Advantages of a short bow??

warden415 · January 06, 2015, 08:55:00 AM

I have always shot short bows. 58" or less. Recently. I bought. A 62" bow and have been shooting it great. Granted I have never owned this brand of bow before so maybe it is simply the design of this bow?
I only draw 25" so that is why I have always stuck with shorter bows. Obviously a shorter bow has the advantage of being a little more maneuverable in a blind or treestand. Other than that, what are the advantages of the shorter bow over the exact same bow in say 62"?

I know that some shorter bows shoot well, (I have owned them), even for people with a longer draw. But are people giving up a little just to have a shorter more maneuverable bow over the same bow 4 or more inches longer?

dbd870 · January 06, 2015, 09:08:00 AM

That is the advantage.

wapiti792 · January 06, 2015, 09:13:00 AM

First I will say I have a 30 inch draw and shoot my 64" Talltines longbow great. It is my go to, never leave the house without it bow. However, due to length (and not performance) I had a mishap on a giant herd bull elk.

I was peering over a hill with the rise in front of me I tried to draw my bow but realized due to the bottom limb being long I couldn't shoot. I let a 350 class bull walk all over me. With a bow shorter I make that shot. I never got another opportunity!

I picked up a stock 58" Thunderchild from BigJim. It is a better feel than some 62" bows I own and will be in the mountains with me in the mountains after white goats this fall.

Zradix · January 06, 2015, 09:13:00 AM

well..assuming both bows are equal quality..etc etc etc..

Being a little more maneuverable is about it.
May be an argument that a shorter length "stock" bow might be a little better for those with shorter draws...but that can be done in custom longer bows too..

KenH · January 06, 2015, 09:59:00 AM

Wapati -- that's exactly why I shoot not only short bows, but short asymmetrical "horsebows" with the bottom limb 3-5" shorter than the top limb.

Hud · January 06, 2015, 10:10:00 AM

Possibly, the only disadvantage of a 62 bow with a 25" draw would be less efficiency. If built for a 28" draw, the loss of 3#/inc. (9 lbs +/-) might affect you, both are dependent on the design.

Stump73 · January 06, 2015, 10:34:00 AM

I shoot short bows because I would look funny shooting bow taller than me.

59Alaskan · January 06, 2015, 12:02:00 PM

I think this thread already gives the two advantages for you (at a 25" draw):
1. Manueverability
2. Efficiency

Disadvantages:
Some say shorter bows are "less forgiving". I agree with this (based on my personal experience and feel). I used "quotation marks" because this is often a topic of opinion/discussion.

For me, I have deduced two things:
Longer limbs generally mean more mass which means greater stability - to me.... You have another post about the Bobcat - or similar bows - these are short limbed bows with greater mass so that offsets this disadvantage.

Finger pinch/"forgiveness" of release imperfection...this can occur with certain designs on short limbed bows with longer draws. This will likely not be a concern for you. I feel this often on shorter bows. I need to work on the consistency of my release. I put this more on the archer, not the bow, but for me a longer bow is more forgiving on this. I draw 29" though.

January 06, 2015, 12:11:00 PM

When I drew to over 28",(I looked funny doing that), I had a 50" Browning Cobra. I tried three under, split, no matter what I did, I did not trust myself to shoot past 20 yards with it. It seemed that the deer knew that as well. Then one day I bought a 62" Black Widow found out real quick that I could not shoot uphill with that long draw. Now I shoot longbows and draw under 27" both left and right handed, some days I think my 62" R/Ds act too short. I used a 52" Pearson for awhile with a release, I hand a finger injury. When my finger healed I found that I still cannot shoot past 20 yards with a short bow, I sometimes really wish that I could, they are easy to hunt with.

old_goat2 · January 06, 2015, 01:08:00 PM

In the brush and in the blind is only place I feel short bows really shine. Where I hunt in tree stand, they are pretty much wide open trees so longer bows aren't hindered much. I have a 31" draw, I can shoot a 58" bow if it's fairly low draw at 28", but I have to be real mindful of my draw hand grip on the string so as not to get pinched. I practice shooting bent over all the time with my 64" longbow so that terrain poses very little problems for me but brush can be a real show stopper!

January 06, 2015, 02:32:00 PM

58 for you is probably about the ratio as 48 would be for me.

njloco · January 06, 2015, 02:42:00 PM

Why would anyone want to.shoot a bow as long as 58" ? I can shoot my Bear 48" magnum just as good as my 68" Gordy Moray. It's all in the head !

dbd870 · January 06, 2015, 04:13:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by njloco:
Why would anyone want to.shoot a bow as long as 58" ? I can shoot my Bear 48" magnum just as good as my 68" Gordy Moray. It's all in the head !

I don't notice any difference between my 58" and my 52" KMag. The SuperMag interests me but I'd like to be able to try one first. Little concerned even at 28.5" it could be a problem for me?

old_goat2 · January 06, 2015, 05:10:00 PM

Bear 48 Magnum has the huge brace height, that's why you can shoot it with a normal draw length and not get a lot of finger pinch. I can't shoot one with my long draw, back to bow design having a lot to do with it.

59Alaskan · January 06, 2015, 05:23:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by njloco:
Why would anyone want to.shoot a bow as long as 58" ? I can shoot my Bear 48" magnum just as good as my 68" Gordy Moray. It's all in the head !

I say this in a teasing way....but this statement comes with a signature listing 5 bows, 4 of which are 64" or greater.....

Steelhead · January 06, 2015, 06:36:00 PM

A short bow is also very convenient for stalking and still hunting where you dont have the option to clear or cut saplings,sticks,weeds etc that might be in the way of limb clearance.

Short bows manuever easily and quietly through cover when still hunting.

Wudstix · January 06, 2015, 07:13:00 PM

As mentioned previously by others a shorter custom bow would only be advantagous due to length; a shorter stock bow @28" may be better performing than a longer stock bow. You can see what length I like.

riverrat 2 · January 06, 2015, 08:53:00 PM

They are nice to stir the firebox in the woodstove with.

I had to! But I confess..my 60" Centaur is a pretty good bow to have in my Turkey blind. rat'

jt85 · January 06, 2015, 09:09:00 PM

I was waiting for riverrat to comment. LOL

Turkhunter · January 06, 2015, 09:37:00 PM

Other than the advantages already mentioned i say a short bow makes you a better shot. If you have 2 bows that are of the same design and you practice with the shorter bow and master it, then shooting the longer bow should be a piece of cake.