What are the characteristics of a GREAT longbow?

GMMAT · 03-31-2008, 06:03 AM

I've had my Bear Montana for about a year, I guess.....mayeb a little less.

I love it.....but I'm thinking about getting more serious about hunting with traditional equipment. I've mad a vow to hunt exclusively with it until I take a whitetail.....before switching to the compound. I guess I see a day coming where I go exclusively witht trad tackle.

So.....let's say I was REALLY serious about trad hunting. What makes one longbow better than the one I have?

Thanks.

burniegoeasily · 03-31-2008, 06:44 AM

The best characteristic is the ones you like. I know guys who like flat long bows, even though most feel they have too much hand shock (that is, unless its made with boo). Some like a little relfex, some like both reflex and deflex. I like to build mine with both reflex and deflex in the design. It makes for a sweeter shooter. I also like to make all mine in an ALB design with risers and the deflex built in the riser. I also like mine long. My personal bows are always at 70", and some up to 72". I know some who will only shoot a self bow, others who will only shoot a flat ALB, others who wont touch anything but ELB, etc. etc. It is all in what you like.

03-31-2008, 07:31 AM

One you can hit with I guess? I think its simple as that. I have traded, and bought and sold to where I got a stable that I can hit with and tune.

LBR · 03-31-2008, 08:07 AM

Personal preferances mean a lot. Mine are a grip that is comfortable and consistent, smooth draw, very little hand shock, lighter mass weight (I don't care for big/heavy risers), forgiving design, quiet,and of course good speed.

My bow fits my hand like a glove--no adjustments or finaggling required, just pick it up and shoot. It's 66", 60@28 and gains 2.5# per inch out to at least 31". My bow arm elbow won't tolerate much hand shock--I can shoot this bow all day and my elbow won't get sore. Even with a cocobolo riser, it weighs 1.6 lbs on my digital scale. Even drawn to 30.5" (my draw length), it's very forgiving. Last time I chronographed it (several years ago) I averaged 187 fps. with arrows that weighed 9.5 gpp, shot with a glove, and a regular "hunting" string (regular length serving, silencers attached, 14 strands with padded loops). In other words, the string wasn't stripped down for speed. I get comments all the time about how quiet it is.

So far it's the best for me--very few have come close (in my hands).

Chad

03-31-2008, 08:13 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: LBR

Personal preferances mean a lot. Mine are a grip that is comfortable and consistent, smooth draw, very little hand shock, lighter mass weight (I don't care for big/heavy risers), forgiving design, quiet,and of course good speed.

My bow fits my hand like a glove--no adjustments or finaggling required, just pick it up and shoot. It's 66", 60@28 and gains 2.5# per inch out to at least 31". My bow arm elbow won't tolerate much hand shock--I can shoot this bow all day and my elbow won't get sore. Even with a cocobolo riser, it weighs 1.6 lbs on my digital scale. Even drawn to 30.5" (my draw length), it's very forgiving. Last time I chronographed it (several years ago) I averaged 187 fps. with arrows that weighed 9.5 gpp, shot with a glove, and a regular "hunting" string (regular length serving, silencers attached, 14 strands with padded loops). In other words, the string wasn't stripped down for speed. I get comments all the time about how quiet it is.

So far it's the best for me--very few have come close (in my hands).

Chad

Is this crusader?

GMMAT · 03-31-2008, 08:41 AM

Mine is the only one I've ever shot.....but I actually love it.

Thanks for the replies.

rybohunter · 03-31-2008, 09:26 AM

The one that allows you to shoot the best. And unfortunately I don't think there is a way to know that ahead of time. Some guys find them after one or 2, others look a lifetime.

LBR · 03-31-2008, 02:30 PM

YepBC. I agree with rybohunter--it can take years, not to mention lots of tries, to settle on a bow. Some folks seem to never settle on one.

Took me 4 years of searching, shooting, and driving different bowyers nuts to order my first custom. Even then, it wasn't just what I was looking for. One big problem for me was I didn't know just what I was looking for. Wish I had what I've spent over the years on bows!

I found mine by pure accident. I'd found the bowyer on a chat room I went to years ago (trad archery chat, just in case you are wondering). I'd never heard of him or the bows he made. Found a used one on e-bay, bought it really cheap. Soon after that I orderd one custom made for me, and it's been my #1 ever since.

I still try out different bows, and I've shot some really nice ones--but none I'd trade my #1 for. I've had folks ask to buy it, I just say "it's not for sale".

It's a very personal thing though--what's perfect for me might not fit the bill for you. Looking is part of the fun.

Chad

BobCo19-65 · 04-01-2008, 05:58 AM

The bow just needs to shoot straight with my style of shooting. But if it's a hunting longbow, it also needs to be whisper quiet.

TRG3 · 04-03-2008, 09:27 PM

Like others noted, I spent considerable time shooting different longbows before settling on my 55# Hummingbird. I did a lot of this at the Cloverdale, IN, traditional shoot held in early June of each year. I went from bowyer to bowyer, trying their bows. Generally, the first few shots let me know if I was interested in the bow, and that was primarily due to hand shock or lack thereof. The ones that lacked hand shock were few and far between with the Hummingbird winning out. I've taken several deer with it and can shoot it better than any of my recurves that I turned to when returning to traditional archery after starting to loose interest several years agoin deer hunting with my compound. I now feel equally comfortable hunting with my longbow, compound, or newly gotten crossbow. Funny how time and experience changes things! Tom