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Author Topic: bow length and accuracy  (Read 1424 times)

Offline Ron LaClair

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #20 on: May 23, 2007, 02:15:00 PM »
Steve, who's to say what any bow is   supposed to look like    :confused:  There's not much new in bow design today that hasn't been done before    :readit:  As for short longbows ( isn't that what they call an oxymoron?    ;)   ) I've seen some collections of indian archery and some of the plains indians shot short bows off horseback that were reflex deflex. As for style...like they say, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Heck, it looks like even the early cavemen were shooting those short bows.    :rolleyes: ...      :biglaugh:  

   
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Offline Curveman

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #21 on: May 23, 2007, 02:57:00 PM »
Hi Ron,

I saw a picture of Geronimo's bow once. I think it was maybe 36". I am sure he liked it. I would have traded it.    :biglaugh:    "Beauty IS in the eye of the beholder" and that is my point exactly. I didn't mean to imply that a bow is  supposed  to look a certain way, only that I  liked a bow to look a certain way. (Probably because I grew up on "Robin Hood" and English longbow movies)!      ;)      There are clear advantages to a 3 piece longbow and to shorter bows in some situations. I prefer a long(er) longbow, two-piece, (again, just for looks) and if I need something shorter I have my recurves. I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone any more than I thought I would by my saying I preferred petite blondes over long-legged model types. Just a preference-I'd be happy to date either!      :biglaugh:
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Offline woodchucker

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #22 on: May 23, 2007, 08:24:00 PM »
Yes.....But ACCURACY is in the EYE of the BOW-HOLDER   ;)
I only shoot WOOD arrows... My kid makes them, fast as I can break them!

There is a fine line between Hunting, & Sitting there looking Stupid...

May The Great Spirit Guide Your Arrows..... Happy Hunting!!!

Offline Incognito

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #23 on: May 23, 2007, 08:36:00 PM »
If short bows were just as accurate as long bows the Olympic shooters would be shooting them. They AINT.

Offline Curveman

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #24 on: May 23, 2007, 08:37:00 PM »
LOL-good one Woodchucker!  :biglaugh:
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Offline Chuck Hoopes

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #25 on: January 30, 2009, 12:54:00 AM »
The longer they are the better I shoot em.  I never thought of a 64 incher as being long., rather a short longbow.  I like em 68-70" and straight. Its a shame you can't hardily find them anymore. - short and reflex seems to be ALL the rave today.  I laugh whenever I hear someone say they need a shorter bow for Tree hunt'n-- I mean really- whats the diff. between a 60" and a 68" bow in a tree-- 4" on each end-- how hard can that be to manuver?  Never, caused me a prob. and unlikely to make the diff. for anyone.  Its just one of those Myths that gets perpetuated.--It's basically balonely.  The diff. might matter in about one out of a 100 circumstances.

Offline Ben Maher

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #26 on: January 30, 2009, 02:05:00 AM »
i love the look and feel of short bows, just don't like shooting them. Give me a 68" Hill style or 60"/62" 'curve anyday. To me, longer bows are much more accurate with my style of shooting. Ben
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Offline bigislandmark

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #27 on: January 30, 2009, 03:31:00 AM »
Howzit all,

I like shooting short bows because of the type of hunting we have here in Hawaii. All of my hunting is done spot and stalk. For "me" a short bow is much easier to manuver around in the bush. If you ever saw me stalking, you'd understand why I need a short bow. On Jan. 2, I was seven yards from a ewe and was trying to line up a shot when my upper limb hit a branch. Needless to say I didn't get to draw my bow.

Sorry, got side tracked but to answer you question, as far as accuracy, I cannot tell the difference between my 62" bow and 56" bow.  I have a 26" draw so I don't know if it would make any difference. Personally I think grip design has alot to do with accuracy. I had Black Widow send me two risers, one with the standard grip and the other with the Asbell grip. I shot the standard grip okay but when I switched to the Asbell, arrows seemed to go where I looked---- almost effortlessly. Well at least more times than not. For "me" I don't think that I'll be changing to a longer bow anytime soon.

Aloha,

      Mark

Offline Stick_N_String

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #28 on: January 30, 2009, 03:47:00 AM »
I don't know, I like my 56" Check-mate   :)    but I also liked my 60" widow  :rolleyes: . I can't tell any difference in accuracy. No finger pinch with my short bow, maybe it's because of my short 27" draw. I don't like a bow over 60" long, I'm short 5'5"  :help:  
I do want one of the short Shrew's though.
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Offline toddster

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #29 on: January 30, 2009, 04:17:00 AM »
To me it is not just the short bow, but the bow design as well.  Take Mr. Laclair's Shrewster's, they love the bows and have shot one and was really impressed.  for me I shot a 52" old shakespeare recurve good for bowfishing, and harvested a few deer with it.  But this last year went down to a 48" and wow, could barely hit the barn door.  It was already said that you can master it if you take the time.  but, I do feel a bow for me from 56" on up, is less sensitive and little more forgiving, but we are all different as well as design and time of practice.

