the bow i ordered was a 66" hybrid and my draw is 26.5"
the builder says it should work fine for 26-31" draw, then others are saying it wont for me and would be almost unless in the woods. im prety much worried sick and feel like a jerk since i already sent payment and he started the bow and im now just lost and confuessed about this.
im new to this and guess off to a bad start:(
Useless why? Are they telling you its too long to use in the woods? If so, you don't have the most intelligent archers giving you advice.
If the bow is at your weight, at your draw then it will work for you. I don't think it matters if it's 66" or 56". Shoot it 'til the cows come home.
As long as the draw weight is sufficient at your length there should be no problem. Are these "others" stickbow shooters?
Nothing wrong with that set up that I can see! Should be smoooooth and stable.
mostly do the the hybrid part and one of the guys was another guy who biulds hybrid bows.
ugh trad is killing me im so confuessed its not even funny. im pulling hairs out
I think you will be fine unless you decide to hunt from a pop-up blind.
QuoteOriginally posted by ermont:
I think you will be fine unless you decide to hunt from a pop-up blind.
never plan on it. if i do deer hunt with it ill be in a stand. for turkeys and stuff ill stick to the compound and shotgun, there tricky enough as it is haha
If you enjoy shooting a bow, then you'll just goin' to love that length..........Art
Not sure of the poundage, but as long as it is over the legal minimum for hunting, I wouldn't worry a bit.
Even if it isn't you mentioned you are a beginner, a low poundage bow is what you need.
As far as blinds, test them out. I use a 64" recurve pretty much vertical with room to spare.
the bow is going to be 45# (min for NY i believe). im new to this hybrid stuff but i have been shooting my 40# bear recurve at my dl for years.
so now it sounds like more eople are saying to not worry about it, some say no, my builder says it will work, another doesnt think it will be efficent at my draw. see why im confuessed? i have a ton of stuff going through my had, debating wether i should worry or not and have a HUGE headache for it haha. think i need to grab the recurve and shoot for a bit to relax then come back to this
I have a few 66" bows. Tough to hunt with in many different woods . Great with 3D/targets shooting, smooth shooting! But hunting I had too many issues with 66". I am not very tall to start with.
The bow you ordered, what is the poundage? For example 45@28"
As far as the reflex/delex part you have no worries about it being a good hunting bow.
In NY it only needs to be over 35# at your draw length.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8305.html (See: "Manner of Taking")
I shoot one of my 66" Robertson longbows everytime I hunt. I can't seem to see where your problem lies. I always thought it to be a good thing to have a new bow on order...
Get the book "Shooting the Stickbow" by Anthony Camera. It will answer almost every question you will have. If you can't find an answer there then seek advice here and take it with a grain of salt, as everyone is helpful but not every answer will meet your situation.
Personally, I like a long longbow.
Bows go through fashion cycles just like clothes, think of it as cuffs on trousers-nothing more. Right now the fashion is tending towards shorter bows. Don't get caught up in that-longer limbs are far more stable and store more energy; enjoy your new bow.
I'm confused about why it won't work.... I'd be pumped about a new bow if I were you.
I love a longer bow. To me, they are far more forgiving when my form isn't perfect. I think you will love it. Pay attention when you are setting up your stands to hunt and make sure you trim enough for good clearance. You'll be fine!
Dude,
Settle down, breathe, relax
I'm 5'6" on a good day and I shoot a 68" longbow without any problems in the woods. Make sure the pointy thing on the end of your arrow is plenty sharp and deliver it in the lungs and you'll be fine.
Take time and shoot the bow and find the combination of arrow spine and weight that works. Make super sure you can group them in your effective range. Build up some confidence in your shot with the new bow and take it from there.
There are way too many good bows up for sale in mint condition because people didn't give them enough time.
You are doing the "what if" thing which is being fueled by speculation.
That bow is gonna be fine. Its a modern bow, chill. If the poundage is ther it will work
Given that it is a hybrid design, I would contact the bowyer and ask him if there is anyway he could shorten your bow. Maybe he has only started the riser and hasn't yet laid up the laminations.
BTW, what length is the riser?
You will be fine with this bow. The longer length will be smooth as silk and more forgiving of release problems. Proper spine and weight arrows and your set to go.
