Trad Gang

Hey y'all, I don't know nothin' about longbows.  I have shot one recurve for about 1 1/2 years now.  Please speak your mind.  Thanks

Simplicity, style, the release is much more forgiving of improper or inconsistant form are just a few reasons.

But note that most of what are called "longbows" are American Flatbows and some are reflex/deflex hybrids.  About the only difference anymore are grip style and whether the tips are bendy when strung.  If the string hits the limb below the nocks it is a recurve.

Longbows are quieter in my experience.

Depends on type longbow.   I shoot both the same.   But you got your old school longbows and your high tech so to speak modern longbows and recurves.  
Longbow is quieter in general but I don't notice a big difference shooting one or the other personally   But may be I just have not messed with a recurve that could wow me

I dont know that there are advantages, only personal choices. I prefer a longbow because of its simplistic design, and the nostalgia affiliated with it, and after 30 plus yrs of shooting one, it just feels right.
   :thumbsup:

For me the real gentle deflex/reflex style(i.e. Fred Anderson Skookum/older Sentman's)are much quieter and more forgiving of form errors.  I've bought and sold a bunch of different styles/lengths of both and have finally settled on this style of bow in 66-68" 58-65lbs as being the best for me.

Personal preference.

Personal preference. I am not sure if longbows are really quieter but they defintely have more of a "thud" sound where recurves tend to have more of a "twang" sound. I like the thud sound better. I also hate having to keep up with stringers and don't need one wih my longbow.

Bisch

I shoot both styles and find I shoot the longbow more consistently out of all my stickbows. But my ILF recurve tuned nicely with a plunger outshoots anything I own. I still love it all though

I have owned and shot both.  While I do have a preference for recurves I find most longbows to be more forgiving and definitely quieter.  The only exception that I have found so far is the Dale Dye I now own.  That bow is just plain quiet!!

they are like a disease, an addiction, a seductive --- well you get the  point.....  you just can't put them down.

I just like the feel and handling of a longbow and low grip better.  I can't say that I think a longbow is a better bow than a recurve, it's just better for me and my personal preference.

I shot recurves for many years and as of lately switched over to longbows.I find longbows easier to get a better release,dont need a stringer,harder to twist the limbs and so nicer to carry.

What Steve said but I like both about equally well.

God bless, Steve

It's been my experience that longbows usually run a shorter brace height than recurves, and a higher degree of snobbery.

I've tried for years to be a longbow guy, but we just don't get along.  I shoot a recurve so much better than a longbow that it's not even funny.

QuoteOriginally posted by Steve Clandinin:
I shot recurves for many years and as of lately switched over to longbows.I find longbows easier to get a better release,dont need a stringer,harder to twist the limbs and so nicer to carry.

Don't let Steve fool you, I have some inside information that he just received a beautiful Widow Recurve in the post    ;)    :biglaugh:

Hahaha....

I KNEW it  :)    All longbow shooters are secretly in love with a recurve.

What Andy said QUIET

I have been shootin and hunting with longbows for over twenty years and this was the first year with nothing but a recurve(BW) and I have to say it was fun and hard shootin for my short draw.On the the other hand i thought I was commiting a sin  by not having a longbow in my hand.I still like both and shoot both fairly well but it is something about a longbow that still warms your spirit..just sayin..

I love both, but love the longbow more. No really practical reason why, just the way it is.

My experience with LBs is very limited. I've owned and shot only one. It was given to me. I didn't keep it.

You asked why LBs vs. Recurves so I won't contaminate your thread with recurve love.

Its always nice to have 1 or 2 nice recurves in the stall,like they said I love it all !LOL

I am a recurve shooter I have tried quiet a few longbows some I can shoot pretty well but not as consistent as with recurves. There is a different feeling to the shot with a longbow that is hard to describe but that I like. I do have a Wildcat TD longbow that I am playing with right now, really liking it. May be because of the recurve type grip.

