Bow performance

[Wolftrail]

This has come up before I'm sure, would a bow of 60" be faster than a bow of 66" having the same draw weight.

[Bowjunkie]

Yes, and No.

[Bvas]

What are you changing to go from 60-66"?
Limbs, riser, both?

[Wolftrail]

I'll be more specific either a wood bow or glass, (one piece).  Both bows have the exact profile inch for inch.
Just curious.

[Dazzad]

To find the definitive answer I'd probably dive for TBB1 and read Tim Baker's chapter on bow design and performance.

I keep forgetting all the principles, but I'm not sure it's clear-cut in real life....stands to reason that the 60" limbs will be shorter, therefore lighter, but then how does the increased string angle of the shorter bow impact on getting a clean release??

I know this is an apples/oranges kind of comparison, but I remember thinking that my 64" 50lb (D/R) Bear Montana was not actually as fast as my 50lb (straight laid) 68" ASL...

Now that I've blathered on and not really answered your question, I guess someone will coma and give you (and me) a lovely succinct answer    

Darren

[Roy from Pa]

No it will not be faster. It will be slower.

[Bvas]

Originally posted by Roy from Pa:
No it will not be faster. It will be sloer.

Why?

[Mad Max]

Faster

[Dazzad]

haha i didn't think this was so clear-cut!! Tim Baker has supposedly built more bows than anyone alive - TBB1 has the answer (or at least as well informed an opinion as could be had!)

Darren

[mikkekeswick]

So the longer bow will have thicker limbs which have a faster rate of return than thinner limbs (all else being equal).
The shorter bow will stack more at full draw. Its limbs would also be strained more than the longer bow and would thereforte take more set (wooden bow).
Shorter bows limbs physicallly weigh less therefore can return faster (but they are strained more than the longer bows limbs so this is unlikely, if strain was the same then they would return faster).
As with everything in bow making when you find a specific factor you think will make a bow 'faster' there is always a negative.
Really there is no answer to your question as it is too open ended and simplistic.

[Mad Max]

Dean
Do a search with this.

would a bow of 60" be faster than a bow of 66" having the same draw weight/Trad Gang

[Wolftrail]

Originally posted by Mad Max:
Dean
Do a search with this.

would a bow of 60" be faster than a bow of 66" having the same draw weight/Trad Gang

Thanks I'll do that, even with all the variables I would be inclined to think that the shorter bow would be faster at close range.  Quicker release.
A short war bow if there is such a thing would have a much shorter range.

---------------------------------------------
This is what I found, read the entire post by pavan.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=1;t=110499  
Posted by pavan (Member # 21538) on November 13, 2011 01:01 PM:

[Roy from Pa]

All things being equal, a longer bow is faster, quieter, and more accurate. Plus easier to tiller and being longer it has less stress on the limbs. It's amazing what an extra 4 inches in bow length can do. Not too mention, zero hand shock if tillered properly.

This came up on another forum...  I believe that it was agreed that a longer bow would be faster than a shorter bow, everything being the same...

[kennym]

This is from memory, so take it for what its worth..

Someone, maybe Blacky Schwartz, tested 2 Widows same weight of different length and the longer one edged the shorter one by a bit in speed.

But, how can they be the same design with different lengths?   :D

[Wolftrail]

Originally posted by kennym:

But, how can they be the same design with different lengths?    :D  

Just surmising.

[stickmonkey]

Originally posted by kennym:

But, how can they be the same design with different lengths?    :D  

That is where I am at with it. My last 56" shoots 186 @ 10gpp. I an thinking the one I am building now will be just a few feet faster still. Optimising the design for the size and good tillering I think is the key. There is a lot more going on with really short bows than When the TBB1 was penned. I still remember getting first copy in 92.

I suppose you have to ask yourself what your needs are and if you dont need a really short bow then go with the longer one but if you want a short twig for hunting with out sacrificing Accuracy, real Speed and Forgivness then look at the forward handle designs from makers like Big Jim, Tim Mullins and others as well as myself.  

I dont think I am giving up anything in terms of real performance by shooting a 56" vs a 66" but I certainly do enjoy its short profile and how much of a joy it is to shoot.

[Mad Max]

It's all about design.
selfbow,D/R Osage 199fps
horn bow, well over 200

I made a BBI that shoots better than some of my glass bows.

Babboo back,and carbonized bamboo belly tri lams are over 190.

[BMorv]

199 fps with a selfbow.  That's very impressive Max.  Was that with 10gpp arrow?

[Mad Max]

I think it was 7 1/2