Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: lonbow on March 14, 2019, 06:25:10 am
-
Hi guys
In TBB1 I found a table showing, that bows with a length of 66-67" are the fastest ones. Longer bows tend to be a bit slower accoriding to this table.
However in TBB4, Tim Baker wrote that bows beeing longer then 68" still perform a little bit better.
What is the latest state of knowledge about bow length? Are there any new testings, or did anyone of you do some tests?
Im both interested in the best bow lengths for american flatbows and english longbows.
Greetings and thank you!
lonbow
-
I seem to get my best results from about 66" to 70".
-
Thank you, Badger! Your answer applies for american flatbows, right? Or do you also prefer english longbows that short?
-
I draw 25-26" and prefer 64-66" long bows for my style of shooting which is touch and go. That's ntn. That is for flatbows.
Jawge
-
I like 62" to 66" for my 26" draw. Flat bows.
-
Thank you, Badger! Your answer applies for american flatbows, right? Or do you also prefer english longbows that short?
Elbs I have had the best luck at around 72"
-
Do you think their is a direct relationship between draw length and bow length? A long draw length will work better with a longer bow and short DL with a shorter bow.
-
I think their is a strong relationship. Working limb length has a big effect on performance, the more working limb the more is lost to vibration. Longer limbs store more energy but are less efficient.
-
My draw is 28" and prefer a bow no shorter than 64" - 66" .
I dont like to draw shorter than my 28" draw it affects my anchor point. If my anchor point is the same all the time @ 28" which is a fixed variable, then changing that can reduce accuracy.
I dont like pulling a 60" bow or shorter beyond, 27". My argument is I don't want to shoot a bow pulling only 25-26" because its short in the risk that it may break.
Do you think their is a direct relationship between draw length and bow length? A long draw length will work better with a longer bow and short DL with a shorter bow.
Its kind of silly to be pulling a 68" bow to only 25-26" is it not. And pulling a short bow to draw lengths beyond 28" places more stress on the wood correct..? After all we are building wood bows here.
-
Its kind of silly to be pulling a 68" bow to only 25-26" is it not. And pulling a short bow to draw lengths beyond 28" places more stress on the wood correct..? After all we are building wood bows here.
That was kinda my point ;)
-
Its kind of silly to be pulling a 68" bow to only 25-26" is it not. And pulling a short bow to draw lengths beyond 28" places more stress on the wood correct..? After all we are building wood bows here.
That was kinda my point ;)
Got out of bed on the wrong side this morning..
-
Working length is the loop hole here, not just the bows OAL length. A 67-68" bow can be just fine for a 26" draw if the fades are 3-4" long. Long fades can make one super silky shot.
-
Pearl why is that?
-
There is A LOT more to the question than you are asking. Width, thickness, weight, draw length, wood type, environment, and bow design you want all come to play.
-
Pearl why is that?
Long fades make a bow more stable and keeps the bed farther away from the grip. That's not to say short fades or a "bending" grip cant be smooth to.
-
I agree with you pearl, I like my fades extra long also. By leaving the fades long you also have somewhere to go if the bow starts taking set and you need 4 mre inches of draw length. You can get that out of the fades with very little wood removal.
-
there are a million variables,,a long bow can be tillered to short draw,,
a short bow can be tillered for long draw etc etc etc,,what Badger and the other guys said,, is good advice,,
a longer 68 inch bow could shoot well at 25 inches of draw,,,,, if it was tillered for that draw,, it would perform well,, just like when people start to discuss the weight of arrows,, 10 gpp,, will work well in most bows,, but lighter and heavier for certain applications,, and of coures the the point of diminishing return,, if you go to short or too long ,, or too light or too heavy,,,, its complicated,, :NN
-
For my standard flat bows I start at no less than a 3" fade and quite often they ride out a good 1/2" beyond that. I have no problem carrying around or shooting a 68-70" bow. I prefer them.
-
Yeah, longer bows are much smoother to draw. They donīt stack.
Building bows first with longer fades seems to be a really good trick! I suppose, that long fades are generally good for longer bow designs. It should help reducing the mass of the limbs and it will still store more energy, then a shorter bow. Is that right? I must definitely try it!
-
I started off making most of my bows 62" or 64". They have creeped up in length and I think I have settled in at 68 inches as my favorite. I draw 26".
-
I started off making most of my bows 62" or 64". They have creeped up in length and I think I have settled in at 68 inches as my favorite. I draw 26".
Did your bows get narrower then?
-
Not always, if you increase your fades to make the bow longer over all the limb cross section doesn't change. The limbs can, at times, get more narrow if you increase the working length only. That's where Steve's mass theory comes into play. You need "x" amount of working limb, or mass weight, for "x" poundage and draw.
-
To answer the question you need to define "optimal performance"... it differs for hunting, target, flight or shooting French knights!
Del
-
Not always, if you increase your fades to make the bow longer over all the limb cross section doesn't change. The limbs can, at times, get more narrow if you increase the working length only. That's where Steve's mass theory comes into play. You need "x" amount of working limb, or mass weight, for "x" poundage and draw.
Yes, youīre right. A bow can only be narrower, when the working length increases!
To answer the question you need to define "optimal performance"... it differs for hunting, target, flight or shooting French knights!
Del
Thatīs a point, Del! The best bow design can be different for each purpose! It depends, if I want more speed, accuracy ect.
And different arrow weights do also need different designs for sure. The construction of the ottoman and manchu bow is totally different. Yet each design is the best for its purpose ;) My question is about the optimal bow length for arrows with 8-10 ggp (arrow speed).