Bow tillered for 30", I draw 27"...losing efficiency?

[slowbowjoe]

I bought a used Selway r/d longbow, described as 45# @ 28". Receiving the bow, I saw it was actually marked as 54# @ 30". It's 60", which was, I believe, about the longest that bow was made, being closer to a Shrew, and designed as a "short long bow".
I'm wondering if I'm not getting maximum efficiency out of the 42#
I pull with my 27" draw. Being on the light side, I'd like to get full performance.
Any input is appreciated.

[slowbowjoe]

No responses on this one?

[kennym]

It depends on the actual design, don't know about Selways, but some have been marked at the buyers draw length  and are not really designed to be drawn to any certain length.

Several bowyers now actually make the bow to perform best at the buyers draw length.

I'm bettin it performs well nuff to shoot thru a deer with well tuned arrows of decent weight and a supersharp head.  

[Don Armstrong]

What Kenny said. Don

I got to agree with kenny on this one!

Also, if the bow really is 54@30, I would expect that it would be closer to 45@27?

Bisch

[JamesKerr]

I wouldn't worry about it. You will still have plenty of energy to kill whatever you are shooting at.

[BigJim]

You can always shoot a bow that is longer than ideal, but not shorter. Yes  you will lose some performance of of the same design but shorter.

Shoot the bow and see for yourself. If you are not satisfied with the way it shoots, you will never be happy. I'm sure the bow wasn't designed differently because the shooter drew 30"s (other than being longer), just marked differently.

BigJim

[Night Wing]

At your draw length, I think you'll be pulling 43# and that is plenty of "oomph" for a whitetail or feral hog.

[Bladepeek]

FWIW, I now have two nearly identical Lost Creeks Legends. Both 62"; one marked 44 @ 28 and the other 47 @ 30. I draw 29.5 and can tell no difference whatsoever.

[mmilinovich]

A well-made bow will lose a MAXIMUM of 3#s per inch of draw in the mid-40 to mid-50 pound range; it's likely to be 2.5#s.  Your bow will probably pull 46#s at 27".  (That is, assuming that your new bow really is 54#s at 30". Find a local bow shop with an accurate scale and have them measure draw weight at your 27 inches.)

Second, don't believe for a second that a bowyer is building his bows to a specific draw length.  He may mark it as a certain weight at a certain draw length, but that's just ink.  45#s at 28 is 50#s at 30 or 40#s at 26.  It's the same bow!

Mark

[slowbowjoe]

Great feedback guys, much appreciated. I know there's a whole lot of knowledge and experience in the replies. I'll see how the bow feels thru winter, and with some well matched arrows ( back to woodies for me, after a round of carbons). Thanks all.