why so many longbows?

VA Elite · September 18, 2015, 11:17:00 AM

Being around this group and at shoots I see that most seasoned veterans are using longbows a lot. I know there are still many recurvers, but it just seems long there are more longbow shooters. If this is the case, is there a reason why?

Brianlocal3 · September 18, 2015, 11:23:00 AM

I don't know for the rest but for myself I prefer a longbow because I like the light weight , the wand like feel and the fact that I don't need a stringer

VA Elite · September 18, 2015, 11:24:00 AM

man I thought my recurve was light...I do know they are more quiet. are just a smoother bow to shoot?

Steve Jr · September 18, 2015, 11:42:00 AM

X2 Brian

Green · September 18, 2015, 11:47:00 AM

X3 on Balentine's comment. Magic Wands.

AZ_Longbow · September 18, 2015, 11:51:00 AM

Light, quiet, fun and simply sleek. Though my Hoyt buffalo recurve is more efficent, I still shoot my bamabows tribute and hunter 95% of the time.

shedhunta · September 18, 2015, 11:51:00 AM

Every recurve I owned ended up having problems. Limbs twisted, cracked etc. i took care of them well. I like the durability of a simple longbow. Thats mainly why I am a longbow only guy now.

September 18, 2015, 11:52:00 AM

Two main reasons for me.

#1 - Longbows go "thud", recurves go "TWANG"! I like the thud of a longbow much better!

#2 - No stringer needed for my longbow. I hate stringers, and can't keep up with them very well!

Bisch

GreyCrow · September 18, 2015, 11:52:00 AM

I often wonder about this as well. I too am newish to this whole archery thing and have never even had a longbow in my hands. I do however shoot what I think is a very 'longbow-y' recurve, a 64inch Toelke super static with a classic grip.
Now when I pick up my old bear recurve it feels too 'chunky' in my hands...

I think my next will be a mild to medium R/D long bow

PEARL DRUMS · September 18, 2015, 11:53:00 AM

I think they look better hanging next to me in a tree. I think they look better laying on a dead critter to. I cant find enough performance difference to justify that one way or another, so it must be all about the looks for me.

VA Elite · September 18, 2015, 11:56:00 AM

so I always here the revurve has more power or efficiency and are faster etc... I don't know. I do know that my recurves are louder than any longbow i have heard. As far as accuracy goes, I never shot a longbow so i wouldn't that either. I can say that I hate, I mean I cringe every time I have to use my stringer!

kennym · September 18, 2015, 12:13:00 PM

I think you are looking for a reason to get a longbow... :D :D

Seriously tho, D/R longbows don't give up much to the recurves in performance anymore.

Plus all the other reasons mentioned above.

So go ahead and getcha one!

snakebit40 · September 18, 2015, 12:21:00 PM

I made the switch this season to an HHA Wesley Special because I just loved the simple look. Then I shot it, and the more I shoot it the more I love it. The simple thud, light weight, no stringer, seems to shoot where I look with less effort, and again I just love the simple D shape look. I looked at HHA's for years and have always been drawn to them, and finally this year found one at the perfect weight and length.

Nothing at all wrong with recurves. I honestly still love mine and I'm torn about leaving it at home because they are such great bows. I made the commitment to at least give a full hunting season to the longbow.

Do you have one in mind you'd like to try?

M Beach · September 18, 2015, 12:25:00 PM

I was wondering about the difference also. I have only shot recurves but the Toelke Pika has peaked my interest. As a recent wheel bow convert I am just trying to get up to speed on all the different ins and outs of traditional archery.

VA Elite · September 18, 2015, 12:32:00 PM

I don't have one in mind, but I would like to shoot one for a bit to see if I would enjoy as much as I have the recurve.

nineworlds9 · September 18, 2015, 01:03:00 PM

I like em all. I'll default to a hybrid or longbow but I love recurves too. As long as it is reasonably quiet. To me the silky smooth draw of a well designed recurve limb is hard to beat.

tomsm44 · September 18, 2015, 01:26:00 PM

Also remember, there's a big difference between a modern R/D longbow and a Hill style. There's really three classes of laminated trad bows IMO instead of two.

As for power/efficiency, I read one time where a guy did a testing that. He used one recurve and one longbow, so I'm not sure how well it applies across the board, but it was interesting nonetheless. He used a recurve and longbow, not sure the model/design, of the same draw weight and chronoed them with a variety of arrow weights. With the lighter arrows, the recurve was quite a bit faster, but as he increased arrow weight, the gap narrowed. When he got up around 15 gpp or so, I believe the longbow actually caught up and maybe even passed the recurve. Like I said, I don't know how scientific the test was, but it seemed to indicate that it's not so much that recurves are faster, but that different designs need different arrow weights to maximize efficiency.

ChuckC · September 18, 2015, 01:39:00 PM

They grow on you. They are just more what I have in mind when I think archery.
ChuckC

VA Elite · September 18, 2015, 01:43:00 PM

I want to shoot one!

Ray Lyon · September 18, 2015, 02:13:00 PM

Longbows and wood arrows are just way cool. I like shooting recurves too and employ both types in my hunting (especially vintage Bear recurves), but longbows are ultimately where my heart is.