Anyone Into Longbows, Recurves Or Crossbows On Here? Maybe Someone Can Help Me Out.

[Browning]

Lately I've caught a knife and bow bug. I've done a little shopping and bought a few (Scandinavian Moras and Puukko) knives lately, but I haven't done anything to in regards to getting a bow of any type. Actually I know very little about bows so I'm kind of unsure of where to begin.

When I was a kid my father had a small wood longbow that I used to shoot when I was 6 to 8 years old. Then I was involved in a youth sports team when I was 12 or 13 that did a little archery with these green fiberglass bows that had a pull weight of about 30 LBS and then my father had some kind of compound bow (I don't remember what type, it might have been a Bear) that had a draw weight of about 70 LBS that I used to shoot in the back yard here and there. This is really the only experience that I've had with bows and I've kind of caught an interest in them lately.

I've tried various searches, but there really isn't a place that I've found that answers all these questions.

What's a good bow to start out on that doesn't cost too much, but that isn't a toy?

Where's a good place to shop for used bows?

What dollar amount can I expect to spend on something decent to start out on?

I've been looking on E-Bay, but without knowing what I'm looking for it's kind of pointless to try buying one as it might end up being a waste of money. The bow that I'm looking for would be mostly for target practice and eventually some hog hunting. I've been reading a little and 50 to 55 LBS for bows and 150 LBS for crossbows seems to be about the draw weight that separates the target and toy bows from the hunting bows, is that true?

The recurves and the crossbows have interested me the most. The crossbows for the fact that it kind of operates kind of like a rifle that has some bow like features and the recurve for it's simplicity.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the various styles?

The only place that I can really find besides E-Bay that doesn't cost a whole lot and that has a whole bunch of different styles is this place.

http://www.3riversarchery.com/Cat.asp?c=44&s=0&p=0

Cabelas and Bass Pro Shop also have a whole bunch of them, but I don't really want to spend a whole lot on something that I might not keep up. So can anyone point out the advantages and drawbacks of the various bows, recurves and crossbows? Any help will be appreciated.

 

[Trebor]

If you are planning to ever use it for hunting be aware that crossbows are generally banned for hunting in most states. There are exceptions, but you'll want to check your state game laws first.

Both longbows and recurves are broadly classified as "traditional" archery when compared to compound bows. The type of archery you shoot really depends on your interest and what you find fun.

Modern compound bows are more "efficient" then recurves or longbows. They are capable of outstanding accuracy and are generally the first choice for the game field for the majority of bow hunters.

Personally, I only shot longbows or recurves. I just don't like compound bows from a personal perspective. To me that's not what I think of when I think of archery. I enjoy the simplicity of the recurve or longbow when compared to the more complex compound bow. I know that in return I am giving up some absolute "efficiency" in terms of performance.

Other archers prefer the compound bows and that's fine. It's really a matter of what best fits your view of what you want to do with a bow.

The aiming and shooting techniques are different for traditional archery and modern archery as well. With traditional archery you sight without any aids and hold the string in your gloved hand. With modern archery you use pin sights and use a mechanical release to obtain a perfect draw release.

I like to compare "traditional" archery to using a classic BP muzzle loader like a Pennsylvania Rifle. To me, a compound bow is more like a modern in-line muzzle loader. It loses some of the "tradition" or "mystique" in exchange for better performance.

Do some reading as well. There are archery magazines out there and you can learn something from them. For traditional archery there is a mag called "The Primitive Archer" and another called "Traditional Bowhunter." Any large book store should have them both.

For modern archery, expecially hunting related archery, I know there are several magazines out there. I don't know the names off hand, but you should be able to find them without too much trouble.

Do some reading and see which type of shooting seems most interesting to you. Look at the ads to get an idea for the prices for gear and bows. There's probably also some books on the topic at the bookstore.

As to how to get started, I'd look for an archery shop in your area. See if they'll let you try any bows before you buy. They may also offer lessons or at least some informal coaching. You may find a strong preference for one type of archery over the other. You won't know until you do some shooting.

 

[Baba Louie]

Cruise around this site for awhile, reading all you can.
http://www.stickbow.com/

Look at their buy&sell, check out the vast listing of links in the upper right scroll/go box, check out the leatherwall forum, state conference (lower rightcorner). That one site alone can take you all around the world in regards to archery.

Get thee to a local Archery shop/range. Talk. Listen. Learn.

