I have a 14" ILF riser on the way and just would like some thoughts on short bows. With short recurve limbs I can make a 54" bow. I draw 29" and also have med. and long limbs. I hunt from the ground 90% of the time and I'm thinking maybe short is good.......any thoughts! I don't shoot heavy weights.....40-48 pounds.
The riser and short limbs will max out at 27" draw. With your draw Longs would be recommended to get the best performance.
With the right limbs you could shoot mediums with out stacking but shorts are not in the book for you.
I have the same issue with a 30 1/2" draw.
Mike
I am not a short bow fan, and have done well, even from the ground, with 64" and 66" bows. That said, I can think of a couple areas where a short bow might excel. In a blind and in a kayak.
If you think you may like them, go for it, we all like different things.
ChuckC
Ron, meds or longs for sure depending on the maker. At your draw weight you'll get a nice quick hard hitting bow I'm sure. Turn the bolts out almost to the max to get the highest smoothness potential. If you want some extra stability throw a 6-8oz weight on the stab bushing if the riser has one. There's no reason a short bow can't shoot great if setup right and of a good design. My 56" Dark Matter Centaur has been a revelation. I think you remember I had a 13" Zipper ILF riser with some 'long' Border LB limbs and it was a great shooting 58" LB at my 29ish draw.
I have 2 sets of Dryad long static recurve limbs, maybe I should lean towards them.
I'm in a similar situation as well; I too draw 29" and I've been debating with myself on picking up a KMag. 58" Grizzly works fine for me but 52" - I wish I knew someone with one I could try first. I will be curious to see what other replies you get.
Just my $.02 worth. I shortened my draw a bit when I switched to lefty. I think I may have opened my stance a bit?
Whatever, I was drawing 29" right handed and now draw 28" lefty. I just picked up a 50# KMag lefty. I can shoot it reasonably well, which pretty much sums up my shooting with my longer bows too. I hate to think about adding another 1" of draw to that KMag, though. I don't know if I would hit a solid wall, but it sure is getting stiff at 28". If I ran into someone with a 45# KMag lefty that wanted to move up a bit, I'd trade in a heartbeat, or New York minute - whicher is shorter.
Having said that, I had a 54" Super Necadah 45# right-hander that drew smooth as butter all the way back to 29".
Thanks for the input....... :notworthy:
I draw 29 1/2" and have never found a bow shorter than 60" that I can shoot well. So, I just stick with 62" and every bow I own, except one (and that is my 60" Stalker which was the Hope passaround) is 62".
Bisch
Ron if you like short Bows why don't you try a Horse Bow they are short and man can they fling an arrow :thumbsup:
Jeff, not sure I like'm short.......just thinking I may give it go to see if I do.
For fun I think you should try some yourself :) But it is so much fun to speculate, talk, and dream of new bow possibilities with others.
I've owned a couple of real short Cascade Recurves and a Two Tracks Ambush Recurve. All were superbly crafted and I shot them okay. I sold my last Cascade to a very experienced hunter that simply loves them! I've also owned a couple of short longbows...a BrushHawk and a Shrew come to mind. Again...very well built bows.
After "playing" with short bows...I've decided for now that I prefer shooting longer bows...with that said...I may change my mind again :) LOL!!!
Like I suggested...I'd still try to experience some short bows for myself.
I had a 52" Cascade Golden Hawk Magnum years ago. I shot that bow well but it was a bit heavy and made my target panic raise it's ugly head. Funny thing.......I'm asking about short bows and was out shooting my 70" Hill today.
I love them, I am shooting a 52 inch static tip TimberGhost at the moment.
I like them. I have been through a bunch over the last ten years. They included Shrews, Stingers, K-Mag, Supermag, and even a GN Ghost and CG that were all of 56" long. All the others were 56" long as well.
That said, the only two I have now are a 52" Lil Hoots and an old Bear K-Mag. The Lil Hoots works with my 29" draw with no finger pinch and it shoots better (for me) than many of my longer bows, all of which are 62" or better.
