Considering traditional bow.
 

I am thinking about getting a long bow to start hunting with next season. I have been hunting with a compound for a while with success. Anything you could share with me about longbows would be appreciatied.

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

A longbow is a little less forgiving than a recurve due to design.Now that beingsaid there are a few logbow designs that have the recurve handle and they shoot real good. You may also have a tendacy to hit your forearm, or not be as steady at first due to the lightness.

Please do us all a favor, after you have been shooting it, and you think you have it tuned even if you bare shafted, put a broadhead or two on your arrows and see how they fly.if they donot fly to the same impact point as your field points, you don't have the right spine. (taking away release or brace)

Sorry I had to say the above, So what type/manuf bow you thinking about getting? What arrow do you want to shoot? (wood, aluminum, carbon) If you are used to shooting a 60 to 65 pound compound, don't get a 60 pound longbow, start off 40 to 45 pounds and then work up if you really need to. I started off with a 50 pound recurve whenI started and that was darn near to much for beginning.

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

Ithink aluminum arrows would be fine, I guess.Whats pros an con of the differant types of arrows or is it just preference. What bowwould be a better bow saying I started with a 45 or 50 lbs pull. I got to go to work. I appreciate your help.

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

If you have access to a Pro Archery Shop, ask a salesperson what they have in stock and what they think from their sales experience is a good longbow. There are many good longbows that would serve your needs. Size of length, and esthetics are important becausemany manufactures make longbows with beautiful woods and in many different sizes. Do a little research and checkout the different brand choices.Demo thelongbow you are interested in. Use the same processes you used when you bought your first compound bow. If it looks goods, feels good, and shoots good; then that's a longbow you should consider buying. Good luck and great hunting.

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

Thanks, just trying to get a feel for what I am getting into along with trying to find out what people seem to like.

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

Ive found that starting with a recurve is the easiest way to get into trad shooting,I have just gottin back into Trad.
But...
Just remember if you are shooting off hand you need to ge the right fletching.......off a shelf dont worry....
right hand left heli
let hand right heli..
this way you wont stick the front of a featherinto you hand if one becomes lose...
........
I beleave there are a few Trad guys that have had this happen and I guess it really hurts.....My martin has a small shelf so I dont plan on this happening to me hopefully......

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

Odds are you'll eventually have a featherbite you, ranger.Given enough time and shooting, feather cutseventually happen to everyone.One of those character building attributes of traditional archery.:D

It might be a bit easier to get started with a recurve for most, bow huntert,but not always.I know folks that can't shoot recurves worth a hoot but are killer with a longbow, and vice versa. Whether to start with longbow or recurve is a personal decision. Get the type that most appeals to you. But try to shoot at least several of each before deciding.

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

Thanks for that Morell support Arther P.........Now I'll get bit for sure :D...But it will be awhile,Doc wont let me shoot the bows yet[:@].....

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

My advice is to absolutely 100% get carbon arrows! They will survive the punishment you are going to put them through so much better than aluminum and will wind up costing you less in the long run by avoiding the bends, dents and creases you'll get in them.
You are going to shoot ALOT most likely and at close range so you'll be smacking the heck out of them, then when once you get outside you'll be missing and slapping the target and hitting trees and rocksetc.
I can guarantee you that I would go through aseveral dozen aluminum shafts for 1 doz of the Gold Tip Traditional shafts I've been shooting.
They are super tough and I haven't broken one yet on anything.

Also, as cool as those dull natural looking barred feather look........for now go with the brightest feathers you can find. (Tru flight makes a series called "Bright stripes") At this point you want the most obnoxious easy to see combo you can find.
Trust me you will try dumb out of range shots for fun, you'll stump shoot, and you WILL MISS. Nothing more frustrating than actually LOSING arrows. :(
Make them easy to see. Your priority with arrows right now is durability and findability. :D

Whatever you decide on, longbow or recurve.......figure in your head what weight you think you can handle or by pulling at a bowshop, and then drop that weight by 5#.
If you start out overbowed it is going to push your learning curve WAY back. You're going to use muscles you didn't know were there and if you can't anchor and shoot comfortably you might as well just throw the arrows at the target.

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

my advice ? be prepared for a challenge like no other ! you'll "feel" different the first day you take a true bow into the woods ;)the challenge is second to none for me

as for bows ?

how much do you want to spend ? I'm a huge used bow buyer/seller/trader, or use to be anyway. Assuming you're a normal man, right handed, I would suggest bows like this

http://cgi.ebay.com/Crooked-Stic-3-piece-T-D-longbow-recurve_W0QQitemZ130186576568QQihZ003QQcategoryZ20 839QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

thats a good weight to start with. its a 3 piece TD hybrid longbow, which means it will shoot very nicely. its a not so well known bowyer, and I've shot these bows, they're very nice. For the price, it'll shoot right there with bows $300-400 more than it will bring.

get this bow, add a dozen 29-30" 5575 GT carbons, a gloveand go shooting. If its not your thing ? Sell it back on EBAY in 4 months and you'll get your money back.

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=020865

there is a sweeeeeeet Blacktail. What you will get is a heavier in the hand mass weight recurve, maybe a bit easier to shoot, faster, heavier in the draw. Thats a top of the line bow there, probably $1100 new ? Its a work of art too. You can always sell this bow for $500 methinks

http://cgi.ebay.com/BLACKTAIL-ELITE-VL-TAKEDOWN-RECURVE-60_W0QQitemZ260198909626QQihZ016QQcategoryZ20839QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

thats a cream setup right there - another Blacktail - all the trimmings, a heavier weight you might not be able to handle starting out.




