Hello all, I am trying to decide on length of Miller Hawk. I have a 26.25" draw and am trying to decide between a 64" or 66" inch bow. I know thes Bows are built to be draw specific and have been advised that the 64" bow suits my draw well but that a 66" is doable. I have seen quite a few references on line to Miller's with 26" drew and all seem to be 66" My question is what would be the pros and cons of one over the other? Any thoughts welcome. Thanks

I'd suggest nothing shorter than 66"

Call David and talk to him about your bow he is a very competent builder and great guy to talk with. I have a Miller Old Tom super bow and attention to detailing and tillering, you will enjoy your bow, Just Call David , enjoy your Hawk, Ken

Thanks, Ron, the internet is quite a thing. I have long admired your accomplishments in trad. archery and am old enough to be a bit amazed that my post can be so far reaching. Coyote, Dave is very knowledgeable indeed. Dave has stated that a 64" inch bow would serve my draw well and that a 66" bow will work out to 28" but that a 66" is certainly doable and is a matter of my preference. I have preferred a longer bow ,currently using a 68“ Wesley Special, and tend toward the 66" Hawk but was looking for some input ,opinions, on what I might be gaining or losing in the way of performance between one or the other. Huge decision for me and can use all the advice I can get. Thanks to all

I would take Ron's advice . I have one of millers students making me a bow right now. I hope it's as good as the teachers!

Micheal I have a MILLER Yew and bamboo all wood bow no glass its 64" and 47lbs at 26"and smooth as silk. If your getting the Hawk CC/CV model I would go with 66" the limbs are stiffer by design. I have a Hawk that's 66" and 49lbs at 26" and its a very nice bow also. All things being equal the longer bow on average I think is a bit better and if you ever sell for any reason longer bows often sell quicker.By the way you can split the difference and have him make you a 65" bow he can do that also. Just something to think about.

John Schulz apparently had a 26" draw was marked 62# @ 26"

and , I have one of his personal bows, its 64", at my 26" draw its smooth as can be

I had a Miller Hawk that was 66" and 48@28 that I just sold. He makes a nice bow, but I didn't care for the feel of the bow or the way it shot. Jim :)

I would go with a 65" tillered for a 27" draw, leaves you a little wiggle room. You are really splitting hairs, just tell him what you draw and have him make it for you.

Thanks for the responses they help. For clarity, If I go with a 66 inch bow tillered for a 26 inch draw it can be drawn beyond that 26" inches without putting the bow in as much jeopardy where as a 64" bow would more likely be damaged being drawn beyond the 26" it is tillered for? Thanks, Mike

I have a bowyer friend who builds very similar bows...I have a 30 inch plus draw and he has an all yew bow that he built with the guidance of John Strunk...it does not make sense that bow would work with my draw length but he says why not try it...I am going to drive about 5 hours one way to do that...if I was not willing to do something like that I would stick with a glassed bow...sometimes the best way to save a lot of money is to spend a bit...all wood bows are not for everyone

DDave

The all natural bows are designed for a specific DL - pulling beyond that length will cause damage regardless of the limb length.

Having said that I'd go with a 66 like most have said. My DL is the same as yours and I have a stringfollow 66' Expedition - amazing bow to shoot, you won't be disappointed!

I have have owned two Miller Split bamboo bows(still shoot one). My draw is 26.5 and my bows are 66". They shoot perfectly for me. David recommended 66/65" for my draw. Good choice. David's bows are superb shooters!!!

Runner - go ahead and ask Dave, when he's building these bows the limbs are set up to achieve the optimum balance between stress (delivering power) and durability at a specific DL. He is clear to warn customers on this point when they're ordering.

all wood bows take a set and lose power if drawn beyond their designed DL.

