What is Easier???

TheMiz54 · 12-17-2008, 09:04 AM

What is easier to learn to shoot? Compound, Recurve or Longbow? just getting into archery and I am wondering what is easiest to learn. I got a Hoyt intruder compound but I would eventualy like to learn how to shoot the recurve and long bow.

GMMAT · 12-17-2008, 09:16 AM

WHat's your goal?

I could shoot pretty accurately with my first compound (with some good help in setting it up) in a few minutes to distances of 20yds.

Longbow? I have to practice a lot to maintain ANY sense of the word "Accuracy"at shorter distances. But learning to just "shoot" it was a snap. Form flaws will be much more pronounced with this weapon.

Recurve/longbow will be personal choice. I've "heard" that the recurve is easier to shoot....but I didn't find that to be true. Not easier or harder in my eyes. Personal preference.

TheMiz54 · 12-17-2008, 09:34 AM

Im sure I will be doing most of my hunting with the compound just wanted to learn the other styles of shooting as well. Thanks

CodyGuess · 12-17-2008, 10:06 AM

i love shootin my compound.. but with alot of practice i have learned to shoot my recurve accurate.. i enjoy shooting recurve alot an it jus gives a little thrill to the hunt..

davidmil · 12-17-2008, 10:39 AM

Recurves and longbows take a lot of dedication and continual practice... I mean year round to acheive some sort of accuracy. I learned on a recurve but was in love with it so didn't mind practicing every chance I had to pick up the bow. It taught me how critical forum is which carried over to the compound when I started shooting them. I gave my buddy who's 64 years old(65 next month)3 short lessons. I set up his bow and had him shooting bullseyes at 20 yards almost immediately. Second lesson we went to 30 yards. 3rd lesson we tuned broadheads and shot some more. He killed an 8 point 15 minutes into the season. He went on to shoot another buck and two does his first year. With a recurve or longbow I would have told him he wasn't ready to hunt yet. It is that much different. If you have a compound set up correctly for your draw length sightsand you don't over bow yourself killinga deer or hitting a bullseye is no problem. With a recurve or longbow you really do have to become the arrow. Takes a lot of dedication and time.... and then some people still don't get it.

TEmbry · 12-17-2008, 11:18 AM

You should be killing ready in < 1 hour with a compound, easily.

mondoman86 · 12-17-2008, 02:20 PM

If Youv'e never shot a bow before, then a recurve, or longbow would be easier to shoot. You just draw back, and shoot. No looking through peep sights, anchoring, and lining pins up on a target. It will take alot longer to get accurate with a recurve/longbow though. You have to shoot them instinctivly. So if Your in it for accuracy I'd go compound. There really not hard starting out, but if You have no one to show You how to have good form, and what to do it could be tougher I guess.

Matt / PA · 12-17-2008, 02:28 PM

Even if you didn't put sights on the compound it would still be easy to learn to shoot because you would have let-off, a consistent draw length with the ability to hold on target longer.

Recurve and longbow take about the same amount of dedication to shoot well instinctively but some seem to gravitate toward one or the other a little more probably due to andle shape, sight picture, bow length preferences.

You can learn to shoot a traditonal bow accurately pretty quickly if you choose to use a sighting system...even a single pin gives you a consistent visual reference and many traditional shooters of the past used sights on their recurves. (The reason so many good old Bear recurves have holes drilled in the risers.)

The biggest obstacle to getting on target quickly with any style of traditional shooting is working up to and getting your muscles, and fingers used to the draw weight. Overbowing yourself at the start is a sure way to cause an instant set back in learning to shoot.........it can be an added expense to buy a light weight bow first and then have to buy a heavier one down the road as you grow in strength and skill but it's the best way in the long run.
You can't shoot correctly if you can't get it back, and anchor comfortably and consistently.