Drawn to the longbow (Have a few questions)

[forestdweller]

Hey guys, I've been shooting a recurve for a little while and the more traditional simpler longbow has been drawing me in especially considering my favorite all time shooters used one.

I'm also drawn to the longbow because from what I have heard most do not even require a set of silencers for them to be very quiet and because they are supposedly more forgiving.

With my recurve it can be a PITA because they can require brush buttons, limb pads, and silencers.

Basically I'm switching to the longbow because it's simpler and supposedly more forgiving of user error.

What can I expect shooting a longbow coming from a recurve? Are they much more difficult to shoot and significantly slower than a recurve?

I've heard some say they are more forgiving of torque but am unsure of how true this is.

Also I will be hunting in dense forest, is hunting with a 66" or 68" longbow very cumbersome vs a 62-64" recurve?

Also I shoot from all distances (up to about 50 yards for now, my best shot was hitting a tennis ball from 50 yards) so I'm curious as to if their lighter weight can be a problem shooting at longer distances.

And I shoot a lot so I am more than willing to put in the time and effort to learn how to shoot the longbow.

Thanks and take care.

[Pine]

The biggest thing for me to learn was , to keep my bow arm slightly bent .
If you keep your arm straight , it will jolt your whole body .
Wasn't hard to learn once it was pointed out to me .
What price range are you looking at ?

[forestdweller]

Originally posted by Graps:
The biggest thing for me to learn was , to keep my bow arm slightly bent .
If you keep your arm straight , it will jolt your whole body .
Wasn't hard to learn once it was pointed out to me .
What price range are you looking at ?

I actually already keep a bent bow arm as it feels a lot more comfortable for me and I feel like I am more stable and stronger at full draw and can get a cleaner release with no wrist slap as well.

I had a problem for nearly a year where I was getting wrist slap but the bent bow arm fixed that.

My price range is pretty low, about $200-$300 for now.

[Pine]

You might be able to find something used in that price range .
You might consider becoming a contributing member so you can access the classifieds on here .

[Orion]

I shoot both and I think one can be slightly more accurate with a recurve for primarily two reasons.  Pound for pound, they're a little quicker, which translates to flatter trajectory, which means less aiming error.  Second, they usually have considerably more mass in the riser, which makes them easier to hold on target. Look at the scores at 3-D shoot; the highest scores are almost always posted by recurve shooters.  Too, all olympic archers shoot recurves.  They wouldn't have to.

That being said, a longbow is easier to maneuver in the woods, IMO, and lends itself to a quicker shooting style, not haphazard, but perhaps not as deliberate as a recurve. They're easier to get on target more quickly. At reasonable ranges, any differences in accuracy will be negligible.

IMO, 50 yards is too far to shoot at a critter with a traditional or any other bow.  Even if you can hit the target (and hitting a tennis ball once at 50 yards doesn't mean you can do the same on a critter) there are often things in the way that will deflect your arrow at that range that you can't see, and/or, the animal can take a half a step and what might have been a good shot becomes a bad shot.  

It's fine to practice at long ranges, but discipline yourself to only take shots at critters that you know you can make every time.  Good luck.

[BWallace10327]

I used to be SURE that a huge difference is present.  I feel that the only differences are using a stringer and high early draw weight on a recurve vs the push/pull stringing and higher late draw weight of the typical r/d longbow.  I am not a strong believer in a difference at all, unless you carry a strong belief that there actually is one.

[M60gunner]

I go along with Orion. I shoot my recurves better, quicker.  
Either way I judge my shooting by being able to put that first arrow in the kill at reasonable hunting range. For me that is up to 25 yards.

[forestdweller]

Originally posted by Orion:
I shoot both and I think one can be slightly more accurate with a recurve for primarily two reasons.  Pound for pound, they're a little quicker, which translates to flatter trajectory, which means less aiming error.  Second, they usually have considerably more mass in the riser, which makes them easier to hold on target. Look at the scores at 3-D shoot; the highest scores are almost always posted by recurve shooters.  Too, all olympic archers shoot recurves.  They wouldn't have to.

That being said, a longbow is easier to maneuver in the woods, IMO, and lends itself to a quicker shooting style, not haphazard, but perhaps not as deliberate as a recurve. They're easier to get on target more quickly. At reasonable ranges, any differences in accuracy will be negligible.

IMO, 50 yards is too far to shoot at a critter with a traditional or any other bow.  Even if you can hit the target (and hitting a tennis ball once at 50 yards doesn't mean you can do the same on a critter) there are often things in the way that will deflect your arrow at that range that you can't see, and/or, the animal can take a half a step and what might have been a good shot becomes a bad shot.  

It's fine to practice at long ranges, but discipline yourself to only take shots at critters that you know you can make every time.  Good luck.

I appreciate your response (and everyone else's response as well).

I do not plan on taking any shots at any critter at 50 yards, I should of been more clear and stated that I plan on using whatever longbow that I get for field/3D as well where 50 yard shots are not uncommon.

I can see your point on the weight difference in the riser aiding to ones stability. I tried out a bow quiver once and was surprised at how my bow just wanted to stay glued to the target with it on.

I'm not much of a speed freak so the loss in speed does not bother me (I can shoot between 9-12gpp without any noticeable difference in accuracy even at longer distances).

However, if they are easier to maneuver in the woods that's a huge benefit in my opinion.

