Since getting back from my Texas hunt I have been entertaining the thought of getting a 56'' bow, the shortest bow I have is 60''. So the question that I'm asking will there be that much of a difference in the handling of the bow, any pros or cons on the subject......stabow
This is just me personally, but I have never been able to shoot as well with a shorter bow. I would recommend trying a 56" bow if you can to see how well you like it.
Boyd I have both a 60" and 56" longbow. When I first got the 56" I had trouble getting groups compared to the 60". I used it all spring and summer and once I got my form in line I had no problems. I really came to love its small light and responsive action. I have started to shoot the 60" again, just to use all my bows. I think it would be worth trying. I really liked it in tree stands and tight ground blinds.
Boyd....depends on the design hoss....recurve or longbow?
I'm guessing this is a pretty personal thing. I can't shoot groups like I see in some of these posts, but comparing short and long bows and cutting myself the same amount of slack on the group size, I don't see much difference. I had a Super Necadah 54" 'curve and loved it. I just bought a Maddog 54" that won't draw as long and will have to move it on. I'm going to spend some serious time (if not money)looking at a 56"er at K'zoo this month. Even this little Maddog which I have to half-draw (anchor the base of my thumb at the corner of my mouth instead of the tip of my middle finger)shoots better groups than I've been shooting lately with my 60" and 62" bows. Something about those little bows really agrees with me.
I have a 54" R/D longbow (not hybrid). She is fast as a recurve, feather weight (only 1 pound), and very nervous. She is not a forgiving bow.
I have two old Bear Grizzly bows 56 inch, 50&55 lbs.
Both are great to shoot, just don't feel like they draw as smoothly as my 58 & 60 in. Bows. Still great for close quarters and are my "go to" bows.
Depends a whole bunch on your draw length and bow design. Shorter bows just don't work well with longer draw lengths. Too much finger pinch. Short recurves, or highly deflexed hybrids can ameliorate the problem, but the only thing that satisfies a longer draw length is a longer bow.
Like Terry said bud, it depends on the design and bow.
You don't have a long draw from what I've seen, I bet you wouldn't skip a beat and will be just fine with a well designed 56" recurve.
I've long shot my 56" Kwyk Styks and have never felt like I've handicapped myself. In fact I feel they make better all around hunting weapons.
Wish you would have shot my Kwyk Styk while we were in Tx...
My draw is 27''. What I'm thinking is a PCH their is one in the classified but it's a 58" and I have a 60 PSA.
I bet that 56" PCH could work for you. I have shot the 58" with a draw over 29" and liked it a lot.
and unlike your wife, the later you come home the happier the dog is to see you!
i bet a 27" draw and a 56" bow will go together like a hand and a glove. I really like the shorter bows in smallish tent blinds and cramped tree stands back in the "thick stuff."
bill
Boyd,
All that talk about Black Widows at Solana got me to missing mine. I just bought a 58" RH PCH. Can't wait to shoot it.
Stabow, I have a 56" Kwyk Styk and a new Raven thats 54" by Jack Kempf. I have a 27" draw also and have no problem with short bows. They do have static limbs. With my draw length ive had no problem with shorter bows and shot alot of them at some shoots ive been too.
Shoot Straight,
Randy
Love me some 56" recurves. I have two St Joe River Bow 56" curves. Started with the 45lb...found it so smooth that I had to get a 50lb a couple of weeks later. I draw to 29" and find no stack whatsoever.
Best part, it's super light. Meaning I'm able to mount a great northern full of arrows on it and still find it super maneuverable. Also prolly the quietest bow I've shot...and I'm shooting near 7gpi. I no longer shoot the 45lb...it's available if you're interested. Pics posted in classifieds.
Some R/D bows you can't go wrong with
Big Jim warchild or buffalo bow
Shrew
Fredrick yeoman, if you can find one
I draw 29 1/2" with a 56" Shrew CH and 56" Cascade Brush Hawk....gave up nothing in accuracy since swithing from a 62", gained plenty in manueverability. I have no desire to go back to anything longer than 56" for hunting or 3-D
56" all day long I do not like longer bows but I do not have a long draw and they are so nice in a tree stand. Widow
If they work for Big Jim,theyll work for you.I would love to hear his opinion on this as his shorties(Thundrchild)are stck free.Definately an advantage hunting from a blind or a tree,there is no doubt!
I have several 60-64" bows, both recurve and L/B's and have always been very happy shooting those lengths... This past fall and all hunting season, I have been shooting a 56" Static Tipped Kwyk Styk and loving it.. I draw 28 1/2" and it really groups nicely for me...
The way those static tips seem to "open up" as drawn, definately erased the fears of getting finger pinch when droppoing down in bow length.. Rest assured that has never been a problem with this shorter bow. :wavey:
Really depends on the bow, whether it is a recurve or longbow. Static tips or at least very stiff tips (for longbows) seem to help a bunch. Especially for finger pinch with the shorter bows.
