Let me start by saying these are observations I have made, and opinions I have formed on my journey in Traditional archery.
I love recurves for their beauty and the size of the palate they offer bowyers. The larger handle allow greater variation in grain and wood combo's. The larger risers also tend to add mass and can help in accuracy. In a target situation I can stack arrows with my heavy risered recurve like none of my other bows. The wider limbs seem to give the recurve a stability as well, like holding the axle of a spinning wheel. This might be more due to a thicker handle, but my brain links it to the limbs.
Even though the canvas is smaller the right combination of wood laminations and limb veneers can make longbows breath taking. Longbows are lighter and quicker feeling in the hand. I personally like the smaller feel in the handle. Even though I am a bit more accurate with my recurve, the longbow feels more natural in my hand and coming up for a shot. Longbows are also less forgiving in the form category from y observation. When I shoot my longbows more my form is dramatically better, because if it is not my accuracy is terrible.
As I have progressed I find myself leaning more towards the long bows. I recently purchased a used recurve on the classifieds. It is the most beautiful bow I own, and one of the most beautiful I have seen. I can shoot it well and for 44#s it flings a 620 grain arrow with authority. After shooting longbows for the last couple of years it feels big in my hand.
I don't know where this was going, but my wife does not want to talk about this type of thing, so I thought I would share it with those who might have some interest. Any observations form others who are enjoying the trad life?
My thoughts exactly with an added comment. The more I get into this trad bow stuff, the less I care if I can shoot better with a heavy recurve ....... I WANT to stay a longbow man.
It's not all about the kill anyway, and inside 25 yards, who cares if you can stack then better with the recurve, I am confident with the LB at that distance.
And no, my wife doesn't understand me either when I talk bows! :help:
I can not get into a longbow anymore. I started with a 40 pounder but the grip feels very unnatural. Tilting my wrist downwards just doesn't feel right versus the pistol grip design of a recurve, I can find where my hand settles in the same way every time.
I also prefer the way recurves draw, but thats like everything else, to each his own
You laid out the attributes of a recurve very well for me! I can't get past them to even try a longbow.
That's what's so good about trad bows, to each his own.
I just like to push up the string on a longbow and go.
No worries about twisted limbs or where's my bow stringer. Bow stringers always seem inherently dangerous to me. I'm always waiting for one end to break loose and as my mother was fond of saying "you'll put out your eye".
I like simple, beautiful and a long graceful curve.
I have both and shoot recurves better than longbows; however, there's just something about a longbow I can't let go of.
If I didn't shoot recurves better, I wouldn't own any. Don't like to hunt with them, and 1 pc. recurves are a pain to pack up when it's time for them to move away from home.
I may be disgreed with here, but this is what I've found.
I started in the early 60s with a recurve. It was a Bear Hunter.
I shot recurves for a lot of years, then tried a longbow. Wow I loved it & for about the next 5 years shot only longbows. My recurves hung on pegs. Then I started getting the Bear itch again & bought a new SuperK. I shot it for several years along with my longbow. I find I like them both. I switch depending on what I want to do at the time. Last year I took both Elk hunting & switched off. No Elk, but had a great time. I will probably continue to shoot both as I like both.
I might be a bit more accurate with the recurve, but it's a little bit. I know some who will only shoot one or the other, but I like both & shoot both.
Frank
Lot's of longbows out there with recurve grips. Get the best of both world's.
I find the longbow to be way more accurate for me than the short recurve. The long straight limbed LBs are way more tolerant of form issues for me. Less string pinch and a more gradual pull are also benefits for me.
I wish I was good enough to shoot the shorter recurves for hunting ease...but I love the light weight and accurate shot of the long longbow.
Cheers!
I could have written Maineac's post. I feel exactly the same way. One thing about form. When I shoot a few dozen arrows in my longbow and then shoot my recurve, my groups are so tight it usually costs me at least a nock or a few feathers.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bowwild:
You laid out the attributes of a recurve very well for me! I can't get past them to even try a longbow.
