I saw a video of Tred Barta talking with Dale Karch from three rivers archery. They expalaned that longbows require more precise form, better tuned arrows, and more practice.
I was wondering, what are the advantages of the longbow?
By no means am I insulting the longbow. I shoot both. Other than "I like them better", what are the good reasons to shoot them? "I like them better" is a good enough excuse, but I am curious as to what other advantages the long bow has.
Generally they are a little quieter. At least that has been my experience.
I don't have any recurves anymore; just longbows. I don't know that there is a real 'advantage' to them over recurves, other than personal preference. I just like the lines of the longbow, and the simplicity of them, and there is a nostalgia factor as well. I think they do take more practice, but for me that is not a problem, but a good excuse to shoot more. There is nothing at all wrong with recurves; it is just a personal preference thing. When it comes right down to it, both are just simple springs to propel the arrow. Very classy springs, but springs nonetheless.
I like to shoot longbows,I think they are quieter and a more solid and stable bow.I much prefer a longbow grip,whether it is straight,dish or a mild locator.I like the feel of a longbow and the classic D-shape.They may be alittle more critical of spine then a recurve,but I don't find that to be a problem at all.I just never really cared for a recurve type grip and I tried alot of them,they are just not for me.But thats my preference.
Huh? The usual line is that longbows are more forgiving of form.
For me one of the things I really like about my longbows is their lighter physical weight. I hunt Mule Deer and Elk which at times envolves considerable hiking over all kinds of terrain. My Griffin's and Shrew, even with a quiver and 4-5 arrows is lighter than any of my 14 recurves. I also feel that I'm a little quicker on target with the longbow.
Just my 2 bits!
Gene
Everyone here should remember there isn't just one style of longbow.
Longbow & Hybrid LB:
Less mass in the limbs. Less energy wasted moving the heavier limbs. A well designed LB can produce better performance. (think Adcock ACS, A&H ACS, etc...)
Limbs less likely to twist.
Quieter design. No string slap between the string and limb.
Just love long bows light great lines.Very quiet.
I like the lite weight of the longbow, the narrow limbs, and the lines. They just seem simpler, cleaner , more basic!
KY :archer:
Jeff U mentioned one of the higher points in my book, no limb twisting problems. Overall I believe the longbow is a stronger design over the recurve. For me these are important issues as I travel to hunt a fair amount. The stronger the better in my book. I have one recurve and enjoy shooting it but my go to bow is always one of my Morrison longbows.
For you guys out there who have shoulder problems, try a long bow and you will save yourself alot of nagging pain. My personal choice for day in day out accuracy, quiteness and shootability is a longbow. tom
As a bowyer that builds both, my observation is that you have longbow and recurve people. It is really preference. Both bows have advantages and disadvantages in different situations. A short recurve is handier in a blind or tree. A longbow is more comfortable in the mountains chasing elk or sheep.
Just what you like.
This is my first time ever hunting with a curve. I've always been a Longbow guy. Our new Orion recurve kept talking to me and it will now be my go to bow.
What you need to do is what most of our customers do. Order an Orion with both recurve and longbow limbs. You get both worlds without buying two bows.
Mike
So is a self bow a modified longbow ??
Simple. Simple is good.
Simple clean lines of the longbow does it for me! light weight, classic D style or hybrid, minimal concerns regarding limb twists (rare in longbows)and quiet shooting make it my bow of choice. I just love shooting longbows!!!
A selfbow can be either, but is mostly a longbow. Longbows are more durable. You can beat a snake to death with it, or use it as a pole vault. I like to carry longbows much better. I am also more consistent with a longbow.
Well, I'm going to wade into this, against my better judgement...
Based solely on my experience, shooting sytle, and personal preference, I don't think there's a clear advantage to either one. Having said that, I've found that I prefer longbows. --Specifically, r/d "hybrids" with a recurve style grip.
I think you get the best of both worlds with that design. The lack of string slap on the limbs ups the "quiet" factor, the limb design boosts performance, and the heavier, pistol/locator grip tends towards more stability and consistent grip placement/pressure.
I know when I started out, shooting a light, "d" shape longbow, with a broom-handle grip was quite a challenge. For me, it all boiled down to consistent grip placement, and keeping a solid bow arm at release. I found that after I got the basics down with a heavier recurve riser, I shot my lighter longbow much better. Holding that heavier bow out there at arm's length seemed more "stable". The first time I picked up my longbow after a few months of shooting a recurve, I surprised myself on the first shot... "Hey, my bow arm didn't move!"
