What length recurve should my friend get

[Farmingdales Finest]

With me getting my first deer with a recurve over the weekend one of my Bowhunting buddies wants to get a recurve too.

I am 6’2” with a 30” draw and was recommended to get a 64-66” bow for hunting.  After much reading I went with the 66” for myself. My buddy is about 5’7 with a 27” draw on his 60 lb compound.

What should I be leading him too?  I chose a 21” EXE Scream riser with Galaxy Bronze Star limbs. He likes what I have and obviously there are different length limbs and that riser is offered also in 17” and 19” lengths. Also looking for guidance about what pound limbs to match with the riser since what I was told my bow should pull by LCA’s customer service rep was about 6 pounds less that what it actually weighs.
Thanks in advance!

[Cory Mattson]

I recommend a used beater or borrowed bow
56” to 60”
40#
Matched arrows but from reputable dealer who can help half dozen will do

After three months he will know a lot and he will make a much better buying decision
Then.
Easy if he starts now he’s looking to buy a bow in June he can hunt with come fall.

Good Luck <><
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[Possum Head]

I recommend a used beater or borrowed bow
56” to 60”
40#
Matched arrows but from reputable dealer who can help half dozen will do

After three months he will know a lot and he will make a much better buying decision
Then.
Easy if he starts now he’s looking to buy a bow in June he can hunt with come fall.

Good Luck <><
<———————-<<<<<<

Good advice!

[McDave]

I recommend your friend get a 40-45# 60” recurve.  The weight should be at his draw length.  Since he has a 27” draw length, that means a bow marked 42-47# @ 28”.  Before he goes for 45#, he should draw and shoot 45# bows to make sure he feels comfortable holding this weight at full draw.  Otherwise, he should pick one toward the lower end of this range.

[Part Time Archer]

I heard , someone chime in, the highest fps is from 64 inch bows all things being equal.

[Part Time Archer]

For wood it's 66 inches per bowyer's Bible fiberglass maybe 64 .

[Part Time Archer]

Ditto the 40-45.

[Larry Dean]

There is a very real chance that his draw length will be considerably less with a recurve. I have drug out quite a number of deer that were killed with a 38 At 26" recurve bow of various makes. No more than 60 inches, start out shooting a standard split finger style.  Any bow 50 @28 down to 45 @ 28.  1816 aluminums or some woodies. A used Bear Grizzly would be my first recommendation, or a new one. Many very successful hunters swear by them. There is a reason for that. 

[Steelhead]

Yaa his draw length would most likely shorten with the recurve.So a pretty short draw most likely.Maybe 26".

AS said above 56 to 60 inches would probably be a good fit.I would probably lean toward 60 inches for shootability in the learning stage.I would say lean toward the lighter poundage bow to begin with so he could learn better form and not struggle at all with poundage and shoot more arrows without tiring.Maybe 40 pounds at 26-27 inches.Depends on his fitness and strength.Less is more though to start out with IMO.

He can get heavier bows later.Perhaps a 3 piece T.D bow where he gets a lighter set and moves up to heavier ones as he aquires good form and more strength and confidence.

[Bowguy67]

I agree w the 60” 40lb. Something I think I should mention, some are stating his draw length will change. If he draws his compound correctly and draws a recurve correctly it’ll be pretty close. Some depends on anchor type n such. I bet 75% of compound guys draw too long. At least in my experience and I see lots of wheel guys a year. If that’s the case it’ll change. That being said I believe the 40lb will prob still work and is good advice for him to learn

[blacktailbob]

Has your friend shot your bow? What pound is it? Agree with the above about 58-60" bow being a good length to start.
Black Hunter recurve might be a good bow to start with and less $$$ to swap out limbs.

[Farmingdales Finest]

He has only pulled it back. I also have a mid 70’s grizzly that a friend who’s left handed picked up at a garage sale for $5. The issue is it may be too heavy for him at 50# at 28”.  For me with a 30” draw it stacked badly at about 29”. I just wasn’t comfortable with it.

[Larry Dean]

One of the benefits of an under 28" draw, it avoids the bows that stack at longer draws. The statement above about wheelie guys drawing too faros very true in my area. A common term is"Your not stretched out yet" is heard often. Those are often the same newbies that find when shooting from a tree stand, the sighting system completely is out of sight line. If the goal is to shoot deer from a tree stand, watching how Fred Bear shot is always a good place for first time instinctive shooters to start. This can be done with a recurve as well.

[creekwood]

A man that is 5' 7" tall should easily have at least a 27" draw if his form is proper. The issue is that he should start with a lighter weight bow in the beginning. His final draw weight after putting in the time learning to shoot will depend on factors that have nothing to do with his height. I agree with those here that have suggested that a 58-60 inch 40 lb bow is a good place to start. Everybody's mileage may vary.

[Larry Dean]

I disagree with declaring what anyones draw length should be and declaring what would be proper form per draw length of any given individual. Nearly 40 years ago John Schulz told me my draw length was too long for my 5'9" self and my nearly 70" arm span, he was correct, at 27" with a longbow my head was not in a natural alignment. 

[Farmingdales Finest]

I am asking what length bow I should have my friend look at. I am 6’2 and a beginner at Traditional Archery.  I am shooting a 66” bow which would only be a few inches shorter than he is tall. He is only going to use it for hunting so he doesn’t need a longer bow. I am not asking what draw length.

[Steelhead]

To keep it simple Rick 58 to 60 inches should be fine overall.

[Cory Mattson]

I am asking what length bow I should have my friend look at. I am 6’2 and a beginner at Traditional Archery.  I am shooting a 66” bow which would only be a few inches shorter than he is tall. He is only going to use it for hunting so he doesn’t need a longer bow. I am not asking what draw length.

Couple a things
1 his draw length and the best bow length for him are inter dependent / connected
2 your height, bow length, draw is irrelevant
3 “only for hunting” ??? Are you kidding.

Stay focused. Do what I recommend and he’ll be fine.

[Larry Dean]

I look at 48" recurves and think one of those would sure convenient to hunt with. I know, crazy, often those real short bows are slower than longer bows, but still. Then Lori says, "When was the last time you could hit anything with a 48" bow? NO!!". It really sucks that your basic 58 or 60 inch recurve has worked so well for more most people for so many years, that's why I shoot ASLs, I got tired of killing things with 58" recurves when I was still young.

[creekwood]

A man that is 5' 7" tall should easily have at least a 27" draw

Larry, maybe I should have said "could" instead of "should".