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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: bowfanatik on December 12, 2013, 03:23:00 PM

Title: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: bowfanatik on December 12, 2013, 03:23:00 PM
I've changed a few bows and I understand that too much to ask. What are you looking for the specifications of your bow ?

Hybrid longbow
62" 60#@29"
tillered 3 under
shelf cut -3/16
take down ,two part
etc .........
something like BigJim Buffalo
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: damascusdave on December 12, 2013, 04:20:00 PM
I just ordered a longbow that will be my primary hunting bow:

Forward handle d/r longbow,60 inches amo
55 pounds at 30 inches
Dual shelf since I hunt both right and left

There will be nothing fancy about this bow...Osage riser...red elm cores...brown glass...when I need fancy I will shoot my RER, or my Robertson or my Chek-Mate

DDave
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: damascusdave on December 12, 2013, 04:24:00 PM
Mine will be more like Big Jim's Thunder child...just a bit longer

DDave
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: damascusdave on December 12, 2013, 04:30:00 PM
I forgot to mention the bow will come with a 10 strand Dynaflight 10 string...I have recently come to believe that, next to great arrows, the string is the most important part of the formula

DDave
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: ed cowden on December 12, 2013, 04:41:00 PM
I have changed bows for over 50 years. And also types of bows. I started with a Ben Pearson recurve that I got for Christmas when I was 6 or 7.When I was about 13 I met a man that made custom recurves and I got a used one from him.Next was a Martin Damion Hyatt recurve. Next came 3 compounds which all seemed to have the shortest life spans. Always tuning and blowing up limbs. I was doing allot of range shooting and the compounds of that time would not last more than about six months. About 1989 I started going threw the Tradtional bowhunter magazine and would by a new recurve about every couple months. Then about 1992 started longbows. Now in 2013 I am still looking at different Bowyers but have changed my specs allot since I started.

New design longbow or recurve
I now like a recurve style grip
Static tip 60" Standard recurve 62"
Longbow 66"
I draw 29.5 to 30" so longer bows feel better to me
Nothing over 50# @ 30" prefer around 40# for shooting a lot
A take down is a must if you travel plus you can get different limbs for the same riser

I think any thing you choose is up to your liking. I would not go to high on the draw weight. I know several shooters that have shot elk ,moose with bows under 60#. I know one that went to Africa and shot Kudu, and Eland with a 52# longbow. Hitting with a good broadhead is everything.
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: Todd Cook on December 12, 2013, 07:53:00 PM
I like em all, but for me: 68" home made Hill style, about 55-58 pounds. Dacron string, wood or carbon, Big Snuffers. Happy happy happy!
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: jess stuart on December 12, 2013, 11:24:00 PM
I like a three piece takedown recurve somewhere from 56" to 60" and about 50# at 28".  I like a handle that is deflexed, and don't care of a lot of early draw weight. It has to be quiet.
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: Rob DiStefano on December 13, 2013, 09:32:00 AM
bows 'n' arras are ALL personally subjective stuff.  each of us needs to figure out what works best for ... each of us.  

there are no shortcuts, trial and error rules.  

sure, you can get and give advice, but the opinions of others is just that.  it's always a crap shoot that what works well for someone else will work well for ... you.  ain't no easy way to choose tackle, but that can be a fun thing in itself.  ymmv.
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: Mudd on December 13, 2013, 09:40:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Rob DiStefano:
bows 'n' arras are ALL personally subjective stuff.  each of us needs to figure out what works best for ... each of us.  

there are no shortcuts, trial and error rules.  

sure, you can get and give advice, but the opinions of others is just that.  it's always a crap shoot that what works well for someone else will work well for ... you.  ain't no easy way to choose tackle, but that can be a fun thing in itself.  ymmv.
"Nailed it!"

Merry Christmas and God bless,Mudd
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: VictoryHunter on December 13, 2013, 10:09:00 AM
I'm getting close I think! I just ordered a Big Jim Thunderchild. One piece, 54" 45# @ 28" not sure of the woods but I think I would really like yew wood veneers for the limbs and sheep horn overlays on the back and tips of the bow. As for the riser I would like something dark but I'm going to let Big Jim pick. x2 on quality bow strings, they are every bit as important as arrows.
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: Mojostick on December 13, 2013, 10:19:00 AM
A few questions to consider.

How tall are you? What's your draw length? What weight is comfortable when shooting at the range, while standing in a tee shirt? How much lower do you think you should go in weight if hunting while sitting, in the cold and with many layers on? How old are you? Do you think you'll be shooting more or less weight in the future? What will you be hunting? Where will you be hunting? How far will you be shooting? Treestand or ground blind? 3 under or split finger? Will you be traveling with the bow? Do you like new bows or vintage bows?
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: VictoryHunter on December 13, 2013, 10:23:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Mojostick:
A few questions to consider.

