I'm looking to make a slightly shorter longbow as my current one is 68" NTN. I made it over 30 years ago, and it's a bit unwieldy in a tree. I'm looking for 60# at 31" in a reflex deflex design. How short can I reasonably go without stacking, and how much reflex/deflex do I want?
I'm looking for shootability for deer hunting above all else, so I will gladly give up a few fps for something easier to shoot accurately. This should hopefully be a spring project, so I'm trying to get my thoughts together a bit ahead of time and would appreciate any advice y'all have to offer.
Thanks
First off you really don't need 60 lbs. 50 would be plenty. Look at something like a Thunderchild. A short riser a lot of deflex and reflex. And a 58 in. Would go 31-2 draw. If Kenny still has plans his FHLB might be just right.
I'm out of plans but Eric at bendingbranchbows.com is selling my plans and router templates now and the parts to build bows .
So Kenny is this who we can order from instead of you. Being your retired? :bigsmyl:
Yes, he is still stocking stuff, so doesn't have all of it in yet. :thumbsup:
I think for a 31" draw length I wouldn't go less than 60" myself with a 17" riser. Might even go 62". You are going to be most happy with a hybrid long bow design.
.02 cents worth
Wow, I'm pleasantly surprised I could go that short! I was going to be happy if I could get down to 64". Those plans look pretty intriguing and quite possibly just what I'm looking for.
I'd like to stick with 60lbs as that's what I have now and hopefully I can keep shooting my current set of arrows. We do have some pretty big pigs here, 300 lbs or so, and I'd like to have a bit more thump if shooting one of those guys.
Thanks,
Quote from: Camp Creek on February 09, 2026, 01:38:29 PMWow, I'm pleasantly surprised I could go that short! I was going to be happy if I could get down to 64". Those plans look pretty intriguing and quite possibly just what I'm looking for.
I'd like to stick with 60lbs as that's what I have now and hopefully I can keep shooting my current set of arrows. We do have some pretty big pigs here, 300 lbs or so, and I'd like to have a bit more thump if shooting one of those guys.
Thanks,
Nothing wrong with shooting 60# . i'm 70 years old and my hunting bow is 57#. Its always best to hunt with as much draw weight as you can use comfortably. no such thing as too much power with a 300 pig. :thumbsup:
if you don't mind a 64" bow, and want more of a D shape long bow design. check out my flatliner design here. These will easily draw to 31" without stacking in a 64" length. I might even be able to share a template so you can get a form built. Maybe a little horse trading?
Are you wanting a one piece, or a take down model? Here are both.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SQbr4YYnbMGDfy2B7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YKDN29wyr6SC4S2j7
here is a 2 piece TD model
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7K8g7MdsLpwQmnFV6
and the 3 piece TD model
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fJLXLBcNMzoSD7gq7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6chkz7wRRkjjq8zo9
And here is my Sasquatch Hybrid long bow... this limb design will draw 33" at a 60" length with no stacking or finger pinch.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9xJBNWtvHBFXUJCq5
Well this whole project sounds even better than I originally thought! Now, to get power to my shop at the farm so I can begin. We are going totally off grid, so we have to upgrade the solar set up to handle a bigger AC, mill, saws, etc. Hopefully, I'll be able to start in earnest late this spring.
Kirkll, I'm certainly open to some horse trading, what did you have in mind?
i'll send you a PM :thumbsup:
Kennys 60" fhlb is a real shooter
Quote from: Camp Creek on February 12, 2026, 08:18:02 AMWell this whole project sounds even better than I originally thought! Now, to get power to my shop at the farm so I can begin. We are going totally off grid, so we have to upgrade the solar set up to handle a bigger AC, mill, saws, etc. Hopefully, I'll be able to start in earnest late this spring.
Kirkll, I'm certainly open to some horse trading, what did you have in mind?
After swapping a few pm's I can see us doing some horse trading. As far as form building goes, I've had my best luck with both one piece forms and TD limb forms using 1/4" Masonite or MDF board templates that I cut out and shaped by hand, then used them with a large router and trim bit to actually cut the forms. I use a 2hp router table set up for this rather than free handing.
I highly recommend using the para lam material over laminating plywood. You want the 1.75" thick x 12" material, and do NOT plane it down to 1.5" for building with 1.5" lams. These paralams are outstanding for no twist or warping as long as to keep the factory surface undisturbed. I learned this one the hard way... using this for forms is definitely worth the expense.
The only thing I cannot speak of is how the material holds up over time going in and out of a hot box. I use heat strips and don't use my hot box much anymore except occasionally laying up footed risers and lowering MC levels.
.02 cents worth.
Looking forward to trading horses!
I'm thinking about using Starboard Marine Lumber for my form and posted it under a separate thread so it would be easier for someone to find later if they were looking for more information on it.