For my longbows I've settled into 62" being my favorite at my 29 plus inch draw (not very stiff tips on these... Shawnees, Cougar, Silvertip longbow, and Qarbon Nano). I've got a couple of 60" MOAB's that work well too as they have a bit stiffer tip then the previous...
But, I've got a couple of 56" Kwyk Styks with static tips that feel almost identical. Don't know the physics behind it, but the way they roll out or I guess don't roll out makes for a very pleasurable shooting experience with a much shorter bow and similar shooting characteristics as the longer hybrid longbow.
Them shorter bows do seem to work well in cramped situations.
Depends on your comfort with the bow. You really need to Shoot a bunch of 56" bows and then make your decision. Come to the Pre Spring Fling there should be several there to shoot besides ours
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=94;t=002360
Bow Man thanks for the heads up on the Tannehill shoot coming up in February will make a point to get up there. And thanks to everyone on their thoughts and suggestions......stabow
Agreed on going to the shoot and trying a few out--which is a good start. One word of warning is that you may not be able to really settle into a grove just trying bows at a shoot. If your leaning towards a Widow, don't they have a try out program for a week???? If so, I'd suggest getting one into your back yard where you can really run it through the paces and not be worried about people watching/distractions/limited shot distance/ect. That would be my advice in addition to what's been said above.
Ray good point but with the try out program you have to pay full price for the bow before they ship then there's the little thing about explaining to the wife why I need another bow LOL......stabow
Pretty much all the bows I have had have been 58 to 60", don't like anything longer due to convenience while hunting. Last fall I picked up a 56" Great Plains SR Swift off of the classifieds here and I have to say that that bow has surprised me. No finger pinch or stack, and I draw just a shade past 28". It is much more comfortable than several of the 58" bows I have had. But as others have said, depends on the design.
I've had both a 56" bow (Bob Lee Hunter) and a several 60" bows. I never noticed much shooting difference between 56 and 60, but I am a short (27" draw). The 56" was a little easier to manuever in the blind, but the 60" still worked.
QuoteOriginally posted by stabow:
My draw is 27''. What I'm thinking is a PCH their is one in the classified but it's a 58" and I have a 60 PSA.
Boyd....what weight???? I got one you can shoot and see....mine is 56's and 58#s....
Also have the same speced Kwik Stik that was Chris Surtees' if you want to try it also.
I can have them set up and we can meet half way somewhere if you like.
Boyd ... I have several 60" bows and am now shooting a 56" Big Jim Thunderchild. I really love this bow. It's 49#@28 and I'm shooting CE150's with 170grn Simmons heads. This was the bow I hunted Solana with last year.
The draw is smooth and the performance is great. There is no noticable difference in the draw compared to a 60" bow and the handling in a blind or tree stand is hands down better.
Happy New Year, Ken
Terry you're a right handed shooter correct? I'm a lefty. .....stabow
27" draw I shoot as low as 54" with no stack and thats a Black forest.. I think going from 60 to 56 as long as theres no finger pinch you should almost have no idea its a smaller bow,,, alot of it is already in a persons head that they "WON'T" shoot as good but if you draw a bow back and it feels "as Good" as a 64" bow then what can go wrong???
with that being said if someone is going from a 68" bow or a big risered recurve to a short bow then there is the "Mass Weight Factor" which means you are shooting a much lighter bow which sometimes messes with peoples heads. just concentrate on form and let it fly...
if you have no finger pinch and the draw weight is the same or its comfortable you will be fine..
With a 27" draw you aren't going to have finger pinch problems at all with a shorter bow. The static tip models will accommodate even long draw length because the don't "Open Up". That term is typically referred to on working recurve's when the reflex in the tips uncurl. What opens up on the static tips is the string angle.
I've got a left handed 54" Yeti you could try out. It's a R/D long bow similar to the Shrew limb design.
That's another good recommendation. Ron LaClair builds some excellent short bows. :thumbsup:
Boyd,
Hmmmm, so that's the catch. OK, plan B would be to still try as many at a show/shoot as you can. Also, perhaps as Terry's proposed (wrong hand unfortunately), you might be able to try someone else's bow for a round at a shoot on a 3D course. Classified ad's here are also a good place to pick up a good value bow as noted above. With my 29+ inch draw, I shoot 56" Super Shrew Classic Hunter with no trouble, so with that bow you'd have no trouble (other than finding one used or a one year wait for new). Fred Asbell had a good article in TBM a few years back about short bows and his own experience going from a 62" Widow to a 56" Widow with no trouble. He indicated that he's got a 28" draw.
Stabow, I have a 54" left handed Thunder Child you are welcom to try with no obligations. It is ideal for under 28" and works well even up to 28 or so.