Joe
Mark, I see no problems in length or weight. Is it 45# at your draw (26.5) or 45# @28".
No matter still sounds good to me.
Earl
I shot deer with 72" T2T longbow from treestands, Don't let anyone tell You a bow is to long for a tree stand..
QuoteOriginally posted by greyghost:
Mark, I see no problems in length or weight. Is it 45# at your draw (26.5) or 45# @28".
No matter still sounds good to me.
Earl
it will be around 45# at my 26.5dl. think he is going to build it 50# at 28"
im 5' 8" also so seeing how that other guy is 5'6" and uses a longer hunting bow i think i could make it work out. worst comes to worst i have a new target bow and have a excuse to buy another bow for hunting, or just use my recurve. think im just worrying for nothing
QuoteOriginally posted by Protege Longbows:
Given that it is a hybrid design, I would contact the bowyer and ask him if there is anyway he could shorten your bow. Maybe he has only started the riser and hasn't yet laid up the laminations.
BTW, what length is the riser?
not really sure. he said as of right now since he mostly just makes bows for his friends, family and him self he only has a form to make 66" bows. people that bought his self bows said his work is great, but those are different bows and seem to be his specialty
Send it to me and I will test it out for a few years for you.Its going to work fine.
If it is 45 at your draw it sounds like a fine hunting bow to me. I just don't see any problem with the weight, design or leangth.
Worry is a wasted emotion.My favorite best shooting bow is a 68" longbow and I'm 5'10".All bows have Pros and Cons.Don't let someone with preconceived ideas tell you what you will or will not like.Enjoy the bow!
If this is a self or all wood laminate bow then both you and the bowyer still have options. I would contact the bowyer and discuss your concerns with him.........Art
QuoteOriginally posted by sawtoothscream:
QuoteOriginally posted by greyghost:
Mark, I see no problems in length or weight. Is it 45# at your draw (26.5) or 45# @28".
No matter still sounds good to me.
Earl
it will be around 45# at my 26.5dl. think he is going to build it 50# at 28"
im 5' 8" also so seeing how that other guy is 5'6" and uses a longer hunting bow i think i could make it work out. worst comes to worst i have a new target bow and have a excuse to buy another bow for hunting, or just use my recurve. think im just worrying for nothing [/b]
See no problem Mark. Enjoy. But I think someone else said to discuss your concerns with the bowyer.
Earl
No worries, you're going to love the smooth draw. Nothing to worry about.
I'm 6' tall. I shoot 64" minimum. Prefer 68" and have hunted with 70" All recurves. I've hunted in every kind of tree you can think of. Hunted Every Province of Canada (except BC), Maine,Ma. RI.,Conn.,New York, Pa, Ohio, Wyoming, and Colorado. Also the isle of Newfoundland for Caribou. All different terrains and have not had any issues with my bow being too long. (the brush in Newfoundland is an exception, not shooting but catching the lower limb while walking).
I think you'll love that bow. I hope so.
I know your Hybrid is the issue, but I see a few warnings about bow length. Don't worry about it, its a beautiful length to hunt anywhere with.
You will have no problems. That should be one smooth bow. Go shoot something with it when you get it and don't listen to others who say it will be useless in the woods.
Ron
No
i just talked to the guy and he said that he understands he could build a smaller bow with his form. but he said it also has its issues. he said he builds his bows so they have the best blend between speed and smoothness.
said if i get the bow and simply cant get use to to the length of it, i can just send it back and he will redo it.
with this being a target and most likly just a rabbit bow i think it should work. ill be shooting in fields and open places for the most part.
i feel a little better now
I would rather have one too long than too short. Now that I think about it, I have never shot a bow that I thought was too long. I have shot one I thought was too short though. They are not very fun to shoot. They can be unstable. They pinch your fingers. The number one source you should listen to when talking about your bow is your bowyer. He knows his product better than anyone. Gary
A bow can be too short for a given draw length, but not too long. 64" should be perfect at your draw length; personally I wouldn't go any shorter.
I have a 66" longbow laying on my pool table right now. I have a 26" draw. I wouldn't consider the bow useless at all. When you get down to it, an extra 6-10" on a bow -- 3-5" on each end will only be noticed in a ground blind with a roof.
