I have a Morrison Dakota 30.5"@60#@60". I shoot a 545 grain arrow am I hurting the bow? I talked to A VERY well known bowyer and he told me that because of my draw length that my bow will not last me very long. He said that I am putting to much stress on the bow even if I was to shoot heavier arrows he said that my draw length would still be putting too much stress on the bow. Do you think that 9 grains per pound is too light for my draw lengh and my poundage? I am worried and I do not want to be thinking about this everytime I go and shoot my bow. I want my bow to last awhile.

Depends what drawlength the bow was originally tillered for....

As an example, I regularly (every weekend!) shoot a 2001 Pronghorn, tillered to 59# at 25-1/2"
I draw to 29-1/2" (71#) and shoot 615gn Pine arrows. This equates to just over 8.6 gn per pound. I must've put 4-5000 arrows through this bow in the past two years with no ill effects whatsoever.

Honestly, I really wouldn't worry about it too much. Bob Morrison's bows are built to last!

*DISCLAIMER* That being said, it couldn't hurt to up your arrow weight.

Why don't you call Morrison?
I've been "overdrawing" bows for 40 years, haven't had one break for some time now :-)
Really...I only broke one Pearson Colt back in 1966. I draw 32" and most bows are built for 28" draw which is average. The bow may breal but it won't be because you're overdrawing it, and your arrow weight is ok too.

Biggie's right, call Morrison.

Are you drawing it 30.5 inches? Unless you're drawing it farther than that, you're not doing it any harm.  It was made to draw that far.

I have a Schafer 30.5"/60 lb/64"  that I've been shooting for 10 years.  No problems.

60" is kinda short for that draw length, though.

I wouldn't go below 9 grains, but higher wouldn't hurt.

I wish I had a 30 1/2" powerstroke. But then, I`m not tall enough...my knuckles would drag.

A bow is usually marked for 28" draw because that is the average draw length, not because that is all it will handle. These aren't compounds with draw stops and such. Send the bow back to Bob Morrison and I bet he'd be happy to scale it and mark it's draw weight for 30.5". When you get a bow marked for anything other than 28" it is because the original buyer wanted the bow marked at their draw.

Just to let you guys know that the VERY well known bowyer I was talking to was Bob Morrison. I did not want to offend anyone by bringing him into the question. I just thought that it was a little weird that he told me that because there were a lot of people before me that have shot with a long draw also. I figured that by the way he was talking they would go through a bow every yearand if that was true I know I would not stop shooting. I just thought I would let you guys know.

I'm no boyer (and I didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn last night either) but I would think that there is concern most likely due to the fact that it is a "short" bow for your draw.  Draw curve is probably showing stack on the limbs and the limbs are probably reaching the "critical angle" where failure is imminent).  I draw 32".  Boyers (and their salesmen) I have talked with have put me to a 64" recurve (longest the boyer made), and a 68" longbow (again the longest made).  It may or may not happen, but having had one blow up on me, I'd follow the boyer's advice.

BobW

I was in that exact situation with a Morrison bow. The bow held up fine, no problem there at all. My draw is 31". I was using a 60" bow.

You are giving up consistancy using a long draw on a short bow, a fraction of an inch varience in draw length from shot to shot is going to be more critical with the short bow.

The problem I began to have was finger pinch! Man that will wreck your accuracy and form. I use a 64" bow and should probaby use a 66" bow.


Tedd