Switchin' from Recurve to Longbow...suggestions..

[O.L. Adcock]

I originally built recurves cause that is where my interest was and what I grew up with. I had never even shot a longbow up until the mid 80's and some of those experiences were not pleasent. Then folks got to pestering me to build longbows...After building a couple I noticed I started spending more time shooting the longbows and less with the recurves...There was just something about them especially for someone serious about hunting and not punching paper at 90 meters.

There is nothing wrong with selecting a 100 year old longbow design if that is your thing but longbows don't have to have handshock, they don't have to have uncomfortable grips, they don't have to be gripped any different than a recurve, they don't have to be long to draw smooth, and you don't have to lose any performance.

There is a lot more difference between the worse longbows and the best, more so than the worse recurve and the best. So don't judge longbows as a whole by shooting one or two and thinking they are all alike...Far from it.

Now I get asked why I don't build recurves?! As soon as I see a recurve out perform one of my longbows, I might consider it.    ....O.L.

[Longbowwally]

I've owned several longbows, and still haven't found one I like, or shoot as good, as my recurve. I did kill a deer with my longbow this fall, so I'm not to bad a shot with it though    . To me, longbows seem to pull a little 'stiffer' than my recurves, so while I shoot a 55 lb. recurve, I prefer a longbow of around 50 lbs. or so. Make sure you shoot several different longbows before you buy one. What one person thinks is a good shooting longbow, may feel like crap to another. As far as performance goes, a custom longbow will hang with most any recurve out there. I love the simple lines of the longbow, and will continue my search for one that I feel confident with. For some the transition from recurve to longbow is simple, for others, its not that simple. I'll keep on trying to find me one I like 'cause I think longbows are cool......

[bayoulongbowman]

O L , I agree you really got be careful buying production type bows ,because there is a world of difference in drawing the bow (stacking ) smooth, handshock in a bow... Remember June is buy a new bow month...well it is for me!! #78 Mark

[LeftyNorCal]

Thanks to everyone for the wealth of opinions and info. shared.

Now any suggestions how a lefty stuck out in Ca. can get his hands on some different bows to try out????

Any of you guys in Northern Ca. and want to meet and swap bows for an afternoon?

[CT Bowhunter]

Contact Greg at G & M Archery 218-224-3263, he's listed in the vendor thread. I think he has some lefty bows. Also Gordy at Selway Archery 800-764-4770 has a try before you buy program. My Selway is my favorite longbow! Gordy just made a sweet left handed Lil Magnum for a friend of mine.

[heydeerman]

Chapparal Archery has a try it before you buy it deal going also. No deposit needed and you pay for the bow when you get it    . I have a T.I.B.Y.B. bow right now. It is the best shooting bow for me so far  :cool:  . I love shooting it and the grip is sweet. You should give Bruce a call. Go to the vendors list and check out the web-site.

[Morning Star]

My suggestion is that once you change to the LB, don't shoot your other bows while trying to establish your shooting style.  Most LB's I have shot require a much more strict adherence to form.  Perfect grip, perfect release, perfect anchor, perfect everything if you want CONSISTENT accuracy.  I personally don't think LB's are as forgiving as recurves.

Good Luck

[heydeerman]

I think a longbow is more forgiving than a recurve. I started trad shooting recurves and when I switched to longbows I found them easier to shoot. I am sure there are others such as River Bottom who would disagree. Its somethin you gotta find out for yourself. A cheap way to do it is get a hold of one of or all of the bowyers who will let you try it before you buy it. Hardly a better way to find out.

I think the hang up for recurve shooters who try the longbow and dont like it is in the grip. Most longbow bowyers will make longbows with a recurve style grip. I have found the grip on the Chapparral to be very consistant. I shot a Morrison Cougar a while back, in fact is was Bobs personal bow, and it had a recurve grip and it was extremely easy to shoot. One of the best shooting bows I ever shot.

[Roger Norris]

I think a longbow is more forgiving also. Last year was the first year I shot my recurves in about 2 years, and I shot pretty good, but I felt like a target archer, worrying about the bow being held correctly, etc. My 2 favorite longbows are the Shrew, and the Marriah Chinook, and I can pick them up and shoot much more fluidly than with a recurve. I thought that I HAD to have a deep locator grip on a longbow, until I got a great deal on a Great Northern Critter Gitter with a pretty traditional plain grip. I shot that bow so well it was spooky, right off the bat. But, like evry archery moron, since I shot it so well, I gave it away ( to my Dad)    I truly believe a longbow that fits you is one of the best kept secrets in bowhunting; I think they are the most effective and efficient bow you can hunt with. Just don't tell anyone, or they will make us all hunt in the gun season  :p

[2dogs]

My 3 recurves are all Fedora's so when the longbow bug bit I went back to Mike and he made me a longbow with a recurve grip. I can go back and forth between bows and never miss a beat.

[O.L. Adcock]

2dogs, that is the way it should be. Other than for "historical" reasons, it makes no sense to put a gosh awful grip on a bow that is hard for folks to adapt to! There were valid reasons to build grips that way at one time, before fiberglass. Once they started using fiberglass the posibilities changed but the bows didn't....O.L.

[crosseye]

dean

i just got a Dwyer longbow...46@28 and have 2 45# recurves.  there was absolutely no problem shooting the longbow...no hand shock and i grip it like my recurve...the longbow definitely has a different feel...kinda like it is alive...i know that sounds weird, but it seems like the arrows jump from my bowhand instead of the bow...the dwyer is quicker thann my 62" recurve and every bit as fast as my kodiak magnum recurve.  here is a link to it...$395 new + 30 for bamboo cores, a great deal on a wonderful bow.  get a longbow...maybe 2 or 3!  life is short!  here are pics of my dwyer

 http://community.webshots.com/album/72626656sUJYzi?88

crosseye

[heydeerman]

Dave Dwyer makes a fine longbow. I had one made and I bought a used one. Sold them both    . The used one I bought shot better than my custom. Wish I could have it back.

Another fine bow for the money. Excellent gut to deal with also.
 

[Idahoright]

Check out the Harrison Longbows, they are a work of art.  There is absolutly no hand shock and they shoot like a dream.  Jack is going to stop making bows pretty soon so if you were to get one now would be the time.

Rob