Bow Length vs Draw Length

[BMorv]

I'm sure this was discussed before, but I couldn't find it.  
I have a r/d tri-lam design that I like, and it works for me and my 29.5" draw.  It's 65" ntn.  I now have a couple friends that want me to build them bows, along with my swap bow.  Would it be logical to shorten bow length according to draw length difference?  So for a 28" draw I could shorten my 65" ntn bow to 63.5" ntn ?  

I know what I'm going to do with the width and thickness.  I just want to only make the bow as long as needed for my design.

[Roy from Pa]

Make them all 65" long..

[BMorv]

Is this one of those "do as I say, not as I do" suggestions?

[BMorv]

They all don't draw 28".  It was just an example.

[Wolftrail]

Originally posted by Roy from Pa:
Make them all 65" long..

Same here. .

[Wolftrail]

Originally posted by BMorv:
They all don't draw 28".  It was just an example.

I hear ya.

[BMorv]

I include tip wedges which retain my reflex and hold a good string angle.  My plan was to keep the tip wedges and just shorten the bow and the shooting characteristics should be the same and they wouldn't have to carry around excess bow length.  I just don't know how much to shorten.  If it was one bow at 28" I wouldn't change it.  I would like to make it versatile to a range of draw lengths.

[Roy from Pa]

You asked and I suggested..  

What difference does 3 or 4 inches in length make?

Longer bows rock..

[BMorv]

I'm interjecting what I want into these bows that I'm making for other people.  At my draw I've always made longer bows and wished I could make shorter ones.  I need to make a short one for myself and get it out of my system.  
65" fits in the back seat of my truck nicely, 70" gets tips slammed in doors.  I could only imagine how nice a 62" bow would fit in there....

[mwosborn]

Try it.  Shorten each limb an inch and see how it shoots.  Just as well "get it out of your system ".      :D

[Roy from Pa]

But ya better reduce your stack.

[KenH]

What Roy said!  Shorten the limbs an inch and the draw weight will go up about 5 lbs.

[BMorv]

I did plan to reduce my stack, but I didn't think it would be that much.  So you think it will go up 5 lbs going from 65"ntn to 64"ntn?  I was thinking more like 2 or 3 lbs.

[Pat B]

Under ideal conditions you don't want a bow's length less than twice the draw length. Generally 10% to 20% over that is best.

[Wolftrail]

Originally posted by Roy from Pa:

Longer bows rock..

Yep,  I hate finger pinch anything less than 64" takes the fun out of shooting.  On the other hand when I practice I shoot off about 90 arrows in one hour,  In a 3-D shoot or hunting you may fling 40-80 arrows all day.
I'm just whining for something to do......  

I been making a 64" D/R bow for some time...  I have been wanting to make a longer one but I stuck with 64" until I got the performance wired...  I got a feeling I am gonna make a 66" or 68" bow in the near future...    Would like to see if it helps my accuracy...

[Roy from Pa]

Longer bows rock .......

[BMorv]

Alright.  You all convinced me.  I'm not gonna change the length.

[kennym]

I draw 28" and just to seem to shoot 64" best . Will say I haven't shot anything longer for several years.

Don't feel finger pinch on shorter bows, just don't shoot as good.

[Forwardhandle]

All my bows are 62-68 1/2 in. I shoot the longer ones better at beyound 20 yards but at hunting from a blind  I like to shoot 62-64 in. and at 20 yards I shoot the short ones just about the same !