Bow wood choice

[Nivek]

What would your preference be for a slightly reflexed long bow. Bamboo backed ipe or bamboo backed osage and what would be the main shooting differences
Thanks.

[SveinD]

I'm no expert, but I believe 99.9 % of the answers you will get here is for Bamboo backed Osage!  

As far as bow-woods go, Osage is top 3, if not the best bow wood there is..

[PEARL DRUMS]

I have built a few BBO's in the past and just recently finished up two BBI's. If I closed my eyes and shot any of them I couldnt tell them apart. My vote would probably be Ipe because the color contrast between bamboo and Ipe is gorgeous. I glue in 4" of reflex only and end up with about 2" when shot in and tillered.

[okie64]

How the bow will shoot is more about the bows design than it is the type of wood. If you leave either one of those too long or the outer limbs too wide you're gonna get some handshock because of the weight of the wood you're workin with.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Either one will make you a nice bow with reflex glued in just like Pearl said. They are both very quick by longbow standards. I'm wanting to make another BBO for myself by October. Working on a decent piece of osage right now, soon as I pick the right one I'll be going at it soon.

Be careful with the Ipe that you don't get any hingy spots, it's not nearly as forgiving of your mistakes as Osage is but very doable none the less if you pay attention to detail.