Recurve vs. Long Bow accuracy?

[Mschmeiske]

Is a recurve any more accurate than a long bow, or is it all in the person behind the bow?

[Possum Head]

My bet is on the shooter!

[durp]

It's a personal thing for sure...try a few different bows of each and see what fits ya

[Pat B]

It's definitely the nut behind the string. I shoot better with a longbow but others shoot better with recurves. A bow is only as good as the shooter and the arrow it propels.

[Mschmeiske]

Thanks for the feedback. I’ve been eyeing a black hunter long bow or recurve to start with. The long bow had lower draw weights in stock at the moment. I also considered an ILF setup, but ultimately I want a one piece bow of some sort and I wasn’t sure if an ILF would ruin that for me if I started with that? I know that opens a whole other can of worms… but any thoughts?

[achigan]

Don’t over bow yourself. If coming to trad from wheel bows you’ll need to go (way) down in weight to start.

[PrimitivePete]

I believe this could of been an argument many years ago, but the recent designs of longbows have them very recurve like now. Longbows have come a long way.

[Bisch]

It’s the monkey pulling the string!!!

Bisch

[GCook]

I shoot both.  I shoot both equally mediocre at hunting ranges.  At 3D ranges I shoot recurve better in general.

[The Whittler]

It's the shooter every time. Some prefer the LB some a recurve the bow doesn't shoot it's self.

They say a LB is more forgiving, If your a bad shot does that mean you will be a better shot with the LB.

[kennym]

I'm guessing it will be the bow that the grip fits YOU best.  The Black Hunter has a good grip, for ME,   but I shoot bows I make...

[McDave]

It’s the monkey pulling the string!!!

Bisch

I don't mean to argue with you, but I do have questions.  Why do they have separate categories for longbows and recurves in tournaments? 

I don't have any evidence to support this other than my own personal experience, but I think that in general, a recurve is capable of greater accuracy than a longbow, because at the same poundage, a recurve is capable of a higher velocity because of the energy stored in the recurved limbs.  This means that the trajectory of an arrow shot from a recurve will be flatter than the trajectory from a longbow.  Note that this wouldn't make any difference in accuracy if the arrow were shot using a machine, because a machine could be set to fire the arrow the same way every shot, whereas a human is subject to more variables.

In my mind, this is a continuum, not an absolute.  In other words, in a typical tournament there will be longbow shooters who will beat recurve shooters, and vice versa.  A longbow shooter may have the highest score in the tournament, or a recurve shooter might. There are also some longbows that will outshoot some recurves, and vice versa.   But one can't ignore the laws of physics.  On “average” I think the recurve shooter and the recurve bows will win.

Up until now, I would have hedged and said that while recurves have more stored energy, it comes at the cost of potential problems like limb twist, etc.  But with recent advances in limb technology, such as my new Cobra Curve limbs from Bob Lee, I think they are every bit as stable as longbow limbs, and store even more energy than was possible before they came on the scene.

I will admit that some shooters, such as Howard Hill, are so skilled that they could shoot the pants off any of us mere mortals with their longbows.  And any individual, since we are all different, might shoot a longbow better than he can shoot a recurve, but on average….

[old_goat2]

I think it's mostly due to the mass in the riser of the recurves, that makes them more forgiving but not actually more accurate,  then throw 3 piece longbows into the fray and the gap narrows significantly.

[TIM B]

Just like a duck call.....only as good as the man behind it.
Tim B

[Orion]

Because recurves are higher performance and because of the greater mass in the riser, they are shot more accurately by most people, at least in target venues.  If you look at the scores of almost all local shoots, recurves will usually occupy the 2-3 highest scores.  Of course, all olympic shooters shoot recurves.  If they could be more accurate with longbows, I'm sure they would switch. Most who shoot recurves, particularly at targets, tend to have an upright stance and shoot with a vertical bow. 

Now for hunting situations, it may be a bit different.  I believe folks tend to be able to put longbows into action and aim and shoot faster (and perhaps in more awkward positions) with sufficient accuracy, which is an advantage in those situations.

[Mschmeiske]

Does a reflex deflex design change any opinions? Are they the best of
both worlds?

[Orion]

The substantial deflexed riser, reflexed limb "longbows", actually hybrids, get close to and sometimes match recurve performance, even performing better than some recurves.  Most are also made with a more substantial riser and pistol grip. That's why they're called a hybrid, sort of a cross between a longbow and a recurve.  Lots of folks like them nowadays.  Olympians and other top bare bow shooters still aren't shooting them, unless they can be put in a separate longbow class. 

Are they the best of both worlds?  I don't think so, but a lot of folks do.  Pretty much a personal preference thing.  I've owned and shot them all over the years.  Now I shoot Bear TDs and ASLs, two completely different styles that also differ a bunch in performance.  Like them both.

[GCook]

Does a reflex deflex design change any opinions? Are they the best of
both worlds?

I think the performance difference being less helps the gap between recurve and longbow be closer and easier to switch between. 
Personally the difference in the smoothness and shootability of a modern longbow trumps any performance plus I get from a recurve.  In the end I like killing with either one.

[Wudstix]

I shoot light physical weight recurve and D/R longbow so I don't have much problem switching back and forth.  Occasionally shoot recurve and longbows on the same day.  Usually settle on one bow for the hunting season, but not always.  ASL would be a challenge I'd figure.

[BAK]

I think it depends on what level of accuracy your talking about.  At 3d or hunting I don't think it matters that much.  About equal for most folks.