I'm new on here so sorry if this is the wrong place to post this question. I'm on the list to get a new Centaur Carbon Elite longbow but I haven't given Jim my details on the build yet. I haven't been shooting a trad bow but about 2 1/2 years so I'm hoping that someone on here that has shot one or has one can give me their honest opinion on the length I should get. I'm 5'9" and have a 28" draw and will be hunting from a tree stand 95% of the time. I'm trying to decide between the 62" or 60". Jim and a few others said the 60" inch would be good. I'm looking for the most forgiving and accurate length I can get because I need it haha. I have a 62" and a 60" recurve and really can't tell much difference just haven't shot many longbows. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.
I have a 60-inch and a 62" both with the same specifications. Both are absolutely outstanding bows. When I go hunting in a treestand or thick cover, I almost always take the 60-inch just to be a bit more compact.
If I had to have only one of the bows, I would pick the 60-inch one.
Quote from: smokin joe on February 24, 2026, 10:45:17 AMI have a 60-inch and a 62" both with the same specifications. Both are absolutely outstanding bows. When I go hunting in a treestand or thick cover, I almost always take the 60-inch just to be a bit more compact.
If I had to have only one of the bows, I would pick the 60-inch one.
Thank you. That's pretty much what I was hoping for someone that had both. I was leaning toward the 60" because Jim and a few others had requested it but I've heard a lot of people say get the longest longbow you can get and I haven't shot many so I just wanted to get as much info and advice before I drop that much coin. Thanks again!
I'm having a rough time navigating my way around this forum might be my age lol.
I had a 60", and now have a 58". Both are great, and I really couldn't tell a difference in smoothness of the draw cycle between the two. My DL is 28.5", and I got it to hunt the thick stuff, so I went shorter. No difference in accuracy either.
One upgrade I would recommend is Dark Matter in the riser. It adds a noticeable and welcome weight to the handle. The 60" had an all wood riser and was feather light. The 58" with Dark Matter feels great, and is much more stable at the shot.
Quote from: Maclean on February 24, 2026, 12:35:23 PMI had a 60", and now have a 58". Both are great, and I really couldn't tell a difference in smoothness of the draw cycle between the two. My DL is 28.5", and I got it to hunt the thick stuff, so I went shorter. No difference in accuracy either.
One upgrade I would recommend is Dark Matter in the riser. It adds a noticeable and welcome weight to the handle. The 60" had an all wood riser and was feather light. The 58" with Dark Matter feels great, and is much more stable at the shot.
Thank you. Yeah dark matter was on the list even if I don't get a take-down version. Both of my recurves have some weight to them and I always liked a heavy compound when I shot them. I guess it's looking like a 60" for me and that's what Jim recommended or even shorter. Now do I get snake skin or not 🤔. Thanks again for the help and advice!
Have owned four Triple Carbon Elites....all were G10.
.. Three were 62" and one was a 58"r...never owned a 60"r....I draw 28"s...The 62"rs are absolutely at pinnacle for smoothness, accuracy, forgiveness, performance and most wonderful shot experience... the 58"r shared many of the 62" characteristics. However, I struggled with accuracy beyond 15 yards where I could easily group beyond 40 yards with the 62"rs.
Quote from: Friend on February 25, 2026, 02:32:31 PMHave owned four Triple Carbon Elites....all were G10.
.. Three were 62" and one was a 58"r...never owned a 60"r....I draw 28"s...The 62"rs are absolutely at pinnacle for smoothness, accuracy, forgiveness, performance and most wonderful shot experience... the 58"r shared many of the 62" characteristics. However, I struggled with accuracy beyond 15 yards where I could easily group beyond 40 yards with the 62"rs.
Okay that's what I've always thought and heard about a longbow. I feel like I could shoot a 60" fine as far as draw length and finger pinch goes but I'm looking for forgiveness and accuracy. I know it's the person behind the bow that accounts for the accuracy just would like to have all the help I can get. Could you tell if you lost any efficiency with the 62" bow compared to the 58"? Some tell me that if I went to a 62" I would lose some efficiency from the shorter 60.