I like recurves longbows and selfbows all....I own more recurves and shoot them more.  Likely it is because I choose a different bow every hunting season (Fall Whitetail, Spring Turkey)...to rotate them as I love them all.

I think a longer bow is more forgiving and with the longbow you have no slap on the limb from your string so is inherently quieter in my opinion.

With all the limb design differences and handle differences....all are not created equal when it comes to how you will shoot them.  

You can choose from straight limbed longbow, one with slight reflex, one with mild or heavy reflex/deflex...with straight grip, dished grip, locator grip, pistol/recurve grip.....

I tend to like dished or mild locator grips only...and currently have a Noble Longbow and a Protoge' (Lee Robertson is Sentman influenced)

I also really like the Robertson Stickbow Purist....and there is a nice Deathwish Longbow for sale for $375 that would be great bow.  The holy grail is the Skookum by Fred Anderson in my opinion if you ever find one.


good luck

It's surely a personal preferrence. I use both and shoot one as well as the other. Which one I grab on the way out the door depends on where I'll be hunting. In tight spaces like blinds and treestands the shorter Kodiak magnum gets the call. Any place where I have room I'll grab the Omega longbow, it hits harder and shoots more smoothly to me.

Shoot what you shoot the best. I like longbows for many reasons: Quieter, less hassel to pack - tube etc, stronger limbs by design in most cases,much easier to string, no worry about limb tips killing you if stringer lets loose, in most cases lighter bow than recurve. I've tried em but longbows are my preference.

Thanks guys, I edited the title so as to encourage a more free conversation. Good information!

I love both and shoot both equally well given practice.  Simplicity of the longbow is nice.  But on the other hand, I love the lines and looks of a beautiful recurve.

If I had to choose between a blonde or a brunette, I'd take the redhead every time!   :dunno:  

Recurves are fast but longbows are quiet... Nice for hunting deer.

... mike ...

I started out shooting recurves and eventually switched to longbows. I prefer the longbow for the feel and the simplicity of em. They just seem to point and shoot better for me.

Jason

If I had to choose between a blonde or a brunette, I'd take the redhead every time!   :dunno:  

Recurves are fast but longbows are quiet... Nice for hunting deer. Ditto on the Kanati style longbow!

*** Sorry for the double post. ***

... mike ...

I've been shooting a longbow only for over 30 years. Growing up I shot a recurve till I had a c-bow for a couple years. Started back in with a longbow and that has been it ever since. I like the simple shape and inherent quietness of a longbow. I also have strong opinions about longbows. I don't consider it a longbow if it is shorter than 64". Why? I don't know. That is just where I draw the line. I also don't consider it a longbow if it has a recurve style grip. Straight or semi dish. Those are the choices.
Too purist for you? That's ok because it is just for me.  Shoot what you like and enjoy it. Just don't use carbon arrows    :biglaugh:

I have been shooting mostly longbows for the past 40 or so years. Some observations.  If one has a 28" straight up form draw with a recurve, the chances are very good that the same person will shoot a Hill style longbow best with a 26 or 26.5" draw. A longbow that is at least 66" long will have the ability to not show draw length variations in arrow speed as much as a short recurve or short hybrid. Looking at Hill in the dvd format shows that sometimes his draw varied a bit at the point where his fingers left the string, without affecting his accuracy. I find the same to be true for me. A 37 pound at 26" Hill style longbow will kill a deer just as dead as a 96 pound Hill style longbow, same shot, same sized deer, both deer ran about 80 yards and died within feet of each other, two different years. I do not believe that a well tillered r/d bow is less accurate than a Hill style bow, they are on average a bit faster and quite often have less hand shock. However, my own Hill style bows do not have much shock and are faster than the average Hill style bow by quite a margin. either a r/d longbow or a Hill style longbow will feel better if shot with a bent bow arm. If you prefer to shoot with a straighter bow arm, shoot a recurve or a hybrid. A longer recurve is more forgiving than a short one. There are many choices for recurves, some seem to work well for anyone that shoots them, like a Bear Super Kodiak or a Stotler recurve, but the lines for comparing recurves are close and the differences that are mostly noticed are grip and balance. Balance is very important to me and I like a bow that is comfortable to simply hold because while hunting most of the we are simply holding our bow. That is where the longbows really excel.

