I've made plenty of wood shafts for myself but I have a new one.  I donated a dozen custom made shafts to a disabled hunting banquet.  The winner shoots a 65# Leon Stewart Long bow which he draws 31"   :eek:  .  He wants his shafts 31.50" and wanted them in the 60-65 range.  He agreed that 65-70 would be o.k.  Do you think these will be stiff enough given his long arrow?  They will be crown dipped and will have 125 grain field points.    :confused:

Not only would I not expect accuracy from that spine, I'd wonder about safety also.

I'd bet he gets much better accuracy from 75-80 or even 80-85.

Does he REALLY have that long a draw? Sometimes guys think one thing and in reality it's something quite different.

I agree with Charlie, but something in what you describe sounds a little wierd.  Does this fella actually draw the point onto the riser on a longbow?  Is his bow 65#@31 inches or 65#@28 inches, which would be well over 70# at 31 inches.  At that weight, even 80-85 may not be stiff enough.

Yeah...it is kinda wierd.  I tried to talk him into some laminated birch.  I told him shooting light arrows could damage his bow.  He seemed to be set on the cedars and a 31" draw.  Guess I just make him what he wants?

I just sent him an email with the questions you raised orion.

FYI..the lambirch shafts from Alleghany will only make a 30" arrow, maybe 30.5 if you shorten up the point taper a little.

Eric

Mike, when I ask someone their draw length and they say 30 or 31" my next question is "how tall are you?" If the guy 5'10" then I question the long draw. I ask if they've ever had their draw length checked. Some will actually say no but my other arrows are 31"      

I then tell them to have someone mark their arrow at the back of the bow (be specific which side is the back) or they can do it themselves with a clamp on clothspin moved on the shaft until it touches the bow when they're at a NATURAL full draw.

If this person does in fact have a 31" draw and his bow is 65#@28", he'll be pulling 75#. That with the fact that the arrows are so long he'll need as heavy spined as you can get, 85-90# at least. If the bow is 65#@31" he'll still need 80-85#. Also ask what kind of string is on his bow, fast flight or dacron. FF needs a stiffer arrow.

If he doubts you forward him the comments on this thread.

I'm 6'1" and shoot a Martin Vision. I cut my target shafts at 30 1/2 " before tapering them. I can draw the point back onto the shelf if I over-draw. I cut my hunting shafts at 31 1/2" to allow the extra inch  clearance for the BH. I also go up 5# in spine when doing this. For the record, my bow 50#@28 I draw just over 29 and get about 54#.

Haven't received a response back yet from the man.  

Ron...he described himself as 6' and 300 lb. on the hoof.

Maybe I am missing something....is the bow 65#@31" or is it 65#@28"? You say it is 65# that "he draws to 31". Just trying to clarify if it drawing to 65# or 74#.