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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Carbonkiller on January 18, 2011, 02:49:00 PM

Title: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Carbonkiller on January 18, 2011, 02:49:00 PM: hey guys, i have hunted and shot recurves for years but i have been itching for a simplier form of shooting. so today i closed a deal on a 58" striker stinger! it should suit my 26" draw well. my question is...do you treat longbows any different than curves? i know with my recurve that i shoot alot, it stays strung unless i'm not shooting it for a week or two. is this still the norm with longbows? any other tips are helpful.

btw- i just realized this is also my first one piece bow:) this is gonna be fun!
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Tim Fishell on January 18, 2011, 02:53:00 PM: Nope I dont treat any of my bows different than the others. Recurve, longbow, 1,2, or 3 piece they all get treated the same. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Stumpkiller on January 18, 2011, 03:05:00 PM: They make better tent poles and johnboat pushers.

Theat them the same - though I always unstring my longbow after use. I have an old lemonwood that lived in grandpa's barn strung for many years and looks the same strung or unstrung.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Carbonkiller on January 18, 2011, 03:24:00 PM: wow! thats pretty wild! i have heard of guys getting bows in garage sales that had been strung up for years...still pulling the same weight! i have also heard that for what ever reason, maybe limb geometry, that black widow says to unstring their longbows when not shooting.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on January 18, 2011, 03:40:00 PM: I would recommend unstringing it after each shooting session.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: ishoot4thrills on January 18, 2011, 03:43:00 PM: The lemonwood bow in which Stumpkiller is referring to is probably a solid wood bow or at least doesn't have any fiberglass in it. I leave my glass recurves strung all the time without any ill effects whatsoever.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: YORNOC on January 18, 2011, 03:45:00 PM: All my recurves stay strung unless going on a trip. Never had an issue?
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Carbonkiller on January 18, 2011, 03:46:00 PM: all mine do to but longbows? im new too.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: youngarcher1 on January 18, 2011, 03:47:00 PM: both my recurves and longbows are unstrung when not being shot, it's not going to hurt so why not.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Carbonkiller on January 18, 2011, 03:52:00 PM: well mainly because with recurves, at least, stringing and unstringing can up the odds of twisting a limb. not sure if you can twist a longbow limb though.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: vtmtnman on January 18, 2011, 03:52:00 PM: Glass bows are fine strung,although I wouldn't leave any bow stung just to leave it strung.If it's your main bow that you shoot everyday leave it strung up.

Do not leave selfbows strung when not in use.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Jeff Strubberg on January 18, 2011, 04:01:00 PM: My glass bows stay strung unless they are being transported...recurve or longbow.

Woodies get unstrung immediately after shooting.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Carbonkiller on January 18, 2011, 04:15:00 PM: so is my thinking right? that it seems that a narrow thicker longbow limb is really hard to get a twist compared to a wide thine recurve limb.

thanks for all the comments so far guys!
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Terry Lightle on January 18, 2011, 04:57:00 PM: Always treated laminated bows the same,now selfbows are a different animal Enjoy it!
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: on January 18, 2011, 04:57:00 PM: Thick cored longbows will tend to set if strung for long periods. I left a Schulz strung for three months and it had less pull and lost some of its shape for a while, but it came back after a few days of being unstrung. I was checking to see how stable it was after I fell with it and broke a tip, then retillered it to its two inches shorter length. It is the smoothest and most accurate short draw longbow I own in its current sad state. I have seen a Hill that had been left strung for two years that took on a permanent set and lost a few pounds of draw weight, but it probably shot nicer and was easier to pull for its owner, originally 92 pounds.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Stumpkiller on January 18, 2011, 05:05:00 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Carbonkiller:
so is my thinking right? that it seems that a narrow thicker longbow limb is really hard to get a twist compared to a wide thine recurve limb.

thanks for all the comments so far guys!
I'd say "yes".

I watched a guy demonstrate how flexible a recurve limb is by taking his recurve and twisting the limb while strung. The string jumped the groove and the limb twisted around on itself sideways with a lot of nasty crackles. Did not seem to do any real damage but didn't do it any good for sure. From the look on his face t may have taken years off his life, though. :scared:

A longbow is much less apt to twist in the same way - but what we call "longbows" real longbow makers call "flatbows" and you can still twist one with enough mishandling. Usually you can straighten them out pretty easily, also.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Steve H. on January 18, 2011, 05:06:00 PM: Any 58" longbow will 99% be closer to your recurves than an actual longbow.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: the longbowkid on January 18, 2011, 05:12:00 PM: depends what kind of longbow, might have to adjust the was you grip it. sometimes using a recurve grip will make your longbow want to shoot left, just change your hand position to a more wrist-down traditional style and it solves the problem
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: hunt it on January 18, 2011, 05:51:00 PM: I leave my longbows, three piece and one piece strung unless I'm travelling.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: sagebrush on January 18, 2011, 07:18:00 PM: I left a bow strung once for several years because it was a little heavy. I thought maybe it would lose some weight. It didn't. Gary
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: AdamH on January 18, 2011, 08:14:00 PM: All of my L/B's are unstrung after shootin, get yourself a Sel-Way L/B stringer, takes about 3 seconds, why risk leaving it strung ...
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Mojostick on January 18, 2011, 08:25:00 PM: Upon a poor shooting session, I curse both the same, liberally. ;) :D
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Mike Vines on January 18, 2011, 08:29:00 PM: I unstring mine after each use. Don't know if it's right or wrong, but it has never failed me.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Brently on January 18, 2011, 10:00:00 PM: I leave my glass backed longbows strung unless I am not going to be using them for several weeks. I have a Robertson that pretty much stays strung all the time and it is just fine.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Bowtie on January 18, 2011, 10:14:00 PM: Unless I'm traveling with the bow, whatever laminated-glass longbow that I'm currently shooting, I leave strung, because I shoot it every other day, if not every day. Same with my recurves. If I'm not going to shoot a particular bow for a while, I unstring it. My selfbow, I always unstrung it after shooting.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: highplains55 on January 18, 2011, 10:22:00 PM: i had a longbow that had 30 thou. on back and 40 thou. on belly, glass with yew cores, if i left it strung for a couple of days it would take a set, but return to shape in a day or two, all of my other longbows have 50 thou glass, and it doesn't matter, i have longbow socks i keep em in
unstrung though.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: GingivitisKahn on January 19, 2011, 07:03:00 AM: Longbow etiquette: Thou shalt not blame your longbow for hand shock when the culprit is your grip. :D

