is a 60" bow really a 60" bow?

[Gerald Denley]

My 1966 Browning Explorer (before there was a I or II)is marked as a 62" length but is actually 60" NTN measured along the belly. I had to get a 57" string to obtain a proper brace. A 58" or 59" string would have been much too long.
The later Explorer II's were actually a true 62" AMO. So there's three sizes of Explorers

[shedhunta]

My 58" thunderhorn longbow takes a 56" string at brace.  Taught me a lesson on pre-ordering a string for a new bow without talking to the bowyer first!!!!  It would be a 59" amo bow in my opinion.

[Bladepeek]

Reinforces my belief that bowyers would be doing everyone (including themselves) a favor if they would include "ASL" (actual string length) in the markings on the bow. In a perfect world.......

[LBR]

ASL would be great, especially if the bows aren't marked by AMO specs.  

I wonder how many bowyers/factories have an actual set of string masters per AMO specs, and use them.

[Dave Worden]

Chad has nailed it.  AMO is three inches longer than the proper string.  The rule of thumb is just that, a rule of thumb (an approximation).  Pat measures his bows his way.  Others measure their bows their way.  Don't EVER assume that the length number marked on a bow has anything to do with how long the bow measures.  Too many opinions and personal choices on how a bow should be measured for you to assume you know what the number marked on the bow means.  You can be PRETTY SURE of what string length is recommended however if the marking says AMO xx".  If their is just a number and no "AMO", experiment to determine the best string length, then keep track of that number.  BTW is you order/buy a string from someone you'd be wise to specify whether the length you are ordering is AMO length or loop-to-loop.  Avoids 3" of confusion!

[Archie]

I test drove a great "short" longbow a while back, when I was looking for a turkey blind bow that would work with my longer draw.  I couldn't shoot it well, so ended up sending it back and not buying it.  But before I did, I stood it up next to my 64" Black Widow recurve.  The two bows, both strung and at the right brace height, were only an inch different in length.  I would have only gained an inch in clearance in the blind by going with the shorter bow.