X-2
I'm stuck on long recurves.
Well I'm only a few years into this trip but I too am loving this journey! For the last year I owned 1 each; D, RD, and a recurve and I switched between them frequently. They all taught me lessons and humility at different points, but most importantly it was a way to discover my style. I feel this is a very personal journey and I'll never disparage someone shooting a bow even if it's one I wouldn't shoot or own personally.
I just began my "fear the man with one bow" year, I have one bow and I plan to shoot *600 shots a week with it wearing out strings and arrows as I go. It's a radical hybrid longbow with a VERY recurve style grip, some might say it's the worst of both worlds, others the best. I'm really happy with it, and to me that is all that counts.
Looking back at my 3 bows from last year; I probably shot the Howard Hill the worst and miss it the most. There is a bit of magic in them Hill bows, when it all comes together...
I don't know where my response was going, but this kinda felt like archery-therapy so I had to participate.
Thom
I'm not accurate enough with a longbow to trust myself to take it bowhunting. I dislike the straight grip of a longbow. It feels uncomfortable and foreign to my hand. I also don't like the string slapping my arm upon arrow release. My two recurves don't give me arm slap. I attribute this to my recurves' shelves being cut 3/16" past center.
I tried for two years to master a longbow, but in the end, the longbow mastered me and I sold the longbow to a fellow TG'er.
For me, I'm strictly a recurve man and I've been shooting a recurve now for the last 48 years.
I tried a slight cant with my recurve and everything went flying off low and to the right. I tried shooting my longbow vertical and when I closed my left eye all I saw was the bow limb. Big aha moment. Now cant is meaningless to me. I cant the longbow and the recurve (or not, doesn't matter any more). Another thing is wrist stability. Not such a big deal with the recurve, but when I'd miss, often it is because of a wobble in my wrist. My longbow is like a shock collar on feedback on weak wrist.
I was not trying to paint one better than the other. I don't have a hill, but a straight wrist d bow, but that is my least favorite. My two long bows are RD. I need to give a good hill style bow a chance. My long bow grips are thinner than my recurve grips, and lower, maybe medium grip. My shooting if I am on is pretty good with both types, I was just rambling.
Patrick I can identify with your switch from longbow to recurve. But I feel confident with the longbow out as far as my stands allow, which is close.
I've been shooting sticks for about 50 years. During that time, I've come full circle about three times, from recurves to longbows to selfbows, etc. I've always had some of each on the rack, but tended to shoot one style more than another for a fair length of time. For the past 10-15 years, it's been primarily hybrid longbows. However, killed a turkey a week ago with a 56-inch Bear T?D recurve and will be using it during another turkey season tomorrow. They're all good.
QuoteOriginally posted by Orion:
They're all good.
Exactly. There's no way I'm going to stop now... I'm intending quite a habit.
Maineac, I like your rambling. It is good to hear about other people's experiences and adventures. Probably, most of us have had some bad experiences with both types of bow. Also, we have likely had equally great experiences with each. To me it is fun to do both. However, I am primarily a Hill Bow shooter - almost exclusively, but I still ain't planning to get rid of my recurves.
As stated so well previously, theyre all good.
Now the question for myself is whether I am wish-washy or multi-dimensional.
I'm with you all. I love e everything about a nice R/d longbow, just don't shoot them as well as a recurve. I think thats why I'm such a huge fans of 50's style bow...
I love the clean simple lines of a nice longbow. I have 12- 15 recurves hanging on a rack but never shoot them unless I'm going bowfishing. The longbow just feels so simple and natural. I have only been shooting just a longbow for about 32 years now. Not long enough to try something new.
Maineac, my wife hated me rambling about my bowhunting. Said I loved bowhuting more than her. She obsessed! We still talk now & then after being divorced 35+ years. Ever so often, she mentions getting back together. That's when I start talking about bowhunting. Is this stuff fun or what?
