Recurve Help

[S.C. Hunter]

I have been shooting longbows since I started with trad gear. I did start out on a recurve almost 40 years ago but other than that I have just tried some recurves here and there. I seem to shoot them very well, but find some a better fit. I tried a predator recurve not long ago that a member allowed me to test. The bow shot really well and sent a arrow hard toward the target, problem was that bow felt awkward in my hand something with the grip angle,depth just couldn't put my hand on without making an adjustment. I shot BW's and while I have never seemed to find them a good looking bow they would shoot great for me. Funny thing is I had no problem getting a good grip on this bow versus the predator. I have shot a few bear recurves again very good shooting bows and the grip was fine. I will say so far the best feeling, good shooting, and most quiet recurve I shot was a Jim Brackenbury bow that a gentleman let me try while at the TBOF shoot several years ago. Can someone explain to me how bows like a BW vs a Brackenbury style riser can both feel comfortable and shoot well while being different or at least to my eye they seem different?

I have also noticed I can shoot a wider range of recurves in terms of length vs longbows which I do love to shoot.

What recurves would you say have the best design to resist twisting of the limbs? Looking to add a recurve maybe I have always liked the lines of a recurve but shot well with a longbow, they seem quicker for me to get on target and they are defintely lighter but as I said I have shot longbows for close to 30 years as a primary bow and a couple wheelies along the way.

Looking for some ideas for a good recurve. Can you tell me your choice in a recurve and why it is your bow of choice. What are the qualities that most appeal to you in your choice of recurve?

[ISP 5353]

WOW, where to start?

 Recurves, like longbows, have an individual feel to them.  Some draw smooth, some load weight late in the draw etc.  Grip shape, riser mass, and center cut are three very important things to consider in your decision.

 Like you, I have primarily shot longbows for many years.  This year I started shooting my Quinn Stallion a lot more and hunted with it last fall.  It was one of my best seasons ever.  Great bow speed and very easy to shoot.

 This stared me looking for a good custom recurve to hunt with.  What I found is that there are a LOT of great bows available right now.  I have shot over 25 different bows before deciding on what I liked best.  Of those 25 bows, 20 of them would have made me proud to own and hunt with them.  I ordered my choice based on conversations with the bowyer and shooting his bows.  They fit me perfectly, the price was great, and his delivery time was good.

 Shoot as many as you can and see what FEELS best to you.  If it feels right, you will like to shoot it a lot and will get good with it.  Enjoy the search.  If I can be of any help PM me and I can tell you a little about some of the bows that I have shot.

[S.C. Hunter]

Thanks I know it is always a matter of what the individual shooter is looking for in a bow. But gettimg input from those who have already done the leg work always helps in the search.

[don kauss]

if you haven't tried a Silvertip or a Tall Tines, you might want to, before you make any final decisions.
make sure the arrows you are shooting (during test-shooting) are appropriately spined for the bows as well: you will find that the bows which "fit" you (or you fit the bow) will consequently be much more accurate...it'll be like seeing the love of your life for the first time------->you won't need to ask anymore questions (about which bow anyway)...

[SS Snuffer]

I shot longbows for a longtime. The only recurves I shot were old Bears and Persons. One day I went to a guys house to buy another longbow and there was a 50's style recurve Kota Killum hangin on the wall and he said shoot it once, and my eyes were opened!!
 It's the grip that make the bow in most cases and a recurve can have a low wrist grip and shoot just like longbow.

[Orion]

Most bowyers offer their grips in several designs, low, medium and high wrist.  Sounds like you had a high wrist Predator and something in the medium range on the Brackenbery and BW.  They're all good bows.  Old Brackenbury's, meaning the bows that Jim built, are quite stable because their limbs are two inches wide.  BW limbs are quite stable, too, because they're made a little thicker because the rear mounted limbs aren't flexed as much as foward mounted limbs so they have to be made a little stiffer by comparison for the same draw weight.  

Because of the way the recurve limbs open at full draw, the string angle remains larger ( compared to a longbow in which the tips are pulled closer together as full draw is reached) which reduces finger pinch, which has to do with why you feel comfortable with a wider range of recurve lengths.

Lots of good recurves out there.  Good idea to try to find some trad shoots and shoot a few more to find one you like.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

The best recurve for you is one that fits you to a tee in the grip, and has the desired mass weight to the riser, and hits your draw weight specs exactly.... You can have it your way from 52" to 66" in length if you have a custom bow built to your specs.

Or maybe even think about a hybrid long bow with all those sexy curves in the right places..... The 3rd one from the right is a hybrid long bow set up.... food for thought.

 

[tj69]

Wow, nice bows.
But I think you mean the third from the left, right?  

[damascusdave]

My favourite recurve was my 1964 Bear Kodiak...try shooting one sometime...I paid 250 bucks for it

[S.C. Hunter]

Originally posted by Orion:
Most bowyers offer their grips in several designs, low, medium and high wrist.  Sounds like you had a high wrist Predator and something in the medium range on the Brackenbery and BW.  They're all good bows.  Old Brackenbury's, meaning the bows that Jim built, are quite stable because their limbs are two inches wide.  BW limbs are quite stable, too, because they're made a little thicker because the rear mounted limbs aren't flexed as much as foward mounted limbs so they have to be made a little stiffer by comparison for the same draw weight.  

Because of the way the recurve limbs open at full draw, the string angle remains larger ( compared to a longbow in which the tips are pulled closer together as full draw is reached) which reduces finger pinch, which has to do with why you feel comfortable with a wider range of recurve lengths.

Lots of good recurves out there.  Good idea to try to find some trad shoots and shoot a few more to find one you like.

Thanks that explains a lot about why I was feeling comfortable with so many lengths of recurves. It also gives me something to work with in choosing a recurve. The Brackenbury was a bow built by Jim and I think I do remember the grip being less of a high grip than the Predator. Thanks

[S.C. Hunter]

Originally posted by damascusdave:
My favourite recurve was my 1964 Bear Kodiak...try shooting one sometime...I paid 250 bucks for it

Well that was definitely a good year. I was born in Feb of that year.

[S.C. Hunter]

Anyone else?

[Shawn Leonard]

Kirk has it!! I can shoot most any bow OK but give me one with a grip I like and matched arrows and I can shoot it really well.Even when I shot R/D longbows I needed a grip custom made for my hand and shooting style. Most bowyers can give you what you want in a recurve. It sounds like you like a bit beefier grip with a slight palm swell that fill your hand, thus the Bears and Widows, the Brack you shot may of had the same type of grip as well. Shawn