Rob,

To determine the string length you will need, measure the distance from nock to nock on the backside of your bow when it is unstrung. It should be 60" or very close to that. You should buy a string that is 3.5" to 4" shorter than that, or 56-56.5". Make sure the string is B-50 or B-500 Dacron. The Indian bow is very likely not built to handle fastflight type strings.

As for arrow type that is a purely personal decision. There are folks that sware by carbon arrows, others sware at them. Some of those that sware at carbons, sware by aluminum, all the others sware at the aluminum. Those who don't shoot carbon or aluminum sware by woodies, the others sware at them. Even if you decide upon woodies, you haven't reached your destination until you decide what type wood!

YES, you can paper tune with a recurve. Primarily what you are looking for is nock high condition. If the tear on the paper is nock high, raise your nockpoint and repeat the process until you get a single, or nearly single, point of entry.

As far as shooting, buy a couple of books and read them. One of the best is Byron Ferguson's "Become the Arrow". Another is by Dr. Jay Kidwell, I believe it is titled "Instinctive Archery". It is something like that. It is an excellent book. I would also recommend the shooting vidoes by Ricky Welch.

I think you will find that you will take bits and pieces of recommendations from all three of these sources and adapt them into something that works for you. There are probably as many different shooting styles and techniques as there are members of this forum, and then some!

Have FUN and welcome to the addictive journeery we call traditional archery!

Bill

Praise the Lord, He is worthy

Edited by - lamb1647 on 09/17/2002 10:50:20