Be forewarned. The darned things can be even more expensive than firearms and can become an obsession (like that's a bad thing or something), or you can get a stick of wood, a string, a few arrows, keep it simple and learn that way as well.

I've got a Bear Montana longbow from Cabela's, two sticks (staves) of Missouri bois d'arc (hedgeapple/orangewood) that I may get around to properly tiller someday, an old Browning recurve and another old Browning compound. All antiquated by today's standards. Since I'm so cheap I stick to cedar shafts (pre-fletched) and add tips as I want/need them.

But I'll be the first to admit I know nothing about new compounds and crossbows or things non-wood.

Good luck and good hunting. It can certainly become an addictive past-time.

 

[JTW Jr.]

my 14 year old son took up achery about 2 months ago , and has been shooting long bow. For starters there are some decent offerings by PSE for under $300 and some under $180
archerytalk.com has some good info.

 

[6_gunner]

The ability to use a bow seems like a very useful skill. I have an old fiberglass recurve bow with about a 50 pound draw. I used to play around with the thing until a cheapo wooden arrow split on me and stabbed me in the arm.

Getting stabbed in the arm tends to make you flinch afterwards when shooting a bow.

I haven't gotten around to trying to remedy my flinch yet, as I don't have all that much need for being able to use a bow. For those of you who do not have a stabbing-induced flinch, I'd say go out and learn how to use a bow. It's always good to know your way around one more type of weapon.

 

[alsaqr]

"If you are planning to ever use it for hunting be aware that crossbows are generally banned for hunting in most states. There are exceptions, but you'll want to check your state game laws first."

i hunt with a crossbow in several states. See the following link:

http://www.huntersfriend.com/crossbows/crossbow-state-regulations.htm

 

[woodybrighton]

cheapo wooden arrows and powerful bows do not mix
I shoot a recurve buts thats a target bow find some archers ask them.
you can get some great deals on ebay but buyer beware if the kits been looked after it will be great but you could be buying a knackered bow .
can't hunt with them in the UK compound bows are fun but thats just adding more complexity comes a point with sight laser pointer etc go buy a rifle

 

[Kingcreek]

A top-shelf compound bow can cost $1k with sights, arrow rest, and quiver. I just spent $120 on a dozen arrows, add almost $10 per each broadhead. Sure. it can be done for less. A recurve or longbow can go anywhere from $100 and up. $6-700 for a good traditional hunting bow.
I still like to hunt with a longbow I made out of osage orange and with cedar shaft arrows, but I'm better at killing deer with the hightech compound.
Beware, if you don't know what you're doing, buying a used bow can be more trouble than it is worth and you can end up spending as much as you would if you started out with new. A full line archery shop is the place to start and they often have used bows they can set up for you.
Buying a used bow is like buying a used suit. It's OK if it fits you, but useless if it don't.

 

[Browning]

alsaqr : "If you are planning to ever use it for hunting be aware that crossbows are generally banned for hunting in most states. There are exceptions, but you'll want to check your state game laws first."

i hunt with a crossbow in several states. See the following link:

http://www.huntersfriend.com/crossbo...egulations.htm

Well crossbows are legal to hunt with it Texas, so maybe that's a sign that I should get one.

At least I'd be fairly sure of hitting something.

I'm sure that there's a little more to it than this, but all you gotta do is cock the string back, insert the bolt into the slot, aim and squeeze the trigger and account for the drop of the bolt. Seems pretty simple, at least in comparison to trying to account for drop with a longbow with no sights and little experience.

Thanks for all the links and advice, I'm going to an archery shop in Garland on Thursday so I'll look around there and see what they've got to offer. They've got a range to try bows out inside and from what the guy said on the phone they've got a pretty big selection.

Maybe they'll have a used bow or crossbow that I'll like that isn't a POS.

That's why I was kind of wary of buying from E-Bay.

With used firearms at least I know what I'm doing and what to look for.

Thanks again.

 

[buzzard80]

I shoot a PSE recurve, with pin sights and whatnot, kind of a cross between traditional and modern. Not expensive, and shoots very well. I have never shot a crossbow and do not have much interest in them, so I can't comment much on that. If you have proper form, bows can be incredibly accurate. I'd start out looking at an archery shop, maybe see if you can try out a crossbow. If you go with a recurve bow, you may want to consider a lighter weight (like 30 or 45 lbs.) depending on your strength, then work up to a stronger bow. You don't have to, but it does help perfect your form without having to build up a lot of strength at once. With the letoffs on compounds they are easier to hold, but may or may not be what you are looking for. Go out and see what you like best!

