Thinking about building some aluminums.
I have a 64" Bob Lee Natural, 55lbs at my 30" draw. Looking at a 31-31.5" bop. I would like to shoot Legacys so I can use some Mercury speed nocks I have laying around. 3x5 faethers, 6" wrap.

Could you guys recommend a spine to start with? Looking at all the charts, maybe a 2117?
Thanks
Mark

2216 may also work for you........may have to play around with point weight for 2117 or 2216.

2117,2216, or 2020 should all be close depending on string type

I think you can get a spine test kit? Personally I think 2117. I am using 2117 from my 60# bow. I draw 28 in. With you long draw they should work. Just food for thought, my first custom arrows for my 55# SK were 2020. Got them from Kittridge Bowhut.

2315....

My draw is not as long as yours but most of my bows pull close to 55# at my draw length (28").  Every time I bareshaft a 2117 it spines a little too stiff.  Most of them do well with a 2218 though.  2216s spine a little weak but fly well with feathers but I like the extra weight of the 2218s.   The one exception is my widow.  It takes a 2315 to bareshaft and it is a 55#er.  Go figure.

oops, I meant 2018s and 2016s.  See what happens when I try to think before I've had my coffee?

I think 2018's would work well with your outfit.  I shoot a tad lighter than you but really like the Legacy 2018's.  Th only problem you'll have is the length of the shafts.  The bare shafts are only 30 and three-eighths inches long.  I like the extra weight of the shafts.

Bernie

Another vote for the 2018.

2018s too weak at that length. 2020 borderline,same reason. 2215 or 2117 should be spot on............ BTW lots of 2215 shafts around with glue on nocks......

My bows and draw length are almost exactly as yours and I have been shooting 31" 2117's from them for years. Tried 2018-2020 and 2216's and the 2117 works the best.

John

I have to disagree with some on this one,  I have a number of bows in that range, Silvertip recurve 56# @ 28, Silvertip Longbow 55# @ 28, TallTines recurve 55# @ 28 and a Robertson TribalStyk 54# @ 28.  I draw just under 30 and cut my arrows to 30 1/8.  My go to arrow is a 2018 with the standard insert and 175 grain tip.  I get great flight and they hit like hammers at 605 grains overall.

D.P.

Go to the 3 Rivers Spine Calculator on their website.  It has worked great for me.

Thanks all,
I have done the Stus calculater thing, but Im not sure if Im really doing it right or not, seems to always recommend a (what I think) is a real high spine.
Mark

I would also think 2018's would work for you, I shot 2018's out of all my 55# bows and they were a great arrow, also shot 2020's but I would give the nod to the 2018's

I shoot long 2117s (31"-31.25") with 125 gr field points out of my straight-grip Hill-style longbows, and get good arrow flight.  At my draw length (29.5-30" a low-wrist Hill-style grip) I'm drawing between 55#-57# with these bows.

I actually just cut some 2117 Easton XX75 Classics down to 31" BOP (from 31-3/8") because they were a little weak for my Hill-style bows.  My 31" Easton Gamegetter 400 (2117) with 125 gr points fly great.

At your arrow length, I would think anything weaker than a 2117 (according to Easton's spine chart, both 2018 and 2020 are weaker than 2117) would be weak for your Bob Lee recurve.  A 55#@30" recurve should generally need a little stiffer arrow than a 55#@30" Hill longbow.

I agree with Ron W-- I think your best bet will be either 2216 or 2117.  If I had to pick one or the other, I'd say 2216-- you can always go heavier on the points if they're a little stiff with 125 gr points.

Lonehowl, you never mentioned what type of string your shooting on the Lee natural?

Biathalon stated this, along with your shooting, release, will have a key to your choice!

I lean toward 2117, a very common found shaft, and workable with point weight, my experience.

2018 or 2020's would be my choice.

Yep, sorry gents...as per JJ at Bob Lee, the strings are FF 16 strand.