Most accurate bows ;speed overrated?

[Matt E]

You have so many different types of  arrows and bow styles that it is imperative to compare like items. I know an Olympic bow shoots faster with soda straws for arrows but you can't compare that to a real bow made for hunting.You need to keep the subject in context. I have mentioned once before that a bow that shoots an arrow at moderate rather than high speed will make a gap shooter shoot more accurate. The reason this is,is that the gap is less if the arrow travels at a moderate speed .If an archer is an impulse shooter this doesn't seem to affect him as much but the gap shooter is almost certainly going to shoot closer to center of the target not due to the speed alone but due to haveing a way to consciously aim.
   I spoke to a tournament shooter once and he made the statement that, "If you want to miss quicker get a fast bow" Of course he was a 3-d shooter and a long shot would be 35 yards for him. He also used the gap method of aiming his bow. Now that most tournaments allow three finger under you will see more gap shooters with a little faster bows and higher average scores. Another. misconception about archery that should be addressed is ,"the modern bows are faster beliefs". Compared to what? If you pick and choose bows to compare modern bows to I understand but if you check the hitory of archery you will find some very long shot were made several hundred of years ago and to go the distances mentioned they had to be faster than most bow you see today. I honestly believe the explaination is more complex than can be explained in a post on a forum. I have learned a lot from these type of post!

[vermonster13]

Those bows of lore that shot those great distances were also much heavier than what 99% of todays archers use.

[Matt E]

Vermonster, that is exactly what I said in my frst paragraph of my last post. "You can't pick and choose". No one can have it both ways!

[vermonster13]

If you took a modern bow at the same weights, the modern bow would be much faster and shoot farther. Just look at how the flight records are being broken yearly.

[Jeff Strubberg]

I would be very cautious about believing some of those old records.  

There is one that claims a hand held bow shot 972 yards.  What you don't get until you investigate is that the shooter was a fairly important sheik and the only witness was an english diplomat there to woo said sheik.

[Shawn Leonard]

My mind is trained to shoot an arrow that is going between 180-190fps. That is what I shoot best. I try to tune an arrow to my bow to get that speed. I believe there are bows out there that have all the shooitng characteristic that one needs. Shawn

[overbo]

I've owned enough custom bows to know that some will fool you.I've shot some that arrows seem to jump off  and the speeds are average.Another that was so dead in the hand the arrow felt like a slug.Surprisingly the slug thru light shot 10+fps faster than the other.
My findings have been the smoother drawing,less recoil,and quiet bows are more stable and faster.For me this adds up to better accuracy.

[buck-tamer00]

ROBTATOO,  a 38lb bow shoots ur arrows at 262 fps!?!?!

[Bill Carlsen]

bjk: You're dead on about Groves. I've shot them for over 30 years and I wonder what Harold would have come up with working with the newer material?

[bjk]

You ain't kidding Bill...just shot my 56lb'r 2pc after not shooting it for a bit...first two shots right over the target...for a single maple lam it screams.

Mr. Groves sure did build a great bow.  I always keep my eye out for them...There was just a 3pc on archerytalk that I had to unplug my computer over...was tough not to pull the trigger.  If it lasted another minute, I'd have bought it.

[NDTerminator]

Having recently come over from the Dark Side, I can report that I am one of the few that chose an accurate, stable bow/arrow setup over speed. In a world of 280+FPS rigs, none of my compounds delivered more than 235FPS. But they were deadly accurate and forgiving.  

I carried this philosphy over to Traditional.  When I consider a bow I look at forgivness/shootability first and speed second.

I want a reasonably fast bow, but it does no good if I can't conistently deliver the arrow on target.

I've found a very good balance with Chek Mate bows, in particular the Hunter II...

[philil]

That's what I was thinking NDTerminator.

I'll be able to order my first real custom recurve towards the end of this year and prefer shootability and ease of shooting over speed.

I know that there are lots of great bowyers and bows out there, but what would you guys say is the most forgiving one?

[Benha]

When I shoot my Timberhawk Monarch. I shoot much better than I am capable of.

[tecum-tha]

Philil,
it sounds that you have to save up a while for your new toy.How long do you already shoot traditional?
I have 16 different bows of about 7 different boywers (me included here).
Since you live in Germany and most of the traditional archery industry is in the US there is a problem for you. One bow can feel great for one person and for the other it is totally unshootable.In Germany, there are a couple of reputable traditional bowyers offering very good bows. Although their prices are a little higher, I recommend picking one where you will have influence on the grip and may be able to shoot a test bow at some 3D-shoot.
Lets take an example:I have a 54" Morrison Dakota with TD hinge, all the gadgets and extras and I love the bow. But to be 100% accurate with it, I will have to grip the bow a little special. This grip is not the grip I would naturally use. With the experience of this first Dakota I ordered another one. This time a more basic model, but with another take-down system and a little longer (56"). With this TD system I would have been able to form my own grip and it is one of the few bows I have, which I can grab naturally and it will shoot where I look.
Starting all over again in TradArchery with what I know today. I would have 4 bows instead of 16. 2 longbows(prime and spare)for hunting,one recurve and a selfbow to play with. Would have saved me about 6 K in bows and arrows I seldomly take off the rack.
A custom bow will not necessarily be better than what you shoot now. Especially in the recurve section.Take a Samick equus for example, this is a darn good bow design and it is fairly cheap. About €185, then add a pair of rattlesnake skins for $50 and you will be able to change the grip to your liking. 2 Sets of hardwood or CX heritage arrows and you will be set for the worst german shoots (deer 35-40 yards) elk 60 yards...; All this for about €350.
Whith the saved money you may finance a hunting trip to test your new toy then!  
 

[Shakes.602]

Just Keep Opening Up That  "ARROW SPEED"  Can O' Worms. Valid question, if thats what Your After.
 I would say, I am Speaking for  "MYSELF"   ONLY  here, Speed isnt the Answer, Watching Your Arrow Hit the Target, right where You were Aiming, is as Fulfilling and Satisfying, and Darned Gratifying to Me.
  To  LEARN  I can be Accurate with the Simple, Using "Ye Olde Stick & String"!  JUST  "My Opinion" Of Course.