I'm just curious, how much of a speed difference are we talking between your typical fiberglass laminated recurve and fiberglass laminated longbow if both bows are the same draw weight using the same arrow weight?

If it's more than say 20fps than I can see that being a slight problem when shooting at further distances.

[Shadowhnter]

I think speed will be relative of the particular bow, rather then a recurve vs. Longbow thing. I have 3 recurves about the same draw weights as my 2 r/d longbows. There is absolutely no doubt the longbows are faster. Its not always the case though. I can tell you, the maddog bows I own will rival most any recurves speed of the same weight, and I hear Omega bows will too. It just depends on what bow you are talking about.

Todays r/d bows, allows you to get a great feeling, high performance longbow at a much shorter overall length. I like 58"-62 " r/d bows.

Mine, are definitely far more quiet as they are made, though a recurve certainly can be made quiet.

I like the light carry of the LB....on long shooting sessions my bow arm gets tired of holding out the heavier recurve.

Feel, again largely depends on make. Some longbows shake you to death, but some are dead in the hand as an average recurve is.

Mass weight to help shooting feel and stabilization can be had by a lightweight strap on quiver. Makes a light, stable, deadly combination.

Accuracy depends on the shooter. I personally shoot longbows better then recurves. Ive robin hooded and broken more nocks then I about can stand with my longbows, not so with the recurves. Some of the best shots in history shot longbow, but some best also shot recurves. I believe its purely what fits you better, not so much of what bow performs better. These days and ages with the r/d and hybrids out....there is virtually no difference between them and recurves in performance.

More tolerant to mistakes? I have not personally seen anything that makes me believe that.

By the way, one is no more traditional then the other, or more simple. They are both ancient.

[Mitch Edwards]

I'm mainly a recurve shooter and that is because of one thing. Grip. I need a good locator grip for accuracy reasons. I've shot a few hill bows and just can't get constant with them like many guys are. I have 2 longbows one I absolutely love I just wish it was a 60# bow instead of 50. It's a Bodnik slick stick. I have the 58" model and I can shoot it as good as my recurves. I think you can get them new for about $300. Imo best bang for your buck. They are plenty fast and very quiet with the stock bear paw skinny string. Add cat whiskers and a 10gpp arrow and they are flat out silent. Check out Braveheart archery they have them I think

[Longtoke]

mm biggest thing i notice is grip, many recurves place your hand so that the pressure is in the web on your hand between pointer finger and thumb, most longbows the pressure is lower in the pad of your hand.  

Many longbows have lower brace heights, you might need to adjust grip or elbow slightly if you are used to shooting a high brace.

r/d longbows give you the best of both imo, speed and stability.

Plus.... I like longbows because I am lazy and they dont need a stringer    

[forestdweller]

The slick stick is a really nice looking bow especially for $300, shame they don't make it in 66" or 68".

I guess I'm better off with a full fledged longbow at the longer length's as it seems as though they don't make hybrids at 66" and 68".

[Longtoke]

Originally posted by Mitch Edwards:
I'm mainly a recurve shooter and that is because of one thing. Grip. I need a good locator grip for accuracy reasons. I've shot a few hill bows and just can't get constant with them like many guys are.

I bet most bowyers would be able to make you any grip style you wanted, if you asked them

 I think a grip that was similar to the 59 kodiak on r/d longbow would be wonderful.    

[Rough Run]

forestdweller - check out one of the sponsors here, Kustom King Archery.

The longbow they offer, called the Black Forest, may work for you.  64" length, and a grip less like a Hill style.  Made by Bearpaw, performance is top notch from all I've been able to learn.  Much like their Slick Stick or Quick Stick hybrids.

[Shadowhnter]

Idk quite how this got into a bow suggestions thing.....

But for $300 you can have a custom by maddog archery choosing your own woods annd particulars. Very fast, quiet, no hand shock, and very accurate.

Another great low cost bow are Omega originals.

Both these bows are top notch shooters....made by hand with love, right here in the USA.

[Sam McMichael]

Welcome to the finer side of trad. Longbows are fun, and, in my opinion, are easier to shoot well. There are some differences in the way a longbow likes to be handled, but none of this stuff is rocket science. In short, it not that difficult to adjust to. I shoot the Hill style bows, and sooner or later, you will probably be drawn to them also, which means you will also want to at least give wooden arrows a try.

Don't get rid of your recurves, though. Even though I shoot longbows almost exclusively, I still pull out the curves now and again. By shooting both straight and bent bows, you will be the complete traditional archer. LOTS OF FUN!

[BWallace10327]

Originally posted by Sam McMichael:
LOTS OF FUN!

That's the truth.

[forestdweller]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm going to take a look into all of the bows suggested.

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.

I've heard that longbow's and hybrids are much more difficult to torque and thus are more forgiving which got my attention.

[Bladepeek]

I'm sure you've heard this before, but before you shell out your cash for your first longbow, try to get to a trad shoot and shoot someone else's. There are 68" longbows out there that are mild R/D with a strong locator grip if you like that. The mild R/D bows string up like a "D" type longbow, but often have just a bit more speed than a straight or backset longbow. Kind of a compromise between the radical R/D and a straight longbow. The Mohawk Sparrowhawk comes to mind.

[Mitch Edwards]

The reason I started to recommend bows is because the op said his budget was 2-300 and the only bow I personally know of that fits all the criteria that is an easy transition for a recurve shooter is the bow I recommend.