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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: DoubleJ1929 on January 09, 2013, 12:59:00 PM

Title: Bow Too short ?
Post by: DoubleJ1929 on January 09, 2013, 12:59:00 PM
Anyone shooting a 56" or shorter recurve with a 28" or longer draw?  Keep looking at a 56" bow but worried it will be too short causing pinch and accuracy issues?

Any thoughts or personal experience will be appreciated.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: PrarrieDog on January 09, 2013, 01:05:00 PM
I had a 56" reflex/deflex and I pull 26". I had no problems, I let it go to a fella that pulled 28" and he seemed happy with it.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Greg Szalewski on January 09, 2013, 01:07:00 PM
I am shooting a 52" K-mag right now. I pull 30 plus but do shoot two under. no problem
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: hedgerowhuntr on January 09, 2013, 01:11:00 PM
I shoot a shakespeare wonderbow super necedah model x-30 54" and I have a 29" draw and it's one of my favorite bows to shoot  :archer2:
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: on January 09, 2013, 01:13:00 PM
Shorter bows hurt my accuracy! I won't go shorter than 62" any more. My DL is 29.5".

Bisch
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: KAZ on January 09, 2013, 01:26:00 PM
I shoot a 54" Black Widow KB @27.5" draw and love it!!! Very nimble in the Treestand & Ground Blinds. I shoot 3-Under and it's smooth as silk! It's a fairly short riser with long working limbs which I think helps in this regard... My buddy has shot mine @28.5" draw and found it to be smooth, plus he shoots a 56" Black Widow PTF for his go-to bow...

All this being said, this will still come down to a "preference" on your part and what your priorities are in feel and function. I "needed" a short bow to gain me the necessary mobility in the treestand and ground blinds. On close range shots, or steep angles from the treestand I was having string or bottom limb interference with my leg &/or chest. I went through all kinds of gyrations with my 60" bow to resolve this without success. The 54" bow has resolved the issue completely! My 60" bow works great if mobility is not an issue :-)
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Blaino on January 09, 2013, 01:27:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Bisch:
Shorter bows hurt my accuracy! I won't go shorter than 62" any more. My DL is 29.5".

Bisch
X2 but with my fat fingers 62" will wear my fingers out if I shoot for extended periods. 70" Hill and I can shoot all day!
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: DoubleJ1929 on January 09, 2013, 01:38:00 PM
Thanks for the responses guys!!  Not sure why I am worried as I am shooting all 58" and 60" bows now.  Guess because it is a higher poundage as well.  Might just have to give it a try.    :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Arwin on January 09, 2013, 01:44:00 PM
Ron,
Come to Kzoo Trad Expo at the Kzoo Fairgraounds and give the St. Joe's a try. They have a 54 inch recurve that will take a long draw smoothly.

I will be there on Saturday at the SJR booth.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: DoubleJ1929 on January 09, 2013, 02:02:00 PM
Arwin  -  I will be down there on Friday.  Will take a look for sure.  Are you just going Saturday?
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Rifle River Scout on January 09, 2013, 02:48:00 PM
I just received my 54" Don Dow R&D longbow and am having no problems, I have owned and hunted with short bows most of my life. (just turned 61)
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Jesse Minish on January 09, 2013, 03:09:00 PM
I have a 56" Cascade Brush Hawk and 52" Nighthawk and have a little over 29" draw. Shoot both with no problem. A lot depends on the design of the bow in my opinion.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Blackhawk on January 09, 2013, 03:45:00 PM
I second the Cascade line of bows.  They are designed very well for the person wanting a short bow and has a draw of over 28".  The phenolic riser of the Nighthawk provides the ideal weight and stability for accurate shooting.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: LV2HUNT on January 09, 2013, 06:24:00 PM
Try before you buy. Short bows require a very steady hand.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Orion on January 09, 2013, 07:58:00 PM
I have a 28-inch draw and shoot a 56-inch Bear T/D for turkeys out of a blind.  Works good for that purpose, but when I'm not hunting turkeys, or practicing for hunting turkeys, I shoot 60-inch recurves and 64-inch hybrids.  The Bear is a solid shooter, and I don't think its short length affects my accuracy much, but I do feel finger pinch  with it.  Long story short, if I had to limit myself to only one bow, it would be longer than 56 inches. Good luck in your choice.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: bruinman on January 09, 2013, 11:19:00 PM
56" Bruin HR, is the smoothest bow I own. I draw 28.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Gen273 on January 09, 2013, 11:24:00 PM
I draw 27.75 and I love 56 inch bows. I have had a bunch but the best in my book is the Cascade, thunder child, TimberGhost, Zipper. But I am sure there is a bunch of good ones out there.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Bow man on January 10, 2013, 06:44:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Arwin:
Ron,
Come to Kzoo Trad Expo at the Kzoo Fairgraounds and give the St. Joe's a try. They have a 54 inch recurve that will take a long draw smoothly.