You should be very excited that the build has begun on your bow. Then you can tune it, practice, hunt with it, and show pictures about how full of use it is in the woods!
Good luck to you.
I'm 5'8" and shoot 66" bows all the time. Shoot them from ground blinds on my knees, sitting, and standing. Also from tree stands, have never had any problems with the length. As long as it is 45# at your draw you shouldn't have any concerns.
Stop worrying and enjoy it, it should be smooth drawing and stable. Much more of a pleasure to shoot than any cable gun ever produced.
RELAX!
Hey, your bow will be fine and 2 days after you start shooting your love it!! May take a little help tuning the arrow flight.
Years back EATMAN made 66" bows and was said to be the ideal length. You will enjoy this length to learn on and get your form down.
This will probably not be your only bow that you will buy but over the years. Howard Hill did quite well with the longer bows :wavey:
Are they trying to tell you that 66" is too short for your draw length (poppycock) or that it is too long for the woods (poppycock)? I've been shooting a 66" longbow in the woods for a while now with no ill effects and my draw length is 29".
Either way - I wouldn't worry about it. You'll be fine.
I draw 26" and have been shooting 60" and shorter bows for years, until last year when I got a 65" Bama Hunter (Hill Style) and I love the smoothness of her. Just a few days ago I got a 68" Bamboo Longhunter and what a Butter Smooth bow she is, and such a pleasure to shoot. I am drawing about 53# with both of them at my draw, and that's all I care about...adequate draw weight. I have too many important things to worry about, without adding "Power Stroke".."Maximum Effiency" and such to the list. I especially enjoy the feeling of stabilty and forgivness of these longer bows. I haven't hunted with the longer bows yet, but I don't forsee any issues, except small pop-up blinds, which I don't use. I still have short bows and enjoy them too. I will use whichever bow suits the type of shooting/hunting I'm doing.
So you'll be fine, stop worrying and savor the sweet anticipation of knowing you have a new bow in the build right now. Make sure you post pics and a review of her when she's done! :archer2:
I use a longer bow in every situation and prefer them to be 66" to 68 " wityh longbows and i Draw 27 " .....
Longer bows work just fine and i have been using longer bows for 30 years .
Lotta people round here with a lot of experience that'll tell you why they like longer bows .
Check out Ryan Rothaar's latest deer ... wirth a 66" recurve .
Don't sweat it ... your bow will be a sweet , forgiving and accurate bow .
I gave a 68" R/D bamboo core to a friend, he went hunting with me this fall with it. It kind of bothered me how often he was dead on at leaves and milkweed pods out to 30 yards with it. he draws it about 27 inches. Last year year he got a pass through on a moving deer with the large Magnus broadhead on a tapered cedar arrow. It is 49 pounds at his draw. Perhaps a slightly shorter one could have a touch more speed, a touch more speed that will not make any difference.
You will find the length will not matter. I have long bows from 58" too 68" and all of them shoot as well as you do. The longer bows are just more forgiving. I draw 26" @ 5'9", You will do well. Enjoy the new bow. I can't wait to get my new Toelke Lynz
you have made an awful mistake. you are going to be sorry .when the bow gets to your house box it up an send it to me right away.I love 66inch bows
iv been shooting a 66" longbow for 30 years i guess i better send it back,but i did shoot two deer and a turkey with it this year and two deer and a running rabbit last year. and i almost forgot a young friend of ours shoot one nice ten pointer with a bow that was 38# at his draw length. i say once you get this bow and learn how to shoot it your going to fall in love with it
I was shooting with my son in a popular 20+ year archery shop last week. The owner was telling my son that something was seriously wrong with my son's arrows.
They had four fletch!!!
If you have communicated what your desires are and you have a competent bowyer, then listen to him. One familiar problem is not knowing what we really want.
Don't count your chickens yet! You'll likely love it for its smooth draw and inherent accuracy. Wait and see...all good bows are re-salable as well, so don't get too worked up!
Good luck and don't prejudge this bow...give it chance.
