recurve length-what is too short?

[mark land]

54-56 is about the limit for me with my 27in draw and I tend to shoot 58-60in bows better, but love the bow being as short as possible but still comfortable to shoot so I tend to favor 56-58in bows now.

[dirtguy]

I have a 52" 45 lb Kodiak magnum that is just fine and very handy in the stand or on the ground. At my draw of 28 inches I have no problems.  You just need to shoot differtn bows and see what works for you.

[Sixby]

If its a static limb or semi static the 50 and 52s shoot great. If its a full working recurve then too much string pinch. In reference to this topic I would suggest that you check out the thread on the Yeti that Bigfoot bows is building.
God bless, Steve

[Doc Nock]

Reading over the replies, it once more drives home the point: IT DEPENDS...

Depends: On your draw and on the bowyer apparently...some can get more draw length out of a limb length than others without finger pinch...

I am so glad there are those who love to fiddle with such stuff to uncover those secrets... Just don't need to understand it all to enjoy the fruits of their labors...

[Knawbone]

Dave Chapman makes a really nice 52" recurve. I have one of his longbows and it shoots great and i shoot it better than any bow I own. He no longer makes longbows but makes a very reasonable priced recurve.Really nice guy to deal with and he stands by his work.

21st street Archery

[Pointer]

Different for everyone I guess...I draw a true 30"..there are only a few 60" bows that I can say are really comfortable for me to shoot...the old super kodiaks work..a friend of mine has a 60" widow that I've shot quite a bit and that's ok too..but mostly I like 62" or 64"..they just feel better at full draw..

[njloco]

Us short draw shooters ( I draw 26.5 ) can shoot short bows or long bows ( in length ) without any problems,

 

Shot with a 1966 Bear 48" magnum.

[Fanto]

i draw 28" and shoot a 58" howatt bow.

compared to a 62" i do find it pinches my fingers more, and that I can be a little more prone to wayward shots with it. If I can manage a 62" bow i prefer to use one.

cheers

[critman]

Thanks for all the great input guys.
Critman gone.

[sawtoothscream]

its personal.  My draw with trad bows is a little under 27.5" and I will not go below 60" anymore.  I have had a 52", 56", 58", 60", 62", 64", 66"

My hunter bow longbow is 58" and is a really nice shooter though.   but i had short limbs for my titan ILF riser and that was a 58" set up and it didnt like it compared to my long limbs or my 60" kodiak. Just wasnt as accurate with it.    Shortest bow I had was a two tracks ambush, which honestly wasnt to bad, never really got to see its full potential since the grip was really bad for me and the arrow rested on my hand. So for wha tit was I shot ok with that set up and probably would have liked it alot if the grip was made for me.

[landman]

I own and shoot a Tom Kelley that is 52 lbs at 28" and it is perfect for sitting on the ground on my behind in a Ghillie.   That thing is easy to shoot, its arrows hit like a hammer and I highly recommend it.

[30coupe]

I draw 28" and my Orion shoots as well as any bow I have ever had...it's 56". I have it for sale, not because of the length, but because my aging body appreciates a lower draw weight. I think the static limbs make a huge difference in eliminating finger pinch. There is none with this bow, nor is there with my 58" RER.

I did have a 52" Herters that was a finger pincher deluxe! I think there are better designs now though and some of the better short bows should be very smooth shooters, especially at 27".