Specifications of the perfect bow

[bowfanatik]

I've changed a few bows and I understand that too much to ask. What are you looking for the specifications of your bow ?

Hybrid longbow
62" 60#@29"
tillered 3 under
shelf cut -3/16
take down ,two part
etc .........
something like BigJim Buffalo

[damascusdave]

I just ordered a longbow that will be my primary hunting bow:

Forward handle d/r longbow,60 inches amo
55 pounds at 30 inches
Dual shelf since I hunt both right and left

There will be nothing fancy about this bow...Osage riser...red elm cores...brown glass...when I need fancy I will shoot my RER, or my Robertson or my Chek-Mate

DDave

[damascusdave]

Mine will be more like Big Jim's Thunder child...just a bit longer

DDave

[damascusdave]

I forgot to mention the bow will come with a 10 strand Dynaflight 10 string...I have recently come to believe that, next to great arrows, the string is the most important part of the formula

DDave

[ed cowden]

I have changed bows for over 50 years. And also types of bows. I started with a Ben Pearson recurve that I got for Christmas when I was 6 or 7.When I was about 13 I met a man that made custom recurves and I got a used one from him.Next was a Martin Damion Hyatt recurve. Next came 3 compounds which all seemed to have the shortest life spans. Always tuning and blowing up limbs. I was doing allot of range shooting and the compounds of that time would not last more than about six months. About 1989 I started going threw the Tradtional bowhunter magazine and would by a new recurve about every couple months. Then about 1992 started longbows. Now in 2013 I am still looking at different Bowyers but have changed my specs allot since I started.

New design longbow or recurve
I now like a recurve style grip
Static tip 60" Standard recurve 62"
Longbow 66"
I draw 29.5 to 30" so longer bows feel better to me
Nothing over 50# @ 30" prefer around 40# for shooting a lot
A take down is a must if you travel plus you can get different limbs for the same riser

I think any thing you choose is up to your liking. I would not go to high on the draw weight. I know several shooters that have shot elk ,moose with bows under 60#. I know one that went to Africa and shot Kudu, and Eland with a 52# longbow. Hitting with a good broadhead is everything.

[Todd Cook]

I like em all, but for me: 68" home made Hill style, about 55-58 pounds. Dacron string, wood or carbon, Big Snuffers. Happy happy happy!

[jess stuart]

I like a three piece takedown recurve somewhere from 56" to 60" and about 50# at 28".  I like a handle that is deflexed, and don't care of a lot of early draw weight. It has to be quiet.

[Rob DiStefano]

bows 'n' arras are ALL personally subjective stuff.  each of us needs to figure out what works best for ... each of us.  

there are no shortcuts, trial and error rules.  

sure, you can get and give advice, but the opinions of others is just that.  it's always a crap shoot that what works well for someone else will work well for ... you.  ain't no easy way to choose tackle, but that can be a fun thing in itself.  ymmv.

[Mudd]

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
bows 'n' arras are ALL personally subjective stuff.  each of us needs to figure out what works best for ... each of us.  

there are no shortcuts, trial and error rules.  

sure, you can get and give advice, but the opinions of others is just that.  it's always a crap shoot that what works well for someone else will work well for ... you.  ain't no easy way to choose tackle, but that can be a fun thing in itself.  ymmv.

"Nailed it!"

Merry Christmas and God bless,Mudd

[VictoryHunter]

I'm getting close I think! I just ordered a Big Jim Thunderchild. One piece, 54" 45# @ 28" not sure of the woods but I think I would really like yew wood veneers for the limbs and sheep horn overlays on the back and tips of the bow. As for the riser I would like something dark but I'm going to let Big Jim pick. x2 on quality bow strings, they are every bit as important as arrows.

[Mojostick]

A few questions to consider.