Kris
My preference is 70" ntn & I hunt in trees & ground blinds, etc. w/o any trouble at all. Just what you get used to. Bet money you'll be fine. Bonus; longer is surprisingly fast & easy to draw & shoot.
i talked with the guy building it more and after hearing all of you i feel much better. besically ill be getting hte bow how he makes it and if i dont like the length he will take it back and do a smaller one. seems like everyone that has bought a self bow from him likes them alot. so im back to being happy.
so now im going to order a bow sqaure, a dozen GT arrows, a noc pliers, cat whiskers, quiver and a new tab (just have to find one for 3 under). think thats about. if you see something missing that i should buy or have any recommandations please post up. im going to try and have all this stuff before the bow arrives.
also what should i use for the kock point? i have metal one on my recurve but i usualy see like a served srea instead on most bows, saw that one guy used detal floss for his?
You'll be just fine! :thumbsup:
Suggest tying your string nocks instead of crimping brass. Use dental floss or old killed bowstring to tie nocks. Many if not most here tie nocks. Let your string stretch overnight first. And, do your tuning before nailing everything down. Bottom of my string nock is 3/8" from zero. Yours may be different.
any special way to tie them? im buying a bow square and im going to mess around. going to get a few arrows without feathers so i can bare saft tune the bow or try to at least. should i start off using crimping brass at first just to make it easier then once i find a spot good tie the string then redo it?
so string up the bow and leave it strung for a day to make sure its all stratched and good to go? then set it to the brace height and try from there?
just trying to figure out how to tune a trad bow. i havnt seen many trad shooters in my area that could help me out. any good videos that could start me off in the right direction?
I am of similar size and draw length as you, and have never had a problem shooting 66" bows. Yeah, a shorter bow might be a little handier in certain situations; however, your bow should be smooth on the draw without a hint of finger pinch.
Did you make a big mistake? In a word, no.
I think you are going to love that extra length.Remember all those target bows from the 1960s were long for a reason.The only way i can see that it may inhibit you is shooting out of a blind ,maybe.
If it's still in the "build process" it may be possible to have him shorten it a couple inches and take the limbs down to still make your weight??? :wavey: :coffee:
You can find a tutorial on tying the nock on in the How-To forum. I use the adjustable version. You can move them up or down the string by simply twisting them, sure makes it easier to tune. They are very easy to do. If you want to fix them in place after a string in shot-in, just apply a drop of glue.
QuoteOriginally posted by L. E. Carroll:
If it's still in the "build process" it may be possible to have him shorten it a couple inches and take the limbs down to still make your weight??? :wavey: :coffee:
already had a chat with him about it. he wants me to try it out how he makes it first then if i feel its to long he said just send it back and he will make a smaller one. so its worth a try, worst thing that happens is i dont like it and he makes a smaller one.
Mark,
No, you're not off to a bad start.
You will love that bow. You are in a good place now....come here and ask before you make any decisions....many here will bend over backwards to help you.
QuoteOriginally posted by sawtoothscream:
the bow is going to be 45# ...
at your 26.5" draw length, right?
Deep breath. Many reasons beside length to like or dislike a bow. Shoot your bow and decide for yourself then sell or trade if needed. You may be surprised. Mike
You will be fine.
Nock point build along (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000079#000012)
just one of the ways to do it.
QuoteOriginally posted by straitera:
Suggest tying your string nocks instead of crimping brass. Use dental floss or old killed bowstring to tie nocks. Many if not most here tie nocks. Let your string stretch overnight first. And, do your tuning before nailing everything down. Bottom of my string nock is 3/8" from zero. Yours may be different.
I'm pretty sure there are five times as many crimp on nocks as tie ons out there. Just don't install a crimp on with a hydraulic press and you will be fine.
I didn't see an armguard on your list. You are going to want one.
I shoot a 68" longbow at 26.5 inch draw.Longer the better for me.A 64" would only be 2" on each end. Not enough to worry about in a real hunting world.I built a 66" for a caribou hunt,great bow for that draw length.For me longer longbows are a pleasure to hunt with and good acuracy.My opinion,no worries!
