I just got my MA V the other day and was playing around with the brace height, it seems to like a 9" to 9⅛" brace. I know black widow recommends 8¼" to 9". Just curious what you widow shooters keep your brace height set at? Do some of you go higher than 9"?
Gene
Gene,
I shoot PSA models and set my brace at 8 1/2" and it will settle in as 8 3/8", My widows are extremely quiet at this brace height and are as fast or faster then most.
Rick
My PCH likes 8 3/4 and my PTF likes 8 5/8
A couple of years ago there was a discussion of this on the Widow website. One of the more respected tinkerers there discovered that his MA shot better at a higher brace height, like you are using. He made the comment, which I thought was interesting, that because the grip on the Widow is offset forward about an inch, a 9" brace height on a Widow would be the equivalent of an 8" brace height on a bow with a grip without the forward offset.
The downside to a higher brace height is a slightly higher draw weight and slightly reduced stored energy, so the general rule is to set the brace height at the lowest point consistent with good performance and bow noise.
Running my PCH @ 8 3/8"
Pma at 8.5"
PSA 8.75"
PSA at 8 3/8".
psa 8.75"
9" for my PSA. Anything less than that and I can't hit what I'm looking at. I have tried 9 1/8" and that worked as well but if it stretches to 8 7/8 I suddenly think I'm in a shooting slump. Not sure why.
On the MA and SA recurves I had, I got the best results @ 8 5/8". Start at the lowest (or highest) recommended and then adjust from there until you find your "sweet spot". Tuning in a new bow is part of the fun! Mike
The best brace height will vary by bow, your shooting style, and the quality of your release to name a few. What works well for one archer shooting the same bow might not even be close for someone else. On all the Widows I have and have owned, my best brace height for me is closer to the top end of their range. If I had to go over the recommended range by 1/8 or so, it wouldn't be a big deal. Remember that is a recommended range, not an absolute. All this is being said assuming arrow weight of atleast 8 to 10 grains per pound.
Another tip on Widows is to have the brace height set so that atleast 1/4" of string groove is visible before the string contacts the limb.
Thanks for the tips. :thumbsup:
My PSA likes 8.75".
Both my MA and my PA really like 8 5/8
My SAII likes 8 3/8. Tony Z.
PTF 8-3/4
I shot mine at 8 1/2"
Claudia
I Run my Longbow About 9"-9 1/4" Thats Where it shoots best for me!
PCH 8 -9/16"
51lb@29" drawn to 31"+
It gets a little thumper in the hand at lower brace. I have never found a need to try anything above 8 3/4 on it.
If you are using carbons you might need to file the nocks for a looser fit. I had a hard time getting arrows flying right before I realized my nocks were snug and affect bare shaft testing drastically. The string that comes with a BW will have a pretty sung fit on most carbon arrow knocks
Have a PLII that I run at 7 1/2, a PTFII at 8 3/4 and a PMAII at 9.
Darren
My PCH - 8 5/8ths
8 and 3/4er to 8 and 7/8th was the norm on most the Widow recurves I have owned in the 60" to 62 inch length range.They were more stable and quieter thier for me at that B.H.
If your MA shoots best at 9" or a tad higher thats the sweet spot for you and your style and the arrows you are shooting.
I played around with it some more and I'm just more consistent at 9-9⅛". Plus it seems quieter with less hand shock there. I like a taller brace height anyway, it seems more forgiving.
PMA II @ 8 1/4
Both my PSA's 8.75