Thanks guys, I don't think Dave Miller would or needs to make himself seem more than he is. I have quite a few months to go before he gets to my bow so have refrained taking up to much of his time until the build gets closer. What David said was ..."a 64" bow would be good for a 26" draw due to the shorter riser but can do a 66" if you prefer“ I then asked if there would be performance advantages in going with the 64 over the 66? He responded that " if the bow is to be drawn over 26" a 66 will work out to 28" but if I like the longer limbs go with the 66 inch". My question is ,I guess, do you fellas think that the bow would be less specific for my 26" draw at 66" and would I be loosing anything in the way of feel or performance? I tend to over think things I am excited about. This may be one of those occasions. Mike

He very well may build a bow to be draw lenght specific. The normal way we do this is by reducing th amount of working limb for a shorter draw. If someone asks me for a 26" draw bow I would tiller it out to 28". Most bowyers I know add close to 2" for a safety margin. Also if a bow is tillered out an extra 2" it is less likely to loose weight once shot in.

Thanks Badger, For lack of a better way to state, would this impact the sweetness of the shot, either being tillered for a 26 inch draw with a 66 inch bow or adding the two inches of wiggle room? Does either way have an effect on the shot for the archer with the 26 inch draw? Mike

I like my 66" bow.

My arrows are cut at 28" bop so you can see I'm drawing close to 26". My 66" Miller bow is bending nicely at that DL

Runner, Dave is well known as one of the finest bowyers specializing in ASLs today mad was a student of John Schulz.

His abilities are well reflected in the length of his build list, he is a true gentleman and a man of integrity. He has no need to self-aggrandize or inflate the mystique of his bows.

You're so confident in your statement, order a bow made for 26' DL and lend it to a friend who pulls 30' ....

A good or great product sells itself no hoopla needed. Runner,I'm confused, you say your talking about a few inches not four inches and then you give an example of drawing your bow five inches beyond its norm? It's not,I think that a bow will break or be severely damaged, but when designed for specific DL it will begin to stack thereby no longer shooting optimally, hurting performance etc.

Well I think bows of any length can be tilleted quite differently depending on the desired outcome. I think a 64 inch ASL bow would have some real problems being drawn to lengths over 26 inches in the way of stacking. It is not as simple as the daw weight just keeps increasing in regular and equal proportions until the tips meets or the bow breaks. Logic is only reliable in proportion to the amount of knowledge one has of the topic in question. The old half inch water pipe versus the one inch pipe with the same amount of pressure behind it debate seems aprapo in this exchange. I also think that my initial inquiry has gotten lost in your pounding the same old nail. Also, there is not always hoopla.

Just some info in follow up. This bow is draw specific a 64 inch bow should not to be drawn beyond 26 inches. The 66 inch bow is designed to be drawn to 28 inches not 29 or 30 inches.

what weight are you "going with?"

Between 50 and 55#

You will not be able to tell much between them. He uses a 12" riser on the all wood bows as compared to a 14-15" riser on a glass bow, so a 64 has a similar working limb as a 66" glass bow. LET HIM MAKE IT FOR YOU! Don't try to engineer. He knows what he is doing. You will be fine either way. I would go with one made 65" and tillered for a 27" draw. That way you have a little cushion room. Going heavier? go Longer. at the mid weights, let him make it for you

Good advice Red!

That is good advice red. I do tend to over think. Dave' first suggestion was 64 inches and he mentioned the riser being short. My draw is just over 26". I have tended to like bows longer than shorter. Currently shooting a 68 inch Wesley Special and 66 inch Big Five.

Can you tell a difference if your eyes were closed shooting either of those bows?? probably not at your draw length..

Red The Big 5 has a dished grip and is heavier but I know what you mean and no probably not. I think the 65 inch Hawk is what I'll decide. As I mentioned earlier I have a few months to mull it over.

Ron, yea- but I was hoping to get pretty one! Joking aside that's a beautiful bow I've admired it for some time. Right length, right draw, even left handed. How many pounds is your bow at 26 inches? Thanks, Mike

Man, forget the hoopla. Sounds more like sour grapes.

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