The long and the short of it – a question for you multi-bow owners

[eidsvolling]

I started on recurves as a kid and mistakenly stopped shooting after a few years. I took up shooting again about 5-6 years ago with a 66", 48# selfbow that I inherited from my dad. I then bought another 66", 55# selfbow of identical design. Shooting them has been nonstop fun.

This past month I bought a 60", 58# recurve (1958 Bear Kodiak) that shoots fast and straight. While admitting that I haven't released all that many arrows from it yet, it does seem that the selfbows are more forgiving of my foibles. Perhaps it's my imagination, or lack of recurve experience, or is there perhaps something to the myth of longbow sweetness?

I'd like to hear from those who regularly shoot a variety of lengths and bows, preferably both longbows (or hybrids) and recurves if possible. Is it the length, the straight limbs, or just my imagination? Explanations based on physics will be appreciated, but if you resort to the zen of archery I'll listen to that as well.

[Todd Cook]

I shoot a longer bow better. I have several, but the 68" straight limbed bow is where I always seem to go back to. It's a little(not much) slower than the shorter hybrid types and I think that helps me. Seems counter intuitive but bows in the 170 fps range with heavy arrows are easier for me to be consistant with than curvier, faster ones.

[katman]

You did not mention your draw length but a shorter bow and a longer draw is harder for me to shoot well.

Also the grips are way different on the recurve than the longbow and that may be playing a part as well as the extra poundage.

[Rob DiStefano]

long levers typically are more stable and efficient, not necessarily the fastest - but the speed differential is, imo, negligible.

there needs to be a balance between your draw length and the bow design - there can be vast differences 'tween both.  it's about what i wrote in this article -  www.tradgang.com/docs/trad.html

while i like long limbs, a longer longbow may not be practical for some kinds of hunts, such as deep in the bush or up in leafy tree stands or set back in a double bull blind.  a compromise of sorts may need to be struck.

my longbow is 64".  it can be troublesome for me on some hunts.  i've tried to scale back to 60" and it's just not what works best for me.  so sometimes i'll hafta struggle but in the long run, longer limbs are just best for me and a 29" draw length.

you pick the gear that works the best for you.  "best" may be a compromise that you learn to live and hunt with.  it's just gear.  in the long run, it's the hunt that matters most.

ymmv.

[eidsvolling]

I draw 28.5. Both grip styles feel very comfortable to me.

[Orion]

I've been shooting longbows, recurves and self-bows for more than 50 years.  They're different, but I enjoy shooting them all.  Regardless of the style, I lean toward a longer length, for example, 60 inches in a recurve and 64-66 inches in a longbow or selfbow.  That's for a 28-inch draw.  Longer bows are usually smoother to draw, have less finger pinch and are just a tad more stable than shorter bows.

For me, I seem to be able to get on target quicker with a longbow vs a recurve. I use my one short (56-inch) recurve for turkey hunting out of a blind, and use a recurve for carp shooting, but use a longbow or long hybrid (64-inch ACS) for all my other hunting.

[Bjorn]

I used to shoot a variety but realized a 64" R/D longbow is what I enjoy the most, so basically that's all I shoot now-ACS CX 64" love it! Occasionally I still spend time with others and enjoy them too.

[trubltrubl]

longer limbs imho are more forgiving ....agree with all the fellas above. Another point I personally believe in design that makes a bow more forgiving is narrow limbs ( as long as the narrow limbs are "sturdy " or thick enough to keep the bow from limbs from flexing out of their original flat plane ) Narrow (in width of limbs not thickness of limbs) , seems to be more forgiving of a release that is not clean...when I accidently pluck a recurve limb it seems to me the arrow deviates more than with a narrower limbed longbow.
  That said it seems any bow be it a recurve or longbow that just "fits you right " can be your go to bow for accuracy..I have too many bows.....and If I shot only one I am sure I would be a more consistent hunter/archer.....

whats the old saying ?.....be afraid of the man who only carries one gun......ditto for bows...

[overbo]

You've been shooting a selfbow for years and now you are making comparison's to a bow you've only shot a couple weeks.HMMMM

I would give that recurve some more time to be a fair comparison IMO.

When one can shoot a recurve or longbow REALLY well.All other bows are just minor grip adjustments to become consistant w/.Again IMO

[Bear Heart]

I have or have owned bows from 69" down to 58". Longbows and recurves of various designs. I don't believe one is more forgiving than another. They do have different performance stats.

[nineworlds9]

I think as long as the grips and cast are similar switching around isn't a big deal.  I draw a bit over 29 and I prefer a recurve at least 62" and a longbow at least 64".  My go to bow is a 66" hybrid longbow.

[johnnyk71]

the biggest thing for me is having arrows that match each bow's spine requirements. if that's done, the rest is not a big deal.

[Buckhorn47]

eidsvolling, after many, many years of archery, 3D shoots, roving,hunting,etc., etc.  I have come to the conclusion there is no perfect bow, but there will be a bow type that for your particular needs will be the one you go to for most of your shooting. For me, my preference is a straight limbed, straight grip with or without an arrow rest longbow, 69-72" long, 45lb to 60lb, and, as you have already discovered, a selfbow is just plain fun and quiet, maybe not the speed some want but just plain fun.

[threeunder]

Those flat recurve limbs can be easier to torque compared to longbows.  Form and release issues can be magnified by that.

I'm trying to become a recurve lover.  Feel like I've come a long way with it over the past couple of years.....longbows are still my favorites though.

Also, I agree, a quality 68" or more longbow can be a dream to shoot.