Best performance layout?

[stringstretcher]

Ok guys and girls.  Let me hear your layout and why?  For us that are short draw and weight challenged, what would be the best layout (limb design) for a 66" NTN Osage bow drawing 40-45 lbs at 27".  Parallel limbs to mid limbs and then taper?  Full taper from the fades?  Flat belly or D style?   And with both limbs being equal length.  The handle will also have a shelf cut in it.

[steve b.]

Depends on the wood species, quality, characteristics, intent, desire, etc. 

[stringstretcher]

LOL....that sure narrows it down quite a bit, thanks

[PEARL DRUMS]

62" ntn, 1 1/4" wide 18" out from center, then straight taper to 3/8" tips with overlays, flip the tips a pinch Charlie. You know what I have learned after building all the  bows I have? The bows poundage is the biggest factor, all things being equal. I have made all kinds of static recurves and they shoot just like similar weight straight bows, or close enough it doesnt matter. You can make a 40# bow a fast 40# bow, but you cant make a 40# bow a fast 50# bow without lots of "add-on's".

These are just my opinions and findings of course.

[stringstretcher]

Thanks Pearl Drums.  That is more of what I was looking for, just some place to start and I will go from there.  Thanks man.

[okie64]

Pd beat me to it. Thats pretty much the dimensions I wouldve said to use too. If you keep the length at 66" you could narrow it to an 1-1/8" or even a little less.

[stringstretcher]

Thanks Okie64

[okie64]

Pd beat me to it. Thats pretty much the dimensions I wouldve said to use too. If you keep the length at 66" you could narrow it to an 1-1/8" or even a little less.

[okie64]

Sorry bout the double post. I get confused this early in the mornin

[blackhawk]

Keep it 66" long and make an Andaman holmgaard  ...

Or whack it down to 54" and make a R/D bend thru the handle 40/60 ratio Molly curve

Or how about a 62"ntn 50/50 ratio Molly with flipped levers

A 60" sinewed reflexed static recurve

A 64" R/D

Or that standard flatbow mentioned above will work too..it just won't be as fast as the ones I mentioned....if I make it

[Carson (CMB)]

Just keep your tips small as possible like blackhawk.

[SLIMBOB]

+ 1 PD.  Little wider 1.5" and maybe 64" in length depending on the wood.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Its an osage bow he refers to.

[SLIMBOB]

1.25" wide and 62-64" long.  Bout nails it.

[RyanY]

Of all the factors I think performance has so much more to do with build quality than anything. That being said, I think most bow designs, if built well, should perform about the same. Longer bows store more energy and will shoot faster till string mass begins to eat up excess stored energy. Also designs wither lower outer limb mass will shoot faster. In this case I'd agree with blackhawk that the andaman holmegaard design is your best bet. But being osage it'll be a dog no matter what you do.