QuoteOriginally posted by Rob DiStefano:
QuoteOriginally posted by sawtoothscream:
the bow is going to be 45# ...
at your 26.5" draw length, right? [/b]
yup around 45# at my 26.5 dl
QuoteOriginally posted by Jeff Strubberg:
QuoteOriginally posted by straitera:
Suggest tying your string nocks instead of crimping brass. Use dental floss or old killed bowstring to tie nocks. Many if not most here tie nocks. Let your string stretch overnight first. And, do your tuning before nailing everything down. Bottom of my string nock is 3/8" from zero. Yours may be different.
I'm pretty sure there are five times as many crimp on nocks as tie ons out there. Just don't install a crimp on with a hydraulic press and you will be fine.
I didn't see an armguard on your list. You are going to want one. [/b]
guess i should get one to try until i see if im going to hit the arm. that chit hurts haha. ive been lucky o far and havnt hit with my compound or recurve
I have a couple of 66" bows, and they are among the smoothest shooting bows I own. Under the right conditions a 66" bow is as good for hunting as any length of bow made, and better than most. A longer bow is always more stable and smoother than an otherwise identical shorter bow. A higher moment of inertia and longer limbs that bend at less angle for the same draw length are physical attributes that cannot be totally compensated for by other means, just like a larger objective lens on a telescope is inherently desirable. That said, I never choose one of my 66" bows for hunting because they do not have the versatility and adaptability of my shorter bows.
For most of my hunting today, I generally pick up one of my bows of 60" and less that is designed to function well at my 29.5" draw length. For carrying around, shooting from a tree stand or ground blind, transporting in a vehicle, and using in other restricted areas, the shorter length and lighter physical weight of my 54" to 60" bows far more than makes up for the advantages of a longer bow.
Even though I make those statements about shorter bows, until the last few years when I discovered the newer bow designs that could result in really good, short lengths, most of my hunting was done with 64" bows, which are not that much shorter than a 66" bow. Of course, I am 6'1" tall, so a 66" bow is not as comparatively long for me as it is for you. I used my 64" bows in lots of different hunting conditions and took quite a bit of game with them without ever thinking they were too long. And the utility of those 64" bows has not changed over the years. They are just as good for hunting today as they were 5, 10, 20, or 30 years ago when I was shooting them all the time. In fact, if I didn't have my shorter bows, I would gladly hunt with a 64" or 66" bow all season long, every season, for the rest of my life.
Back when I was really young, as in ages 5 through 25, I shot shorter bows of older designs. Of course, that was no problem when I was 14 or younger, but as I started growing much taller and increasing my draw length between 15 and 19 years old, bows like my old Browning Nomad II started stacking on me, pinching my fingers and feeling less than ideal. A 64" bow was a welcome change for me when I finally got one and had a bow that was smooth and forgiving and shot well for me.
Did you make a huge mistake? I would say the bow is definitely big (maybe even huge for someone your size), but the mistake is probably a little one. The bow will work well for you; however, if you were to shoot a really nice, shorter length bow, you would probably wish you had ordered a bow like that rather than the one you did. No problem. Learn to shoot well with the bow you get and then try out a bunch of bows next time before you buy your next one so that you won't have to ask yourself and others whether you made a mistake.
Allan
busted out my old bear polar 64" 51#at 28" long bow not to long agoand shot the best i ever have with trad gear. i just plan shot way better and consistant then i ever have with my 60" bear kodiak recurve 45# at 28"
guess i do like longer bows after all haha. think im going to enjoy the new bow
A 66" longbow is a wonderful thing to shoot and hunt with. I really had no issues with mine- ever. But I don't hunt from blinds and hunt out West...
Sure maybe you can't take a shot that you might take with a shorter bow- but so what? I don't think THAT has a lot to do with success anyway.
My draw is different from yours, but as a hunting bow and set up for your draw/weight, a 66 incher has a lot going for it. Like forgiving of form mistakes to name just one.
Joshua
Quote
already had a chat with him about it. he wants me to try it out how he makes it first then if i feel its to long he said just send it back and he will make a smaller one. so its worth a try, worst thing that happens is i dont like it and he makes a smaller one.
It sounds like you're dealing with a real stand-up guy :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by gobblegrunter:
Quote
already had a chat with him about it. he wants me to try it out how he makes it first then if i feel its to long he said just send it back and he will make a smaller one. so its worth a try, worst thing that happens is i dont like it and he makes a smaller one.