Offline Pete W

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #30 on: January 30, 2009, 07:37:00 AM »
Short bows shoot just fine if you take a bit of time to tune them. Finger pinch can and will be an issue for the long draws, and stacking is also a concern for the long draw shooters.Some bows just don't pull to 29+".
 You can shoot a short bow anywhere you can shoot a long one but not the other way around.
 What we consider short  is unheard of long to the compound finger shooter.
 Before buying a short bow ask the bowyer about draw length, and if it will be suited to your draw length.. Take the time to tune it, and consider where you want to use it.
 I love short bows, but they are not my first choice for every type of shooting.In a blind , tall grass, or thick cover they have the great advantage of limb clearence.

Pete
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Offline Tater 2

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #31 on: January 30, 2009, 08:12:00 AM »
Until recently I have always been a proponent of longer bows. 62-64 inch Longbows were the minimum and 60-62 inch Recurves.
     I was fortunate enough to pick up a couple of the new short Hybrid Longbows (Centaur & Shrew) both are 58" and I love them. I have changed my tune with regards to short bows and have a 56" Shrew on the way.
     I believe my perception came from the short bows I owned in the early 70's. I had a couple that were real popular 48" and 52" Recurves. Finger pinch and Stack were considerable. If you haven't shot one of the new short bows and there are several good shooters out there, you owe it to yourself to give one a shot.
    Everyone's opinion will vary but they sure have changed my mind.
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Offline Dartwick

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #32 on: January 30, 2009, 08:44:00 AM »
I have never understood the stability thing thats supposed to occur with a forward riser.

One thing to remember is that there are more bow fit issues than just length and some people are greatly affected by by the other variables making it hard for us to subjectively say how length length matters to us beyond the rather obvious and measurable finger pinch.
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Offline buckeye_hunter

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #33 on: January 30, 2009, 09:27:00 AM »
I agree with asking the bowyer of a particular bow for their recommendation. I asked a bowyer for a 64 inch recurve and he recommended against it. He based that on the grounds that I wouldn't get the same performance out of the longer bow for my draw length.

So........ I guess how long a bow SHOULD be for accuracy depends on how it is designed by the bowyer and fit to your specs.

-Charlie

Offline Pat B.

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #34 on: January 30, 2009, 09:35:00 AM »
Wonder why all the Olympic shooters shoot long bows? In fact, why don't you ever see a short target bow of any kind? I realize that hunting and target shooting aren't exactly the same thing, however, accuracy does help in both endeavors !

Offline Diamond Paul

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #35 on: January 30, 2009, 10:16:00 AM »
I think longer bows (62-70") are intrinsically more "accurate" than short bows (58" and under).  Mass weight and string angle are two reasons for this.  Compounders get past the string angle problem by using string loops instead of hooking releases directly to the string, but finger shooters can't do that.  I think this is mostly an academic question that relates more to target shooting than hunting accuracy.  I believe that even the "short bow" fans would probably shoot better scores on indoor, field, and 3-D courses if they used longer, target-style bows, but there are many things besides intrinsic accuracy that make a bow desirable for hunting, like handling qualities, or "feel," however you want to define that.  To use an analogy, a long-barreled, 12-pound varmint rifle w/ a 10 ounce trigger would probably outshoot a 6 1/2 pound carbine on the range, but would be a poor choice for carrying in the thickets.  Whatever intrinsic accuracy advantage it had would be offset by its poor handling qualities.  The lighter, shorter rifle would shoot "better" under real-world hunting conditions, in effect.  So it is with bows.  JMO, Paul.
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Offline Tater 2

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #36 on: January 30, 2009, 10:22:00 AM »
To compare Olympic target Archery and Hunting is like Apples to Oranges.
   I agree accuracy in the field is of the utmost importance but I am not shooting 60 meters at any animals.
     Shoot whatever you are confident with it's all about enjoyment for me not competition.
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Offline NorthernCaliforniaHunter

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #37 on: January 30, 2009, 10:54:00 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by BTH:
I shoot my 54" Morrison Cheyenne much better than I shot my 58" and 60" recurves.
That because you were dragging the bottom limbs of the 58 and 60" recurves on the ground!  :knothead:  

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Offline houseman

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Re: bow length and accuracy
« Reply #38 on: January 30, 2009, 10:57:00 AM »
Jay, I know how you shoot.  Just can't see you shooting anything bad.
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