Trad Gang

I shoot a 64 in. Bear Montana. Been thinking about trying a shorter bow. Some where around 56 or 57 ins. 45-50 @28. Any thoughts about the stabilities of the shorter length. Smoothness, cast any thoughts at all would be appreciated.

Butch, my first comment would be--why do you want a short bow?  Just interested or do you hunt in situations where the 64" bow is not working?  The difference you are looking at amounts to 4" difference in limb length for each limb--a significant difference especially in pop-up blind situations.  Unless you hunt in those you may really gain no advantage.  Most people would agree that all things being equal (which they never are      ) a longer bow will be smoother drawing, more stable and forgiving.  The only real advantage to a really short bow is space saving.  Having said that, I will admit to having two short "longbows"  one a 58" Tomahawk, the other a 56" Miami Valley bow.  They both shoot well, do not give me any finger pinch, but just do not feel as good to me as my longer bows.  I admit I got them to play with and see what the big deal was with short bows.  They really don't do much for me, but I am a guy who loves my 68-70" Hill style longbows so that no doubt has something to do with my feelings.  Probably ifyou are like me, you'll wind up just having to try one out and see for yourself, after all, that's part of the fun    :D

What is your draw length?

:coffee:

I draw 28ins. Not trying to start any arguments. I just wanted some opinions cause I've never shot a longbow less than 62ins.

Shrew bows

I have a 58" Kanati that is as smooth as any longbow I have ever shot. Jason Kendal make a great bow. Works well in my blind.

56-58" is too short if you want a "true" long bow as some would say.  Most LB's I have had were about as short as I could go at 60-62".If you like the short design R/D and hybreads then there are some nice shooting ones that lenght for your draw.  I like my Lost Creek 58" a lot.  A 56" Shrew CH would be sweet.

I have a Shrew Classic Hunter at 54" long. I draw 28 1/4" and it is as smooth as silk. I have no idea how such a short longbow can be so effective and smooth -- I just know that it is.
Try a Shrew or a Kanati. You will like them I am sure.
Joe

I have a short Hybrid Morrison Cheyenne bow, 60". Refuse to call it a longbow, too short. As far as how it shoots, closest word is WOW. It's the bow I won't even let my son touch.

There are times when a shorter bow is a huge advantage. Generally speaking, a 64" bow will be easier for most people to shoot well than a similar 56" bow. I have both. For shooting from a standing position in open areas, I would prefer a 64" bow. From most tree stands and ground blinds, a shorter bow is much more convenient. My Morrison Mini-14 riser with "C" length longbow limbs results in a 56" bow. I also have Shrew Classic Hunters in both 54" and 56". All of those shorter longbows shoot extremely well at my 29.5" draw length. Try a shorter bow and see what you think, but make sure it is a bow designed to be short and still draw smoothly to your draw length. I expect you will like it. That said, 64" bows have been used for everything for decades, and have done everything well.

Allan

QuoteOriginally posted by SS Snuffer:
I have a 58" Kanati that is as smooth as any longbow I have ever shot. Jason Kendal make a great bow. Works well in my blind.

Me too! Actually, I have two of them, but my 58" 46# Kanati is my go-to bow. It draws smoothly to my 28" draw with absolutely zero stack and zero hand shock. It is whisper quiet and will smoke a 520 grain arrow through a whitetail and into the ground on the other side at any reasonable range.  I have 62" bows and have shot as long as 64" longbows. I have found NO advantage in the longer bows over my Kanati in smoothness, accuracy, silence or anything else. The Kanati works great from the ground, from a tree stand, or from a pop-up blind.

Jason is a great guy and a great bowyer. His bows are VERY reasonably priced. Take a look at JKbows.com.

And no, I don't work for nor am I in any way related to Jason Kendall. I just love his bows!

I also shoot a Kanati, great bow in my opinion.I see you are in St Clair co,I am in Henry Co. Mo, you would be welcome to shoot my Kanati so you could see if you would like a short long bow.

You can't beat the offer made by carpenter. That would eliminate any doubts you might have and fairly cheaply too.
In fact it just might pay off in huge dividends, like making a new trad friend and possible hunting buddy.


