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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: skychief on September 07, 2014, 07:14:00 PM

Title: Shorter bow + longer draw = weakened limbs?
Post by: skychief on September 07, 2014, 07:14:00 PM
I have a 29" draw and have discovered a 56" recurve that I am shooting really well.   It's a vintage bow for what it's worth.

A friend that has been shooting traditional for a looooong time told me that it's possible to weaken the bows limbs with my draw length.  

What do ya think of this?

Thanks, Skychief.
Title: Re: Shorter bow + longer draw = weakened limbs?
Post by: halfseminole on September 07, 2014, 07:32:00 PM
I shoot a horn bow with a length of around fifty inches.  It will draw to 38".  It doesn't seem to be getting weaker.
Title: Re: Shorter bow + longer draw = weakened limbs?
Post by: skychief on September 07, 2014, 10:56:00 PM
Total bunk?
Title: Re: Shorter bow + longer draw = weakened limbs?
Post by: KenH on September 07, 2014, 11:09:00 PM
If it's an all wood stave or board bow that has some age, it's possible that you would strain the wood enough to weaken the limbs. If you're talking about a vintage wood-glass composite or solid fiberglass bow, or a wood-horn-sinew composite like half-seminole and others shoot, then I think you're friend's leading you astray...
Title: Re: Shorter bow + longer draw = weakened limbs?
Post by: Stump73 on September 08, 2014, 12:52:00 AM
Halfseminole, you have a good 1ft 3in of draw over me, if you typed your draw length correct. Thats a long draw. Wow
Title: Re: Shorter bow + longer draw = weakened limbs?
Post by: Scott E on September 08, 2014, 08:21:00 AM
That's his correct draw length and yes it is longer than most.

Bowyers will often post what the suggested maximum draw length is for a certain design. If you stay within those suggestions your bow will last a very very long time.
Title: Re: Shorter bow + longer draw = weakened limbs?
Post by: damascusdave on September 08, 2014, 09:54:00 AM
It may be possible to weaken the limbs...that is why I only paid a couple of hundred bucks for this 52 inch Kodiak Magnum that I draw to 30 inches...gonna be sad if it blows up one day but there are more out there like it...and I doubt I will live long enough to do any damage to that bow...Bear built them to draw at least 30 inches

DDave
 (http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab54/damascusdave_2009/P8242549.jpg) (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/damascusdave_2009/media/P8242549.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Shorter bow + longer draw = weakened limbs?
Post by: JimB on September 08, 2014, 10:49:00 AM
I have a 29" draw length and most of my bows are 56",my preferred bow length.I've been shooting one since 1972 and also have a 54" that I've been shooting since 1978.