It sounds like you're dealing with a real stand-up guy :thumbsup: [/b]
he is. he has been dealing iwth me every well haha. for being 19rs old he has some skill and makes some nice looking bows.
I shoot a 68" R/D Longbow 61#@28" I draw it 27" and It shoots a 525gr arrow @ a average speed of 183 fps through my chronograph.
Reading all this makes me think I should be looking for a 68" longbow, maybe around 45# at 28". I thought I was done buying bows. Thanks Mark. :thumbsup:
Im 5'9" and draw 27". All my bows are 68" Hill style bows. I had a 66" and sold it. You should love a 66" hybrid. Never had any clearance issue with mine. You made a good choice. Shoot it and give it time till you learn how to shoot it.
I think that is all depends on what you like, and your style of shooting. Some on here like longer bows, some shorter. Me, I like them all. Sometimes I feel that the longer bows shoot better for me, then a few weeks later I like the shorter bows. Did you make a huge mistake? NO! You are shooting Traditional!!!
I noticed you shoot 3 fingers under. The shorter the bow the less you are going to like the finger pinch.
I'm 5'9" and I can make any length bow I want. My personal bows are 66".
QuoteOriginally posted by ronp:
Reading all this makes me think I should be looking for a 68" longbow, maybe around 45# at 28". I thought I was done buying bows. Thanks Mark. :thumbsup:
your welcome. cant have to many bows. think i might start saving up for another soon haha. going to wait until i go to the denton hill shoot so i can try out some other people bows. i shoot with a group up there and hte one guy has a TON of recurves and long bows. so ill be trying his out and seeing what i think about a shorter long bow. bows are like a drug i swear. between my compound and this trad stuff im going broke haha
QuoteOriginally posted by 7 Lakes:
I noticed you shoot 3 fingers under. The shorter the bow the less you are going to like the finger pinch.
I'm 5'9" and I can make any length bow I want. My personal bows are 66".
ya i hear ya. the 64" longbow felt much better to me over all compared to the 60" recurve i have. i want to try out a 62" longbow and see how that feels. but will have to wait until summer. by then ill have lots of money and will have to find something to spend it on haha
Its all just personal preference really. Just shoot the p!ss out of it and youll be just fine.
66" to me is the PERFECT longbow length and my draw is 27"
does not matter the design with me it has to be at least 64" its perfect at 66" and no longer than 68"
don't take this the wrong way but I bet your friends are in that group on the 3D course who all shoot the same type of bow,,, your fine all day long with a 66" hybrid longbow and your draw and thats all you have to do is out shoot a few of your buddies and soon they will have a 66" in bow too trust me.
Are you a Black Knight Mark? I graduated from Windsor JrSr High in 89! Glad to see some up and coming trad shooters in my home town. I assume by hybrid bow you mean a reflex deflex longbow design? Hopefully the majority rule here is making you feel comfortable with you new bow. You shouldn't have any problems if you can draw it comfortably. Get it, shoot it and enjoy it. Saw lots of deer sign when I was home for the Holidays so there shouldn't be a shortage of opportunity to test it out next season!
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve Kendrot:
Are you a Black Knight Mark? I graduated from Windsor JrSr High in 89! Glad to see some up and coming trad shooters in my home town. I assume by hybrid bow you mean a reflex deflex longbow design? Hopefully the majority rule here is making you feel comfortable with you new bow. You shouldn't have any problems if you can draw it comfortably. Get it, shoot it and enjoy it. Saw lots of deer sign when I was home for the Holidays so there shouldn't be a shortage of opportunity to test it out next season!
yup i graduated in 09. things seems to be getting better in the woods latly the land i hunt has been awsome the last 2 seasons. bucks running all over and really active, i dont have to think am I going to see a deer just whens one going to pop out. never use to be like that on that property. would love to arrow one with trad gear. i live in west windsor by the mcdonalds if you know where that is.
anyways i got a emial from the guy and we ran into a issue. the riser had a check in it. just got another emial with pics of the new one he made and it looks great, its all formed and sanded and tillering is finish. just has to buy finish for it. think i might have it with in 2 weeks. i cant wait