I'm not enough of an engineer to talk about stability factors involving wider, thinner limbs vs. narrow, deeper cored limbs, but I could write all day on the different "shootability" factors that I experienced.
Having said all that, I think heavy risers with grips that promote consistent hand placement, and help reduce torque, are the best type of bows for folks like me to learn on. The only learning "curve" on a true "longbow" for me was figuring out how to hang on to it!
Once you know how to shoot a bow consistently and accurately, the "best" is determined only by whats purdier in your eyes, and feels "more better" in your hands!
Going back to the original question:
QuoteOriginally posted by Arthur Scottie:
I saw a video of Tred Barta talking with Dale Karch from three rivers archery. They expalaned that longbows require more precise form, better tuned arrows, and more practice.
I was wondering, what are the advantages of the longbow?
By no means am I insulting the longbow. I shoot both. Other than "I like them better", what are the good reasons to shoot them? "I like them better" is a good enough excuse, but I am curious as to what other advantages the long bow has.
Answer -- No other advantage. "I like it better" wins! "More precise form, better tuned arrows, and more practice" is a pain in the arse to some, and a joy to others. :D
In G Freds book he says that the long bow is a little different to shot not more difficult, just a little different. Howard Hill said that they are less complicated to shot.
I like the long bow because of the lines, the comfortable handle, the quietness (that cool thump) the weight - pracitcurely in elk country -
They are an addiction.
Joe
Longbows are just cool!! That is my reason for shooting one.
On the other hand I have found that if I have a momentary breakdown in form or flub a release I still manage to hit with my longbow where if this happens while shooting a curve I get eratic arrow flight. Just my experience.
I started out with recurves and later found myself preferring longbows and now shoot an R/D longbow and some of my own selfbows. I think it is a purely personal preference thing.
well to me a bow is a bow be it longbow or recurve as long as it flings an arrow. i love them both. while in the states last year i got to shoot a morrision recurve and wow!!! that was nice it was one of bob walkers and then i picked up my t/d longbow and it shot different than the recurve for sure. ifound the recurve smooth quite and quick. real nice to shoot. but i love both curve and longbow.
- Lighter in the hand
- Easier to string and unstring with push-pull
- Limbs aren't as prone to twisting
- Easier to repair in the field
- Quieter shooting
- Take up less space when unstrung
Jason
Longbows are light and silent, to me these are both good things. I also shoot recurves but longbows just seem to be more fun for me.
It's "that feeling" - there's something special about being "on" and making shots with the longbow that just feels different from the recurve, in my experience. Not magical or mystical, but close. That said, I prefer recurve because for me it is more forgiving and helps me shoot more consistently. But hitting the target with a longbow, especially at longer distances, is really awesome.
The only comment I'm gonna make on this one is it's
personal preferance
Try them all then decide for yourself :coffee:
Here we go, now I'm gonna get it. Simple physics and geometry would say a longbow would be more forgiving. More length in the limbs means less movement at full draw versus a shorter recurve, less string angle too, and the string never contacts the working limb, resulting in a more forgiving, quieter shot. Picture if you will a 60 inch stick, grab it and wiggle it, now do the same with a 70inch stick takes more effort right. Little mistakes are forgiven more easily with a longer bow. Now, narrow, thicker limbs are sturdier than wide flat ones. If you don't believe me grab and unstrung recurve and give the limbs a twist they flex. Try the same with a narrow thick limbed bow such as a Hill...good luck. Recurves usually have a heavy riser and light limbs, longbows usually have heavier limbs and a smaller lighter riser this too equals more stability in the longbow. Again, grab a recurve give it a wiggle, grab a longbow and do the same, the heavier mass of the limbs is farther away from the center mass of the bow requiring more effort to wiggle than the light, wide recurve limbs with the heavy riser, where all the mass is in your hand just waiting for you to wiggle. The less variables you have at full draw the more accurate you will be. I still think it is absolutely your preference that will decide what you shoot. But this does make sense if you think about it. Ok, now let me have it.
-Hillbilly
While I've killed several deer with my longbow I don't like to use a quiver on it and when it comes time to go hunting I just like to have my arrows on the bow so most of the time I end up with my recurve. As for penetration or accuracy I really see no difference between the two.