How tall are you? What's your draw length? What weight is comfortable when shooting at the range, while standing in a tee shirt? How much lower do you think you should go in weight if hunting while sitting, in the cold and with many layers on? How old are you? Do you think you'll be shooting more or less weight in the future? What will you be hunting? Where will you be hunting? How far will you be shooting? Treestand or ground blind? 3 under or split finger? Will you be traveling with the bow? Do you like new bows or vintage bows?
This!
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: damascusdave on December 13, 2013, 11:57:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Mojostick:
A few questions to consider.

How tall are you? What's your draw length? What weight is comfortable when shooting at the range, while standing in a tee shirt? How much lower do you think you should go in weight if hunting while sitting, in the cold and with many layers on? How old are you? Do you think you'll be shooting more or less weight in the future? What will you be hunting? Where will you be hunting? How far will you be shooting? Treestand or ground blind? 3 under or split finger? Will you be traveling with the bow? Do you like new bows or vintage bows?
Exactly why I tend to maintain an inventory of about 15 bows, right and left handed, new and vintage, recurve and longbow, in a variety of draw weights...thanks for reminding me

DDave
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: paoliguy on December 13, 2013, 12:58:00 PM
I have come to the conclusion the perfect bow is always .... the next one!
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: KenH on December 13, 2013, 01:07:00 PM
Ayup.  No right or wrong.  Just what works for you.

I prefer bows under 48" t-t-t, under 40# and as deeply recurved as you or I can make them...
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: threeunder on December 13, 2013, 04:17:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by paoliguy:
I have come to the conclusion the perfect bow is always .... the next one!
Ain't it the truth!

If I were left with but one bow (gasp!!!) I'd go nuts!!!

But give me two....the first is a MOAB, the second is a short, 3pc, static tip recurve with belly mount limbs (think Eaglewing Steppe Eagle or Kempf Kwyk Styk).
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: on December 13, 2013, 05:08:00 PM
The thing about the perfect bow is that not only is it different for everyone, from any given year, and for some, even a change in how we feel, what we are wearing or the weather can change what is the perfect bow. The place to start is always the grip, it has to work for how you shoot. Next would be the pull, then the length, then everything else. Lucky for us, the choice is vast and lots of choices work just fine. After all these years, I know what will work for me, but man I have made a couple of really stupid choices. The two wheeler wing thing that cracked in the middle, that was way too light and way to long of a draw, (I had to stand on my tip toes to get it over the hump) and completely the wrong arrows.  I said 'but I really like the Wing slim line'. He said 'trust me I know that this is what you need'. It was a good thing that the archery shop owner that conned me into that rig went out of business, I would still be picking on him.
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: Pete McMiller on December 13, 2013, 05:15:00 PM
My perfect bow is a Big River, has a straight grip, R/D profile, 60#@28" and 66" long with an 8 strand D10 string with beaver balls AND be a take down.  Fortunately I have all that in the bow I already shoot except the take down part.  If I absolutely NEED to make a shot, that's the bow that I pick up.
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: Shakes.602 on December 13, 2013, 06:02:00 PM
Ok, I am 5' 9", maybe a tad taller with m'boots on. 27" drawlength, What BowLength would y'all recommend?? Just wondering if mine are "Right" or not.
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: on December 13, 2013, 06:46:00 PM
Now with a 27" draw and 5'9" you are about the same as me with a grip with some shape to it, and a tad shorter with a straight grip longbow. I have some experience with length choices. for me an extra long longbow causes the string to contact my body too much in some shooting positions, but it did give me the ability to snag higher apples on the only apple tree where I hunt. But a standard 66" Hill style, 62" r/d, or a 58" hybrid would all fit. A 27" draw is a very convenient draw length. However, John Schulz thought that I was drawing a bit to far for a Hill style bow and he was correct, I am a better shot at 26&1/4" with any straighter gripped longbow regardless of the weight.
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: njloco on December 13, 2013, 07:27:00 PM
While I am lucky to be able to shoot different bows well, there is always one that I go back to ( my go to bow ), for me, that is my perfect bow.
Title: Re: Specifications of the perfect bow
Post by: Keith Langford on December 13, 2013, 08:04:00 PM
The one I just got from Kirk at Big Foot Bows, the new Sasquatch SS. There is no need to look any further, especially when the man builds you a custom grip that you could shoot in your sleep. 62" 53 @ 29, smoking fast dead quiet, no handshock,hits exactly where I am looking, except for being a little high, something to do with smoking fast, The man has perfected the recurve bow,end of discussion.