same, whether they are broadheads or field tips.  Putting an extra inch on your arrows just for the broadheads will not only soften the spine of the arrow itself but lengthen the arrow and soften it further.

Full length gold tips should give you plenty and end up at 32.5 bop.  Have fun

[ChapNelson]

Thanks for this thread; I'm new with a long draw which I can tell is already opening up and I'm shooting uncut Easton xx75s. Nice to know which arrows are friendlier for the longer draw.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

My thinking (which may be crazy and completely off base) was to get an arrow that is naturally too stiff for my bow, and then add weight up front to soften the spine and increase my FOC. Because the shaft will be full length I would not have to add as much weight up front. Is that reasonable? Or do I have to go back and reread everything I can find about tuning shafts? I do know that I want the broad head a reasonable distance from my hand. I figured I could develop a heavier arrow which should hopefully weigh in over 600 grains(My bow is 55# at 28") and be a penetrating machine out to 25 yards on elk. I am new to this aspect of archery so by all means let me know if I'm crazy!

[JimB]

You can do exactly what you are saying.I only draw 29" but I use 2 blade heads and mount them horizontally.I could use a lot less than 1" clearance if I wanted to.A 100 grain brass insert would add 1/4".

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

Sweet! Thanks for the help guys!

[wtpops]

Easton Aluminum. I have a 31" draw and by time i tune my legacy's they are 32". One thing you will notice you will not have the arrow options that most guys that have a shorter draw have. I try to keep my heads at least 1" from the riser.

[SCATTERSHOT]

If you are using woodies, you could lengthen them with reparrow footings. The extra length would weaken the dynamic spine a little, but you could build out your sideplate a touch to compensate.

Good luck!

[MarkE2006]

Originally posted by Trumpkin the Dwarf:
My thinking (which may be crazy and completely off base) was to get an arrow that is naturally too stiff for my bow, and then add weight up front to soften the spine and increase my FOC. Because the shaft will be full length I would not have to add as much weight up front. Is that reasonable? Or do I have to go back and reread everything I can find about tuning shafts? I do know that I want the broad head a reasonable distance from my hand. I figured I could develop a heavier arrow which should hopefully weigh in over 600 grains(My bow is 55# at 28") and be a penetrating machine out to 25 yards on elk. I am new to this aspect of archery so by all means let me know if I'm crazy!

Your not crazy...or if you are that makes two of us.  I have run full length Easton Full Metal Jacket 340's with only 125 grain points out of a 50 pound recurve with no problem.  The stiffer heavier arrow keeps the weight up and the full length softens the spine.

Nothing wrong with a longer arrow...but to really increase your front of center (foc) you add weight and shorten your arrow.

[JCJ]

I draw 32" with a recurve and 31" with a longbow. I shoot bows that are 50-55# at my draw length. I like Carbon Express Maxima 250's left full length which is right at 33". I use the standard aluminum insert and 250 grain points. Total arrow weight is around 540 gr. with a FOC of over 20%. For hunting I use 125 gr. original Woodsmans mounted on 125 gr. steel adapters. They shoot right through deer if sharp and placed where there is no major bone.

[Night Wing]

I have a 30" draw length and shoot 32" BOP aluminum arrows out of my two recurves.

The 32" arrows I can shoot out of my 37# recurve are 2114s, 2212s and 2213s. The 32" arrows I can shoot out of my 42# recurve are 2114s, 2212s, 2213s, 2215s and 2117s.