Hi all been lurking for a long time and finally joined.

I really want to buy a modern RF DF long bow leaning towards a Centaur elite, A&H ACS, or a Cari-bow peregrine finally lookin at the Tolke whip.

Currently im shooting an early 70's Ben pearson Flame hunter recurve TD with Aluminium riser 45#@28 60 AMO 7" brace height using B-50 14 strand string.
I find this bow shoots really nice and if i go to a long bow I would like the long bow pound for pouind to shoot faster smoother and more quiet. now from what I can tell these modern ones should be able to.
Now the question....what length in these styles of bows should I be looking at? I draw 28" and have been thinking 60" would be good but not sure.

BTW Ill be looking to go up a few pounds in the new bow too for a bit of extrta performance thinking 48#-50# and would try and set up with 11GPP 13-15% FOC 4" helical feather fletched carbon arrows.

any suggestions or comments?
cheers
Shawnee

While 60 is very possible, especially with the bowyers you mention, and all would probably say you could do it. I personally love my Robertson at 66 and I draw 27.

Shawnee,
Might want to consider a 60" or 62" Morrison Shawnee longbow. They are beautiful, fast, smooth and quiet. (if you can afford the carbon/foam limbs you woulnd't regret it!).
Kind of goes right with your handle(Shawnee) as well.
(I also like the Morrison ILF with longbow limbs as well).
You can find a nice one in the classified occasionally.

shawnee,

I made the switch after heart surgery. I had a martin hunter - 60" - 60@28 and bought a Mississippi Lake 64" R/D - 55@28" and the change was smooth. I did find that I shot the recurve a little more vertical than I shoot the longbow. Smooth, quiet and delivers a really nice arrow.

Can

You can't go wrong with the bows you are looking at. I have heard nothing but good about them.

I have a A&H ACS and love it. It's 62" 47#@28". I also have a Black Widow that is 62" 51#@28". I draw 29" on both bows so 50# to 54#, and the ACS seems to be as fast as the Widow.

Which ever one you pick I am sure you will be happy. Give it some time for you to get use to it, don't be in a hurry. As the more you shoot it the more you will like and get use to the bow.

When changing bows it takes some getting use to shooting. This is what I have found from shooting different bows.

Good luck, enjoy, and have fun.

You can't go wrong with the bows you are looking at. I have heard nothing but good about them.

I have a A&H ACS and love it. It's 62" 47#@28". I also have a Black Widow that is 62" 51#@28". I draw 29" on both bows so 50# to 54#, and the ACS seems to be as fast as the Widow.

Which ever one you pick I am sure you will be happy. Give it some time fore you to get use to it, don't be in a hurry, as the more you shoot it the more you will like and get use to to the bow.

When changing bows it takes some getting use to shooting. This is what I have found from shooting different bows.

Good luck, enjoy, and have fun.

IMO, it's all in the grip; if you switch to a longbow and the grip is "traditional" longbow grip, then it will take some getting use too; when choosing a custom bowyer, the first thing that they will want to know is what kind of grip you desire; think long and hard on this area of your bow; if you like a "recurve" style grip then that's what you need to explain to the bowyer;

I hope nothing but the best in your decision; and as always, please let us all know what you decide on and share photo's of that new bow when it arrives................  

All good bows. I also cant my longbows more than my recurves. Take your time working into it, but I shoot all my bows interchangeably.  Welcome to the wonderful world of longbows!

All the bows you mention are excellent and will do all you want.  I also draw 28" and both of my primary hunting bows are 60" long and shoot just fine.  If your hunting schedule includes air travel, I strongly recommend a take down model.  It will fit in your luggage and save you the extra luggage fee and associated hassle.

DB

As a long time (30+ years) recurve hunter who has been playing with different longbows for the past 4 years, I think the biggest issue for you will be the grip.  That Ben Pearson you have has a pretty high wrist grip.  Some of the longbows you have chosen are pretty low wrist.  Some of them though you have a choice.  It's obviously a matter of personal preference.  I have found that I can only shoot those that have a locator style grip.  The length is also a personal thing, but for me I have found that the longer longbows are easier to shoot.  That is, they are smoother drawing and more forgiving of form errors - for me.  I have not had a lot of luck with longbows under 62" and think 64" to 66" works well.  I am 5' 9" and draw 27".

