Hi guys, new here 1st post. I've always wanted to shoot a longbow but was raised since 8-9 years old on a compound. Till i got out of high school and my grandmother had a local bowyer build me a 68" osage stick bow 55#@28"

I like it a lot its no exactly straight but the bend makes the string almost in line with the arrow side of the grip very little off center with an arrow nocked. The two arrows that came with it were cut arrow wood sapplings dried for 3 years and self nocked fletched with wild turkey feathers I saved from my first bird and sinew wrapped. And not very straight at all lol

But my woes are I can't hit anything past 10yds with it so never hunted it and its more like 65#@28" not even close to a smooth draw and on the wheel bow I hav at 75# no problem with the weight on that.

My question is this do I get another longbow ( been eyeing up a bear montana) or try new arrows on my self bow to see if that helps, I ordered test kit 2 from 3rivers last week but have yet to shoot any.

I would recommend getting a new bow in a lower poundage and you would definitely see an improvement in you shooting. However, if you do that you most likely need to buy new arrows as well to match it's poundage.

I shoot fine the weight isn't too bad my anchor is always the same normally I get a smooth release if not I'm off by a foot or so from the other shots. My thinking is the arrows not being remotely straight is killing me. Shot a friends 55# recurve with alum arrows and did way better.

x2 get new arrows if that don't work get a new bow shooting tree limbs aint gonna work.if your sure your good at a heavy weight then stay at that weight.55lbs feels a lot better an you will be able to shoot longer an maybe better

Yeah definitely try new arrows first. Then go from there.

Also I didn't make it exactly clear that this is a primitive bow. After a phone call from one of the gang made me undeestand going from a compund to a primitive is not the easiest way to go trad

Definitely not the easiest.  When I switched from a compound, I found a recurve to be a smoother transition.  One thing I would look at also is your form.  There is plenty of info in the shooter's form section of this site that can get you on your way.  If you are not using proper back tension and your body is not in line so to speak, you will have trouble shooting consistently.

Also, you cannot really compare the weight of a traditional bow to a compound because there is no let off with a trad bow, just the full weight all the time.  I shot a 75 compound as easy as pie and now shoot a 50lb recurve.  I could pull more but you have to be comfortable.

You can check with the bowyer that made the bow and see if he can bring it down to a lower weight.  I shoot a selfbow made of osage.  It started out @ 75# sevral yrs ago.  I took it down to 64# after I hurt my shoulder.  Then after a bout with some heart problems, my Cardiologist suggested a bow around 50#.  Now I've got it down to 52#, and shoot it better than ever.  Less weight makes for better form and release.  Just my experience, for what its worth.
Johnny/JAG

I'm in Lewisburg, if you ever want to get together and shoot, I have a pile of recurves and longbows, all weights. Just shoot me a PM. Bowyer wasn't Boots Heintzleman was it?

Good arrows will improve your shooting. You might try a test pack from someplace like 3 Rivers to see what spine shoots best out of your bow, and go from there. Straight arrows should make a big difference.

QuoteOriginally posted by centaur:
Good arrows will improve your shooting. You might try a test pack from someplace like 3 Rivers to see what spine shoots best out of your bow, and go from there. Straight arrows should make a big difference.

I got a test kit but have yet to try it out on the range. Weather and time permitting I'll sling a few tomorrow

Well, after reading some great tips here and straight arrows (45-50lb spine were the winners) I kept all shots fairly close together and amazingly could get decent grouping at 20yds

Cut to 28.75" with 125 grain tips for all arrows

(45-50#)
(50-55#)
(55-60#)
(60-65#)

After seeing this I can't wait to see what going from primitive to traditional will be like


And why haven't I done this sooner????