God bless,Mudd

Carpenter,
That's a very generous offer. I'd like to take you up on sometime. Thanks much.

I was perfectly happy shooting my K-mag. Short as it was it was nice to use. Then I went hunting with Mudd. Started shooting his longbows. Now I'm hooked.

They can be smooth and have no finger pinch.  The fact is they just won't shoot as good as a longer bow.  BECAUSE the angle from the top of your finger to the top tip and the angle from your bottom finger to the bottom tip puts more string on your fingers with a short bow.  This makes the most important part of the shot - the release more critical.  Viper has a great picture of this in his book.  I believe page 13.

Olympic bows are 70 inches for a reason.  Compounds are shot with releases for the same reason.  All these guys that are shooting soooooo great with their 56 and 60 inch bow, would shoot better with a 64 or longer.

Stay with 64 or go longer it will improve your accuracy.  And that's the name of the game.

Bowmania

I have a 58" Hill Badger.  It is slower than my 64" Tembo.  Both bows are 60# at 26", I draw both 28".  The Badger has a lot less cast than the Tembo, somewhere around 35 yards if memory serves.  That being said, I don't have problems with pinch with either bow.  Also, at hunting ranges of 25 yards or less the Badger performs just as well as my longer bows.  When going through the woods, the shortet bow is much easier to use.  Bill

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I just LOVE mine....a Solstice longbow built by a member here by the name of Elk Ninja..

Oh, 47#@28" and 58" tall. It slings a 500 gr. arra pretty good. Not as good as my Gila, though. Longer is better.
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I think that one has to take the good with the bad. a sweet shooting long bow is a PITA to carry in the shrubbery, and a short, easy to carry bow is a lot less forgiving..

Hey Butch
I just found out that because my new-to-me bow is a longbow I now need  to use a back quiver. Apparently it goes with "the look".  Yahoo! Now I can really look the part of Robin Hood.   lol
I guess we'll need to find a back quiver for you too!

God bless,Mudd

QuoteOriginally posted by Bowmania:


Olympic bows are 70 inches for a reason.  Compounds are shot with releases for the same reason.  All these guys that are shooting soooooo great with their 56 and 60 inch bow, would shoot better with a 64 or longer.


Bowmania

Hunting bows are shorter than 70 inches for a reason too. Hunting from tree stands, pop-up blinds, and brushy timber bears little resemblance to Olympic archery. Neither the environment nor the target distances are the same.

Very few hunters (hopefully none) would take 70 meter shots at game animals. While it may be possible that one could gain some accuracy with a longer bow, the difference at practical hunting ranges is dubious at best.

I have never felt handicapped with my 58" bows. I have, however, had some difficulties both from tree stands and ground blinds with my 62" bows. More than once I have had to watch deer escape because I could not find an angle with clearance for one limb or the other.  I can only imagine how much more difficult it would be with a bow of 64" or more.

Also, being built rather low to the ground, I find it quite difficult to string a bow longer than 62".    :thumbsup:

How long of a shot does Byron take when he's shooting something out of his wife hand and what's the length of his bow?  Most of the trick shots are a hunting ranges or shorter.

Did Howard shoot a short bow?

And if the 64 inch bow prevents you from taking the directly underneath shot that's a good thing.  In my opinion, that's a wounding shot.  Too many things can go wrong and not many correct.

Bowmania

Not all "short longbows" are made the same. You cannot just shorten a 62-64" longbow design. Kanatis (or would it be Kanatae?) and Shrews are designed to be "short longbows" and that is why they are such sweet shooters.

Problems with a 62" longbow in a treestand sounds like a problem with the stand. Small platforms work for most bows and are easier to hang (Loc-on Limit, Chippewa Chief,Ghost or Quest)

I agree that 58" works well. I use a bow quiver and a 54" Shrew has arrows extending past the end of the bow which is annoying but that has nothing to do with the shooting qualities of the bow.

This is really all a mute point since carpenter stepped up. Take your stand and go shoot carpenters bow. :biglaugh:

I don't recall saying anything about a directly underneath shot. I've never attempted one nor would I. I heartily agree with you on that point.

