Home › Forums › Bows and Equipment › back to traditional; bow advice

Viewing 7 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • quiverfull
        August 16, 2009 at 8:42 pm
        Post count: 37
        #3039

        Hi, I’m new on forum and seeking bow advice. I ‘m thinking recurve, and am shooting a friend’s 50# with no trouble. I’ve been looking at 3 Martin bows, Mamba, Hunter, and Dreamcatcher. My wingspan calculation has me pulling a paltry 26-27 inches, but that’s way too cramped for me. I remember pulling about 29″ years ago when I shot trad. Does anyone know a more accurate way to measure draw length? I can’t seem to find a shop around here that has one of those draw length measuring bows I used to see. I know draw length can be a critical number in bow selection. Any other brands in the general price range of the above mentioned bows will be appreciated (around $450-600). I know custom may be best, but a bit out of budget right now. Thanks…….JB

      • MontanaFord
          August 17, 2009 at 1:13 am
          Post count: 450
          #16008

          Using a friend to help, draw an arrow to full draw and have them mark the arrow at the front of the riser. Slowly let down your draw, and after measuring the distance from the throat of the bow (where your hand supports the bow) to the front of the riser, subtract this off of the length of the arrow from bottom of nock to your previous mark. This should give you your draw length. If I missed anything in here, somebody else is sure to chime in. Good luck picking a bow.

          Michael

        • Steve Sr.
            August 17, 2009 at 6:45 am
            Post count: 344
            #16303

            Using a friend to help, draw an arrow to full draw and have them mark the arrow at the front of the riser

            Hoping to not tread on any toes but…when marking the arrow when you are at full draw close to the BACK of the bow (furthest side from the shooter is the back of the bow), the distance from that mark to the bottom of your nock IS your draw length.

            Ok, I might re-read this in the REAL morning, since it is now 2:30 AM and I’m up letting Dewey the 10 week old TERROR out and realize I just wasn’t awake,…but unless something has changed I don’t know, about the distance from the throat of the grip to the the back of the bow isn’t measured (by itself but is part of the total length) for draw length but will admit the way I was taught was like 45 years ago. LOL.

            Montana, Buddy, If I subtracted my throat to back length off my draw I’d have a 24 inch draw. 😯 I already feel like a midget compared to you young guys! I want to stay with 28 inches. 😀

            I’ll read this again in the morning and probably realize I just flat am not reading Montana’s reply right but right now I’m LOST. LOL

            In addition, and while you may already know, the “old school” rule of thumb was to shoot arrows an inch longer than that measured draw. Not all subscribe to that line of thought but it has served me well.

            God Bless,
            Steve

          • Chris Shelton
              August 17, 2009 at 2:46 pm
              Post count: 679
              #16654

              Well Steve is right that is how you find your draw length, but MontanaFord tells you how to find your arrow length, I just dont worry about it and shoot my arrows full length, this method only bit me in the but once, when the full lenght carbon shafts were like 33 inches, still managed to shoot them well. I have the Martin Hunter recurve and it is a awesome bow, I think I would personally really like it around 65 pounds verses the 70 pounds it is? I dont know mabye those 5 pounds wouldnt make a difference? Really quick bow though!!!

            • Chris Shelton
                August 17, 2009 at 11:24 pm
                Post count: 679
                #17043

                Oo my bad montanaFord, steve pointed out my mistake, I have never heard of that subtraction before, I must have just stopped reading after the back of the riser! Oops, I ment that if someone marks from the back of the riser then that is your arrow length, man we are probably really confusing this poor guy!?

              • Jason Wesbrock
                Member
                  August 18, 2009 at 1:21 am
                  Post count: 762
                  #17125

                  Steve is correct. Draw length is measured at full draw from the string (i.e. throat of the nock) to the throat of the grip plus 1.75” (which usually corresponds to the back of the riser). So having someone mark the arrow at the far side of the riser at full draw will generally give you that measurement.

                • MontanaFord
                    August 18, 2009 at 2:47 am
                    Post count: 450
                    #17187

                    Nobody’s ever given me an exact description of “draw length”. I just figured that it was the distance from the throat of the bow to the throat on the nock. That’s why I mentioned the subtraction part. Learn something every day, I guess. Never learn anything without paying attention, and now this’s my turn.

                    Michael

                  • quiverfull
                      August 18, 2009 at 3:27 am
                      Post count: 37
                      #17227

                      Hey, thanks guys. Yea, you took me around the block a couple times on that one, but I get it now. I was just on a website called Maddog Archery, some guy named Mike Mecredy. He builds some pretty nice looking bows for a LOT less than the other custom guys, even less than Martin. Anybody have any experience with him? Thanks again………JB
                      PS: Don’t get me wrong, I want and am willing to pay for a good shooting, reasonably good looking bow, but don’t need fancy or big name stuff, sabe?

                  • Author
                    Posts
                  Viewing 7 reply threads
                  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.