Which longbow for a greenhorn archer?

[sharps54]

Hi,
My 13 year old son and I have decided to learn traditional archery, first just target shooting and once we are ready hunting. I have a thread going in the VA section (   http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=83;t=000086   ) and have pretty much set on a right handed 20# PSE Buckeye Heritage Recurve for the boy but am undecided for myself. I was going to go with a left handed 30# PSE Buckeye for myself as I was told we could share arrows if I kept my bow at 30# or under. I have since read Howard Hill's Hunting The Hard Way and I really want to start with a longbow myself which brings the question, which one for a novice archer?

I figured I would get more responses here so I have started this new thread. I am currently looking at this bow (   http://www.21stcenturylongbow.com/Trainer.htm   ) the Trainer at 21st Century Longbows. I don't mind spending money on quality equipment but don't want to spend more than needed at first. I will buy a heavier bow for hunting down the road, this is just to learn how to shoot a bow and to cut my teeth on. If I need to buy a set of arrows for each bow that is OK.

I guess that's about it, if there are other bows I should be looking at I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!
Jason

ETA Is the model I have linked to above even considered a traditional longbow? I just looked at the unstrung pic again and it has some curve at the tips.

[vermonster13]

http://www.tradstore.com/mta/

 http://www.holmmadetraditionalbows.com/bows.html

[sdpeb1]

Nice little bows at the tradstore. I think for yourself I would pic up a used longbow here in the classifieds.  The other day some one poseted a "need a inexpensive bow 40# or under" or something like that and he got a lot of great offers. You should go up to 35-40# in my opinion.

[30coupe]

Originally posted by sdpeb1:
You should go up to 35-40# in my opinion.

I agree for both you and your son. If he is drawing, say 25-26" he will only be at about 11-14# with the 20# bow. With a 35-40, he would be around 28-32. Unless he is a really small 13 year-old. That should work for him.

A 40# longbow would be smooth and easy to draw for you and you will get better arrow flight.

I also agree about looking in the classifieds.

[NewtoTrad2008]

I just bought a Mohawk and love it. I am new to the Trad world and the best advice I received from lots of Gangers was to go to a Trad store and try different bows. The shop I went to let me shoot whatever bow I wanted until I found one that fit me and my budget. After about 2 1/2 hours I came out with a great bow that I love to shoot, and am shooting well. Thats my .02

[sharps54]

Thanks for the advice so far. We did go to a store that stocked traditional bows (they didn't have much in left hand but plenty for Wyatt, my son, to try) and we found over 20# he started shaking. What can I say, years of video games have ruined him. We are working on fixing that (not really his fault, I only married his mom 1 1/2 ago so we have a lot of lazy years to fix...) and that's where getting outside to shoot bows comes in.

A used bow is OK for me and I don't mind buying a new one but I from the bows I tried 40# is about the max I want to start with and a bit lighter might be better. BTW we are both about 5'4", he'll probably end up being 5'10" to 6' by the time he finishs growing. We will both end up with a different bows down the road we just need something to start with.

[Paul WA]

You don't have to spend a lot of money to get started. you can pick up bows in the 35-40 range very reasonable. I mentored  a 10 yr old a few yrs back, he started at 35lbs and within a yr was complaining the 48lbs was too light for him..PR

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

I picked up an "off brand" hand made bow on **** by seigeworkcreations for $200. I absolutely LOVE it.

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

**** - Whoops, sorry moderators!

should have read: "... on 'a popular auction web site' by..."