I will be there on Saturday at the SJR booth.    :thumbsup:  
Coming to Kalamazoo like Arwin suggested will be you best bet to be sure you are happy with what you are buying. We will be set up next to one of the ranges you can shoot one of our 56" all day if you like
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Rick Richard on January 10, 2013, 07:05:00 AM
Lee Hoots makes a great short bow, but like most have said "try one first".
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: JMR on January 10, 2013, 12:20:00 PM
I have a 56" Hoots recurve and draw just a touch over 28" and I love it. Smoothest bow I have ever had. I don't know where you're at in Michigan but you're welcome to shoot mine if you like. As others have said Kzoo is a great place to shoot a ton of bows.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: chanumpa on January 10, 2013, 12:27:00 PM
I had a56" Cascade and It was smooth,stack free for me at 29" draw.I however was not as accurate as with my 60"+62" bows.Im probably stating the obvious there,but new that for me,I wont go shorter than 60" again.Finger pinch wasnt a problem for me though.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: sawtoothscream on January 10, 2013, 01:09:00 PM
had a 56" beeler hybrid and a 52" two tracks ambush for a little.  my draw is 27.5" and I didnt notice much finger pinch if any.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Mike Falkner on January 10, 2013, 01:39:00 PM
I shoot a KMag and draw 28".  Had to modify my split finger grip so my middle finger is really doing the work and stagger the index and ring back a little (thanks Joebuck).
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: jess stuart on January 10, 2013, 06:29:00 PM
I had for years thought that anything under 60" was to short for my 27"-28" draw.  I have been shooting a 50" t/d for awhile now and have come to really enjoy it. (http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz171/jess_stuart/101_6688-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: DoubleJ1929 on January 10, 2013, 08:31:00 PM
Thanks for all the great replies.  Holding out for Kalamazoo!!
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: bjansen on January 10, 2013, 09:18:00 PM
Jess, all these years and you never told me you were making a 50" bow...you know I like those shorties.  

I suppose it is all about the bow design.  Pic of a 28" draw on a 44" bow

(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr287/bjjanse/Herters%2046/Bowerpics081-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: L. Harris on January 11, 2013, 02:06:00 AM
I shoot "those stupid little short bows", hi Bisch! My longbow is 50"s and my recurve is 49"s tip to tip. I am only pulling 27"s in draw length but I love them!
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Sixby on January 11, 2013, 02:38:00 AM
I have a new bow that is 56 inches and pulled it to 31 inches with zero stack and no finger pinch/
Static recurve three piece takedown.

God bless you all, Steve
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: Thumper Dunker on January 11, 2013, 05:25:00 AM
I have a 52" that shoots great. Old ben Pearson.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/timkoi/023-12.jpg)
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: old_goat2 on January 11, 2013, 08:02:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Bisch:
Shorter bows hurt my accuracy! I won't go shorter than 62" any more. My DL is 29.5".

Bisch
X2 except I pull 30". I did shoot a short Bob Lee bow once though that was so smooth I think I could of made do with it, especially for blind hunting.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: longbowben on January 11, 2013, 08:31:00 AM
I have a 28 1/2 inch draw and my 54" Hoots is smooth as butter to draw.And the performance is outstanding.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: rambo1993 on January 11, 2013, 12:46:00 PM
I have a 48" strung static spirit sheepeater recurve and I draw 29" and it is no problem at all it is the slickest little bow ever
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: on January 11, 2013, 01:25:00 PM
I have several short bows that I shoot with a draw of 28". One is a 56" PCH, one is a Thunderchild 56" and one is a 54" Wild Horse Creek Kestrel. They all shoot well at my draw. However, I seem to shoot longer bows (60-62") a bit better.
Title: Re: Bow Too short ?
Post by: JamesKerr on January 11, 2013, 01:34:00 PM
It all depends on limb design. Most short bows being made today can be tillered to handle a 28" draw or even longer. While you might feel a little finger pinch the bows won't stack. My 2 cents on it.