I personally shoot a 56" with my 30.5" draw and have no issues. Can't really notice a difference from my 64" buffalo unless I think about the bow and not the target.
As far as finger pinch goes, I don't experience any and I would say my hands are at least larger than average. I believe the biggest cause of finger pinch is rolling your fingers out of the string before you hit your anchor. I used to experience this even with a 66" bow. Learned to keep the string settled in a deep hook until I hit anchor and the pincvhing went away for ever...well at least until I fall back in to old habbits.
thanks,bigjim
My draw is only 26". My experience is recurve-only. I have 56", 58", 60", and one 62" curve. I use the 56" bows for turkeys out of blinds. While I haven't shot most of these bows past 20 yards, I notice very little difference in shootability.
My favorite bow right now is the 62" but I think it is the design of the bow more than the length that makes it feel so gooooood! It is also my heaviest draw weight bow (48#@26")! It 'feels' lighter (and I've checked all of em on digital scales) than all of my 45-46# bows. I smile and say "hy curve" every time I go to my lower level range!
interesting post, boyd! i also came back from solana with the same idea in mind - a shorter bow.
i prefer longbows and anything reasonably short, in the 56"-58" range for a 29" draw length, will mean a special hybrid, and it needs to be a t/d for travel.
easier to find used, and perhaps cheaper would be a recurve. i saw a 58" morrison cheyenne on our classifieds. not specifically meant for 29", but with bob's blessings that all would be fine i bought it.
dang, what a smooth shooter! now to fix that recurve noise with some bow hush and hush puppies. i'll be ready for solana 2013 in style.
so, i recommend checking out our classifieds for a short recurve. :thumbsup:
Rob, if you want a good shooting short longbow, check out the annewakee addiction longbows made by Roy Hall. They come in 2pc option. Ive shot them some when I'm up at Johns. They are the real deal. Be a good bow to drag through them briar thickets down in lower SC as well. DB
The shorter limb bug bit me at Solana too. I have bought a used set of 60"limbs for my Habu and I have a 58" PCH on the way. I like my 64" bows, but I saw the advantage of a shorter bow while there.
Big Jim, I sent you a PM.....stabow
QuoteOriginally posted by stabow:
Terry you're a right handed shooter correct? I'm a lefty. .....stabow
:(
BTW...Solana was the main reason I wanted a shorter bow....and I wanted one of the new BW Exotics just for kicks....so I chose the PCH.
I too prefer 60 inch bows....but sometimes.....
yep, if you've got more than 60" of stick bow, solana will make you think again. i used a 64" longbow and there were issues with some stands that would've been perfect with 60" or less. also, couldn't hunt in a blind with 64" of stick. lucky for me, there were some great spots with big shootin' holes. i'm just getting my ducks in a row for solana 2013. :D :thumbsup:
Rob ... pics of the Morrison eh !
g'day ben! you gettin' ready for a tele kinda day? :D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/cheyenne1.jpg)
That looks sweet ... perfect for the brush country and I bet it throws an arra too !
I have been looking at something smaller , less poundage and shorter recently so this thread holds great interest for me .
To me at my immense draw length of 27" ... 64" is still short so the idea of sub 60" is a bit intimidating ...
If only Shrew / Big Jim didn't have such a long wait !
I have checkmate firebird at 56 length and two sets of limbs 40 lb and 49 lbs, shoots just as well as my Matin hunter at 62 inch at 50 lbs. I also draw 28 1/2 inch.
If you are looking for a short bow, then you need to check out the Lil Hoot from Lee Hoots. The quality and shootability is exceptional...Lee is also a great guy.
Big Jim is sending me a 54" Thunder Child to try out. Looking forward to its arrival......stabow
I draw 29" and I don't have problem shooting at hunting distances a 56" or shorter bow.If you decide to go for a short bow maybe choose some havy woods to put on the riser,this for sure will help.
I second Rick Richard about a 56" Lil Hoot's...Lee makes a really nice bow..
I have a 56" Wes Wallace B-model Mentor and absolutely love it it. It is a 15" riser instead of the original at 19". All my different limbs interchange with one another. My 56" in the same weight is more powerful, faster and just as easy to shoot as any other I have. I have 60,62, 64, and 66" limbs. The arrows seem to explode out of the 56" and the 66" has a beautiful forgiving cast. My draw is slightly less than 28" and is perfect for the 56" If I only could have one bow the B-model Mentor from Wes Wallace would serve me very well. Does everything as good or better in a tight maneuverable package.
boyd, that t-child oughta do it for ya. sounds like a winner!
I forgot to mention. If you happen to shoot 3 under, shorter bows are not a problem.
I was digging around some of my archery stuff and remembered that I had a 17" Titian riser and had a set of short ILF limbs on another there you go a 58" bow. Should be getting the 54" TC from Big Jim today......stabow