 

[hank327]

Note that in Texas you cannot use a crossbow during the archery only deer season. You will have to hunt with it in the general or "gun" season that starts the first weekend of November here in the northern part of the state. The only exception to that is if you can get a doctor to certify that you have a medical condition that doesn't allow you to use a conventional bow.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Sticks and strings for me,most of which I make myself.Wheels are for bicycles...

 

[cyclist]

The biggest thing I've found as a reason to get a compound bow is the letoff, once you get past the hump you only have to hold less than half of the draw weight. Compound shooters tend to use releases, tend to have sights, and tend to need more accessories than a traditional bow user.

I have a take down model recurve, PSE Talon I think, around a 55Lb draw weight, and can easily fit into a backpack when it is taken down. I finger shoot, have a sight on this bow that I haven't sighted in yet, and I have aluminum arrows. Not legal to shoot a bow on my property where I currently live, so I'll have to get myself out to a range one of these days.

Best suggestion I keep hearing for a new shooter is to find a friendly local archery shop and go there to try out some of their stuff. Figure out what your draw length is, if you like finger shooting or if you'd prefer using a release of some sort, and what style of bow you like using. If you're going to use it for hunting then read up on what you local minimum draw weights are.

And as far as what sort of tips to use, that gets almost downright political at times as to point style, blade style, fixed or expanding, 2 or 3 or 4 blade formats, replacable blades, weights, and so on.

 

[Browning]

hank327 : Note that in Texas you cannot use a crossbow during the archery only deer season. You will have to hunt with it in the general or "gun" season that starts the first weekend of November here in the northern part of the state. The only exception to that is if you can get a doctor to certify that you have a medical condition that doesn't allow you to use a conventional bow.

Well that kind of sucks. Thanks alot, now my budding plan is shot to hell.

Wait, I feel a shoulder cramp coming on, I think I need to go to the Doctor.

 

[Scotticus]

My viewpoint is similar to Trebor's above. It's all about whether your desire is to hit something from as far away as possible (shooting?), or whether your desire is to get as close as possible before you shoot (hunting?). To each his own, but what I tend to hear from compound shooters when they miss is to blame their equipment. Spend more money for the newest gadget and that will fix all their problems. I shoot only longbows and recurves (mostly longbows). When I miss, I only have myself to blame. If I want to shoot better, I have to practice more. Of course, when I hit, I can take all the credit, too. Traditional archery is very rewarding to me, but it does take a committment to practice regularly--if one can't or won't commit the time to practice, get a bow with training wheels.

www.tradgang.com is IMO the best traditional-only archery site for information and used bows. Starting out in traditional, 40-45# draw weight is a great plenty. Overbow yourself and you will never develop good form.

 

[Browning]

Well I bought a nice English wood long bow for $40 off of E-Bay from someone with 100% reputation that's in good shape from the look of the pictures, it's supposed to be here in a week. I was kind of drawn to the traditional bows and the crossbows.

I'll practice with it and go from there. If I stick with it then maybe in several months I'll treat myself to something else. The one that was kind of calling to me was this one, but I wanted to start cheap and to make sure that I was into it before I went and spent $200+ on a bow, arrows and S&H.

Main site for Toth custom bows.
www.recurvebowshop.com

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Toth Scythian Recurve Bow (I'd get it in 55 - 60 pounds)


http://www.recurvebowshop.com/Scythian+recurve+bow.htm

http://www.sevenmeadowsarchery.com/merchant.ihtml?id=13&step=2

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Or maybe this one, 56 pound Mongolian Recurve Bow
http://cgi.ebay.com/Traditional-Toth-Handmade-Mongolian-recurve-bow-56-LBS_W0QQitemZ220155286372QQihZ012QQcategoryZ20839QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

 

[Tom Bri]

Check out www.primitivearcher.com

You can read a lot of the articles on line, and they have forums you can ask questions on.

I like wood longbows myself, pretty easy to make and lots of fun to shoot.

Simple fiberglass bows can be had very cheap used. Might be a place to get started and see it you are interested before laying out real money.

 

[Browning]

Tom Bri thanks for the site. I looked into fiberglass bows as they were cheap option to start out with (sometimes less than $10 plus S&H on E-Bay), but they just didn't appeal or look as good to me the way that wood bows did. I felt some that were a little bit more at a bow shop and they didn't feel as good either. Maybe they weren't just the cheap ones though and maybe there are some better ones out there.

