Bow design help

[Jakesnyder]

I've recently made a simple d bow 58"ttt 1 1/4" at the handle then strait taper to 1/2"nocks. The performance sucks on it.  So I'm trying to find a bendy handle design that has some decent performance to it.the wood I'm using is hickory. I was thinking holding the 1 1/4" out tomid limb then taper down to 1/2" nocks. Do you think that would help performance?

[RyanY]

Performance depends also on execution of design and what you’re asking the bow to do. Also arrow design. What’s the draw length and weight? Pictures would help to show if tiller shape matches the profile. Based just on what you describe it sounds like the design is made for a short draw and light weight, 30-35# @ 28”, or heavier draw at shorter draw length. Nothing specific says it would perform poorly. How much set did it take?

[M2A]

Hey Jake, What has worked for me is leaving the middle 30% and tapering from there. 62ntn is comfortable for me to work with but have a few roughed out a bit shorter now. But at that lenght and trying for mid 50's poundage I kept my handle 1 3/8 on my last hickory bow(middle 24"). although I could have made it 60 lbs no problem. With dense locust at that lenght, 1.25" worked for me.  HOpe that makes sense...Not my invention, got it from old posts here, cant recall from whom.
Mike         

[Jakesnyder]

50lbs at 25 or26 in.  This is the design I see a lot of with Eastern Woodland Indians. How can they do it? I have seen a lot Of half eyesBows to know that it isPossible. I own a couple and they went going to break any records but they would kill. So what am I missing?

[PatM]

They tended to carry the width almost the full length.  What are you expecting for performance?

[Jakesnyder]

So is that where I screwed up? Performance wise I just want something that will punch through some small game really. Maybe some of it has to do with arrow choice as well. I'm currently using 11/32 55# hickory shafts that weigh roughly 535 grains.

[DC]

What's the draw weight of the bow?

[Jakesnyder]

Somewhere around 50lbs. At 26in. It took about an inch of set but after the first maybe 50shots it was just really sluggish. I was figuring I didnt heat treat it hard enough. Tiller seemed good on it

[PatM]

How dry was it initially?

[Jakesnyder]

It was a good 8 to 10%

[PatM]

How is it so different from your other one? Any ideas?

[Jakesnyder]

So I chalked it up as a learning bow and poor design now what would be a good design for what I'm looking to do? Maybe a little modified native american design?would 1 1/4" at the handle then fading out to 1 1/2" out to mid limb then taper to 1/2" nocks sound good? And 58" long should be long enough for my draw length and weight right?

[bassman]

That would be  a mod Sudbury design. I made a half dozen of those 6 years ago. Edge grain Shag bark Hickory from Amish wagon wheel staves. 62 inches long  at 45 to 50 lb pull at 25 inch draw, on a form ,and belly heat treated. 1 inch coming off the handle to 1 1/4 at mid limb to 3/8 at the tips. Slightly working handle at full draw. My bows ended up with 1 inch of set give, or take.I don't think my wood was dry enough to begin with, but with bone tip over lays, and a 10 strand FF string they are forgiving bows to shoot , and fast enough to dispatch a white tail.