I can tell you that I find each of them much more enjoyable to shoot than a compound.  Snap shooting or instinctive shooting is a challenge and highly rewarding.  

If you run the calculations, everything else being equal, the recurve appears to offer more arrow kinetic energy and slings an arrow at a higher feet per second measurement.  The difference between the two is not massive and it is hard to know whether the target or game animal knows the difference on the receiving end.  I have also never seen evidence that either of those measures directly relates to accuracy.

Both can be excellent canvass blanks to create works of art.  The recurve riser usually has more wood to decorate with pretty laminates, exotic woods etc.

Both are deadly capable which is awesome but must be treated like a firearm.  

Both use traditional technology but are starting to show some nice application of new materials.  My Martin Dream Catcher is hand made traditional wood and other laminates, the emblems are hand painted and the whole thing is just sexy.  My wife's Martin Bamboo Viper has a layer of carbon fiber under traditional hardwood, bamboo etc.  The use of carbon fiber is def not traditional but very cool.

When I think of recurve kings, I think of old Fred Bear with his fuzzy hat and wooden arrows.
When I think of longbow masters, I think of Byron Ferguson and others who are relatively young and make it look easy.  
Movies seem to be showing lots of longbows lately.  Could that mean a future surge in longbow popularity and technology?
When looking to get back into archery after 12 years of no arrow shooting, I seriously considered which design would give me easier entry and less of a learning curve.  I chose the recurve but that was purely out of perception and not qualified.  

Price also helped me make that decision.  I was able to find a smoking good deal on a used high quality recurve before I found a deal on a longbow.

I have some slight concern that my wife will not be able to hunt with a longbow due to low draw weight challenges for her.  She is tiny and may not be able to handle a longbow with enough poundage to be effective hunting.  
She might have to switch to a recurve to get enough heat behind an arrow to take down large game.

The general attitude is that the same arrow shot out of a recurve has more take down power than the same arrow shot out of a longbow.

Is that a legitimate concern?

Not really as the modern hybrid or R/D "longbows" will generally shoot right with a recurve--especially with modern string materials.  The difference will be fairly minimal.

I've always shot 64" long recurves. Just never been drawn to longbows..not enough to love for me..appearance wise.

The differences between modern RD LB's and RC's are so slight ya' can't hardly tell them apart, even when it comes to the dreaded 'S' word. The materials may be new but the bowhunter faces the same test he/she has faced for thousands of years!   :laughing:    :laughing:    :laughing:

recurve is harder to string, problems with limb twist, louder, and weeds get hung between string and limb. I like em both, but a good 56-60 inch reflex deflex longbow is hard to beat.

I just like my longbow more than the recurve... can't put my finger on why.  But I tend to shoot the recurve better.  I've wondered if maybe I should get a longbow with a recurve grip...

Ditto.  My experiences with English style longbow grips and the rectangular "wedge" style grips have been unfavorable.  A hand accomidating recurve style riser with longbow limbs may be OK - but my recurves already come with recurve style grips.       :archer:

For me, it's all in the noise factor. I missed a shot at a doe, at 12 yards, from the ground with my longbow this year. Never knew i was there. nocked another arrow, and let her have it. That's QUIET!

I'm really surprised how everyone is saying recurves are noisy. I've owned literally hundreds and can quiet every single one....
all have been 64" or longer, well a few 62" in there, but all easily quieted to a whisper.

I like both style bows, but I shoot recurves much much better.

