Is longer always better

[hunterjt]

when it come to longbow and recurve is longer always better for as, easy to shoot? I have always heard that shorter bows less that 60" is hard to control.

Also if I go longer with a bow will heavy weight be a little easyer to pull.For Example: 66 60# 28

Thanks JT

[Crash]

To answer your first question, yes, normally.  There are no hard and fast rules but due to the string angle and basic physics, longer bows are usually more accurate for the average archer.  This doesn't mean that short bows can't be accurate enough for bowhunters and the ranges that we typically shoot.  As for the second question, not always.  Sixty pounds is still sixty pounds and how it feels will depend more on the force draw curve than the length of the bow.  Just to throw you off though, I have a Shrew Classic Hunter that is 54" and feels several pounds less than it is marked, very smooth.  The best thing to do is shoot as many bows as you can and find the happy medium between length and poundage that fits you best, or buy one of each.

[EzArcher]

shorter longbows usually stack more so its harder to get a consistent anchor when first starting out and it tends to pinch the fingers more
recurves change the string angle and helps with stack and fingerpinch

longer bows are more forgiving to shoot but
shorter bows are usually faster because of less limb mass

its all about finding a balance
do you need a shorter bow for a tree stand or blind

[sou-pawbowhunter]

To say that longer is always better is probably a pretty big generalization. If you are asking about a Hill style longbow, I would probably say yes. However, when we enter the world of forward handle bows like the Shrew things become a little murky. Look at a pic of Ron LaClair holding one of his Shrews, and it looks like he is holding a kids bow; that said, I'm sure he would not be shooting something that was stacking like crazy at his draw.
   Long way of saying, shoot as many different bows as you can to figure out what you like, and then thin it down from there.
   BTW, the example I used was to illustrate a big guy using a shorter bow, and was in no way intended to equate the Shrew bows with a kids bow.  

[Ground Hunter]

As draw weight increases on short bows, the sharper string angle becomes more of an issue.  I never could shoot a short bow over 55#s, my longbows are at 70#s.  Finger pinch becomes a real problem for me.  H

[James on laptop]

I think longer is always better unless you need to use one in a tight place like a blind.

I don't agree with short bows being faster.You might have more mass in longer limbs but the limbs do not have to move as far at the same draw length.More mass does not always mean slower when you don't have to move it very far. jmo

As far as the 54" Shrew being easy to pull and feeling lighter than marked design did that.The same bow in a 56" or longer length would feel even easier to pull however.  

[JC]

I buck the norm here...I just don't like the way longer limbs "feel". I've shot a lot of differnt bows from many makers and on every single one, long limbs feel "loose" and "springy" with a lot more unwanted after shot vibration and harmonics to me. Shorter limbs feel "tighter" and more "precise" after release for me.

Most everyone else prefers longer limbs though. Shoot both and make the decision for yourself, you'll never be sorry that way.

[Grant Young]

I agree, JC. Although we shoot very different designs. I like 60" bows as a rule but I shoot recurves and will normally go longer riser, shorter limbs to get that length. I only draw 29" though, and if my DL were much longer I might consider longer bows overall. GY

[lpcjon2]

I thought this was a Viagra thread.     I have always shot longbows and when I tried recurves with my 31" draw I always felt unstable and like they were to flimsy for me.IMO

[gregg dudley]

It is not as cut and dry as oal.  I have two 60 inch Black Widows.  One is an SA (longer limbs and shorter riser) one is a PMA (longer riser and shorter limbs).  They shoot similarly enough for me to use the same arrow for both, but there are noticeable differences between the two.  I usually shoot the PMA because of the larger sight window.

I see Grant agrees above.

[FerretWYO]

You have found the murky water. It is thought of by many as a rule that longer is better. In fact there was just an article in traditional bowhunter about just that I believe it was called the Case for a Longer bow.

I have found that for me 58-62 is just right.

Find what works for you.

[cacciatore]

Since i am more interested in hunting than just shooting in the league I prefere a very manouvrable bow and my choices are around 58" drawing at 29".But i shoot as well my Bear kodiak Magnum 52" or other bows in the 50"-56".at hunting distances up to 30 yards I don't see a big difference.

[Jeff Strubberg]

IF everything else remains equal, yes, longer bows will allow for more mistakes by you the archer with fewer bad results.

Thing is, any bowyer will tell you that there's no such thing as "everything remaining equal".  Bowyers change setback, riser length, limb design and brace height to very effectively work around the limits of a shorter bow.  There are some dandies out there these days at or under 62 inches for longbows.

There are always tradeoffs. The closer you walk to the cliff edge of bow design, the more tradeoffs you are required to accept.  Whether that edge is bow length, mass weight or limb design, the more radical you get the tougher it is to deliver the less noticeable pieces of bow performance, like stability, repeatability and forgiveness.

To sum up a wordy answer, I've gotten rid of short bows because they were too short.  I've never sold a long bow because it was too long.

[MarkE2006]

Even murkier....

A given bow design generally has a sweet spot as far as performance is concerned.  A certain 60" long bow may perform very well at a 28" draw as far as the limb recovery that translates into arrow velocity.  That same bow design at 66" may not be reaching that "sweet spot" when drawn to only 28" and should more rightly be shot by someone with a longer draw of 30".

Then there are the materials the bow is made of.  Some shorter bows may feel as stable as longer ones given the mass of the materal and the design of the riser.

So it depends on the bow design and the shooter.

[hunterjt]

thanks guys for the replys, I shoot a sag b/w at 60" now and thinking of selling it for a longer take down. It is smooth but after shooting a longbow that was longer its makeing me wonder whats my next step.

[bolong]

Some people swear by shorter bows, some by long ones. Just shoot as meany as you can and decide what works the best for you and the way you hunt. I would say if theres one that you can shoot more accurate than the others that would be my choice regardless of the length.

[pitbull]

Bow design plays a huge role in the feel. I only draw 26" and find that a 56" bow shoots and fits best. For a longer draw you may find the longer bows will shoot better. Try before you decide.

[swampthing]

Yes.  What do you want, Smooth draw? high preload for slightly stiffer initial draw? fast? forgiving? or... a Hunting Bow?
 Some bows just feel stiff to draw. Design design design. You can build a long or "short" bow to have a desirable string angle for your draw.

[684Kevin]

You are in the same position I was in.  My first BW was a 60" PSR.  Still have it, have converted to shooting BW's 66" PL's, a 66" Leon Stewart Slammer, and most recently a 62" SXT Zipper.  The feel of the longbow limb draw gives me a feel of draw that suits myself best.  The longbows tend to be quieter with less hand shock as compared to a recurve like my PSR.

[Michael Golden]

I have a 64" Assenhiemer and it is smooth and easy to shoot, but I had a Kodiak Magnum at one time and that thing was very touchy when shooting.