I unstring my HH. Not sure if that's really needed or not but it makes the thing more convenient to transport and takes all of two seconds to do.

Congrats on the longbow purchase!
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: gregg dudley on January 19, 2011, 07:09:00 AM: The advice here is generally good, but... Regardless of what you hear follow the recommendations of the bowyer that made the bow. They are the ones that you will have to talk to if something goes wrong with it uner warranty...
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: cbCrow on January 19, 2011, 07:55:00 AM: I been shootin many years and can't remember any twisted longbow, not to say it won't happen. Taught to always un string any bow after your done shooting.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: lpcjon2 on January 19, 2011, 08:01:00 AM: You don't baby a longbow... lol
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: mongoose on January 19, 2011, 08:06:00 AM: I almost always unstring, both recurves and longbows. I always, always use a bow stringer just to be on the safe side, I think that other methods are just to risky :knothead: I kindly thanked him and promptly left :campfire:
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: centaur on January 19, 2011, 08:14:00 AM: I leave 'em strung. Haven't had a problem in a bunch of years.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: greyghost on January 19, 2011, 08:42:00 AM: Congrats on the longbow.

I unstrung mine after use. Right or wrong, damage or not, I have not the clue.

Earl
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: LONGSTYKES on January 19, 2011, 08:59:00 AM: Glad to hear you got yourself a Long Bow Brandon. Doesn't matter with the newer bows made today. Your option Don
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: bobman on January 19, 2011, 09:12:00 AM: I always unstring mine no one will ever convince me it doesn't affect the bow to leave it strung
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Carbonkiller on January 19, 2011, 09:31:00 AM: thanks for all advice guys. i checked with the bowyer and he said to leave it strung, unless i wont be shooting for a while. i cant wait to chase some hogs with this baby!!
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Jeff Strubberg on January 19, 2011, 11:38:00 AM: Quote
Originally posted by GingivitisKahn:
Longbow etiquette: Thou shalt not blame your longbow for hand shock when the culprit is your grip. :D

How about: Thou shalt not claim thy bow to be free of handshock whilst taking steps to alleviate said handshock? :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: sffar on January 19, 2011, 11:54:00 AM: My 2 cents. I unstring my bows to store them. I might leave them strung for a couple of days, though if I had a self bow I'd unstring it after shooting. My method of stringing, besides using a stringer that fits the bow, is to foot the stringer with two feet wide stringing a recurve and one foot–or two close together–for a longbow. Feet spread makes it a lot less likely to twist over a limb tip.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Frenchymanny on January 19, 2011, 12:47:00 PM: Hunting a full week my hybrid longbow will stay braced all the time.

I always unstring between shooting sessions, with a stringer

F-Manny
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: Andy Cooper on January 19, 2011, 01:00:00 PM: The best advice, to me, was the phrase, "with a stringer."! I leave mine braced unless they are not going to be shot for two or more days. I always leave them braced for at least a week when breaking in a new string.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: GingivitisKahn on January 19, 2011, 06:19:00 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Jeff Strubberg:

Quote
Originally posted by GingivitisKahn:
Longbow etiquette: Thou shalt not blame your longbow for hand shock when the culprit is your grip. :D

How about: Thou shalt not claim thy bow to be free of handshock whilst taking steps to alleviate said handshock? :bigsmyl: [/b]
Do you really want to do that again? Lol - your recurve is shocky too if you hold it badly enough. Does that mean a recurve is shocky - of course not, it's an indication of poor technique. Same with a longbow.

How about another tack...

If you throw a football correctly, with a nice tight spiral, you can throw it far and with decent accuracy. If you hold the ball badly and end up with a wobbly pass, then accuracy and range suffers - is that because a football is unstable? No - it's an example of poor technique yielding poor results.

Or another...

If you use your #4 sage fly rod to cast a #18 Adams and you have a nice 10 o'clock / 2 o'clock motion with proper rhythm, you can place the fly with delicate tenderness right in front of that feeding trout. If, on the other hand, you try to snap the fly out there as though you were casting a spinning rig, you will be tying knots in your fly line. Does that mean a fly rod is inherently unusable? No - again, poor technique yields poor results.

Same with a longbow.
Title: Re: longbow etiquette?
Post by: TDHunter on January 19, 2011, 06:45:00 PM: Same if no usey, no stringy!