Bow length?

Elksong · August 12, 2011, 08:07:00 PM

On a recurve if a bow is marked 50" - is that strung or unstrung?

jhg · August 12, 2011, 08:24:00 PM

Unstrung, if it is a AMO standard measured bow.

This measurement is 3 inches longer than the bow strung and at proper brace ht for that particular bow.

So strung your bow would be minus 3 inches, or 47 inches.

This info is from the AMO standards booklet.

Joshua

Elksong · August 12, 2011, 08:37:00 PM

OK so I have a 52" recurve that is 48 unstrung and 52" strung and a 60" that 57.5" unstrung and 60" strung?

Night Wing · August 12, 2011, 09:36:00 PM

No, for your examples. A 52" bow is 52" unstrung, 48" strung.

The 60" bow is 60" unstrung and 57.5" strung.

Elksong · August 12, 2011, 09:39:00 PM

NO I am saying that the actual measurements ARE as stated in my post above. If what you guy's are saying is true my bows would be marked wrong. One is Jefferys and the other a G&L.

Want2no · August 12, 2011, 10:42:00 PM

are you measuring along the back of the bow or a straight line tip to tip?

Night Wing · August 12, 2011, 10:44:00 PM

I have two 66" recurves and both are 66" unstrung. When they're strung, they are 63".

jhg · August 12, 2011, 10:56:00 PM

We are relating what the AMO standard is.

Length is measured along the bow for that standard.

Javi · August 13, 2011, 08:07:00 AM

The problem is that many bowyers don't follow AMO std's when building bow... and the AMO std's aren't that old so older bows do not necessarily comply either.. but a rule of thumb for string length is to measure the bow unstrung from string groove to string groove following the curve of the bow along the back and subtract 3" for a longbow and 4" for a recurve. What the bow measures strung is dependent on what brace height you pick today...

Elksong · August 13, 2011, 08:23:00 AM

Yep, I had never noticed that some bows seem to follow the AMO and some not. Causing me some heartache with a bow I sold. The bow measures 50" strung (no length marked on the bow) so I sold it as a 50" bow. Guy wants his money back because he says it is a 54" bow.

Javi · August 13, 2011, 08:29:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by Elksong:
Yep, I had never noticed that some bows seem to follow the AMO and some not. Causing me some heartache with a bow I sold. The bow measures 50" strung (no length marked on the bow) so I sold it as a 50" bow. Guy wants his money back because he says it is a 54" bow.

And so it would be, bows except for compounds are measured unstrung.. that's pretty much been the way of things for the 50 odd years I been shooting a bow...

YORNOC · August 13, 2011, 10:13:00 AM

Jason, did you measure in a straight line tip to tip...or follow the contour of the bow? That is the key....
Just saw this was already brought up, sorry

Rob DiStefano · August 13, 2011, 10:24:00 AM

the correct bow length measurement should be nock-to-nock, unbraced.

Jason Kendall · August 13, 2011, 11:21:00 AM

Specs say that a bow should be properly braced with a string that measures 3" shorter than the bow. So a 60" bow no matter where or how you measure it should be at the correct brace height with a 57" string, thats how I build all of mine. I have had a lot of bows come through my shop that arent even close to AMO specs.

Elksong · August 13, 2011, 12:44:00 PM

I guess it was just bad luck, that when I sold the bow the only two bows I had were the Jefferys and the G&L and they both are marked at what they measure strung. Thanks for the input all!

Swamp Yankee · August 13, 2011, 01:14:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Jason Kendall:
Specs say that a bow should be properly braced with a string that measures 3" shorter than the bow. So a 60" bow no matter where or how you measure it should be at the correct brace height with a 57" string, thats how I build all of mine. I have had a lot of bows come through my shop that arent even close to AMO specs.

Bingo, we have a winner. You cannot physically measure the current AMO length of a bow. The AMO length (current standerd) is nothing more than than the physical length of the string it requires plus 3"; no matter what the physical length of the bow is however you think it should be measured.

Rob DiStefano · August 13, 2011, 01:23:00 PM

over the last 5 decades i've seen lotsa variances in what folks consider "bow length" or even "AMO bow length". i measure an unbraced bow from backside nock groove to nock groove, following the lie of the riser and limbs. though none of that really matters all that much. what does matter is if the bow length works well for your shooting style, and it's length allows it to be hunted well. i never met a bow that ascribed to any string length formula - they're all diff'rent, to diff'rent degrees. i build a string for a specific longbow based on what is the bow's best performing brace height, which is typically on the low side. to each their own, and if it works well, don't change a thing.