Aluminum spine help

[Lonehowl]

Thinking about building some aluminums.
I have a 64" Bob Lee Natural, 55lbs at my 30" draw. Looking at a 31-31.5" bop. I would like to shoot Legacys so I can use some Mercury speed nocks I have laying around. 3x5 faethers, 6" wrap.

Could you guys recommend a spine to start with? Looking at all the charts, maybe a 2117?
Thanks
Mark

[ron w]

2216 may also work for you........may have to play around with point weight for 2117 or 2216.

[Biathlonman]

2117,2216, or 2020 should all be close depending on string type

[M60gunner]

I think you can get a spine test kit? Personally I think 2117. I am using 2117 from my 60# bow. I draw 28 in. With you long draw they should work. Just food for thought, my first custom arrows for my 55# SK were 2020. Got them from Kittridge Bowhut.

[joe skipp]

2315....

[Joe2Crow]

My draw is not as long as yours but most of my bows pull close to 55# at my draw length (28").  Every time I bareshaft a 2117 it spines a little too stiff.  Most of them do well with a 2218 though.  2216s spine a little weak but fly well with feathers but I like the extra weight of the 2218s.   The one exception is my widow.  It takes a 2315 to bareshaft and it is a 55#er.  Go figure.

[Joe2Crow]

oops, I meant 2018s and 2016s.  See what happens when I try to think before I've had my coffee?

[Bernie B.]

I think 2018's would work well with your outfit.  I shoot a tad lighter than you but really like the Legacy 2018's.  Th only problem you'll have is the length of the shafts.  The bare shafts are only 30 and three-eighths inches long.  I like the extra weight of the shafts.

Bernie

[Blackhawk]

Another vote for the 2018.

[hvyhitter]

2018s too weak at that length. 2020 borderline,same reason. 2215 or 2117 should be spot on............ BTW lots of 2215 shafts around with glue on nocks......

[Outwest]

My bows and draw length are almost exactly as yours and I have been shooting 31" 2117's from them for years. Tried 2018-2020 and 2216's and the 2117 works the best.

John

[Dave Pagel]

I have to disagree with some on this one,  I have a number of bows in that range, Silvertip recurve 56# @ 28, Silvertip Longbow 55# @ 28, TallTines recurve 55# @ 28 and a Robertson TribalStyk 54# @ 28.  I draw just under 30 and cut my arrows to 30 1/8.  My go to arrow is a 2018 with the standard insert and 175 grain tip.  I get great flight and they hit like hammers at 605 grains overall.

D.P.

[BWallace10327]

Go to the 3 Rivers Spine Calculator on their website.  It has worked great for me.

[Lonehowl]

Thanks all,
I have done the Stus calculater thing, but Im not sure if Im really doing it right or not, seems to always recommend a (what I think) is a real high spine.
Mark

[elkken]

I would also think 2018's would work for you, I shot 2018's out of all my 55# bows and they were a great arrow, also shot 2020's but I would give the nod to the 2018's

[jhk1]

I shoot long 2117s (31"-31.25") with 125 gr field points out of my straight-grip Hill-style longbows, and get good arrow flight.  At my draw length (29.5-30" a low-wrist Hill-style grip) I'm drawing between 55#-57# with these bows.

I actually just cut some 2117 Easton XX75 Classics down to 31" BOP (from 31-3/8") because they were a little weak for my Hill-style bows.  My 31" Easton Gamegetter 400 (2117) with 125 gr points fly great.

At your arrow length, I would think anything weaker than a 2117 (according to Easton's spine chart, both 2018 and 2020 are weaker than 2117) would be weak for your Bob Lee recurve.  A 55#@30" recurve should generally need a little stiffer arrow than a 55#@30" Hill longbow.

I agree with Ron W-- I think your best bet will be either 2216 or 2117.  If I had to pick one or the other, I'd say 2216-- you can always go heavier on the points if they're a little stiff with 125 gr points.

[frank bullitt]

Lonehowl, you never mentioned what type of string your shooting on the Lee natural?

Biathalon stated this, along with your shooting, release, will have a key to your choice!

I lean toward 2117, a very common found shaft, and workable with point weight, my experience.

[stagetek]

2018 or 2020's would be my choice.

[Lonehowl]

Yep, sorry gents...as per JJ at Bob Lee, the strings are FF 16 strand.