After making recurves for years, i have been asked for years to make a longbow.I have shot alot of longbows,talked to bowyers building great ones.Have done the math on what i like and im in the final stages.This longbow will be a reflex-deflex take down.What i need from you guys is what length do you like and why.Also, so you all know when i get this longbow finalized you all will have a chance to shoot it.We will pass it around to Tradgangers to try out.Thanks to all who participate in this post.
Mike
Glad to see another Bowyer building LONGBOWS in California :)
at my 27" draw 60 is plenty long if the bow is R/D >>>
:campfire:
60 50@28 Big Jim Buffalo Bow Ironwood/Redwood
60 45@28 Big Jim Buffalo Bow Striped Ebony (for bad shoulder days)
i've shot 60", 62", and 64" longbows. i've found that for me the 62" shoots just as well as the 64" and it is a good all around length for me to shoot consistently well. i can shoot the 60" pretty good but i'm just not as consistent as i am with the 62 and 64". So my vote would be for the 62".
Good luck sir!
I like 62" and will not buy one shorter than that. I have a kind of long DL (29 1/2") and just don't shoot shorter bows as well. 62" is still manageable out of a pop-up and also long enough for me to shoot well.
Bisch
I voted 62 but would defiantly not purchase one that long, just my personal preference. I prefer 60" and less on all bows including longbows.
Looks like the poll is showing the majority of guys are liking the 62"
I like the way you are asking, seems like the best way to go before you introduce a new product. Looking forward to how it turns out.
64" I just draw it smoother than a 60 or 62. It's a bit tall for ground blinds but I'm learning to deal
I see now i should have made 60" a option,if you like 60" longbows over the others just write in and why.Thanks for everyones input so far.
I draw 27" which is not a lot but found the difference between a 62" RD and a 64" RD of exactly the same design to be significant and so did my son. Shooting is way more enjoyable and I am more accurate with the longer bow and would never go back.
Wow, I thought that they would be more people liking the longer bows... after all it's called a longbow...lol
I have a 68" longbow that I love, but it is a bit to heavy now a day...
i also have a Hybrid that is 62. that is great to. I think with my draw i like a longer bow... 30" draw. I don't hunt in blinds or tree stand so long bows are not a problem!
I like 62" but depend also of the recomandation bowers
I like 62" but depend also of the recomandation bowers at your drawn lenght.
I like 68 or 70 - 33" drawlength though.
A lot depends on how the bow is built. Long riser , Short riser, Power lams , no power lams ect. for a generic bow I like 64 inches because most will not stack at 28 or even 29 inches. If the bow is built to have no stack at 62 inches I like it just as well. I am not a fan of the shorter longbows. If I go that route I prefer the recurves.
God bless and good luck with you bow. Steve
I was sure more people would have said 66.its early maybe all the long-longbow shooters are still in bed.
R/D longbows are what I like to shoot these days, 58 or 60". Anything longer just seems a little awkward in the woods, and 60"
feels plenty smooth and forgiving. Of course, as Sixby said, depends on the design.
Thanks Steve for your in-put.I personally agree with you.I have a 30.5" draw,and dont like stack of any kind.
I am currently shooting a 60" Centaur and I draw 31". I can't feel andy significant stack or issues with string pinch.
I like the handiness of a short bow when hunting. I set my shots up to be 15 yards or less and I am plenty accurate with this short long bow to hit the vitals of a whitetail.
The other thing I like is how feather light the bow is. Again, maybe not the ideal for shooting targets but really nice when in the field.
For RD's I like 60-62". I have about a 29" draw. There are bows out there 60" and under that can take longer than my draw with no stack, but I don't care for the finger pinch shooting split with RD bows less than 60". My main bow right now is 62". I just sold off my 64".
I have longbows 60" to 72" but my fav' is 66" I like the smooth draw. I've got four of them(66"), three are Hill style and one is R/D.
I seem to shoot them better! My draw is 26.5"-27" and since I shoot 3under, finger pinch isn't an issue.
I find that I can shoot 62" as well as the longer length bows in terms of finger pinch, and over all feel I don't notice any additional benefit in going longer than 62" - when I shoot bows of less than 62" I'm not as consistent and depending on the design of the bow overall IMO not as pleasant to shoot.
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Glenn
I have 3 longbows and none are less than 66". One is a Hill Tembo and that is 68". I just like the smoothness of the draw.
Hill Tembo 68"
Harrelson longbow 66"
Abbott longbow 66"
At 29" draw and a RD LB, I do best with 66"
I like 62" in a aggressive d/r longbow or recurve, 64" in a mild d/r longbow, and 66" or 68" in a hill type longbow.
I like 60" the best after that they just seem to get in the way for hunting.
I have a few that are 58-60 and prefer those over bows I've had in the past including 62", 64", and 66" (all were R/D). My draw is just short of 28". I like the shorter bows b/c they're better for me to hunt with.
I prefer 70", but sounds like fun any way.
