More newbie questions

[Jake Scott]

Gentlemen,
I once again find myself in need of your collective knowledge.  I have recently begun researching and gathering information for a custom bow order sometime in the hopefully not very distant future.  Here is what I would like you guys to break down in dummy speak for me.  I would like to know the difference in belly mounted and forward mounted limbs, accept the obvious of course.  What are the pros and cons, basic physics.  Seems the most popular of the belly mounted limb bows are black widows, which certainly seem to be time tested and proven, I am sure for good reason.  I have not comitted myself for or against this type of bow, just would like to understand more, and I am sure, as always, that there is a wealth of knowledge to be shared.

As always fellows, thanks in advance.

Jake

[reddogge]

There is lots of information on this if you Google "belly vs back mounted bow limbs". Too much reading for me and it seems lots of conflicting opinions.

Personally I don't like the looks of belly mounted limbs.

[breid]

I have both.  I don't notice any real difference in how they shoot.  I just always liked the looks of Black Widow bows, so when I got the chance to buy a similar looking bow I bought it (after I shot it to make sure if felt right).

The best advice I think you can get is to go to a trad shop and shoot as many bows as you can.  The first trad bow I bought I got from a gun show and hated it.  I traded it at a trad shop and the guy literally strung 30 bows for me.  He even strung up bows that were 3x what I was willing to pay just so I could get a feel for what I wanted ( I was actually scared to shoot them in case I somehow dry fired one).

I have 3 used recurves, but I sprung and bought a new longbow.  I didn't buy any of them prior to shooting them.  

See if the bowyer has a deal where he can send you a bow to try first.

[Stumpkiller]

The difference is with a belly mounted limb you can get away with shorter limbs before experiencing as much finger pinch (and release issues) as with convertional back mounted limbs.

Whether this makes a snit of difference to you is almost impossible to gauge as there are few bows with only that difference.

Personally - I find the bow style makes little difference as long as you like the grip, the finger pinch isn't severe and the arrows you are using are suited to the bow.  Morpholohy, weight, lamination methods and riser wood or the wood veniers are secondary to a good release and arrow flight.

I'm currently shooting a 56" Browning Wasp I paid $83 for and it is a snotty little bow that delivers a hunting weight arrow with good authority.  Which is to say - the speed of $1,100 modern bows with similar weight arrows.  The challenge is matching my style and arrows to what the bow needs and offers.

[Orion]

For a given draw length, the power stroke is shorter with belly mounted limbs.  That usually means less speed, all other things being equal, which they usually aren't. Some feel it's possible to make up the difference in limb design, lamination stack/taper, etc.  The forward grip, vis-a-vis the limbs, makes it more difficult to torque. BWs are moderate speed, very stable bows.  That's why a lot of folks like them.

[Jake Scott]

Thanks a lot guys.  Lots of good information.

Jake