I didn't even know I wanted the Hoots until I picked it up on a trade here. I would never get rid of it. Wish they made one with osage limbs.
John
I am probably in the minority on this but I don't shoot longer bows any better than I do short bows so I don't own a bow over 60". I have even thought about selling or trading my 60's for something shorter.
Granted I only draw around 27" but I prefer 56" and 58" bows. However, this may be because I just haven't shot anything shorter than 56" yet.
I'm hooked on 1 piece R/D longbows so I enjoy the maneuverability and flexibility of a short bow as it allows me to adapt to any hunting situation more easily in my opinion.
Plus, they fit better in my truck :D
At my 27" draw, I find 56" is the shortest I would go. My Groves is forgiving, even if my release is a tad off. Now my 50" Browning Cobra....I need to be perfect on every shot or my arrows wander.
My longbow is 58", no problem and my other 2 hunting recurves are 60" and very forgiving.
QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
I have 2 sets of Dryad long static recurve limbs, maybe I should lean towards them.
Yep.
ron i think you will like it. i know i do :thumbsup:
I am just drawn to the longbow. I like 68" long and have no problems with the length whether shooting from a tree stand or on the ground. I used to shoot a recurve at 56" length, but it is just not as smooth as my Hill bows. Nor does it seem to be as forgiving of my bad form.
Well I definetlly lean toward the short ones some of you know my situation and have no choice. :banghead: :banghead:
Well today a 15" TT Recon riser wandered into my life. I have a 14" riser coming but I thought I would fool around a bit. A pair of 40# shorts were set up, a 452 string twisted up with 2 string leeches. Standing vertical the bow is just over 52" so I'm thinking with my 29" draw this may not be good. I adjust tiller and brace and out into the yard I go.
I shot 2016 with 125 up front.....first time I draw I notice no stack, interesting. First 2 arrows are a bit high and right at 15 yards. I make a mental adjustment and put the next 3 in the bull. A few more arrows and I back out to 25 yards and put 3 out of 4 in the kill on a deer target........this short bow thing may be OK! Will be fun to get the 14" and try my long limbs.
I went back out and shot some 50-55 and some 55-60 cedars.....they also flew well.
Ron
Great start. I treestand hunt a lot I really like bows 56 to 58 inches.
Your set up sounds awesome. :archer2:
i like longbows and my 2pc 64" sparrowhawk feels SO smooth for my 29+" draw length. but it's not the most versatile bow length when up a tree. in fact, it can be very limiting as to what "hole" (branches, leaves, etc) yer gonna be able to shoot through. i found that very limiting in my whitetail hunts down in texas.
the last really short stickbow i had was a 52" bear magnum, back in the mid 60's. i hated it.
this 54" timberghost hybrid t/d i just got is/was more of an experiment to see if i could adjust to a much shorter bow and deal with any stacking issues, and make for easier tree stand hunting.
so far, so good - no stack, fast and stable, good pointability, shoots quite well for me. it'll get a good workout this sunday at the club's field and golf courses.
I also had a 52" bow back in the day......I wasn't fond of it either.
The primary reason I left traditional archery for 35 years was a 52" Bear Kodiak Magnum. It stacked terribly and though I was reasonably proficient with it, I "traded up" to wheels as soon as I could. If I had had any experience with longbows back then I never would have gone to the dark side. All my bows now are 66" longbows - both Hill style and R/Ds and I enjoy shooting them all.
I really think short bows are better than they used to be. I think used to, a short bow was kind of a novelty with most people shooting 62" or longer recurves. I think when I started shooting stickbows the most popular recurves were 62". A 58" Mamba was considered a short bow. With more people interested and wanting short bows I think short bow designs have really improved. That's really why I started building bows. I wanted a short bow but everything said I couldn't shoot one comfortably and accurately at my draw length. Had to see for myself. More than one way to skin a cat if you put your mind to it.