I don't know I was just wondering how much. That's a pretty big difference in accuracy from 15 to 40 yds. Thanks for sharing.
This is timely because my build should be coming up in a couple of months and I've had some of the same questions. I've been debating between the 60 and 62 for my 28"" draw length. I'm leaning toward the 60 because I've talked to a couple of guys who have had several Centaurs and said that the 60" was their favorite, and I don't have any bows that short. Good luck with the build.
I have owned several of Jims bows currently have five. My favorite has been the 60" glass model, no finger grooves. For me the feel and the quietness of this one is just fantastic. I draw 28". If I were you I would concentrate most on the grip you want. Give Jim more than the drawing he asks for. Circumference and angle measurements etc and Jim will nail it.. Stippled or not...finger grooves or not,,, He does some great riser carvings too. You just gotta figger out what you want.
Quote from: 4dogs on February 25, 2026, 09:55:23 PMI have owned several of Jims bows currently have five. My favorite has been the 60" glass model, no finger grooves. For me the feel and the quietness of this one is just fantastic. I draw 28". If I were you I would concentrate most on the grip you want. Give Jim more than the drawing he asks for. Circumference and angle measurements etc and Jim will nail it.. Stippled or not...finger grooves or not,,, He does some great riser carvings too. You just gotta figger out what you want.
Do you own or have owned a 62" model?
I own a 62" and a 60" recurve and honestly can't tell a whole lot of difference in them. To tell you the truth I probably shoot the 60" more accurate but I haven't shot the 62" in a while. Just wondering your thoughts on the difference between the 60" and 62" if you have. I guess in other words I'd rather have a little shorter bow if I can shoot it the same. Thank you for the advice.
For a 28" draw I would bet about anything I could blinfold 99.9% of archers and have them shoot a 60 incher and a 62 incher and they couldnt tell the difference. I believe Jim is making a 64 inch too now...I have not had one of those
Same goes for the accuracy between them too. I think that your grip has more to do with that especially with this type of bow.
Quote from: 4dogs on February 25, 2026, 11:59:26 PMSame goes for the accuracy between them too. I think that your grip has more to do with that especially with this type of bow.
Thank you that helps a lot.
Quote from: Michael Guran on February 25, 2026, 09:10:33 PMThis is timely because my build should be coming up in a couple of months and I've had some of the same questions. I've been debating between the 60 and 62 for my 28"" draw length. I'm leaning toward the 60 because I've talked to a couple of guys who have had several Centaurs and said that the 60" was their favorite, and I don't have any bows that short. Good luck with the build.
Thanks! Like you most have recommended the 60". A few said 62" or even longer. I too am learning towards the 60" model. Good luck on your build as well.
I have had multiple 62 inch and multiple 60 inchers and one 58 incher.My 1st one was about 20 years ago in all glass.I have had all the models.All glass,glass with carbon center lam,chimera,double carbon and the tripple carbons.
I like the 60 incher a lot and its gonna be stable with the dark matter riser and tripple carbon limbs.Your draw will work well with the 60 incher.I did have the stippling done with combination of larger and smaller stippling.Looks excellant!
I really like the Selway Mini slide on longbow quiver on that bow in black rawhide for the Dark Matter and tripple carbon model.I had red stitching on that quiver that I had custom built for that bow.Holds 4 arrows with plenty of room for 4 broaheads of any size.I had the centaur logo laser etched onto the quiver in red.That looked awesome!Think about it for the bow quiver if you use one.Its my favorite on that bow.
Quote from: Steelhead on February 26, 2026, 01:36:20 AMI have had multiple 62 inch and multiple 60 inchers and one 58 incher.My 1st one was about 20 years ago in all glass.I have had all the models.All glass,glass with carbon center lam,chimera,double carbon and the tripple carbons.
