Shooting Traditional Bows with the Pros
Question i have got a long bow that is 140 cm long how much string wood i need

- luke 02/03/2011, ID=3078
Answer
140 cms converts to a 55" bow inch bow my rule of thumb is a string should be about 3.5 inches less than the length of the bow. 51.5 inches equates to 131 cm length string. Hope this helps.


Question I shoot a 45# Bear Grizzly Recurve (27" draw). What type of arrows would you suggest? I wonder if wood, carbon or aluminum are best.... I plan to do a lot of stump shooting so the cheaper the better.

- John 01/20/2011, ID=3073
Answer
All arrow materials are fine choices and they have their merits. I'd say aluminum is the best value when it comes to durability, cost, and quality. Carbons are more durable but they cost more. Woods are more challenging to match and they carry more mass weight but they tend to break easier.


Question I just bought a 1977 vintage Bear Kodiak Hunter in "like new" condition - no cracks, no stress lines, no lamination separation, no limb twist - not even scratches! But the bow hasn't been strung/shot in at least 5 years - maybe much longer. Will vintage bows usually be structurely sound and safe to shoot in this situation? I know that limbs can take a set if left strung/unshot for long periods - can they also take a set unstrung? Any advice on how to "break in" a vintage recurve? Thanks!

- Chuck 10/29/2010, ID=3060
Answer
I've got a collection of vintage bows that I frequently shoot and they perform quite well. I'd say your vintage Bear is ready to shoot, put a proper dacron string on it and string it and shoot it. It won't take a set if it is unstrung.

If you want to baby the bow you might choose heavier arrows to shoot out of it rather than the superlight arrows available now. Heavier aluminums and wood arrows are my choice. I like to use the 10 gr per pound rule.

Best of luck!


Question I shoot an Ozark Mountain Stalker 58"-50 rt handed do I need lt or rt helix on my fletching. I shoot off a rest and use a tab. Alot off my shots are left so I moved rest that seemed to help.

- Norm Lancaster 09/15/2010, ID=3051
Answer
You can shoot either right or left helical fletch it has been proven that there is no benefit in regards to arrow flight. I am right handed and I prefer to shoot left helical because a left helical bitzenberger jig imparts more helical than the right helical jig.


Question i recently purchased a Martin Pantera 29 1/2 draw 60#, i was wondering if you could point me in the right direction with the right arrow to use. Mostly for Deer maybe moose

Thanks

- todd 09/13/2010, ID=3050
Answer
Arrow selection is time well spent to getting a well tuned set up. I usually have a couple different sets of arrows in the spine ranges I think might work. For your set up I would have 3555 and 5575 on hand I'd start with them full length and shorten them as I tune them with my ideal broadhead weight.

For aluminums and woods I would do the same exercise I'd have aluminum 2016's and 2018's and for woods I would have a spine range of 65 pounds and 70 pounds handy.

Any bow will handle a range of arrows, and like tuning a lawn mower engine's idle, you can find that sweet spot for your ideal spine for the bow and arrow but you can also vary that set up and still get good flight just like leaning out or running your engine a little richer.


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Larry Yien
Be sure to visit Larry Yien's Website - Larry Yien is the International Field Archery Longbow World Champion and USA Shooter. He is also the shooting editor at the Stickbow and along with other top traditional shooters in the country, will be answering your questions on shooting traditional bows.