rb -

The advantages of longer bow will be a smoother draw, shallower string angle (less finger pinch) and usually better stability.
Longer is always better from a pure shooting perspective PROVIDING you:
1. Your draw length is sufficient to fully work the limbs. (Limb AND riser lengths factor in there.)
2. The extra length doesn't hinder maneuverability (hunting situations).

In the target world there are pretty set standards for recommending bow lengths to draw lengths.

Viper1 out.

 

So at what draw length would you switch up from say 66" to 68" or 68" to 70" Tony?

 

In my experience longer bows are more pleasant to shoot, in general. String angle and resistance to torque because of the longer limbs seem to be a lot of it. I have recurves from 60" to 64" and while I like them all my favorites are the longer ones.

I haven't noticed a big difference in hunting situations (clearance) between 60" and 64" bows, but obviously there will be situations were the shorter bow will has advantages. If you aren't hunting there is no advantage to a shorter bow that I can see, in fact I'd go for even longer than my 64" recurves for target shooting. My draw is about 29".

 

You can Google and find it. There are slight variations depending on source but they are all pretty close. Viper probably has it in his book. It does not affect me since I have a long draw length and need to longest bow I can get.

 

Jon -

Kinda depends on the draw length.

For adult shooters and target ILF rigs:

DLs over 29" = 25" riser + long limbs (70" overall)
Around 28" = 25" riser + medium limbs or 23" + long limbs (68" 0verall)
27" or less = 23" riser + medium limbs (66" overall)

I rarely recommend short limbs for target shooters, unless we're talking about really short draws.

For guys like Hank with really long draw lengths, there are advantages to a 27" riser + long limbs (72" overall), but given the prices of those risers, I can't really recommend then for new shooters.

Viper1 out.

 

Viper,

I have been experimenting with a 25 inch riser and extra long limbs for 72 inches. I will probably upgrade from my Bernardini Nilo to a 27 inch Luxor some day. That will also take a few pounds off my limbs which is a benefit as you get older.

 

In my opinion, yes. But better has limitations in circumstances as does everything. Compact usually is noisy, finger pinch, and with long draw length, subject to failure (personal opinion). Long = (in my opinion) smoother, quieter, lighter (subjective) and subject to impact damage on release in cover, treestands, and shooting under the eves during rain... :grin:

 

I can really tell the difference when drawing, holding and shooting between a 60" longbow and a 66" longbow (I hate the grips on most recurves). Draw is much smoother, doesn't begin to stack at my 29 3/4" draw length, holds steadier in my hand and seems to release much more crisp (less finger pinch) with a longer bow as opposed to a much shorter one.

That being said, I choose a 60" bow when I am hunting from a climbing tree stand because of maneuverability but it is still harder to shoot accurately for me. For ground hunting and from fixed elevated stands there is no question. I shoot what feels best and that is the longer bow.

Doug

 

Thanks Tony. I am contemplating longs on a 25" for smoothness but with a 27" draw I might lose too much speed I think.

 

Is there a tutorial that explains all this ILF stuff. When I search the internet using key words like ILF geometry or ILF limb length, I get all sorts of returns that point to places that sell the stuff, or to different forums that again use the terms.

Limbs have these vague terms like short, medium, long. Then the risers have numerical lengths, like 23 inches, or 27 inches. Then all of a sudden there is a 66 inch bow length? Then, is this 66 inch length and unstrung length, or a stung length? is it tip to tip, or nock to nock?

Then limbs have different weight ratings for 28 inch draw length. I suspect that different riser lengths and different limb length combinations will have a different weights for the same draw length. Are there any general relationships to this?

I don't own any ILF hardware. But I am thinking about getting something soon for taking up string walking.

Pete

 

Mr. R,

This sticky on the FITA forum here has lots of definitions and explanations: http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2037374

Post #27 details riser/limb length combos.

Hope this helps a bit for starters.

 

Jon

At 27" a 25" riser and medium limbs will be fine.
Picking an arrow that allows you to tune with the bolts full in will take care of any speed issue.
Even though modern limbs are pretty efficient, I wouldn't go with longs.

Viper1 out.

 

Thanks Thin Man for the link. Though it didn't quite answer the question, it did have a lot of interesting information.

This is what I found at Sky Archery http://www.skyarchery.com/questions_answers.htm

Short Limb Length = 23"
Medium limb length = 24"
Long limb length = 25"

The bow length is the distance between the riser limb bolt dimensions plus the twice the limb length.

The limb bolt length is equal to riser length minus 5"

Hence a 23" riser with long limbs = (23" - 5") + 2* (25") = 68"

So far, I have only found 1 source that actually gives numerical lengths to limbs. And the math in their formula does seem to fit with published bow lengths according to riser length and the vague short/medium/long definitions.

Does anyone else have any knowledge about validity of the equation that is found at the Sky Archery website?

I have never actually measured the physical lengths of ILF limbs. But it is interesting that Sky Archery reports that the difference in length between short and long is only 2 inches. Is that the case? If it is, its kind of bizarre that something is called short when it is only 8% shorter than the long.

Pete