What are the disadvantages of a long arrow?

[Orion]

I'll take an arrow that's one inch BOP and well tuned rather than a longer arrow that's not well tuned.  A silly juxtaposition/assumption.  Why assume that a shorter arrow won't be well tuned?  Any arrow length can be well tuned to the bow regardless of its length.

Originally posted by Orion:
I'll take an arrow that's one inch BOP and well tuned rather than a longer arrow that's not well tuned.  A silly juxtaposition/assumption.  Why assume that a shorter arrow won't be well tuned?  Any arrow length can be well tuned to the bow regardless of its length.

I was not assuming anything about his tuning but if he takes his arrows that are 3" too long and cuts three inches off of them they will not be well tuned any more if they were when they were longer.

I was only trying to emphasize that well tuned is way more important than any specific length.

Bisch

[calgarychef]

I shoot instinctivly out to 25 yards but at over 35 yards I use the point as reference.  A longer arrow lets me do this and enables be to have a point on distance of 40 yards.  With a "proper" length arrow my point on is 60 yards and useless for aiming in a hunting situation.

[Hopewell Tom]

A friend told me he has his wood arrows an inch or so longer in case he breaks the tip off. New taper and still good to go. Making sure that nothing else has been damaged, of course.

[Uncle Buck]

when I first started to to really get back into bowhunting We didnt have all the resources we do now. I bought full length aluminums at a local discount store and tuned them to my bow by adjusting the point wieght and sideplate thickness. always wound up with a fairly accurate package.

[Orion]

Bisch:  I agree that a well tuned arrow is more important than length and that length is always secondary to tuning.  

However, the question asked for disadvantages of unnecessarily long arrow length.  I acknowledged in my first post that a longer arrow is often used to get better tune, but suggested a shorter arrow of appropriate spine can also be well tuned to the bow. (Didn't suggest that he cut his existing arrows shorter.)  Which route one takes is a personal preference. Wasn't trying to be argumentative or criticize the use of longer arrows, just listed some of the disadvantages/problems one faces when doing so.  

A number of folks have also pointed out a couple of potential advantages of longer arrows -- extending the point on range and/or reducing the gap for those who use that method. For some, those features probably far outweigh the disadvantages I mentioned.

Rereading my second post, I see I must have been feeling particularly argumentative when I responded to your post, because I certainly could have phrased my response more respectfully.  I apologize.

[Rick Richard]

There are no disadvantages depending on your objective as to what you want to gain from the arrow.  The most important is to have a well tuned arrow to the bow regardless of the length as long as it is not too short.

[Roger Norris]

I think it is a mistake to decide in advance of tuning how long your arrows will be. I might decide on a shaft material because of durability, weight, etc.

I might decide on a broadhead size because of weight, (total desired arrow weight)

But I let the arrow tell me...through the tuning process, how long it needs to be.

[OBXarcher]

I like them 2-3 inches long. I tried the 1 inch thing, then it got cold and I was wearing wool gloves and the broadhead hit my glove when I drew back. That no good, messed me all up.

[Troy Breeding]

Roger,

Very well stated...    

Troy

[Hoyt]

The disadvantages of a long arrow for me is the loss of speed. I like all the speed I can get from my tuned arrows. 1/2" longer than my draw would be max length.

[JimB]

I'm told that a longer arrow is more stable but have no way to verify that.

Some people use the point as a reference and arrow length may be critical for them.

Decades ago,the rule of thumb was your draw length plus 3/4" so some "old school" shooters just can't stand to have a lot of arrow hanging off the bow.

I shoot mostly 56" bows with bow quivers and if I use arrows much over 30",the nock end goes below the lower tip of the bow and the nocks end up in the dirt if I lean the bow against a tree.I draw 29" so cut all my shafts to 30".

As far as shooting,I don't think the length has anything to do with it.Tuned is tuned.

[Chain2]

There are those of us who can't buy arrows too long, we barely find them long enough. But this post stirs something up in my mind about point on/long arrow/long arm. Thank you

[BWD]

I guess if you use a bow quiver, and your arrows are longer than your bow, when strung, it could be considered a disadvantage.  

For myself, I have found that getting cedar shafts that I can shoot as short as possible are more forgiving and more accurate for me than getting stiffer arrows that I need to leave longer for a particular bow.  I can especially tell the difference with net length target  points and blunts. Sometimes they average 8 pounds less spine than my broadheads, but that zeroed in arrow flight is a real confidence builder for me. with a little bit of practice with mixed shafts broadhead and target tipped arrows, my accuracy adjusts itself to the particular arrow with little thinking on my part. although I do limit my broadhead shooting to 35 yards most of the time.

[Jeff Strubberg]

There are a couple of disadvantages.

First, longer arrows are more trouble to carry.  Strap a 30 inch long arrow in a bow quiver on a 56 inch bow and you'll see what I mean.  Not a big deal, but the problem is there.

Second, you will have to overspine your arrows to compensate for the extra length.  A longer arrow will show a weaker dynamic spine than a shorter one. Again, nto a big issue with the arrows available today, but I wouldn't want you thinking you could jsut start cutting your current arrows longer.

[maineac]

My reasoning has to do with a bow quiver as well.  I often hunt from a climbing tree stand and have a bow holder that the lower limb wedges into.  With longer arrows I have a problem using this and not having the arrows hit the stand when I remove the bow, or make it impossible to place the bow in.