Longbow vs. Recurve

[Lil Red]

Love my longbow but going elk hunting this fall. I pull around 53#-55# @ 26.5" draw shoot a 565 grain arrow with a stinger 4 blade broadhead. Wondering if I could get more penatration with a recurve of the same pondage?
Thanks for your input.

[treetoppredator]

Probably, the recurve would more than likely be faster wich should equal better penetration.  The difference in penetration may be marginal I don't know. You  should use the one your most accurate and comfortable shooting!  Good luck on the hunt!

[Roots]

I agree, use the one that you are most accurate with and comfortable using.

[BowMIke]

The top longbows today are right there with the recurves on speed and are usually quieter as well. Stick with what you are comfortable with. I would think 45# and up with good arrow flight and a reasonably heavy arrow, like your 565 grain, would be good medicine for elk.
My Morrison Shawnees and Centaurs are both very fast, light, and quiet. (My recurves have been getting a rest for the last year!)

[sou-pawbowhunter]

I would say you should shoot what you like to shoot. R/D longbows don't give up much of anything to recurves, and are usually quieter. It's kinda like the whole Ford vs. Chevy debate, a lot of us just like what we like and thats all there is to it.  My heart and imagination have been captured by the HH longbow, and I doubt any of the arguments raised against them would dissuade me.  

[Bjorn]

A two blade would give you more penetration than a 4 blade. LB or RC would make no difference. Penetration is about shot placement and sharp BH.

[kadbow]

I think you would benefit more changing your broadhead, like Bjorn said.  A two blade or low profile 3 blade (my preference is WW for elk shooting near your specs).  I think taking reasonable shots you will be fine with your setup.

[Bill Carlsen]

I have to jump in here. I don't know what longbow you are using but I, too, am a recurve shooter. I just won a Tracker longbow from Stalker Recurve Bows. I have to say that this longbow shoots right alongside my DAS recurve (although it seems to like an arrow with a weaker spine). It was a very pleasant surprise that longbows have come so far. With the design and materials going into modern longbows I think it boils down to personal preference. IMO the correct arrow and a super sharp broadhead are really the key ingredients.

[Friend]

Unless you are moving from a very inefficient LB design to a very efficient recurve design, there likely will be little difference in penetration.

I project that you will need to increase speed well over 12 FPS to incur any appreciable gain.

Basis – Of my experience, it typically takes an increase over 75 grains(~11.25 fps INCR.) from a well tuned arrow to discern a difference in both penetration and site window at 20 yards.  Differences are discerned much easier at ~100 grain and of course- above. That would equate to a ~15 FPS increase at 100 grains..

If not done so already, then by optimizing your over-all arrow design, much greater dividends could be incurred.

[jhg]

I thought penetration was largely momentum (weight) derived rather than velocity driven.

In my own experience shooting both types the differences were more in how they behaved than in how deep the arrow went into something given the same weight and same arrows.
With the bows I shot the recurve got the arrow there faster. But what would that mean to you or the elk? Not much probably.
I think your longbow is a great tool to take an elk with. Use it.

Joshua

[straitera]

Some recurve beauts out there! Hybrids too! Never had an issue w/anyone shooting whatever suits them. Pick a good one & post some pix. How about Morrison Dakota at 55-60#? Screamer & pretty too.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

I would say to use the one you shoot best. If you feel a need for more penetration I would suggest switching to a heavier arrow with a single bevel broad head. If you have not done so already, search for Dr Ashby's reports on penetration. This will explain how to gain penetration by optimizing your arrow set up

[Mike Vines]

I have a RER LXR (longbow/recurve combo) with both sets of limbs making the bow 64" and 57# @ 28".  I bought it for the longbow, and the recurve limbs came with it.  So at the Kalamazoo expo I asked Kevin, the guy who made my bow from RER, what the difference is, and is there any performance difference with one set of limbs over the other?  He told me both sets of limbs do the same exact thing.  The only difference is that one is a longbow and the other is a recurve.  So, it's nice to know if I ever have a problem with one set, I have a back up, and I can know what to expect from them.

[oldbohntr]

I agree with what they all said.  The "modern" longbow is a far cry from the Hill style bow that we were shooting in the seventies and before.....yet those bows killed very effectively.  It's much more about having an arrow that flies perfectly, a sharp broadhead, and shooting accurately.  I am one that subscribes to Ashby's recommendations regarding arrow and bhd configurations as well. The bows are equally effective at the ranges we should be shooting.

I do believe that the configuration of the bow, particularly grip size, shape, "high or low wrist", is an extremely important consideration for most of us. One guy is a dyed in the wool recurve lover, and another the same way about longbows.....give them the grip or feel they love on the other type of bow, and they'll likely be just as effective with that one. The shape of the limb doesn't help you hit your spot, but just try to be consistent with a grip that's not comfortable or doesn't fit "your" style of shooting(form) -it's very hard to do!

[hotbrand]

I have to weigh in here. I just don't believe there is a significant difference in noise or penetration  between longbows and recurves all performance factors being equal (ie:bow poundage, wt & length of arrows, etc.) I don't profess to be an expert in the physics as applied to our sport for this discussion but I can tell you after roughly thirty-five years  of bow hunting (a dozen or so outfitting in Co.)I've only noticed one difference in penetration. This was the result of using two blade broadheads as opposed to three or four.  As always where or what the arrow hits ultimately is the determining factor.

[Stone Knife]

Don't switch boats in mid stream, shoot what you been shooting. A longbow pulling what you are will kill just about anything it hits.

[durp]

i hunt with perty much the same set up...mid 50's and 600ish grn arrows and 3 blade heads.

the results on elk are simple...DEAD ELK!!!

you have everything you need...just put a sharp broad head in the right spot and it's all over.

the average bull elk is only 19inches wide at the
back of the rib cage and ur trying to hit the frount end where it's only 10 to 12 inches wide.

[Lil Red]

Thanks for the input. For you that havn't seen a Magnus Stinger 4 blade the second blade is like the old Bear razors only 3/4" wide. Also what I called a longbow is really a hybred.
Thanks