I certainly wouldn't compare myself with Byron or Howard. I would wager either of those men could out shoot either of us with a bow of ANY length.

Since you mentioned it, Hill did shoot long bows. Then again, he didn't have access to modern, short R/D bows. If he had, it is possible he would have chosen one of them. That is something we will never know. He also used wooden arrows. Had he had access to carbon arrows, do you think he would have used them?

Howard was Byron's hero, according to Byron, which is why Byron chose the longbow in the first place. His trick shots are taken from 10 to 15 yards. He says so in his book, and I have seen him in person. With his vision and hand-eye coordination, I don't think it would matter much what he shot.

On the other hand, I don't think I could shoot an aspirin out of the air with a bow of any length if my life depended on it. I can and have shot whitetails at ranges of 15 to 22 yards with 58" to 62" longbows. None of them seemed to notice the difference.

Shoot 58" Centaur bows at my 28 1/2 draw and find that to be the perfect mix. Tried longer and wasn't as good.60" Toelke Whips and MOABs are nice too.

Butch, There are a lot of bows out there. IMHO the short/long bow you are seeking can be had wit h Black Creek. Have Jim send you a Banshee. Fine bow, good man, great value.

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Short bows are just fun to shoot!
This is my go to bow for deer.

Anyone have experience with a Navajo Caddo in say 58" by Roy Hall?

Wow folks. I really didn't want to start a wizzin' contest! I appreciate all the responses& pics of beautiful bows.

I had a Caddo, but it was 62". I don't think he makes a Caddo 58", but I'm not sure. It was a smooth shooting, accurate bow, but the grip just didn't fit my small hand, so I traded it. They are very well built. Finish is superb. It wasn't as fast as a Kanati or as quiet, but a very nice bow none-the-less. If the grip had been smaller, I might still own it.

Let's not forget about Dave Beeler's hybrid longbows. I have a 56" and I LOVE it. Smooth, very quiet, and plenty fast.

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The trouble with those short Beeler bows is they are only good on short targets, like that groundhog!    :biglaugh:   Nice shooting.

Allan

I've been shooting a Striker Stinger for about a month and I love it!! it's 56" 51# @ 28" and I shoot it better than my 60" recurve.

Butch.....I gotta few you can try out.  I got long, 64", med, 58" and short 46".  You can try them if you'd like.  I like all of 'em, they're all good shooters, just different.  :archer:

Butch,

I think the "long and short" of this story is you have to try some short bows out. I personally will never shoot a short bow again, but that's just my opinion.

-Charlie

I have a 58" whisperstick 50lbs at 28. Just picked it up and loved it.  It is fast and packs a punch!  I love shooting it, I hunted this year with a 66" bow and have shot several bows in the 60-66" range and think I shoot the longer ones better.

Currently having a Big River built at 45lbs and 64".  I think the longer ones shoot better but the short one will do the trick on any big game.  I think if I keep shooting it I will be a better shot however once my new bow gets in, it will be my go-to.

After shooting the short bow I can keep shots within a 5 inch radius at 20 yards but it took about a month of practice.  

Sorry for the babble but you asked.

How about a Navajo Apache in say a 58", I had this one confused with the Caddo earlier.   Anyone have experience with a short Navajo Apache which has a forward grip design?

The trend of the day is 'shorter long bows' and soon it will be 'longer short bows'-lots of marketing out there folks.

I once owned a Roy Hall 58" Caddo,it shot very well.I currently own a 58" Centaur, and it is one of the best longbows I have ever shot.I am considering getting a 54 or 56 inch centaur,anybody have any experiences with those? I have a 26" draw length,and finger pinch is not at issue.I have shot longer bows of the same draw weight,but often find I can not draw them far enough to get the acceptable cast from them, as I can get from shorter model bows.

I shoot a 56" Thunderstick Mag and I love it for it manueverability plus I also have a short draw length.  But overall bow design I think has alot to do with the finger pinch.  I think that you outta find you some shorter longbows and shoot them and find out for yourself.    :)    :)