Wide, flat limbs vs, narrow, deep limbs?

[Tom Anderson]

I don't see many narrow, deep-cored limbs on very many bows nowadays - why not? Do the narrow, deep limbs not perform well or something?
Pros/cons of each, please.

[Rock 'N Bow]

Many longbows use narrow and deep cored limbs. My longbow seems to perform as well as my recurves. I don't have a chronograph but it seems fast enough for me and is very quiet.

It is all about how a bow stores and dispenses energy. Compare a glassed Schulz longbow (the narrowest of all) to the original and current Stolers (the widest with very tapered limbs) and one will see that both will put out a very fast arrow considering the gentle amounts of back set. While some other choose to hinge the energy further from the tip, which requires a wider limb to be durable and save stability, which works just fine as well.

[Zradix]

My understanding is deep cored bows are a bit harder to tiller and hit weight.

Adding/subtracting a little depth of a core makes a big difference in draw weight.

Taking/adding to the width of a limb doesn't affect the weight as quickly.

[arrowlauncherdj]

I dont know if this is narrow enough or not, but I make 1.5" recurve limbs for my recurves.  I find that width gives me a quieter bow than the 1.75" I used to make and more torsional stability in my design.  Although a buddy of mine on another forum has told me I should try 1-n-5/8" width.  He is a very good bowyer who makes some screamers.

dave