Got 'em shoot 'em & be thankful. Glad I have both recurve & LB friends.
Great thread.
I am in love with my recurves. I am a one-piece junkie. For me, they are what they are. One chunk of wood (laminated from various components) flowing in archs that bend gracefully and snap back home, propelling a dart through the air. I love 'em. Old ones, new ones, pretty ones, utilitarian (ugly) ones.
I am awe struck by the simplicity of the longbow however. A stick. Attach a sting and go to work. The R/D modern longbows shoot so buttery smooth I get lost in flinging arrows throughout the afternoon. The D-style longbows have a classic look that take me back to daydreams of young boys heading off into the back 40 to find a willing target on a steamy summer day.
But those dang hill-tyle bows just jolt my head and neck so much it turns into an unpleasant chore. Wish I could quit buying them! But dang they are pretty.
Again, great thread. :thumbsup:
I like the best of both worlds.
That's why I shoot a hybrid LB.
Great thread Maineac, I have the same type of feelings about my curves and longbows. I've always felt a little unsettled, like I should go with one or the other to concentrate on becoming the best shooter I could become. My love for the primative nature of a longbow makes me feel I'm where I belong. I love the stealthy quietness, quickness in hand and smoothness of my longbows. The curves I have are so beautiful, smoking fast, so easy to shoot well they inspire confidence, still my mind bounces back and forth and pulls my heart right along with it. Lately, I make sense of which I choose to shoot while hunting like choosing a golf club on the course. I have a 56" 61#@28" recurve I use for most tree stand hunting and tight spots, I use my 66" 61#@28" longbow for most of my ground hunting. I've just recently acquired a bow I sold almost 3 years ago. This is the only bow that has ever really spoke to me. As much as I love all the bows I have for different reasons, this bow seems to give me something back. This is now my go to bow, and I will choose the others based on the specific need at hand, adjusting size and power. My go to bow is 60" 55#@28" Longbow. This one seems to bring me everything I've every dreamed of when thinking about bow hunting. The curves gives me the confidence when shooting bow . When I see my 56" curve in my hand, the beauty, the performance, I feel it's almost like cheating when hunting. The longbow seems to connect me in a more primative way, maybe thats the romance part of the equation that causes the struggle deep inside. Surely not a right or wrong way, I just can't say I am one or the other.
Started out with a D longbow many years ago. Then got on the recurve wagon followed by ILF. But then felt the pull of the longbow drawing me back. Lately been migrating to hybrids and as of now do feel they are 'the best of both worlds for me'. They can be had with any grip style and riser weight you want, many options with riser and limbs.
I have come to not like the aggressive early weight gain on high performance recurves, feels more like a compound, much prefer the draw cycle of the hybrid with its more moderate early bulge in the dfc. Personal thing that not everyone would agree with. I think the grip is very important to accuracy and once I changed to recurve style grips on hybrids accuracy is not a problem.
Great thread!! I like them all, but I prefer a Hybrid Longbow.
I agree with what you say about the stability of a bow. The wider the limb is directly related to how stable the bow is for me. The two bows I own are a Ben Pearson hunter and a zipper sxt with the longbow limbs. The Pearson is bulkier while the zipper is lighter and fits better in the hand which for me means better accuracy.
Kenneth you put it well. One bow calls to me more than the others, but I love shooting them all. I plan on reworking the grip of my checkmate. I don't know why, it is super accurate, but fees a little squirrelly with a med high wrist. I should probably leave well enough alone, but want match the wrist angle that make my hybrids feels so good in the hand. some great thoughts from everyone.
Buddy, I am on my 26th year with my wife, I try to only ramble so much with her. I get a lot of what are you thinking about when we are sitting around int eh evening. The answer is usually "archery" or " ________ hunting (fill in the blank with what is in season or next up)".
Great thread,I honestly didn't think there were so many like me!LOL. It was the recurve for years,until this howard Hill thread popped up.Back in the early eightys I had given Hill bows a good effort,or so I thought.Just couldn't get the hang of it,back to recurves.
Since this HH thread,now with so much more info I thought I'd give her an other shot.It reminded me of learning to ride a bike.It finally just happened.I'm as accurate,or more.For some crazy reason I can pull alot more weight.My recurves now seam,heavy,cumbersome and the draw feels so weak and mushy.I guess as an archer the evolution of development just never stops.In all sincerity don't have a closed mind on any bow or shooting style.Your interests and development can and probably will change.
Quote from Howard Hill.( Whenever he taught someone to shoot) "Son make up your mind right now if you want to target shoot or hunt as theres a world of differance between the two"
LOVE THAT QUOTE!
I've always looked at them as being so different.
Kenn
Steve, Hill bows hit a chord 35 years ago. All I've shot since. Smooth as polished boot leather & so straight handled simple even I get it. The "hunt/target" HH quote is one of my favorites!
Got my first "STORE BOUGHT " bow in 1959 When I was 10 yrs Old. Nice old Ben Pearson Lemon Wood straight/flat long bow . You'll see by my profile/signature I own NUMEROUS both recurve and long bows. I "COULD " shoot one or the other equally well ( I THINK ) "IF" I stuck to one or the other. I have really no sweat picking up either type to hunt or shoot, BUT I need to shoot a while with the recurves To get the group centered . FOR some reason every time I pick up a recurve ( MINE or someone else's) I shoot very nice groups but they are off center high-low-right -left SOMEWHERE but never center. IF I continue to shoot several groups my brain takes over and I begin to shoot closer to center every group till I "get there"
ONE EXCEPTION My son got a wonderful Eagle Wing from Sixby a few weeks ago My First shot with it drilled the dead center of the target first shot! LOL! MY son laughed his butt off .
NOW when I pick up my long bows REGARDLESS of the handle/riser configuration eg: I have Hill types,A fedora with thumb rest. And a Martin Bushmaster with "dished out" straight grip, and a Beauty of a Stewart Slammer with "LOCATOR" grip. . I seem to drill the center of the target RIGHT WHERE I'M LOOKING first shot, EVERY TIME !!!
I USUALLY don't get as tight a grouping as I can with SOME recurves. But AM ALWAYS centered . Even if I'm playing with arrows not of the correct spine .
SO I have to say I'm more of a LONG BOW MAN but will never get rid of my recurves
Forest,You hit it on the head!They seam to hit a chord.I honestly think the longbow is the true symbol of Simplicity and pure archery.With its roots going back 25,000 years and every culture in the world having survived by this Simplicity,How can there NOT be an Allure with any kind of Primial imagination that all of us posses.
I have little experience hunting with bows, but when I have I have taken a long bow. I find the longbow quite like an old friend and the recurve like a good friend in a fight. I know what to expect from the longbow and it's very reliable, but it takes time to cultivate that good relationship. The recurve is much like a sighted in rifle that as long as you play with it often enough you can be reasonably consistent with it. I like the draw characteristics of the recurve more so than the long bow as the draw weight increases. In closing the longbow is definitely the way to master one's form and I believe it comes down to how hard do you want to work.
Something else came to mind (that'll happen...). Pardon me if I'm drifting.
They say that "archery is the art of repetition" but I'm finding that some things are good to repeat and some things not so much. Going back and forth between longbow and recurve is proving that to me. I thought it would screw me up, but it's done just the opposite. I try to focus on consistency on back tension, release, the way I draw, etc. But I mix up the targets, angles, bows, locations where I shoot and the more I mix up those things the better I seem to be on hitting things "out there."
And I'm with Brian, I really like a one-piece bow. My plan was to gravitate to a HH D bow next, but now I'm thinking a one-piece recurve.
There must be a name for the this condition, the inability to commit to shooting just longbow or recurve. I love the differences. I have found a ton of joy in shooting different styles, weights and lengths. How would you know which is right for you without experiencing a good portion for yourself? I think I have finally found my go to bow, I made this determination by how we work together, compliment each other, my shooting style, and what a hunting bow is to me. I may not be the best shot in any given competition, but having "the one" in my hands helps give me the confidence to be all I can be. When I'm at my best that is all I need to be.
I go back and forth....I love the feel of a long bow in the hand, like a fine fly rod. So light and graceful. I also enjoy shooting my recurves with beautiful woods in the risers, Silvertip, Zipper, Rivers Edge. I guess it depends on my mood, throw a back quiver on and grab my Hill halfbreed or my Osprey,or my Toelke to go stumping or pick up my Holm-Made River Runner to go hunting for the afternoon. I guess as long as your enjoying yourself .....it don't matter!!....I really should thin the herd again....lol!
I like them all, but have settled on shooting longbows. Like Mainac said, all the wood in a 3 piece recurve makes for a big canvas to create something beautifull.
I've made my rounds and have settled on 2 bows. My Northern Mist Hill style bows and a 60" Super Shrew.
As stated above, the Hill style bows speak timeless history and simplistic beauty and they shoot awesome. The Shrew is my go anywhere..do anything..hunting machine.
And I'm able to switch back and forth with very little re-adjustment...thats always a bonus.
Eric
Like so many times before here at TradGang, I read a thread (this one) and see a real coming together of people with like interests putting their thoughts out there for others to ponder and it gets me pondering. I can't put an exact finger on it, but it seems that trad archery folks are more welcoming than adversary-al. When I am around wheel guys, I feel (yes, I AM about to spill my OWN personal thoughts on this subject for all the world to hear) like there's a competition going on. Sort of an "I shoot THIS or THESE and THIS or THESE are the best and what you shoot pales in comparison". I don't get that from the trad folks that I read about and meet. Trad folks to me love to embrace the differences as we ride the gentle waves together. OK enough of the philisophicatin'!
Longbow or recurve to me is like picking a favorite song. Personally, I can't do it. To me, it's about the mood I am in, the feelings I am having, what speaks to my mind at a particular time. Bottom line to me: I enjoy the research that I've done and continue to do on my personal quest through traditional bowshooting. I've only been into it for 7-8 years after my interest was tweaked at camp 35 or so years ago, shooting bows at balloons. Later it was compounds when gun hunting just wasn't all that fun anymore. (Neighbors seem to be adverse to shooting clays in the backyard for SOME reason, haven't had ONE person complain about me shooting my bows in the back yard....) But since I decided that trad was for me, it has been an extreme pleasure. To me it is the getting back to something simple and primitive within myself. Using skills that dwell deep within my psychi that were woken up when I heard stories of those who shoot arrows with bows, then did exactly that myself.
I started with a 58" 55# recurve with slightly twisted limbs, went through aluminum arrow sizes and spines until my head hurt from thinking about it too much, then I traded a gun for a 68" 45# recurve and a Bear Cub 1953 straight handled longbow 66" 60#. The 58" curve was good but I knew it wouldn't be my ONLY, the 68" is nice to shoot but Huge (nice target bow but treestand??), the Cub is an arm slapper and isn't afraid to tell you that you ain't grippin' it right!! Then I had the pleasure of visiting Toelke in MT when visiting bro-in-law who decided he had enough of MN and needed a change of pace. MT was on the only family trip we ever took and it strummed a string in me that is still buzzing. Fate put me there at Toelke's shooting his bows and 2 years later I ordered and received my first custom from Dan and Jared. All his bows are beautiful in form and to shoot but the longbow was the first to be shot, the first one that had the opportunity to open the idea that I NEEDED it. A few months before visiting MT a second time, I picked up a K-Mag 58# from a fellow trad-ganger. 2 DIFFERENT bows (K-Mag Vs, Whip) but I love shooting them both. The Whip tweaks my form and makes me shoot the curve better. This is potato-chip scenario: can't only have one (type of trad bow).
