Drawn to the longbow (Have a few questions)

[Cyclic-Rivers]

There is absolutely no difference in shoot-ability between a longbow and recurve per say. The differences are subjective.

But if you want to compare two specific bows, then you will have a list of differences.

My recommendation is buy a R/D long bow and then decide whether you want to go more hybrid or more ASL or if you are happy with the R/D

If you are like most of us, you will have all of them lol.

Enjoy!

[namvet6971]

If I was hitting tennis balls at 50 yds, I wouldn't change a thing..........

[Msturm]

I have found that any archer always needs at least one more bow.

Msturm

[joe ashton]

Don't do it.  Once you start down the long bow path it's like a disease.  It takes over your life.
They are thing of beauty.
A joy to shoot.
Easy to carry.
Deadly.
Just my opinion based on my 24 year love affair with   longbows.
Joe

[forestdweller]

Originally posted by namvet6971:
If I was hitting tennis balls at 50 yds, I wouldn't change a thing..........

Truth be told that was my best shot shooting targets that I ever pulled off and it took me at least 30 arrows before I was able to hit it.

I'm a precision freak though and if a longbow R/D or straight limbed bow will give me more stability I'll take it.

I think for now I'm going to try out a friend's higher limb weight recurve and see if it's any more forgiving and in the mean time save up for my first straight limbed longbow.

I think the R/D bow's look really beautiful and classic but if I'm going to try the longbow out I want to go all the way and get a straight limbed 66"-68" bow which also happen to be slightly cheaper in most cases.

[MnFn]

Some bowyers have a try-before-you-buy program. I have taken advantage of that option. If you narrow it down to a specific bow, it is a good option.

I love shooting my longbows, but I find them harder on my shoulder/elbow. It may be just that my heavier recurves deaden handshock a little better. Or that I don't hold it properly.

I don't hear to many other people talk about this so maybe it is just me.

[Petrichor]

If you like d profile when strung. Beat Montana has very light r and d and has a d profile strung. Also happens to be a fantastic shooter.

[Draven]

Originally posted by forestdweller:
The reason why I'm looking to upgrade is because I currently shoot a Samick Sage and the bow torques like crazy and feels very unforgiving and is hard to get a good release with (especially with the 40# limbs I have on it).

I'm going to keep it as a "trainer bow" since it's so unforgiving of user error.  

Interesting to say the least...
Good luck trying other type of bows, but you might be disappointed.

[Carson81]

I made the switch from recurves to a hill longbow about 7 years ago, which led to an interest in making my own yew wood longbow. Watch out for that rabbit hole...its deep.  But there is nothing like making your own bows.

And nothing is quieter and more forgiving than a well made yew longbow with a touch of string follow.

[forestdweller]

Have any of you tried out any of the Samick longbows? They look quite affordable at $200. I saw a pic of one unbraced and it appears to be nearly 100% flat with thick narrow limbs and only a very slight amount of R/D.

Referring to the post up above what I meant by "unforgiving" is that I have found that if my grip pressure is off even slightly it can throw my shot off left or right even within 20 yards.

Adding a bow quiver alone makes my bareshaft's show up drastically stiffer as the quiver torques the bow. That goes to show how sensitive my current recurve is.  

I've thought about what I would like in a new bow and it's stability, a bow where if I grip it less than ideal or apply more pressure than what's ideal my shot will not be effected as much and will decrease my left/right misses.

I'd be willing to give up quite a bit of speed for added stability especially if it decreases my left/right misses.

I do know that there are recurves that supposedly do not torque such as the HEX recurves/limbs but they are way out of my price range and supposedly have breakage problems due to their extreme recurve design.

Thanks again everyone for your input and advice I greatly appreciate it!

[Draven]

OK forestdweller, gotcha. I shoot Samick Sage 55# and I find it very stable - at least for me - but comparing to my old Ben Pearson Hunter the grip is slimmer. If my problem would have been the grip, I would try bows with meatier grip, or ones that will force the hand to stay in same place every time I get it in my hand - pistol like maybe. I would try a longbow before buying one - especially when the $$ is limited, the disappointment of not getting what you thought will be bigger.