Bow Length for 30in draw

[MarkM]

What length recurve or longbow should I be looking at with a 30 in draw? I am 6ft 6in and draw 31 1/2 with a compound. I have been looking at a Bear Montana longbow at 64inches but I am worried about stacking with my longer draw length.

Mark

[Incognito]

I draw a recurve 30" maybe a little more, I shoot a 64" bow. I really dont want to shoot anything any shorter. I would say at least a 64" recurve and a 66" longbow. You should be comfortable with those. Choose a good quality bow, less likely to stack on ya. I shoot a Bob Lee. But there are many other bowyers that build bows that won't stack at that draw length, if they are long enough. Most will tell ya fi the bow will stack at your longer draw length.

[sagebrush]

You will probably lose an inch of draw with a recurve over a compound. I draw my recurve 29 1/2 and I shoot several different 62" recurves. I haven't had any problems with stacking. I also have a 64" and a 66". I would probably try a 64" with that draw.

[sticshooter]

Well I draw very close to 30 and shoot a 56"-62" longbows withoput a problem. I also have shoot a 54" recurve without a problem. 58 and 60 Recurves fit me very well. Depends on the person. I would try and shoot some short bows and see how they feel and shoot for ya?<><

[Whip]

I draw 29" and can shoot the shorter bows just fine as long as I do my part - good form and good clean release.  But since I'm not the best shooter in the world I run into problems when I don't do things exactly right.  
Longer bows to me seem to be more tolerant of mistakes.  If I do it right I can stack them in the bullseye fairly good with either long or shorter bows.  But when things aren't perfect, my misses are smaller with a longer bow.  Instead of being eight inches to the left, it might be four inches.  Maybe it's all in my head, but that's the way it seems for me.
My preference on bow length is 64".

[mjc]

Mark, I am around your size 6'6" and draw 30 1/2"
I like at least a 68" longbow and 70" even better. I shoot the straight HH style of bows, but even on the r/d longbows I have 66" is as short as I can shoot comfortably.

[BobCo 1965]

I'm 6'2" and draw between 28 and 29 inches depending on the type of bow I shoot. Personally, I wouldn't go less then 62" for a recurve and 66" for a longbow. I have tried shorter bows in the past and really didn't care for them all that much.

[jwingman]

You can find shorter bows today that allow longer draw lengths than you could 10-15 years ago. Limb designs are better. They stack less. Finger pinch can still be a problem for some shooters. All in all, there are a lot of people that would agree that the longer the bow, the smoother the draw and the more forgiving. There are a lot of reasons some people like and shoot short bows, tree stand hunting and blind hunting are some. I draw 30 inches now in my old age. I use to draw 31 in my younger days. I shoot 66-70 inch longbows and I have a 64 inch Rose Oak that is smooth as silk. I shot Black Widows for a long time because they were one of the few manufacturers that made a bow that would come back that far comfortably for me. (I'm showing my age) Anyway, shoot as long of a bow as suits you and the type of hunting or shooting you  want to do and you won't go wrong. Unless you need short for some reason, long works for a lot of reasons.

[Shawn Leonard]

I agree with jwingman as I have a recurve with static limb tips that due to the statics and the design can be drawn to 31"s with little or no stacking and no finger pinch. Your best bet is to cal a few bowyers from our sponsors and speak to them. You can get a new or used custom for close to what you would pay fopr a new Bear. Shawn

[Night Wing]

I'm short at 5' 9", but I have a very long wingspan when it comes to my arms. All my compound bows are 30" drawlength and all of my longbows and recurves are custom made and made for a 30" drawlength. I didn't lose the 1" of drawlength when going to a longbow or recurve from a compound bow. I shoot a 31" arrow finished arrow before a field point or broadhead is attached to it. My Jim Belcher made Longhorn hybrid longbow is measured at 30" drawlength and the longbow is 68" in length. My Blacktail Elite T/D recurve on order is also being made at my 30" drawlength and it's going to be 66" in length.

[Shawn Leonard]

I should say too that I did not loose an 1" going form a compound(27.5") and now I shoot just recurves, it is just shy of 29"s. I believe ya cannot go by the loosing an inch deal, as ya got to find a consistent anchor that ya like with your bow and it will vary person to person and even bow to bow, I know bows that do not have a high wrist grip and just a slight locator my grip my draw is over an inch different.  Shawn

[legends1]

I would advise a 64".Thats a blessing to have a draw as long as yours.You can get alot of energy out off a 64" bow and you will have a nice wieghted arrow at 31 1/2".
I have a 32" draw and arrows 32 5/8 at 600 grns.Bow is 59# @ 32" 64". No figer pinch at all.
Mike

[wtpops]

I have a 30" draw and shoot the bows below with out any problem

[WESTBROOK]

I draw 29.5, Ron and Gregg both gave me the green light for a 54" Shrew classic LB. I'll try one at K'zoo to make sure.

Eric