Longbow worth keeping?

[Christofolo]

Hello everyone,

I haven't been around in a while so bear with me. I picked up shooting bows again in last couple months and pulled my Bear Montana out of the closet. 64", #45 @ 28 (most likely). Soon I realize I am stacking it as my draw length is 30-32" within a comfortable anchor region.

The bow is gonna have a flemish twist put on it soon and I hope that can help  us it shoots very tense and doesn't feel right. What should I do? Reason tells me I should get a longer bow and I am willing to part with it I just don't know how to go about it. I'd appreciate input on this as I don't want to potentially ruin the bow in the long run.

Thanks!

[Pine]

That Montana can handle it , you should only get a longer bow just for the comfort of a less stacking bow .

[Christofolo]

Well that's comforting, Figured the construction would stress out over time being stacked constantly...

[Cyclic-Rivers]

With your draw length, I would want to try before I buy.  I'm not sure if you can make it to any events with vendors, but it would be a huge advantage.  If it were me in your shoes, I would shoot the Montana until I shot the bow from a vendor that just meshes with my form perfectly.

[Christofolo]

True, Problem is I'm in Miami lol. Haven't seen an actual traditional archery vendor down here.. Lest I'm living under a rock.

[Bjorn]

Many vendors will send you a trial bow. Call around and see.

[Christofolo]

That is pretty cool of them lol I didn't expect that. I'll hold on to the Montana for a bit and see what happens then. Apparently the manufacturer says I'm in the right draw length for the size and lbs of the bow..

[Orion]

Bear doesn't make the Montana longer than 64 inches.  As Graps says, with modern glues, it probably can handle it, but a 30 plus inch draw puts a lot of stress on those limbs, and a 32-ioch draw is really cranking it.  

Should try to find a consistent draw length.  Regardless, at 30-plus inches, I think you would like a 68-72-inch bow in moderate r/d design much better.  Much less stacking and finger pinch.  Good luck.

[monterey]

Well, if you have a kid or family member who would fit the bow, you might pass it on to them.  There is the discomfort level you mentioned along with your concern over stressing the limbs but you are also drawing the bow into the territory of diminishing performance returns.  It would seem that the increasing draw weight brought on by stack would translate into increased arrow speed, but in fact it is the opposite.

As stated above, at your draw length you need to be shooting a longer bow.  Having lived in S Florida for a year, I totally understand that you are in a trad archery desert!

Don't overlooked the R/D and recurve styles.

[Christofolo]

OK, so... I don't want to make a separate post, but if I do, Which section do I go to so I can check for bowyers to work with? As in, Who in town makes R/H bows that accommodate a 30-31" draw length? That's about as broad as I can go.

[Orion]

Check the sponsor links.  Lots of them make longer r/d  and straight bows.

[Archie]

My 66" Black Widow longbow doesn't stack at all to 31", and my brother draws his nearly identical 66" BW longbow to 32.5" with no problems.

I know from experience that Big Jim's bows can easily handle long draws, in several configurations.  I can also wholeheartedly recommend a 66" Toelke Lynx, and I know that a 64" Cari-bow Silver Fox will handle a 31" draw.  

I have talked extensively with Black Widow about my recurve and long draw length, and while their 64" recurve doesn't stack for me, the long draw does put a lot of stress on the tips of any recurve.  I had them reinforce my heavy limbs with a special overlay to combat this.

[Christofolo]

After going through the sponsor list I've been drawn in particular to NewWood Bows and the Mcbroom bows but I think I'll have to go with the vanguard for now as they seem to be performing really well for the price and I love the design. I'll become a contributing member as I would like to give my montana to a good owner. Are they still well sought after?

[McDave]

If you want a longbow to draw to 32" without stacking, either you're talking about a very long bow, maybe 68-70", or a reflex/deflex longbow of somewhat shorter length, which is what I would choose.  A lot of bows will shoot to a 30" draw, but 32" is pushing it.  Not that the bows will explode; they just won't draw smoothly.  So you should really decide what your draw length is, since you're in that critical zone.

Reflex deflex longbows that would work to 30" would include the 66" Black Widow, Big Foot bows, a 66" Toelke Lynx, the Fox Royal Crown, the extreme reflex/deflex end of Liberty Bows, and probably a lot of others that I'm not familiar with.  For 32", you should probably call the bowyer.

Of course, these are all a step or two above the Montana, and cost more. The Montana is a good bow, but I wouldn't want to draw it to 32".

[monterey]

My own builds are 68" and 69".  Flat ASL style.  They all draw to 32" without stack.  Keep in mind that yor draw weight at 31 to 32 is going to increase about two to three # per inch of draw over 28"

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Christofolo:
Well that's comforting, Figured the construction would stress out over time being stacked constantly...

You want an honest answer from a bowyer?  It will stress out the bow, & eventually blow up if you keep pushing it.... If you are drawing a bow into the red line zone, you are just asking for trouble.... I'd hate to see you get hurt....

I'd advise getting another bow that will draw without stacking to your draw length. Besides being safer, it will shoot a lot better for you too.....

Here is some more food for thought.... You do NOT need a really long bow length to get a smooth stack free draw..... I build a 60" hybrid long bow and a 60" static tip RC both that will draw to 32" smooth as silk..... There are other bowyers out there that do this too....  Old expression "A longer draw length, needs a longer bow." is an old school mentality that doesn't apply to what's being built today.

It is true with some D shape long bow designs, that longer lengths are required....... My Fatliner long bow i would recommend a 66" for 32" draw.

[frank bullitt]

Or, try to shorten up!

Howard could have shot that length, but worked at 28".

[monterey]

Kirk has given you as good advice as you will find.  I have a very old 54" Shakespeare recurve that draws stack free to 31".  OTOH, I had a 62" recurve by Martin (the model is discontinued) that started stacking at less than 26".  

I know all this just muddies the waters, but if you do your research you will find the right bow for you.