I like the 60 incher a lot and its gonna be stable with the dark matter riser and tripple carbon limbs.Your draw will work well with the 60 incher.I did have the stippling done with combination of larger and smaller stippling.Looks excellant!
I really like the Selway Mini slide on longbow quiver on that bow in black rawhide for the Dark Matter and tripple carbon model.I had red stitching on that quiver that I had custom built for that bow.Holds 4 arrows with plenty of room for 4 broaheads of any size.I had the centaur logo laser etched onto the quiver in red.That looked awesome!Think about it for the bow quiver if you use one.Its my favorite on that bow.
I will look into that. I have the Selway leather slide-ons on both my recurves. They're hard to beat. Could you tell much difference in the 62" and the 60" models as far as accuracy goes? I was hoping people like you that has owned both lengths would provide their experience with both. Thanks for the advice.
I really did not notice much difference if any between the 60 and and 62 inch bow as far as accuracy.Thats My personel experience.I think the 60 inch limb dampens out a tiny bit quicker do to each limb being 1 inch shorter.
The 62 inch bow with its longer limbs does have a tiny bit more reflex than the 60.I am pretty sure Jim told me that years ago.
When you get all the info you need.Think on it and talk to Jim before he builds the bow
I agree with Steelhead. Gather as much info as you can, weigh the pros and cons, determine the main purpose of the bow, and discuss all of it with Jim before he starts the build.
Jim has a bow length to draw length (without stacking) chart on his website, and I used that as part of my criteria. When I told Jim I wanted a bow for hunting in thick cover and short distances of 20 yards or less, he immediately suggested the 58" with my 28.5" DL.
I couldn't be happier with my 58", and I found no difference in smoothness of draw cycle or accuracy when compared to my 60". I think I would have to compare the 58 to a 62 or 64 to notice any difference.
Quote from: Steelhead on February 26, 2026, 03:44:35 PMI really did not notice much difference if any between the 60 and and 62 inch bow as far as accuracy.Thats My personel experience.I think the 60 inch limb dampens out a tiny bit quicker do to each limb being 1 inch shorter.
The 62 inch bow with its longer limbs does have a tiny bit more reflex than the 60.I am pretty sure Jim told me that years ago.
When you get all the info you need.Think on it and talk to Jim before he builds the bow
Yeah I'm definitely going to have Jim call before he starts. I'm leaning towards the 60". Most of the people who have suggested for me to get the 62" don't own or have not shot a Centaur longbow and most of the people that say a 60" would be ideal own or have owned Centaur longbows. Even Jim and another well known archer have told me I'd be happy with a 60". I guess I have about 8 months to change my mind. I appreciate the advice.
Quote from: Maclean on February 26, 2026, 07:16:36 PMI agree with Steelhead. Gather as much info as you can, weigh the pros and cons, determine the main purpose of the bow, and discuss all of it with Jim before he starts the build.
Jim has a bow length to draw length (without stacking) chart on his website, and I used that as part of my criteria. When I told Jim I wanted a bow for hunting in thick cover and short distances of 20 yards or less, he immediately suggested the 58" with my 28.5" DL.
I couldn't be happier with my 58", and I found no difference in smoothness of draw cycle or accuracy when compared to my 60". I think I would have to compare the 58 to a 62 or 64 to notice any difference.
I've seen his draw length chart and my 28" draw fits well inside the 60" bow.
Thanks for the advice.
I have both 60" 62" I like both equally I don't see much difference when shooting both. I tend to like the 60" a little better not sure why but I just do.
Quote from: Wild Bill MCP 808 on March 04, 2026, 02:18:36 PMI have both 60" 62" I like both equally I don't see much difference when shooting both. I tend to like the 60" a little better not sure why but I just do.
Thank you sir. I think you are about the 3rd person to tell me that they have both and that they seem to like the 60" a little better for some reason or another. I know there's very little difference but I just wanted to hear from people like you that had both to see what they thought. What is your draw length and poundage on both bows if you don't mind me asking? Thanks again for the reply.