I own both but shoot the r/d longbows best. Deadly quiet and just as fast as a curve in my experience. Simply just feels right.

QuoteWith all the limb design differences and handle differences....all are not created equal when it comes to how you will shoot them.  You can choose from straight limbed longbow, one with slight reflex, one with mild or heavy reflex/deflex...with straight grip, dished grip, locator grip, pistol/recurve grip.....  

I think Brock nailed it here... The likes and dislikes of long bows vs recurve bows is like comparing Cars vs Trucks....There are many different sizes and shapes out there in both classes, with large differences in the way they feel in your hand and how they draw.....

Finding something that fits your natural shooting style, or having something built to fit your shooting style makes a huge difference in how well you shoot them in either a long bow or recurve limb design.

Well for me personally (and it is just a personal preference thing), I am most comfortable shooting the R/D hybrid longbows.  To me it's the best of both worlds, the quietness and ease of a longbow, combined with the speed and lines of the recurve.  I love the looks of them all and I have recurves, longbows, selfbows and hybrids, but my go-to hunting bow (currently) is my Shrew Classic Hunter.

Like a few have already said,it's personal preference.I've been shooting "trad" bows since the '80's. I've had a bunch. long recurves,short recurves,mild r/d longbows,radical r/d longbows,Hill longbows,Shulz style longbows.
I started out with Black Widow recurves and shot them for years.Then started trying out other recurves and different longbows. I've settled on Shulz style,deep cored,narrow tipped longbows. I shoot well with them and like the way they look,perform and feel and most of all just enjoy shooting them.Shoot whatever makes you happy.There are enough bowyers making great examples of every bow style that it's pretty easy to find a bow you'll be happy with.

Thanks guys for the good responses and advice! I'm still shooting my first recurve 1 1/2 years later and thinking about upgrading, and going to a R/D longbow. Maybe I'll be known as ........"ReflexDeflexLongbowRookie"! Lol

With all the quality bows out there now there is really no performance difference between some of the r/d longbows and recurves. I've shot a few of both through chronographs with various arrows and really can't see a difference.  

With all the design and wood choices avaiable, it really is just a personal preference.  I'm currently shooting a beautiful and great shooting RER r/d longbow - cause I like it. I may have a slight preference for the "feel" of the r/d longbow - both in carrying and shooting. Might be shooting a recurve sometime in the future if one catches my eye.

:deadhorse:    :deadhorse:    :deadhorse:

quote:
"It's been my experience that longbows usually run a shorter brace height than recurves, and a higher degree of snobbery"

 :laughing:    :laughing:    :laughing:  

can be true, but not the rule at all.  could it be said that many longbowmen(&women) are "traditional traditional bowhunters"  LOL

I don't really see any real advantages or disadvantages to using either a recurve or a longbow. It all comes down to what you prefer personally. I personally favor longbows.

I love both recurves and longbows, but prefer longbows. I seem to shoot them better, and they are quieter.

I shoot longbows better. I have too many bows as I like to buy and try them out. I always shoot longbows better. Maybe my release is not as good as it should be, but longbows to me are more forgiving. When I take one of my ILF risers and shoot a set of recurve limbs on it and then switch and put longbow limbs on it I always shoot better with the longbow limbs. Longbows are also quieter. Read Byran Fergason's (spelling) article a little while back in TBM magazine and he talks about them being more forgiving in release and less limb twist. I do love them both though. I am sure there are people that will agree and disagree, we all like something different.      :)

Hill style longbows are the only type bows I shoot. There's longbows and there are hill style longbows. I nver cared for R/D type longbows.I tried recurves for awhile but much prefer the shooting characterstics of longbows. They are quiet and forgiving. Recurves may be too but longbows just do it for me.

Asbell has a good write up on the differences between the two in "Instinctive Shooting II"

Wow! Great read for me as I have one of each and am trying to decide whether to keep 'em both. I usually only keep one at a time as I hate decision making (which bow to hunt with today).