Why would you go longbow instead of recurve ? Carbons are very easy to shoot, aluminums are good, woods are classic but harder to be consistant with IMO, I love the old fiberglass shafts personally.

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

I am reading each post. I know it will be a challenge for sure for a while. I have the spring,summer anetc.

I am left handed, have not made my mind up on long or recurve whatare the pros an cons that are in concretesoto speak without a debate. I figure on 45 or 50lbs. I do have a proshop to go to that has these bows. I just wanted to do some research before I go there.Thanks for the help ahead of time.

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

ahhh a lefty !


http://cgi.ebay.com/Horne-Ridgerunner-One-Piece-RH-Recurve_W0QQitemZ180203006334QQihZ008QQcategoryZ20 839QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Hornes are nice - send the guy an offer if this one don't sell

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=020785#000009

thats a Black Widow, very nice, pricey

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=020420;p=1

there's a Hummingbird thats going to be a SWEET bow -


3 more options for you.

picking a recurve/longbow isn't like compounds - IMO. You can buy a bow thats 63# @ 29" and it will "fit" your 27" draw and be about 58-59#'s in weight. you'll not know how "shootable" a bow is or can be until you well, shoot it ! I've bought/sold/traded probably 150 bows or more. Why ? because I wanted to know what "fit" me and truth is I can shoot about any bow out there. the ones I like however are the hybrid longbows and recurve. The traditional D style longbows I don't like. I don't like one piece bows for the most part = just a prefernce of mine.

Starting out, I would suggest buying a nice bow, like one of the aboves, carbons, a nice glove, and go shoot. Yep, its that easy. sign up to www.tradgang.com and ask questions there too, search their archives - or here, or the leatherwall ...... a lot of good sources out there.

its easy to do, but very difficult to master :D

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

For your first round of arrows, I would use aluminums. I still use them except for the occasional wood arrow. Maybe get some new gamegetters. Chances are you will be missing the target on occasion when starting out. I know that I don't feel as bad when I miss with $5 arrow compared to a $20 arrow. Heck thats one of the reasons that I sold my carbon Grizzly Sticks, I wastoo afraid of missing - still. [:@]

If you do miss with the gamegetter, check for any fractures and spin them, even with a little wobble, I'd still use them when starting out.

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

Well since its been posted or at least the cassifieds have.

I suggest you go to www.tradgang.com and poke around there. They guys there are all Trad shooters and know a ton. Lots and lots of good info there. I'm not saying this isn't a good place too just there is a more active trad board there. And they are good people to boot.

One warning though. Trad shooting it addictive. So is building your own. Consider yourself warned! :D:)

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

oops I see Big Duane beat me to it. Well then I second what he said.

Take your time starting out shooting. Get close and shoot. 5 -10 yards max. If you miss the target get closer. Shoot untill you get tired or shakey and take a break. After getting better close move back. By better I mean your form. Forget hitting the bulls eye etc. Practice dooing everything the same. If you spend time on your form at first it will pay off later.

Most of all have fun at it.

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

Thanks everybody, I have questions but do not know what to ask, if anyone has anything else to contribute feel free. I will be reading it.

RE: Considering traditional bow.
 

Not sure I can add much, but I've been shooting trad bows for a few years now. Started off a a kid back in the mid 1950s. ;)
First you need a bow you can draw & hold comfortably! If it's too heavy a pull or feels like a club in your hand, you're going to develop some nasty - hard to break - bad habits!
Second, you need some arrows spined for the bow you choose. Not always easy to find that match, but I'm finding carbons are a bit more "forgiving" than wood or aluminum. I now use the high priced "grizzly stiks" previously mentioned. The full length taper also makes them have a bit more tolerance of slightly improper spine and/or poor release when shooting. I bought a dozen bare shafts a couple years ago and still have 8 left. The missing ones were lost - not broken! They are very tough!
One other comment I feel I need to throw in. I see the TradGang site mentioned. If you go there be very careful of any trades, purchases, or business dealings. I went there a few years ago. They preach honesty & truthfulness, but in 3 trades/purchases I got badlyburned 2 times! On one I got into a discussion of how I got rooked and got the link deleted & I gotthreatened with being banned from the forum! They didn't need to ban me - I'll never go back! I had to have my attorney threaten one member who took my money to build me a bow and then never built it with a law suit to get a refund. He promised it within two months and then when he got the letter from my attorney over a year later called me and asked if I still wanted the bow, or if I wanted my money back! [:@]Not saying there aren't some guys & gals there that know traditional archery, just saying there might be a few predators looking for easy pickin's where trusting people gather.;)

Get a bow that feels good and practice every day! Don't be concerned with great accuracy at first be concerned with good arrow flight! If the arrow isn't flying good (fishtailing, porpoising, etc.) something is wrong with the arrows, your bow (nocking point too high or low for example), or your release (such as not holding you anchor point and not following through).
Get the bow, get some arrows (the best you can afford), and start shooting! Then come back and ask questions when things aren't going like you think they should.
As I said, I've been flinging arrows for about 50 years now, and I think as soon as I can get a little more practice and a couple minor flaws in my shooting form corrected I'll be a fairly good shot! :D:D:D