Just occurred to me, Rat maybe I do see your point.  I much prefer Long Fly Rods...11-14 foot Spey rods  

Hey there River Rat.... You want LONG i can build you something in 64-66"in length in any design you want.... You want a one piece long bow? No problem...   TD long bow, Recurve, static tip recurve, or even an ILF set up like you've never seen before can be configured in longer lengths.

here's a couple LONG bows....on both ends of the spectrum.....Skies the limit bro...

 

Kirkll..that one at the top is nice bud. I do like that. Christmas is just around the corner...Tim,I'm not ranting..just Saying.       Yellow Dog yes sir. I do love a 64" Griffin. To each there own. I've had my experience with short longbows. Just didn't like em'. You ALL have a safe,and happy Thanksgiving. Even if you do shoot a short longbow.       God Bless. rat'

I don't like them short either, but lots of customers do, so I make them.  Other than that it has to be 60"+ for me to personally use.

I've got Nine's 68" Slammer now.  If I want a bow I can't seem to miss with, I pick it up or my Northern Mist Shelton (also 68").

I rarely take either to the deer stand with me though.  Most often I'll have a 60"-62" bow with me.  Much more important to me than the length of the bow is it's shootability and performance in MY hands.  Just because a bow is 68"+ doesn't make it great.  I'm sure most will agree with that statement.

I won't criticize a man's choice in bows, but I will give my opinion if asked.  That's the way it should be.

They make them because some guys and gals like them.  Doesn't work for you but it obviously does for some.  Plus most bowyers have longer options.

QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
Just occurred to me, Rat maybe I do see your point.  I much prefer Long Fly Rods...11-14 foot Spey rods      

Just like my spec rods Tip.  They don't seem to get off near as much at the boat with a long rod.

I for one am very glad bowyers are fine ally making longbows shorter. My 25.5" draw length and tree stand/ ground blind hunting begs for 58-62" longbows. I'm currently shooting 62" longbows but my next bow will be a 60" longbow.
Now if I could just get some string follow bowyers to make a string follow longbow in the 60-62" range I'd be all over one.

You can keep anything over 50" n-t-n!  As far as I'm concerned, anything longer is a waste of materials.  My 42" to 48" horsebows deliver all the non-hand-shock, non-string-pinch power and speed I need, and they are so much easier to carry through the palmetto and other dense brush!

dif'rent strokes for dif'rent folks.  it's all good, one way or another.      

the debate over what constitutes a "longbow" will go on forever.  

whatever its n-t-n length, limb characteristics and braced limb geometry, one clear advantage is no limb slap.  

a modern aggressive r/d longbow in the 52" to 56" length range can hang in there with good recurves in terms of overall performance, and typically be quieter on the release ...  

... but is it a "longbow"?  it's just a name, who really cares?      

i've spent quality time with "short longbows", some custom made.  their clear short advantage is so compelling.  but i always come back to a 64" to 68" longbow, and just deal with having all that real estate to maneuver in the bush and up a tree. TETO!              :D

I want to know exactly what is considered a long long bow versus short long bow. Here I thought you were poking fun at my 64" Big River for being short but patting my back at the 68" Big River.

I guess you will really roll your eyes at my 56" G&L Long Bow.    

They are all great bows and perform equally well for me otherwise I would not keep them.
hoot whatever fits your specific set of circumstances.  If I could only have one bow, it would probably be 58-60 inches.
S

Rat, I am just happy that you let one of the 66 inchers out of your fine herd. Happy Holidays Brothers!!!!  

Cyclic-Rivers I shoot a 64-66" best. I find there draw cycles are always smoother,the finger pinch/tension is zero,I get a smoother cleaner release with a longer bow,more stability/consistant shot placement,less critical to form/release errors to name a few of my reasons. My complaint is/was that there are ALOT of awesome R/D longbows that hit the 58-62" mark and stop. I've owned them,and sold them because they just didn't have the core traits that the 64-66" bows I've shot/own possess. Bowyers have a lot of fancy charts/data to back there reasons for not going longer. I only know for me....If they were longer...They would have been better. That's honestly what I feel from owning/comparing a BUNCH of longbows. You posted.."Shoot whatever fits your set of circumstances." That really does sum it up perfect. I only wish a lot of the bows I really dig fell into that set of circumstances bud. Take care,shoot straight..rat'

You got me at a low point Ben!! I needed to finish my rat rod and had to have some mula'. If you ever get tired of it......

Some times I need to hide in just two feet of  grass and a short bow is the only way to go.

To each their own I guess. I suppose if I had a longer draw, than I too would like a longer bow. Don't seem to have any problems shooting mine now however. My preferred bow lengts are 64" in my Buffalo Longbow, 58" in my ThunderChild and 60" in my Desert Bighorn Recurve.
They seem to work fine with my 32" draw but I guess if my draw was longer I would have to go with a longer bow.
I've never had a problem but I don't dwell on the little things...I guess every time I miss, I just figured it was me and not the bow. I don't suffer from finger pinch either...must be because my smallish hands.

Ever notice that if you drop a couple pounds of draw weight how smooth a bow becomes? Hmmmm, wonder how that happens? You can get the same effect out of increasing bow length.

Sorry, but I just am in a smart arse mood..must be all that turkey and stuffing and boy did I eat a lot of it!    
BigJim

Yea...Olympic archers don't understand the frustration of having a limb hit a treestand on release ruining a chip shot or scraping foliage and alerting game. Love short bows!

No apology needed. If it works for you fine. More is more in my book. I'm a good shot Jim. Very good. Maybe we can get a round in at the Compton event. I'll show you. I think you build a good looking bow/bows. Just wish that Thunderchild was a 64". Throw stones..I don't mind.  rat'

I've also noticed a few inches makes a few more pounds feel better...just sayin.

I can't shoot a longbow accurately if it's shorter than 62". 64"-66" is ideal for me.

I totally get your frustration, rat. I would love to shoot some of the popular shorty longbow designs, built into a 64"-66" bow.It does stand to reason that a short longbow design, offered to be built on a longer platform design, would make the shooting characteristics even better.