I haven't shot my longbow enough to know which I prefer yet. I like the longbow's looks and feel but still shoot the recurve best. I have to really focus when shooting the LB... but when I do it hits where I look. And... as so many have said, it's quiet.

Keep them both, I have decided on longbows only and then recurves only, cost too much buying them back. I just bought another longbow but I'm not selling my recurves! But I may buy another longbow-ha!

I like them all, and after I buy them my wife is staring to dislike them all.
hope this helps clear it up a little.   :archer:

I shoot them both about the same for hunting. But for 3-D and plain targets a recurve suits me better. I cannot explain it.

Love them both but really love longbows because they are light, forgiving, don't get hung in the brush, generally quieter, easier to string, less likely break. If you like heavy in the hand and shorter bows maybe a recurve but for me Longbow.

I shoot larger riser recurves better than any other bow....so my preference is recurves...


><>>
Glenn

I have a Cari-bow Peregrine longbow that is a lot like a recurve -- shoots great.  And I have a Super Ghost (Great Northern) recurve that I think is a lot like my longbows.

I like both bows but primarily  have been shooting longbows since the 80's. To me they are the epitome of "traditional", but I admit to being heavily influenced by the Errol Flynn version of the Robin Hood movie. (Of course, Fred Bear with his recurves was solid traditional, too.) However, I can give no technical performance reason as most of my recurves are faster shooting bows and are comfortable in my hand. It all comes down to the fun factor for me.

If financially feasible, I heartily recommend shooting both kinds as they are all fun. My only real complaint with either type is that I can't afford to own as many as I would like.

Used to shoot recurves, but now I'm shooting a R/D longbow, the Bear AuSable. It is very reflex/deflex, has a grip almost like a recurve, and the sight window of a recurve. I wouldn't call it a longbow or flatbow at all -- more like a hybrid bow. Best of both worlds!

I have both and prefer longbows. There's something to be said about the forgiveness of a longbow. I just seem to shoot them better. But my recurve is great too. So, no help here I guess...haha

Very interesting thread to read. After shooting nothing but Black Widow recurves for many, many years, I decided I needed a change and look forward to giving my A&H ACS a try real soon.

I technically shoot a well fitted recurve better, but I can't help but love shooting my several longbows.  I am just a longbow kinda guy,  It is beyond what I like and more into the realm of what I am.

ChuckC

QuoteOriginally posted by YORNOC:
I'm really surprised how everyone is saying recurves are noisy. I've owned literally hundreds and can quiet every single one....
all have been 64" or longer, well a few 62" in there, but all easily quieted to a whisper.

I like both style bows, but I shoot recurves much much better.

x2
I use to shoot selfbows and my '71 grizzly is just about as quiet as them.

recurves are loud as hell until you put silencers on them, after that they don't seem noisy at all...I prefer longbows, but I don't really know why.  I shoot recurves just fine...

Beauty and Feel...Recurve for me

I started out with a recurve (Damon Howatt Super Diablo)because back then that's what was available. Couldn't hit anything that wasn't paper. Got the first compound made (Allen) and then a few bows by PSE and Jeninings. I could bust nocks at 30 yards but still couldn't hit a deer.I got one of Robertson's first long bows and I started harvesting game.Never looked back. I love long bows because for me the simplicity works.

Every journey is unique and personal to the individual.  I have flopped back and forth in the last three years trying as many as I could afford to get my paws on.  Was convinced nothing could compare to my abilities to shoot my recurve, and then I finally received a R/D LB that challenged my confidence in the recurve. Out of the blue, I receive a package from my bowyer at the time and inside there were a pair of recurve limbs for the riser and they proved to be skookum shooters.  

After two months of awesome shooting the top limb took on some twist and while leaning on the bow it came unbraced.  Was in an awkward position of addressing a twisted limb on a set of limbs that were complimentary.  Great bowyer and said for me to send them back and he would fix the limb.  Sent them back for repaire and they were sent bak to me with the twist still showing.

