Short Bow Draw & Arrow Lengths Questions

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Kier	Short Bow Draw & Arrow Lengths Questions	Lead	[-]
Posts: 442 (05/13/09 11:23 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I know that I have attempted short bows in the past, and really should make more attempts, but currently I am wrapped up with 3 bow projects that will be taking up my time. Today I just ordered a West Coast short paddle style bow with a very short allowable drawlength which was 24 inches at 50 to 55 pounds. My drawlength is only a little more than 25 inches anyway, so overdrawing for me might not be that much of a problem. However, to prevent the possibility of this happening, I am a little confused about what would be the best arrow length used with a short bow. In one of the volumes 'The Bowyer's Bible' I believe it states somewhere that longer arrows are best and more accurate when used with short bows. The chance of accidental overdrawing however would probably be increased by the use of a longer arrow. So I am wondering what would be best to do. I could either make short solid shaft arrows and try to find the proper spine weight for the arrow with the use of this particular bow. Maybe 25" length at most. I could use average length arrows spined for this bow and paint a stop marker or ring at maximum allowable drawlength. This one could still be a little risky. Or would it be better to go with an arrangement of cane arrows, with the main shaft being the right length in relation to the drawlength. I believe these were the type of arrows most often used with these type of bows with foreshaft hafted points. The area at where the mainshaft ends at the front would probably be the maximum drawlength. I hope these questions do not seem to dumb. I just want the right set of arrows with it's own quiver to go with this bow so the chance of overdraw is reduced if I let anyone else use the bow. I also want to be able to use this bow with broadheads if I feel inclined to do so. I am not sure whether to post this here or in the arrow & quiver forum, because it relates to both subjects.
redhawk 53		#1	[-]
Posts: 74 (05/14/09 12:08 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi Kier, I did good experience shooting these West Coast bows with the mentioned cane- arrows. The length of the main shaft is the drawlength, but choose a spine a bit harder than it´s usual for primitive bows, try it with a 50- spine or more. Finally it depends upon your style of shooting. For to prevent overdraw you could additonally paint the max. drawlength at the end of the main shaft. Michael
Jorgumund		#2	[-]
Posts: 534 (05/14/09 12:32 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	You can always run a few turns of sinew in the right place on the foreshaft and when you feel it on your forefinger you know it's time to stop drawing. if it ain't broke, don't tiller it... www.bladesmith.co.uk
sumpitan		#3	[-]
Posts: 704 (05/14/09 4:21 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Some shortbow shooters cut arrows to drawlength to prevent overdraws, some use a physical marker on longer arrows to indicate full draw (don't rely on paint - glancing at the arrow shaft before releasing to make sure is bad!). I'd suggest learning to feel the correct full draw regardless of the amount of arrow sticking out in front of the bow instead. One needs to be able to do that, anyway, to get consistently accurate with any bow, arrow and draw. Long arrows are way more accurate than short ones with short draws and sub-30-yard distances, IME. I currently shoot 26" arrows out of my 22" draw shorties, as a compromise between accuracy and maneuverability (30" arrows aren't as handy). Extra-long arrows with sufficient point mass can be very stiff yet shoot fine with short draws. To illustrate the point, I've gotten perfect arrow flight with 50# / 30" shafts out of 25#@20" short bows. Cut the arrow to draw length, and the whole dynamic changes. Short arrows need to be much more bendy and more precisely so than long arrows to fly clean out of short prim bows. Any and all shooting technique troubles will be magnified unless the short arrows are just so. Tuukka
rwelch		#4	[-]
Posts: 1557 (05/14/09 5:06 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I rely on the sinew at the foreshaft junction ,as a indicator . But it doesn't take long to train yourself to draw the right length. Ralph
Donnieonetrack		#5	[-]
Posts: 216 (05/14/09 6:01 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I do the same as mentioned above, I even add a wrap of sinew on one piece shafts at 22" just to make sure I don't over draw. BTW, who's making the bow, I might be interested in getting one myself. thanks, Donnie
Rod	re	#6	[-]
Posts: 2457 (05/14/09 6:40 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I would have thought that with a short bow we should also be considering the width of the bow, although if the bow is canted to near horizontal this is less significant since any casting off will then become an adjustment in elevation when shooting. Rod.
Kier		#7	[-]
Posts: 443 (05/14/09 12:48 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Donnieonetrack wrote: BTW, who's making the bow, I might be interested in getting one my myself. I purchased it from Rudderbows. I have bought some pre-shaped hickory staves from them that I tiller myself and have been very satisified with the products I have received from them. This is a new product in there line up and when I saw it, my interest sparked up immediately. This will be the first fully made bow I have purchased from them. However, I will continue to try to make usable shortbows from scratch. Shortbows to me seem harder to make, but the end result would have increased advantages for me. If I wanted to compete in distance target work, or hunt big game, I would probably choose a longbow over a shortbow. But I find short bows have some advantages of their own. Kevin
Kier		#8	[-]
Posts: 444 (05/14/09 12:55 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thank you everyone for your information. I find it quite useful, and with the answers you have provided I think cane arrows would be the best way to go with this bow. One more question though, are a cane arrow's spine weight determined the same way as wood shafts? I have never really seen any information on the spine weight of cane arrows; plenty of spine weight info on wood shafting, but almost nothing on cane. Thanks, Kevin
Donnieonetrack		#9	[-]
Posts: 217 (05/14/09 6:15 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Kevin, I spine my cane arrows the same as any other material. Just checked out Rudderbows, the bow looks pretty good, I may order one of the u-finish bows. take care Donnie
Woodbear		#10	[-]
Posts: 730 (05/14/09 9:13 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	One way to achieve a shorter draw is to change our anchor point. I find that if I anchor with the back of my hand (that is the largest knuckle at the base of the thumb) against my cheek bone I have about a 22" draw. This anchor point also makes keeping your eye directly in line with the arrow using a canted or vertical orientation of the bow easy. Anchoring to other locations on the hand can give a lot of other draw lengths. As to arrow length, I like arrows longer than the draw in general for my own shooting. Once you establish an anchor that gives the right draw length the draw check binding or mark should become redundant. I sometimes use masking tape around the arrow to temporarily mark short draw limits for special bows. This is mostly just a back up once you get the style for shooting a particular bow......As to letting others shoot your bow, I do not think anything other than draw length arrows gives much assurance. Even then you might be surprised how long someone can draw an arrow that you thought was "draw length". "Base of the point at the back of the bow" can easily become "tip of the field point in the middle of the handle". Dave

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Short Bow Draw & Arrow Lengths Questions

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