arrow matching for old bear

[gigante]

This is my first post here, but I have been looking around for awhile. I am going to make my own at some point, but currently that energy is going into making knives. I've been looking for a recurve I could afford for quite some time and craigslist finally yielded an older Bear Alaskan, 66'' long, 38#28''.

After a bunch of searching, I am still a little confused about getting arrows that will work well with this bow. I watched a few videos on youtube and have measured my draw to be about 31''. So if I understand correctly, this will bring the weight of the bow up to the low 40's

Obviously, I want arrows that will shoot well, but more importantly, I don't want to break my bow by using something too light. I picked up some 31'' aluminum 2216 arrows, with 100 grain field points.

Please help me not ruin a classic bow!

[C Kerley]

I shoot a Black Widow at 45# with those arrows, but I have 145 gr on the front.  I'm also close to your draw.  I'm sure that Bear isn't shooting as hard as my Widow, so I'd look at 160'ish for your points (a heavier point will weaken the spine).  

"Generally" you can add about 3 pounds per inch past 28".  So you could be in the 47# range too.  Again, for arrow weight "generally" if you stay in the 10 gr per pound of draw you'll be set.

[C Kerley]

Oh, and if you're not familiar with what your arrow might weigh.  My 2216's are 31", and without points weigh 435 all fletched and wrapped.  Add in a 145-160 gr head and you'd be far ahead of 10 gr/lb.

[gigante]

Thanks a lot, Carlos. Knowing I should be able to shoot these without ruining anything is a good start for me. I will also try to find some points that are a little heavier and see how that influences my accuracy.

Seeing you're from Missouri, I was also wondering if you will be, or have ever been to MoJam? I wonder what it's like or if a bunch of people go to it?

[John Nail]

unless you're a real giant, I shouldn't think a correct draw for a Trad bow would be 31". I'm 6' and built like a gorilla, and I pull 28.5" you need to rethink proper form......anyway, even with a 30/31" arrow, a 1916 would probably spine close. a 2216 should be waaaay too stiff.

[gigante]

I am six foot six, so I'm not sure if that counts as a real giant. If I hold a 31" arrow without a point, and put my bow hand in front as if I'm holding a bow, it almost falls off my front hand.

I picked up my $30 find tonight, and I'm going to go try it out tomorrow. I'll let you know how it turns out. Of course, it's my first bow and I may not know the difference.

[Fletcher]

Assuming your 31" draw is correct, you should be pulling somewhere around 45 lb.  Add 5 lb for each inch of arrow over 28 (+15) and you have 60 lb spine.  You may need a little more depending on how close to center your Alaskan is cut.  A 2016 has a static spine of 59 lb and would be a good start, or a 60-64 in wood  With a 31-32 inch arrow, you will have plenty of mass weight so as not to damage the bow.

If you want some extra length for broadhead clearance, you will likely need to go up a size, but I think your 2216's are going to be too stiff no matter what.

[John Nail]

Originally posted by gigante:
I am six foot six, so I'm not sure if that counts as a real giant. If I hold a 31" arrow without a point, and put my bow hand in front as if I'm holding a bow, it almost falls off my front hand.

I picked up my $30 find tonight, and I'm going to go try it out tomorrow. I'll let you know how it turns out. Of course, it's my first bow and I may not know the difference.

You figure the correct draw, by taking the proper stance, and drawing the arrow on the bow to your anchor point--usually the corner of your mouth. I still say if you even make 29" it will surprise me.

[C Kerley]

I've never been to MOJam, but I understand it's centered around bow building.  I'm a bow tinkerer, not a bow builder!

[Van/TX]

What Fletcher said.  Good luck...Van

[Steves2]

I just went thru the same process with an older bear bow. It was 58"AMO and 50#@ 28 inches. I found that 2214 with a 125 grain tip shot well as did a 2217. For carbons a Gold tip 55/75 with a tip heavier than 125 shoots good. A 35/55 with a 125 also shot good.  All the arrows were 29-30 inches in length. I was lucky enough to have friends that loaned me 8-9 different types and spines to shoot until I got it figured out.. Good luck.. Steve