My 56" Kanati's are perfect for my 26" draw.
Personally, I like shooting bows in the mid length best. I have a "stout" build; my 3 yr old granddaughter says "Grampa, you have a big belly". I have to really try to keep 66" inch longbows from touching my torso at full draw so shorter bows work better. I think 60" to 64" are best for me.
I have owned a 48" and a 56", but 60" seems like the best fit. I have been thinking about ordering a set of limbs that would make a 62" bow, just because I have never tried that length. Although 1" at either end may not make enough difference to make it worthwhile.
It seems to me if you are mostly hunting from the ground a 60" would be about perfect. I shot a buck with one of my knees on the ground and the length did not hinder me at all. I could see a shorter bow having some advantages if you were hunting from tree stand, or perhaps a small blind, I guess.
Well after messing around with a 14" and a 15" ILF riser I think short is all relative. With my long limbs on a 15" I get a 60" bow. But strung it's only 56" end to end. My one piece River Runner at 60" is 58" end to end. I guess that's short enough for me. The good news is that my wife just went from a Zipper 17" ILF to a Morrison 14" ILF because the grip is much smaller and fits her well. That makes a 54" bow 30# @ 25" which fits her very well.
Cool deal Ron! Yeah bow true lengths vary by how each bowyer measures. My new Cari-bow Tuktu is marked 60" but when strung is 1" shorter than my 56" Centaur!! Gotta love deep hooks on static tip recurves!
I agree with the comments on the Bear Mags at 52 inches from back in the 60's. Had one and wouldn't again. However, I had a couple of Wing 52 inch Thunderbirds by Bob Lee, not AMC, back then and a totally different animal. Very smooth and very nice. My 27 inch draw helps. Currently have a couple of Cascade Golden Hawk Magnums and Cascade Night Hawk Magnums (Phenolic riser) all 52 inch and they are perfect. No finger pinch, stable, smooth and perform. Lots of improvements over the years in short bows.
the old bear magnum and super magnum were never friendly to a 28" draw let alone 29". these dayze there are some really well thought out super short longbows (let alone recurves) that are nothing like those old shorties in smoothness of no-stack draw and stable release, with heavy arrow speeds we could only dream would be possible back in the 60's. a prime example of this kinda really good super short longbow is the 54" timberghost t/d that pulls smoothly for me to just over 29".
I have a 54" Bob Lee one piece and love it.
56-58" bows for me. Longer bows do not help me shoot any better.
I never been a short bow fan but with that said my Lil Hoots Big Jim's TC and Black Widow all are 54" and they shoot well for me.......stabow
I like longer bows 60"+, but pull mine 50" Ambush to 29.75" without stacking. If you want a short bow with a longer DL, try the Ambush, pleasant to shoot, fast and Chucks workmanship is excellent
Todays short bows are worlds apart from bygone era ones. I too have been a long recurve guy for many years but have always hunted from treestands or stalking/still hunting. Now that health issues are forcing me to sit on the ground those long bows just don't work as well.
I find my 52", 44# Cascade Golden Hawk Magnum to be extremely smooth, even smoother than my 56" Bear Takedowns of lighter weights. But since I can not find any more limbs or complete bows of Cascade make I will be using the one I have and several 56" Bear TD's. The longest I will go these days is 60".
There are some real good old bows in 56"/58" like Damon Howatt Hi-Speed and Browning Safari I/Fury I.
The only short bows I have experience with are my Shrews, of which I have 5.....at least thats what I can see from this chair... ;)
They are great bows, and I never really thought of them as "short". It is limb (tip) design that has them stacking or not...and Shrews don't stack or pinch at all. Amazingly handy out of a tree.
Oddly enough...now that I am hunting off the ground, I have drifted towards a LONGER bow....a 62" Baraga. For me, a short length is more important from a tree than the ground.