Sold the bow with LB limbs and dislosed the twist in recurve limbs.  I have not switched from R/D longbows since, but with that said, there are some recurves out there that I wouldn't hesitate to give a whirl.  

CB

I can't believe this thread lasted as long as it did! Thanks guys, for all the honest opinions.

In all seriousness.  I've gave longbows a fair shake, several times now.

I just can't shoot a longbow.  I don't know why.  We just don't get along.


I have accepted the fact that I'm just a recurve shooter.  Which is fine by me   :D

I like them both equally well. I own both and shoot them both the same with the same arrow.

As long as it's physical weight is light in the hand, it's good with me.

I'm opposite in my view as most here, I think recurves are somewhat ugly and feel cumbersome to shoot. That is compared to a long bow which to me shoots smoother, is lighter weight, points faster, handles better, strings easier, but don't get me wrong,I do like recurves and prefer to hunt with one in tight places like natural blinds for turkey or pop up blinds.Shoot both equally well.

What Andy Cooper said

I am opinionated as the above state, it all is a personal preference to which choice you make/like. I do not see any downfalls/dislikes as some state. Although in some tight spots a really long bow the limbs can be interfered with (I did not find this to be a hindrance with 70" in a tree stand). I started out with Recurves and after years decided to give HH bows a whirl and used them pretty exclusively, that lasted for about 20 years. With degeneration setting in chose to lower the pound of pull to continue to hunt Traditionally. After selling some bows off Picked up my first R/D and a couple of Recurves and am enjoying shooting them more and more (point and shoot). So I like them both and take them out and shoot one after the other with minimal adjustment. Have some fun, you are not limited to one or the other and are only limited by your budget to how many you or your household can afford.

I'm a fan of my longbows more. There is just "something" about them . They are quiet and enjoy their lines. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my recurve, but I prefer my longbows more

Looking at modern r/d longbows amd recurves, there isn't much difference really. Both are fast, smooth quiet and a joy to shoot. If you found a bow which fits your style of shooting, it really doesn't matter. I own two longbow hybrids and one 3 pce recurve and I shoot them all equally well.

There are some differences generally speaking: Most of the time recurves tend to have a higher wrist grip.
Most of the time recurves have more mass, due to the bigger riser. It is up to you to decide what fits you the best!

I have some recurves and love shooting them, but I prefer a one piece longbow for the following reasons.  1.  Quieter.  2. On the release a longbows limbs don't seem to vibrate as much.  With a longbow, Whump, shot's over limbs are still, feels good to me.  Most curves seem to have a bit of ocillation to them.  3.  Lighter weight.  When you add a bowquiver to a lightweight longbow, the bow is still very light which helps when hiking all day at elevation.  If I were just into target shooting or 3-d I'd pick a heavy risered recurve, but for hunting give me a r/d one piece longbow.

QuoteOriginally posted by RecurveRookie:
I can't believe this thread lasted as long as it did! Thanks guys, for all the honest opinions.

As you can tell from reading all the responses; it is really just a matter of personal preference!

Bisch

love them both  but shoot the long bow better.

I shoot a MOAB which the best of both worlds, it is a R/D longbow that out shoots my recurves.

If it doesnt have wheels and cables I have one and love them all
A good way to fine whats best for you is try them, go to a trad event and try as many different bows as you can, you may find yourself with a collection however  good luck

QuoteOriginally posted by falconview:
If it doesnt have wheels and cables I have one and love them all
A good way to fine whats best for you is try them, go to a trad event and try as many different bows as you can, you may find yourself with a collection however  good luck

:clapper:

I like them both, and shoot them equally well or equally bad depending on your expectations.  If I could only have one it would be a Toelke Whip, but I like my 59er and Zipper recurves a lot as well.

Recurves are Cool......Longbows are Magic.       :archer2: