Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: bow101 on March 21, 2014, 02:24:34 pm

Title: Bow Brace
Post by: bow101 on March 21, 2014, 02:24:34 pm
      What is the ideal bow brace for you guys assuming you are using 5" fletching.  I seem to be happy with around 6 1/2" using 5" fletching,  is that not enough..?  I know there are other bow tuning factors involved here, like maybe lenght of bow, style of bow etc...       



 
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on March 21, 2014, 02:40:01 pm
Its ALL about the bow and what it wants. Mine vary from under 5" to over 6 1/4". Unbacked shortys prefer shorter braces while the same bow sinewed will want at least another inch to perform and quiet down. Brace height is underplayed in my opinion. Sometimes we tinker with 2 or 3 different arrow spines to get a bow quiet and smooth when in reality most often adjusting the brace will work as good with the same spined arrow. Next to the bows tiller, there is no more important factors IMO.
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: Pat B on March 21, 2014, 07:59:12 pm
I brace all of my bows at my fistmele, about 6". That changes depending on the handle style I use.
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: Badly Bent on March 21, 2014, 09:11:49 pm
For me its usually as low as will allow good arrow flight and a quiet sendoff. On my bendy handle bow that can sometimes be as little as 4-3/4" from the belly side of the handle. Often times my fletching still hangs past the arrow pass slightly. In a hunting situation I'll put some tension on the string as a deer approaches to keep the feathers from making that bristling noise when the game is on and I start my draw to shoot. Can't have that noise when a deer is within spitting distance. ;)
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: DGF on March 21, 2014, 10:15:29 pm
I'm sure it's probably better for a bow to be strung under the lowest brace that gives good arrow flight, however there must be something about my sloppy shooting that makes low braced bows slap the crap out of my wrists. Higher braces and I can shoot without a arm guard. I, like Pat, usually end up around fistmele.

-Dan
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: mullet on March 21, 2014, 10:34:47 pm
Dan;  wrist guard ;)
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: adb on March 22, 2014, 12:32:53 am
I brace almost all my bows with 6.5" - 7" from the back of the bow. But as Pearls mentioned, it depends on the bow and each one is a bit different. Brace height definitely has to be tuned, and is under appreciated as a method of making your bow shoot better.
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: 4dog on March 22, 2014, 02:30:49 am
last bow i built braced out at 7"...it was very sloppy till then.
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: paulsemp on March 22, 2014, 03:50:07 am
Its ALL about the bow and what it wants. Mine vary from under 5" to over 6 1/4". Unbacked shortys prefer shorter braces while the same bow sinewed will want at least another inch to perform and quiet down. Brace height is underplayed in my opinion. Sometimes we tinker with 2 or 3 different arrow spines to get a bow quiet and smooth when in reality most often adjusting the brace will work as good with the same spined arrow. Next to the bows tiller, there is no more important factors IMO.


I've been noticing this a lot more lately.
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: Bryce on March 22, 2014, 04:54:21 am
I brace all of my bows at my fistmele, about 6". That changes depending on the handle style I use.

Same here.
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: bow101 on March 22, 2014, 03:18:49 pm
Thanks for the replys as usual.     One more thing~~~~~~~~~~~~~Is the Arrow nock point more critical compared to Brace height..?
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: Pat B on March 22, 2014, 10:07:33 pm
They go together. There really isn't much tune up work to set up a traditional bow and brace height and nock point is it. For me, I set my initial nock point at 3/8" above horizontal but I also nock my arrow on top of the nock point. That and my fistmele usually get my bows where they shoot well. Or am I setting myself up to shoot different bows the same.  :-\
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: bow101 on March 22, 2014, 11:30:36 pm
............3/8" above horizontal but I also nock my arrow on top of the nock point. That and my fistmele usually get my bows where they shoot well. Or am I setting myself up to shoot different bows the same.  :-\

That's a good one Pat almost forgot about knocking, ??? under or over the nock point.  Is this just personnal preference like shooting split or 3 under.?
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: Pat B on March 23, 2014, 12:16:31 am
Yeah, I think so. In the early archery books I read most archers nocked their arrows over because they could draw the arrow from their back quiver, get it on the string and slide it down to the nock as thy came to full draw. Modern archers, probably because of treestand hunting, nock their arrows below the nocking point so the arrow will stay on the bow with the bow hanging from a peg. I like loose arrow nocks too unlike most folks...and never got the 3 under thing either. I guess I couldn't shoot 3 under with my style anyway.  :-\
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: bowtarist on March 23, 2014, 11:58:03 am
Some of my bows have a top and bottom nock point. If you have ever seem someone string walk, they have several different nocking points and always aim point on. I shoot three under w/ very short bows, but split finger on longer bows. I shot w/ a guy in Scottsburg who shoots three under and he was a nail driver. It's what you get used to I suppose. "Or am I setting myself up to shoot different bows the same." Good point Pat, dp
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: Pat B on March 23, 2014, 01:25:41 pm
I try to shoot the same bow and arrows no matter what I'm doing, hunting, target shooting or 3D. I want everything to be the same no matter what I'm doing. Instinctive shooting requires consistence in all aspects of shooting. Some folks like shooting lighter bows for target and 3D. To me, that create a break in the continuity of my shooting and would set me up for less consistent shots than if I as shooting with the same gear all the time.
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: 4dog on March 26, 2014, 10:01:43 am
i knock my arrow above the point ...arrow nock sits on the nock point...sometimes i make a trap point with one over the nock and one under.
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: Pappy on March 28, 2014, 06:50:11 am
I brace mine about like Pat,usually between 5 1/2 to 6 depending on the bow, that is from the belly of the bow, as for nocking point I start at about 1/4 to 3/8 above center and go from there until I get the arrow hitting the target square,I nock the arrow under the nock set. I start at about 10 feet and see if the arrow is tail high or low and adjust the nock point until I get it right. ;) Can't stand a bad flying arrow. :) May not always hit  just where I am looking but it must be flying good and true or I have no confidants in it at all. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Bow Brace
Post by: bow101 on March 29, 2014, 12:43:31 am
One more question Pappy,  do normally make your arrow pass 1 1/2" above center..?