I have owned and shot them from 60" to 66", some times well, and 47# to 59#. My rule of thumb WAS, the heavier the bow the longer. That said, as I have aged it takes more effort and build up to shoot the 59# @66" and I am very comfortable w/ 52#- 55# @ 62" (current favs). Then there is the turkey season where occasionally I use a blind and the 60" is tight but fits. So Final answer; I like a bow that doesn't stack or rattle your eye teeth out, shoots where I am looking and fits the type of game or situation I am hunting/ shooting in. Honestly, there are so many good bows/ bowyers out there that can make most any bow weight at most any length with the above qualities and looks too that I just don't think I can say one length is what it is all about. Shoot the bow, alot, if it works for you and it "calls" to you, own it....55# @ 62".
Good luck on your build! I would love to try your bow out when you have completed it.
sw
I had a 66" Great Plains that was one of my favorites to just shoot and enjoy. Of course it was 5 or more pounds lighter than all my other bows, I think that made a diff too. Notice I said HAD, I got that bow in a trade. To my surprise I really enjoyed it. However I just traded it for a 58" TD. I don't think I would ever buy one over 58", maybe trade for one, but not buy one.
My mild r/d is 64" and is very stable. My hybrid is 62" and shoots great as well. I tend to think the milder the r/d the longer the length. If I had to pick one length I'd say 64" for my short draw length.
I voted for the 66" length for the sole reasons I have a 30" draw length and I really like a "long" bow.
I've owned only one hybrid longbow and it was a 68" length. For some reason, it "felt short" to me upon arrow release.
I guess what I really want to say is, I would like to shoot a 70" or even a 72" longbow. I think these two lengths would be perfect when I'm bowhunting in......Sherwood Forest. :D
I'm currently enjoying shooting a 68" longbow,I notice a definite diffence in the drawing of this bow at that length, even though I have limbs that paired with the same riser make up a 66" bow. Both limbs make the same #.
I like them long 64-68", your takedown ...is it a 2 pc. or a 3 pc. If its a 2 pc. I can go a bit shorter.
Ron its a 3pc.
I like the R/D longbows 58 to 62 in a 1pc or 2pc have one 3pc in 62 also I have a 28" draw if my draw was longer I might like a longer bow but I like the short longbows.
My favorite is 64". It is at the bottom for length for me to consider it a longbow. Just a personal thing with me, anything less than 64" is not a longbow. That's why they call it a longbow. I know there are a lot of shorter bow that are very nice and shoot just as well or maybe better, I just cannot do it. I have never had any problem with 64" up to 70" for hunting, even from a treesatnd.
3 piece takedown at my 27" draw 60" maybe 62".
62-64 for a r/d. I like my 64 Mohawk better than anything I`ve had.RC
I would have to say 64" bow with a 15" riser.The 62" does not seem like a longbow and the 66" can be a pain to string ,for me,but the 66" would be my second choice.I like shooting the 64" and 66".If it was a recurve 60" is great!
What kind of "longbow" are you going to make, Michael. I've been a pretty dedicated longbow shooter since 1982, recurves before that. I've owned and shot many different brands, styles, types and designs and my preferred bow length varies between bows. I draw 26" with a longbow, for a straight or straight reflex (Hill)style bow I like 66", 62" in a mild deflex/reflex (Robertson, GN) and 58" in a hybrid (Centaur, Kendall). These lengths seem to give me the best smoothness and performance for the design. Generally, a longer draw will want a longer bow.
My recurve is a 64" and sometimes its hard to shoot from a ground blind. My next bow will be something between 58-62".
Fletcher, have owned only one longbow.i still have it.its a tim miegs duflex.it is a 1pc.i like the reflex-deflex design of tims longbow.i have shot alot and studied alot of fine made long bows.i just want everything.smooth,fast,forgiving,no hand shock ect.i have the design down,just interested in what people want.this poll has been interesting i like everyones in-put and i do lisen.
I prefer a 64" bow over the other options. A 60" hybrid is a good fit as well but the geometry of a 62" bow never feels right for me. My recurves and one hybrid longbow I have are all 60". My longbows are all 64". I have a 26.5" draw and shorter stature.
There are lot of things that depends on the Bow length?
Drag length of the Archer?
If it is a`T/D you can have shorter Total Bow length if you have a´short Handle 14-16",(Equals=Longer Limbs) and getting the same Precision as whit a`longer Bow whit Longer Handle 17-20"
Do the Customer want Speed or Precision?
a`couple of Years ago i who`d have said 28+ Inch dragh not under 66"Bow,But that depends on The Bowyer!! How god is he???
-G
I like 62 inch for hunting because the height is perfect for using as a steady stick for glassing. I set the bottom limb on my boot and the binocs on the top limb. I draw 27 inches. I do like the smoothdraw of a 66 er though.
SL
For me, a longbow has to be a Hill or mild R/D style, 68" or 70" to get my interest. While they are probably the most efficient bow out there, I just don't like the looks of the shorter highly reflexed/deflexed bows.
Been shooting a 62" r/d but I just ordered a 58."
Anything longer just gets unwieldy in the woods, and with my draw length (27"), shorter bows work just fine. At almost 5ft. in length, I still consider a 58" bow a "longbow." ;)
I have shot a 64", but 66" is shortest longbow I shoot due to my draw length.
In the R/D design 62 for me shoots as good as the longer ones. I have a short 26.5 in. draw. That lenth bow works well for tree stands too. I made a 3pc t/d last winter 62in. I like the way it shoots. That being said, the longer bows always seemed to be extra smooth, just not as conveinent in the deer woods.