Bow length question???

[Goose smasher]

I'm fairly new to traditional bows and I'm looking at buying a new bow soon. I'm just having so much fun with it and I want to get something nicer to shoot with.

  My draw length is 28" and I'm looking for a recurve in the 55-58 pound range.

  What would be the advantage/disadvantage of getting a recurve that was 62" long compared to a 60" or even 58"?

 I'll mostly be target shooting with the bow and will be hunting whitetails with it close to home. I usually hunt from tree stands set up for close range shooting.

  Goose smasher

[**DONOTDELETE**]

You are going to find a lot of difference in some designs, and not so much in others. But.... with a 28" draw you should be ok from 58-62".   It's the string angle at full draw that will change. the limb design determines whether you get finger pinch at longer draw lengths.... for a 28" draw you most likely won't notice a lot of difference.... at 30" draw or more it's really noticeable on different designs.

[Bill Turner]

I have a 28" draw and I find that I prefer 62" recurves, but have no problem with a 60", if I'm not over bowed. 58" is just not for me. 62" will work great on the target range or in the field. Good luck and enjoy the ride.  

[dbd870]

I don't find I shot a 58" bow any differently than my 52" KMag (draw 28.5) and it is VERY handy out of a tree stand. I put a Rinehart apple (target) on top of my 3D deer target's head with my KMag:  while I miss it way more than I hit it I'm almost always just barely a miss. (good enough for me) I don't know about a 62" as I have never tried one.

[LostNation_Larry]

The 62" should have a smoother draw.  Shorter draws tend to stack, are faster, and can be harder to shoot accurately.  There will ALWAYS be an exception to the rule, but this is the trend.

[hvyhitter]

For me I find that a longer bow is more forgiving when my release is a touch off. With a 58 I might get 6 inch flyers and with a 62 only about 2........... 60 is the shortest bow I use...... If you are just starting and working out your form a longer recurve may be your best bet........

[Bigjackfish]

That maybe a little to heavy a bow poundage if you are new to shooting.I have a 30'' draw and like a longer bow to shoot less finger pinch .

[Goose smasher]

I thought the longer bows might tend to be more forgiving. That would be good for me. My bow now is a 60" bear super kodiak 55 @ 28" and I can shoot it without any troubles so I figured something around the same draw weight would be ok. I don't notice much finger pinch now so the 60" is good.

 So in general a longer bow is a little bit slower?

  So much to learn!

  Goose smasher

[njloco]

Too heavey a draw poundage to start with, get your form down first !

Good luck.

[Goose smasher]

I was shooting a 30lb. draw bow at first and 55 pounds seems to be easy for me to draw. I can hold it for a while too but I'm trying to shoot instinctively. It sure is fun!

  Goose smasher

[McDave]

You said you want to use the bow for mostly target shooting and also for hunting.  Go out and shoot 70 arrows in a morning, resting at least 45 seconds between each shot.  Rest longer every once in a while if you want to.  This will simulate conditions in a traditional archery tournament. See if you can maintain your form on the last 5 arrows out of the 70.  This will tell you what weight you should be shooting.  You really don't need more than a 55# bow to hunt anything in North America, and not that much if you're target shooting. But if you want to shoot the same bow for both, and you can handle 55# for 70 arrows of target practice, then that's probably what you should get.  As far as the length, I would be happier with the 62" bow at 28", but YMMV.

[Goose smasher]

I appreciate all the help guys,thank you all very much!

 goose smasher