Good luck on the search.

Going from a recurve to a r/d type longbow/hybrid should not be that big of a deal. I would probably be looking somewhere in the 60"-64" range, depending on what you intend to use it for. When it comes to making a decision, nothing beats a test drive.

I shoot a 60 inch Cari-bow Slynx and draw 28 inches and have no problems.Switched from a 66 inch selfbow in March

Take a look at Lost Creek Longbows.
Super performance, very well crafted, and a grip that just feels right.

I think there's some kind of a fan club here too!

I have a 62" Cari-bow Peregrine, 45 lbs @ 29".  This is a fast, smooth bow that is perhaps faster than a lot of recurves that I have shot during the past year that I have owned the Peregrine.  Abe Penner's workmanship is outstanding. You will find some reviews on this site that do a much better job of explaining the technical details of this bow. All I can say is that this Cari-bow will certainly not be my last bow from Abe.

I haven't shot the others but have been through a few longbows. I settled with the ACS, 62" 55@28. This bow is just plain awesome. It shoots so smooth and just seems to put the arrows where I am looking.
I have a Hornes combo with longbow limbs as well. Very nice bow and great to shoot, but does not compare.
As for the difference in grip, the ACS has a deep grip much like a recuve.
I am just opposite of you though. I received my new to me Blacktail elite today. Beautiful and very very nice to shoot.

If you are going up in weight, you may also want to go up in length. Longer bows seem to draw nicer for their weight. IMO.

Thanks everyone,
This has raised a couple more ?? For me.
Since the grip is so important and most of these have grips made to a tracing of someones hand, should I steer clear of second hand ones if I cannot verify if the original buyers hand tracing is close to mine?
Next question this is about poundage. With my 45# bow I can draw it quite easily shoot a couple hundred arrows over a few hours without any fatigue. I like that and the fact that I can hold very steady. Of course I want to maximize my hunting potential and thus wanting to go up a bit in poundage and perhaps gain in efficiency too. Now I have heard that with these type bows I could go up 5# or so without even realizing it as they pull differently. So here's the question.
In your experience would going up from 45# recurve to 55# be a significant difference? if so what sort of increase should I be considering? ( I am trying to see if I can get somewhere to try some different pound longbows out but not sure if or when that will happen)
I would like it if I can get the bow to shoot a 660gr UEFOC arrow set up efficiently. Thus thinking the 55#, which would be 12gr/pound and should fly fast enough to breech bone.
I have my eye on some dangerous game and want the minimum poundage  I can be confident with. ( 2 reasons- 1 keep good form and my primary hunting targets will be deer goat and the like 2) I'm a Metis Canuck living down under and always have done things a bit different. Always will       )

Thanks
Shawnee

Dan Toelke makes the Lynx.  It has the same riser, but you can either get recurve or longbow limbs.  I have both the Lynx and the Whip.  Both are fast and VERY quiet!!  My Black Widows aren't as quiet!  Still love them though!

As far as the grip goes, I saw a video by Fred Asbell.  He said that the recurve has a center of gravity thats closer to the throat, and therefore a wrist turned out helps the limbs flex more uniformly.  The grips on a longbow require more of a palm or heel of your hand.  I tried them and they seem to work.  Takes some time to get used to if you've been doing it a different way for a while.

Dan Toelke makes the Lynx.  It has the same riser, but you can either get recurve or longbow limbs.  I have both the Lynx and the Whip.  Bot are fast and VERY quiet!!  My Black Widows aren't as quiet!  Still love them though!

As far as the grip goes, I saw a video by Fred Asbell.  He said that the recurve has a center of gravity thats closer to the throat, and therefore a wrist turned out helps the limbs flex more uniformly.  The grips on a longbow require more of a palm or heel of your hand.  I tried them and they seem to work.  Takes some time to get used to if you've been doing it a different way for a while.