Which is "better"? only you can control your destiny young grasshoppah! Me? I am going to embrace the differences in us all and our equipment.
"Uh, mind if I shoot your bow? I'll let you shoot mine if you want."
Weird. I'm not much of a talker in social situations but ask me about bows and it's hard to shut me up due to my extreme enthusiasm. Wouldn't change if I could.
Peace to you me brudders and sisters.
Like some other people said already: I love hybrid longbows. For me they offer the best of two worlds. Very smooth draw, very fast, very light and gracious with lovely lines.
DeadDoc:ONE EXCEPTION My son got a wonderful Eagle Wing from Sixby a few weeks ago My First shot with it drilled the dead center of the target first shot! LOL! MY son laughed his butt off
That was a funny story. He told me about it and then you wrote me that wonderful letter.
I have developed D and R limbs for that bow now and the owner of the first one shipped out will probably be posting on it fairly soon. God is good in that these and the Talon limbs work equally well with same brace height on both top mount and belly mount bow risers.
God bless you all, Steve
Stick bows (and stick arrows) are just fun, period. Recurves were my choice in the 80's and hybrids came after, but lately Hills and similar designs provide the most in shooting satisfaction even if they are more demanding. There's just something about how these bows look, shoot (wood arrows of course) and handle that just 'oozes' traditional archery the way I want it to be. The differences from other bows (and arrows) is hard to describe, but if you've ever seen twin fawns running around a field and kicking it up just for the joy of it you'll have an idea of what executing a good shot with a 'real' longbow and self-made wood arrow feels like. Other bows are nice and generally better suited for targetology I will admit, but they can't compete with oldschool Hillstyle for challenge and simple blue-collar shooting fun. It's a hoot to play with them all, but for me the traditional Hill-style longbow and wood arrow are just too cool.
I think most bows will shoot well enough, if you shoot them the way they need to be shot. The big one for me, more than 95% of the time when one is hunting the bow is not being shot, it is being hung or handled. How a bow handles when not being shot will make a big difference to what the bow is doing when a smooth quick shot is all of a sudden required. As an example, I hung my cold metal handled bow on a branch to warm up my hand. I then moved to get the wind at my back to light my corn cob to further warm my hand. While soaking up warm morning sun contemplating my cold bow hand, a nice 12 pointer came in behind me,(12 yards) then a 16" 8 pointer came in to challenge the big 12. That cold clumsy bow allowed them both to escape unshot at. Light handling D bows for me.
Most folks I hear are saying that they love longbows even though they shoot the recurve better. For me the opposite is true. I love my BW MAII and the way it hums those Beman MFX arrows but I shoot my Roy Hall Navajo stick much better. The first arrow always seems to be on target and it seems to love my cedar arrows. As has been said already these hybrid bows are great. For me the best part is how quiet they shoot plus the speed of a recurve and the heel down position just feels natural to me. I want to try a Hill style bow as soon as I can get the funds put together but for now the Caddo model Navajo Stick is "it on a stick".
String follow bows have not been mentioned here but I have always been enamored of them. Therefore I have designed one and am in the process of building the forms right now.
Like Tony (TSP) said , Stick bows are just fun/!!!!! Lord willing I will be sending Ralph Harris a bow to test out here pretty soon.
God bless you all, Steve
I shot both recurves and longbows from the mid '80's up until about 2005. I had a Black Widow MAII that was my "go to" bow. If I was hunting or shooting in a comp,that's usually the one that went. I got a SAIII after that one and loved it too. I monkeyed around with longbows,but prefered the Widows.I always wanted to get a Hill longbow,but never did. I just got back into shooting this year and decided to get a Hill. I bought a used one off the classifieds on here a few weeks ago.Man,I wish I got one years ago!!! I like it so much I just ordered a new one from Craig at HH this week.String follow too.Think I'm gonna stick with the longbows this time.
