My $8 small/medium game bow

**small town survivalist** · 08-05-2014, 09:33 PM

I guess it would work, might need more than the 7 strands from one length of cord though just to be safe

**small town survivalist** · 08-05-2014, 09:37 PM

Update! Added some cheap rubber string silencers I got at my local farm store, picked them up for about $1.50, noticeably reduced the noise and the vibration I feel. Took it out shooting yesterday, bullseye from 40 yards, still getting the hang of instinctive shooting. I have now decided to make the full switch to a recurve hunting bow!

**Farley** · 11-14-2014, 02:23 PM

I have to agree with the gents who pointed out getting a proper string. The bow will shoot better and tune better with a proper string. Stick with dacron string and not any of the newer "fastflite" type materials.
The brace height "distance from the string to the handle" is way to height. This would be due to a short string, another reason to buy one. To find the proper AMO bow length, use a cloth tape measure, and measure along the back of the bow, following the curvature of the limbs, from string nock to string nock.
Once you have a proper string installed and begin tuning, alot of the bow noise will disappear. I would also suggest once that is done, measure the draw weight at you draw length and start looking for arrows to match.
Good luck and welcome to trad archery!!!!

**Flowing-wind** · 12-04-2014, 09:28 PM

Nice!! I went to all the thrift shops in my area today with no luck. Hopefully soon I can strike gold!

**NavySEAL** · 12-05-2014, 02:48 PM

I use the closed fist with thumb sticking straight up.......set your little finger of the closed fist on the hand grip with the thumb sticking up towards the string......the tip of your thumb should just touch the string.........string length is somewhere around 4" less than bow length...........for bow string I use 3/32" double braided antenna rope......works good for me.......I have 8 recurve bows and use it on all of them.
NS

**Duece** · 12-06-2014, 10:59 AM

Hey NavySeal does that method work for a long bow as well or just for recurve bows

I use the closed fist with thumb sticking straight up.......set your little finger of the closed fist on the hand grip with the thumb sticking up towards the string......the tip of your thumb should just touch the string.........string length is somewhere around 4" less than bow length...........for bow string I use 3/32" double braided antenna rope......works good for me.......I have 8 recurve bows and use it on all of them.

**NavySEAL** · 12-06-2014, 02:20 PM

Duece
I use it for both recurve and long bows.......not set in concrete.....you can add or subtract a little to fit the bow....for my long bows I use one knuckle less on the thumb on brace height.
NS

**Duece** · 12-06-2014, 05:57 PM

Thanks ns,,now ive got all three of my bows strung up,ive got a 20lb fibreglass recurve,a 40 lb les dunston longbow and a browning windriver compound

**Farley** · 12-14-2014, 11:56 AM

The idea of using the fist and thumb method (called fistmele), doesn't get your bow tuned with any degree of accuracy. It just means all your bows have a brace height that matched your fist and thumb height. That method was originally used in a time when nobody walked around with rulers or didn't have one. It simply insured that your bows brace height was always the same and therefore always shot the same.

Proper brace height varies per bow but the goal is the same, make it quiet, and the least amount of handshock. I've measured my fist and thumb and got 6 3/8", I don't own a bow that takes a brace height that short. Too short of a brace height will make an arrow react as if it is too stiff.

Most recurves take a brace height of around 7-8", longbows slightly less. Keep in mind if I set up BH on a bow for me, it will be off for the next guy due to different draw length and release.

Just my 2 cents