 

[commygun]

I'm a self-taught (and still trying to learn) archer who's made just about every mistake in form and equipment in the process of learning. E-bay is a good place to shop for bows though you have to be careful about who you buy from. Anyone who's selling a bow in really good condition will usually explicitly say so in the description of the item.
Look for the phrases "like new' and "no twist or cracks".
I'm a recurve and longbow fan and I've found many nice bows at reasonable or very good prices on the Traditional Gear For Sale or Trade forum at ArcheryTalk.com. I'd avoid the under- $10 all-fiberglass bows you mention seeing on E-bay. They're difficult to learn with, generally have lousy cast, and it's very hard to find arrows with adult draw lengths that are appropiate for those bows. If I was starting over I'd get a good, used, Browning, Bear, Martin or similar recurve in the 35-45# range. If I shopped hard enough for it I'd probably pay between $50-150 for it depending how lucky I got. I'd start out with carbon arrows. They're a little more expensive but you'll save in the long run because of their durability. Very important!-get arrows that are the correct length for your draw. If your arrows are not the right length flight, form and accuracy all suffer. Go to a couple of different archery shops and have your draw length measured. Traditional archery is fascinating and alot of fun but it'll drive you a little crazy along the way. I really reccommend the Traditional forums at ArcheryTalk.com. Educate yourself and you'll save alot of time, money, and frustration.

 

[Phelptwan]

I shoot a old Bear long bow. I don't really like compounds all that much. I enjoy the simple beauty of the longbow. Of course it is still around 70lbs draw, which is right where I like to be when hunting.

 

[Browning]

commygun : I'm a self-taught (and still trying to learn) archer who's made just about every mistake in form and equipment in the process of learning. E-bay is a good place to shop for bows though you have to be careful about who you buy from. Anyone who's selling a bow in really good condition will usually explicitly say so in the description of the item.
Look for the phrases "like new' and "no twist or cracks".

Great.

The "no cracks or dents" was a phrase used in the ad in the old wooden English style Long Bow that I bought for $30 with $10 S&H. It looked okay in the close up pictures, but that was a phrase that was used.

Now I'm wondering what's going to show up in the next couple days. :banghead:

Oh well, hopefully it'll work for a couple months to practice with.

That's all I need it for.

I'm a recurve and longbow fan and I've found many nice bows at reasonable or very good prices on the Traditional Gear For Sale or Trade forum at ArcheryTalk.com. I'd avoid the under- $10 all-fiberglass bows you mention seeing on E-bay. They're difficult to learn with, generally have lousy cast, and it's very hard to find arrows with adult draw lengths that are appropiate for those bows. If I was starting over I'd get a good, used, Browning, Bear, Martin or similar recurve in the 35-45# range. If I shopped hard enough for it I'd probably pay between $50-150 for it depending how lucky I got. I'd start out with carbon arrows. They're a little more expensive but you'll save in the long run because of their durability. Very important!-get arrows that are the correct length for your draw. If your arrows are not the right length flight, form and accuracy all suffer. Go to a couple of different archery shops and have your draw length measured. Traditional archery is fascinating and alot of fun but it'll drive you a little crazy along the way. I really reccommend the Traditional forums at ArcheryTalk.com.

Yeah, I kind of like the older style bows as well.

Especially the Hungarian/Magyar & Scythian Recurves and the English Long Bows.

Educate yourself and you'll save alot of time, money, and frustration.

And books on traditional style Long Bows and Recurves that you would recommend to start out on?

 

[commygun]

Sam Fadala's "Traditional Archery" is a good introduction to the equipment of traditional archery. The "Masters of the Barebow" DVD available from 3Rivers is a helpful and inspirational look at what's possible with a traditional bow. The bow you're getting from Ebay is probably fine. Just be sure to get arrows that are the correct length for your draw and the correct spine for your bow. Spend some time at Stickbow.com and Archerytalk.com. The experienced archers there are very helpful. i wish I had started out with those resources at hand. I would have saved a ton of time and money and would be a better archer today as well. Have fun!

 

[Browning]

Cool, thanks for the book title.

I found out that I've got a 30 inch draw a little while back, so I actually know that one.

 

[032125]

I have a very primitive self bow, it's just a piece of red oak backed with linen. It's startlingly simple, just a chunk of wood, and if I ever wanted to make my own, I'd be able to base it the one I have. Shooting off the knuckle is pretty unique too.

 

[Raspu10]

i guess bows and arrows are what we will all take up if guns are abolished..