I shoot both longbows and recurves-short and long. My favorite, by far, is a wide limbed longbow-a flatbow (I have several made by different bowyers, but one particularly is my favorite). Their looks, feel, and performance are to die for. I have just started shooting a string follow longbow. They are awfully sweet.
I have both and enjoy shooting both. I'll disagree with the often stated advantage of longbows being lighter. The lightest bow on my rack by a large margin is a 60" 50# recurve by Kevin Cramer. No heavy tropical woods in the riser, but it's definitely not skinny - just light and quick.
Some great thoughts. Ross I can shoot tighter groups (by a little) with my curves, but like you feel more spot on with the first shot out of my longbows. Of course my recurves are both takedowns. The zipper is not nearly as heavy as my checkmate. I would love to shoot a two tracks ambush as an example of a light one piece curve, but for now my stable is full.
maineac.....if your stable is full you need a bigger barn....... :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
I am very happy to say, I can shoot either equally as well or bad depending on one's view point. It's all in how you hold the bow, it's basically the same grip unless you want to make it into rocket science, I have proven this time and time again by taking all of my bows out, recurves and LB's and taking one shot out of each, since they all shoot the same arrow, as long as I hold the bow correctly which is pretty much the same with some minor variations I group all arrows together, 2-3"" at 20 yds. For hunting that is all that is needed.
I must thank Moebow for this, as he posted a how to when it comes to holding a bow, I notice that between recurves and LB's it was very similar for me.
honestly, reading through all this, its seems to me that I've found the best! :-)
I'm shooting an 81# one piece GN super ghost at the moment. ITs SUPER light in the hand, very quick, great small grip, shoots lights out, long and gorgeous...
Seems like maybe a shrew little favorite fulfills the wants of alot of you guys? especially in a two piece
I always thought I shot recurves better, that is until I tried a Treadway longbow this past weekend. I just couldn't miss with that thing. I kinda with I had never tried it, because I know there's no way I'll ever be able to afford one.
Guess I'm different than most. Never liked longbows with the exception of hybrid types that are basically recurve risers with longbow limbs. I prefer my bows to be heavy. More stability. One longbow I would really like to try though is a shrew. Right now the closest thing to a longbow I am shooting is a habu vyperkhan with the longbow limbs.
Kenneth I understand what you are saying. I tried the same thing one night. I had three bows in my screen-house. A 60" 50# three piece recurve, a 50" 50# three piece recurve and a 62" 57# three piece longbow. I shot an arrow out of the 50" from 29 yards (distance from the door of the screen-house to the target), stepped in and hung it up, took another down and grabbed and arrow, repeated with the 57#. They were all a bit high and to the right a bit, but not a bad group considering it was three very different bows with different grips. I believe if you have worked on your form and release you can shoot any bow reasonably well.
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Sorry the photo is sideways, don't know why it loaded to my host server that way.
That was my point in stating this thread. I like both styles and can not find one that I can claim is the best for me. It has been a lot of fun exploring, and I hope to continue.
To each his own. I feel akin to anyone that shoots any kind of traditional bow. I prefer longbows; but not just any longbow. I like Hill style bows with stringfollow and a straight handle. I am accurate enough to bust a nock most practice weeks and can kill game with it. I like the thump in my hand as I loose the string. It feels alive. I like the long narrow deep cored limbs and narrow handles. I have never felt like I was missing anything with a longbow in hand and a quiver full of arrows.There is just something about them that makes me like them best.
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23 measured yards
Michael, I agree, work one's form and one can shoot just about anything very well.
Dave, breaking knocks is the least of my problems,
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I stopped taking pictures after six of these because, this gets expensive.