How tall are you? What's your draw length? What weight is comfortable when shooting at the range, while standing in a tee shirt? How much lower do you think you should go in weight if hunting while sitting, in the cold and with many layers on? How old are you? Do you think you'll be shooting more or less weight in the future? What will you be hunting? Where will you be hunting? How far will you be shooting? Treestand or ground blind? 3 under or split finger? Will you be traveling with the bow? Do you like new bows or vintage bows?

[VictoryHunter]

Originally posted by Mojostick:
A few questions to consider.

How tall are you? What's your draw length? What weight is comfortable when shooting at the range, while standing in a tee shirt? How much lower do you think you should go in weight if hunting while sitting, in the cold and with many layers on? How old are you? Do you think you'll be shooting more or less weight in the future? What will you be hunting? Where will you be hunting? How far will you be shooting? Treestand or ground blind? 3 under or split finger? Will you be traveling with the bow? Do you like new bows or vintage bows?

This!

[damascusdave]

Originally posted by Mojostick:
A few questions to consider.

How tall are you? What's your draw length? What weight is comfortable when shooting at the range, while standing in a tee shirt? How much lower do you think you should go in weight if hunting while sitting, in the cold and with many layers on? How old are you? Do you think you'll be shooting more or less weight in the future? What will you be hunting? Where will you be hunting? How far will you be shooting? Treestand or ground blind? 3 under or split finger? Will you be traveling with the bow? Do you like new bows or vintage bows?

Exactly why I tend to maintain an inventory of about 15 bows, right and left handed, new and vintage, recurve and longbow, in a variety of draw weights...thanks for reminding me

DDave

[paoliguy]

I have come to the conclusion the perfect bow is always .... the next one!

[KenH]

Ayup.  No right or wrong.  Just what works for you.

I prefer bows under 48" t-t-t, under 40# and as deeply recurved as you or I can make them...

[threeunder]

Originally posted by paoliguy:
I have come to the conclusion the perfect bow is always .... the next one!

Ain't it the truth!

If I were left with but one bow (gasp!!!) I'd go nuts!!!

But give me two....the first is a MOAB, the second is a short, 3pc, static tip recurve with belly mount limbs (think Eaglewing Steppe Eagle or Kempf Kwyk Styk).

The thing about the perfect bow is that not only is it different for everyone, from any given year, and for some, even a change in how we feel, what we are wearing or the weather can change what is the perfect bow. The place to start is always the grip, it has to work for how you shoot. Next would be the pull, then the length, then everything else. Lucky for us, the choice is vast and lots of choices work just fine. After all these years, I know what will work for me, but man I have made a couple of really stupid choices. The two wheeler wing thing that cracked in the middle, that was way too light and way to long of a draw, (I had to stand on my tip toes to get it over the hump) and completely the wrong arrows.  I said 'but I really like the Wing slim line'. He said 'trust me I know that this is what you need'. It was a good thing that the archery shop owner that conned me into that rig went out of business, I would still be picking on him.

[Pete McMiller]

My perfect bow is a Big River, has a straight grip, R/D profile, 60#@28" and 66" long with an 8 strand D10 string with beaver balls AND be a take down.  Fortunately I have all that in the bow I already shoot except the take down part.  If I absolutely NEED to make a shot, that's the bow that I pick up.

[Shakes.602]

Ok, I am 5' 9", maybe a tad taller with m'boots on. 27" drawlength, What BowLength would y'all recommend?? Just wondering if mine are "Right" or not.

Now with a 27" draw and 5'9" you are about the same as me with a grip with some shape to it, and a tad shorter with a straight grip longbow. I have some experience with length choices. for me an extra long longbow causes the string to contact my body too much in some shooting positions, but it did give me the ability to snag higher apples on the only apple tree where I hunt. But a standard 66" Hill style, 62" r/d, or a 58" hybrid would all fit. A 27" draw is a very convenient draw length. However, John Schulz thought that I was drawing a bit to far for a Hill style bow and he was correct, I am a better shot at 26&1/4" with any straighter gripped longbow regardless of the weight.