FPS 55# Hwarang (Page 1 of 2)

For comparison, here is a video that I had watched some time ago. These are very good western style recurves for comparison.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zON5nhW … _embedded#!

Impressive indeed! What is your actual draw length if shooting without fatigue?  Your recorded numbers increase from top to bottom, is that the order in which you shot them?
Was your arrow 550 grains total, or 550 grains PLUS 125 gr. point?
   I'm impressed, especially if your normal DL is less than 32.5 inches!  Also, are you shooting with a ring?

Hey Jamie,
You know Im not for sure. You probably know better than I, it is the bow that I had with the frog skin?

I was drawing the bow to 32.5, that is the back of the field tip.

It really surprised the guys at the trad shop. One of the owners was looking at the numbers with me. The other owner walked up and said the only reason I was getting those numbers were because of my small feathers.

I suggested that he find a 55# bow on his rack that will shoot THESE arrows that fast? He mumbled something and walked off.

A true testament to these designs.

210-220 fps out of a 50# bow is wonderful.

Bluelake, were those carbon shafts or bamboo?

Raven, you would need a scale to measure the bow's pull weight at each inch of draw, and plot those numbers on a graph. Some one to record the numbers as you draw the bow would make it easier.
    Here is HUN'S example of a 45# Kaya @ 28"

      http://www.aixbow.de/shop/images/diagra … 112L45.pdf

Raven
Is that 55# at 28"(about 67#@32") or 55# at your draw length?  Did you measure it at the shop?  Also, did you weigh the arrow?  The info you provide suggests the arrow is about 480-490gr, assuming a standard aluminum insert.  Depending on draw weight that's 7.2-8.8 grains per pound.  That's quite a spread but your velocities suggest the lower end of the spectrum for weight or grains per pound, but still very impressive.

Adam Karpowicz gives estimated velocities for typical horn, maple and sinew Turkish recurves drawn to 28" in the range of 200-215 fps for war/target bows and 197-212 for flight bows at the gpp range I believe you were working with.  To my mind, the long draw length is the design factor that allows the higher measured velocities you found.

Kanuck.

Hun is absoloutely right. I just had to have the weight checked.

Here is what they told me....@28" the bow is 50.55. And at 32.5" draw the bow is indeed 72.25lbs of draw weight.

When I originally bought the bow, it was advertised as 55# I mistook that to be 55@31.

Interesting enough, I really feel like Im handling the 72lbs with ease and glad that I have the weight. But it does take away from the impressiveness of the fps.

Hun....I thought you left us? Glad to see you back!

Perhaps Ginni would like to confirm, I recall his bow of 67lb @ 28" weighing 85lb @ 33".

My own, 42 @ 28" is 55lb @ 32".

Kanuck, I agree. 62 pound increase sounds closer to the 3 lbs per inch standard.

But, I just had it in the shop this morning. When the owner was pulling down on the bow, he says "Im not sure how much more this bow can take". I reassured him that it was designed for this.

WillScarlet,
Yes, work hard at it. Make archery a tool for fitness. I have a 100 lb HIll that I often take out and shoot 10-12 arrows, and I have a 62l@ 28 recurve that I take out about 2-3 times a week and draw it back to my ear and hold for a count of 3 with the thumb ring.

I am by no measure a big guy, but I have built my back through archery, and am able to pull good solid hunting weights.

If you look at archery as a discipline......then work at getting stronger,  more disciplined which will increase strength.

In addition, a few different dumb bell workouts can be of benefit.

Raven,
Strange feeling isn't it? Certainly does not feel as heavy as it is and definitely nothing like normal stacking but the scales don't lie.

Will,
I take it you currently shoot off the hand using fingers? Have a look at my avatar, my drawing hand (the thumbring) is level with my earlobe. Ideally it would reach the point of my deltoid, perhaps another inch and a bit. This changed my old 29" draw to 33" (35" had I bought the Janggung)
I find this long draw is far more stable and balanced, allows the back to be fully utilised (squeezing the scapulae) and has a natural stopping point as opposed to fixed reference point.
Your upper arm will be in a stronger position, with less stress on the biceps. Give it a try using a measuring tape, you will be surprised how long your draw will become.

Using one of these bows with western style will still give you good performance, however drawn to full potential will have other archers exclaiming all sorts as they see the crazy limb angles and the screaming speed of the arrows.

I had the exact same problem at the local indoor 18 meter club.  Earlier last year I took the 50# KTB there for a spin.  The reaction is what you described below.  The range officer didn't like it at all because my thumb ring didn't fit and threw out a couple of times.  Also, I didn't know how to shoot straight: the arrows went right all the time due to grip and lack of bow rotation.

Now, I only go to an outdoor range . . .