Arrow Length?

[Dallas]

Is there any disadvantage to leaving wood arrows full length as opposed to cutting off for draw length?  Assuming the spine is sufficient to give good flight at full length.

The reasoning for leaving them long would be to maintain all the weight possible.  Any thoughts?

[Charlie Lamb]

I like them cut with a half inch clearance from the back of the bow. Just feel that they are more stable. No science behind that, just personal preference.

The few grains of weight you'd save leaving them full length would hardly be worth worrying about.
   

[magnus]

X2 what Charlie said. Personally I can't stand all that extra length sticking out at full draw and in the quiver. Just my 2 cents. If it works for you and you like it then that's all that matters. Roll with it.

[Bjorn]

I hate 'em if they are too short-other than that I like perfect flight.

[JRY309]

I used to like my arrows about an inch longer then my draw with wood and aluminum.They have enough available spines where you can work that out.But with carbons they don't have as many different spines as other arrow materials.With carbons you basically adjust the dynamic spine by length and point weight after picking out a starting static spine.I let my tuning determine their final length.I bought some used carbons that were an inch past my draw and were showing alittle stiff.So I thought I could just add more front end weight to weaken the spine.They got worse the more weight I added,they were in effect bouncing off the riser instead of flexing around it.I did tune the same spine carbon to that bow but they ended up about two inches longer then the used ones I had bought.This was on a longbow cut about a 1/8" off center.They probably would have tuned on a recurve with a riser cut past center.I find carbons more sensitive to length on bows cut off center then recurves cut past center.I would rather have my arrows tuned well then worry about their length with carbons.I've seen plenty of used carbons for sale that were just cut to length and they couldn't get them to fly well no matter what they did.It turned a lot of new carbon arrow shooters off carbon arrows,they are a whole different animal when tuning to stickbows in my opinion.

[Stealth Man]

Charlie,  with half inch clearence do the broad heads hit your finger?

[Charlie Lamb]

Never!!

Originally posted by Bjorn:
I hate 'em if they are too short-other than that I like perfect flight.

Me too! It really does not matter to me how long they are, as long as they tune correctly.

Bisch

[TxAg]

I've found that i like mine about 1.5" longer than my draw. That gives me a little room for an aluminum footing and it won't bump the shelf.

[Gapmaster]

Longer arrows seem to be more stable to me. It also might just be my imagination! I like to try and keep about 2 inches at least out in front at full draw.

As long as it works for you--just do it. Do what you want to do, not what we all think is best.

[damascusdave]

Because I draw about 30 inches I mostly shoot full length arrows...some arrows are almost too short

[halfseminole]

I tried every arrow at the store today and all were too short-I'd have to foreshaft any of them, so I'm making my own from 36" dowels or rivercane until I find a better alternative for my ridiculous draw length.  Connective tissue disorder gave me a wider armspan than my height.

Anyone know of 36" actual arrow shafts?

[PeteA]

I draw 27.5 and cut my arrows to 29.5. But I'm a gap shooter. I shoot split finger, so the longer my arrow the narrower the gap.  The long arrow also afforded my the ability to use a heavier arrow, 10.5 gr per inch. I also shoot aluminum. Find them much easier to tune.