RE: Axle to axle length, brace height, and cams
 

WOW. Are you sure that is right? I'm 6 foot tall and big framed and I draw between 27-28. Just wondering, draw length is the most important thing to get right. Bow arm should be bent at full draw.

RE: Axle to axle length, brace height, and cams
 

riverknight I would have someone check that draw lenght for you, I too am guilty of shooting a draw lenght a little on the long side because thats where I feel comfortable, Im also 6'2" and am shooting approx 30 " (Bowtech 29" modules with a little twist out of the string), however your saying you use a caliper head with a string loop which both move your anchor further back plus a 32" draw lenght. Just doesnt sound right.
BD

RE: Axle to axle length, brace height, and cams
 

I'm sorry, that was my mistake I was thinking of something else, my draw length is 28". I don't know what I was thinking when I said 32". I would have to be a giant to shoot a 32" draw length with a string loop. LOL thanks for bringing my attention to it. Yes my draw length fits me perfectly and my arm is bent just slightly at full draw. 4" is just a small difference though, it shouldn't matter much, haha.

RE: Axle to axle length, brace height, and cams
 

I am not sure who you were referencing but, generally speaking, bare bow and with all else equal a conventional single cam is generally quieter than the other styles. However, rarely is all else equal. Mass weight, arrow weight, riser/limb design and "add-on" accessories can all affect this greatly.

RE: Axle to axle length, brace height, and cams
 

By your description, it sounds like you could be quite happy with one of the shorter bows, especially a higher brace height one. They do have advantages when in tight situations, like treestands, ground blinds and stalking in heavy cover.

Like PABowhunter said, on average, single cams are a bit quieter. Many hunters like them because they're quiet, don't require cam synchronization, and are very easy to tune. In my opinion, it pays to put a premium string on a single cam. Eliminating string creep will make them a very stable, shootable system.

RE: Axle to axle length, brace height, and cams
 

Are there any serious cons to going with a short bow? I seem to recall that they are not as forgiving as a long one, but I may be way off.

RE: Axle to axle length, brace height, and cams
 

Negatives:

Increased string angle which can lead to nock pinch and problems with reference points and peep positioning.

Too short of a sight window for an extremely low anchor point on some models.

Easier to cant clockwise or counterclockwise because of the shorter overall length and smaller weight distribution.

I am sure there are a few more but that is just off the top of my head.

RE: Axle to axle length, brace height, and cams
 

IMO, there are lots of "rules of thumb" that apply to whether a bow is forgiving or not. The usual prescription is long axle length, high brace height, and often dual or hybrid cams, instead of single cams. Preferences are still largely personal things, however. I think riser reflex enters the picture, although many guys seem to shoot the heavily reflexed VFT or parallel limb bows quite well. A month ago, I probably would have said that single cams were harder to shoot well than duals, because in my experience, they were. But in my case, it only took one bow to change my mind. I really think my short, light, single cam Hoyt Havoc shoots as well as any bow I have owned, and even better (for me) than two bows that were over 40" ATA and over 9" in brace height. Suggestions from others may help a little, but you really have to get out there and shoot a few bows to see how you like them. That is part of the fun.;)