To me a recurve is like cocking a single shot revolver when you almost come to anchor i feel the curve in the limb and a longbow is oh so smooth all the way back and just quiet as a church mouse!!!!LONGBOWS FOR EVER!!!!!!
I'd have to divide it into "longbows", "recurves" and "hybrids" to even answer the question if only for me. For me when I think "longbow" even R/D, there is a line that gets crossed in which a bow is arguably as much a recurve as it is a longbow and then the bow has lost some of the romance and the appeal (and qualities) of shooting a longbow per se but none of the appeal and advantages of shooting a great "hybrid" bow! I am NOT drawing a hierarchy as I love my recurves and I had the pleasure of shooting a Morrison Shawnee, 3 piece hybrid at my weight this summer. I love the bow and I want one but when I want to experience that particular feeling that bespeaks "longbow" it has to have the Howard Hill "D" shape, length and handle. So, some of the bows mentioned outperform my longbow in terms of easier grip and performance characteristics as does my recurve but that's because they have gone as far as you can go in some cases and still be called longbows by the definition we are currently using. Right now I am solidly in the longbow camp for all the reasons mentioned but the recurve is faster at the same weight. Pluses and minuses all around. Even with the hybrids-not necessarily the best of both worlds.
Well, Byron Ferguson says the longbow is more forgiving. I have seen him shoot, both in person and on television. I am not going to argue with him!
Personally, I like the quieter shot, lighter weight, and general feel of the longbow. I am down to two recurves: one I built in 9th grade shop class (glass and maple lams with a walnut riser) and a Bear Black Bear. The one I built will be with me as long is it holds together (40 years now). The Black Bear is my fishing bow.
For hunting, I'm addicted to longbows.
Heh - I've seen / heard respected longbowmen (Ferguson, Hill) claim that it's more forgiving and Hill claimed he wasn't talented enough to shoot a recurve. I've seen respected recurve guys (Asbell) claim that the recurve is far more forgiving.
I suspect it may have something to do with what one prefers.
That being said, for me the chief advantage of a longbow is that I own a nice one. On the other hand, my recurve is as dead as disco.
I love longbows for being light in the hand, quieter, less worry about limb twisting, and easier to string/un-string if you do it a lot.
The only thing I find harder with a longbow is bow arm control. The light weight makes mine want to wander during the draw. But when I control it, my Hill bows are way more forgiving of release errors than my recurves, and will stack the arrows in there touching! Some people can but I cannot get the same consistent accuracy with a recurve. Give me a Hill style bow and a backquiver full of woodies and I'm a happy guy!
Spanky
I agree with a lot that has been said above. I like longbows, particularly D-bows because of their lighter overall mass weight. The only real hunting advantage I can see though is that for me they seem to point quicker at moving targets like bunnies.
I have and shoot both but just like flintlock rifles I find myself drawn to the simpler longbow. But all are good. Shoot what you like or at least shoot what looks cool !
I like the longbow(70" in my case) because i have NO finger pinch shooting with a glove. I don't like tabs or gizmos for hunting. the smoothness i can shoot all i want without any shoulder issues. a minor draw length varience has almost no (none for me) trajectory effect. I find it a pleasure to shoot. I find my recurve a workout to shoot.
A couple of you have mentioned that the longbow is easier on the shoulder than a recurve. Could someone explain this to me if both bows are putting the same weight on your shoulder.
One thing I notice and I shoot hundreds of bows / year, Is once you get good with a longbow a recurve is no problem. It does make one a better, at least more consistant shooter.
One advantage of a longbow over a recurve is that a longbow is generally easier to build.
I prefer the LB over the recurve as well. The over all weight and appearance of the LB appeals to me. I also find that I can get on target with the LB a little faster then I can with my recurves. I also like how quiet my LB shoots. I recently went from a R/D LB design to the D- shaped design. I'm sold on the D shaped longbows. My next LB purchase will be a Howard Hill "RedMan" or "Cheeta" for this reason. My Hill "Wild Boar" needs a companion. :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :cool: LB's rule!
QuoteI saw a video of Tred Barta talking with Dale Karch from three rivers archery. They expalaned that longbows require more precise form, better tuned arrows, and more practice.
I don't agree with any of those points.