Longbow vs. Recurve Accuracy

Burnsie · December 02, 2015, 08:13:00 AM

Byron Ferguson does pretty good with a longbow.

black velvet · December 02, 2015, 08:27:00 AM

I shoot both equally. Find the grip on either has a lot to do with my consistency. Big grips on recurves are not to my liking.

DanielB89 · December 02, 2015, 09:22:00 AM

one of the best ways to do this is to check out scores from tourneys, imo. A lot of tourneys allow you to shoot the course more than once with a different bow, etc.

From my experience, I am about the same with both, but have won more tourneys with my longbow. I think others shoot their recurve better.

this past year at the Howards Hill, I won the longbow with a 238/250, and the recurve score was 248/250. Yes, you read that right. Sam Sandifer is no joke if anyone is wondering!

At all of out state shoots the recurve scores are usually higher. I do think that is because most people start off with a recurve and think they are faster, so more shooters shoot them.

Brock · December 02, 2015, 11:07:00 AM

Other than longer bows being more forivable....which is not an issue today as longbows are very short and you can get a recurve over 64" if you want.

I think the biggest factor for me is it is generally more repeatable to get the same grip each and every time with a standard recurve styled pistol grip.

On the longbow over the years I have worked to find consistent hand placement based on my "life line" and thumb positions...then strive to repeat until automatic. Slight depressions on longbow grips have helped some but not to extend of a recurve in my opinion.

The bow you shoot the most is generally the one you are most comfortable and will shoot the best.

BAK · December 03, 2015, 12:59:00 PM

Well, the most accurate archers worldwide are probably those who compete in the Olympics, but I don't see any longbows there.

trubltrubl · December 03, 2015, 02:29:00 PM

gotta throw my two cents in...
shot both extensively and agree with most of what is said....both are very accurate

recurve ...generally are flatter shooting because they are faster ( yes I know there are some faster longbows out there because of there design)

longbow...NARROW limbs are more forgiving of string pluck and torque..sometimes in extreme cold I personally will use a longbow as I tend to pluck the string more in cold...just my preference...

Howard Hill once said a recurve is too hard to shoot for him because his form was not consistent enough to shoot it accurately. I think he was right. because when I pluck my recurves I miss more from my spot....

BUT ....when shooting past 25 yards I generally find a recurve a little more accurate for me

I hunt with both and never give it too much thought. I practice till I feel accurate with whatever bow I choose to hunt with and go out and enjoy!!!

I know there is a saying...be aware of the man who carries only one gun....I am sure it is the same with a bow.....but I enjoy them too much to worry about an inch or two of accuracy....as long as I can find the kill zone..

Stumpkiller · December 03, 2015, 02:40:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by BAK:
Well, the most accurate archers worldwide are probably those who compete in the Olympics, but I don't see any longbows there.

This is true enough, but neither are they using suitable weights, shafts or points for hunting. Their stabilizers alone weigh more than a one-piece longbow. I have a 66" target recurve but it would be my last bow out the door for hunting . . . except small game.

QuoteHoward Hill once said a recurve is too hard to shoot for him because his form was not consistent enough to shoot it accurately. I think he was right. because when I pluck my recurves I miss more from my spot....

Hill's comment should also take into consideration that Hill sold longbows.

I think with a little work he could have learned to manage a working tip recurve just fine. I hunted with a Hill style longbow for several years and I shot over and under more deer that a person should have to and retain some sanity. Went to a recurve and started connecting. Mostly grip (I favor a high grip) and arrow speed. And I shoot 580 to 620 grain arrows so they're still not zippy fast. Just fast enough that my brain can work around them.

trubltrubl · December 03, 2015, 02:42:00 PM

One more thing...I feel the LONGERr recurves and longbows are more accurate than the shorter bows...
I now will only go to 56" at the short end and generally 60 " with recurves... although I have a 63 " St. Charles thunderbird ( very accurate)...
My longbows are generally 62" but have one 64" selfbow ....

trubltrubl · December 03, 2015, 02:46:00 PM

Stumpkiller I don't beleive it was a "marketing tool" statement by Howard Hill...with his name and fame ..he could have put his name on recurves and doubled his sales...IMHO

McDave · December 03, 2015, 09:04:00 PM

Of course, there are some people who shoot better with longbows, and some who shoot better with recurves. But we still find that 3D tournaments have separate longbow and recurve classifications. So the average person must shoot better with a recurve. When they remove those separate classifications, I'll start believing otherwise.

Nobody keeps score on hunting, so we don't really know. But we do know that a lot of things other than 3D accuracy matter in hunting, as has been pointed out above. For an all around sharpshooter, give me a r/d 3 piece longbow with a contoured grip. And if you make me shoot in the recurve class, it wouldn't bother me a bit.

ISP 5353 · December 04, 2015, 05:46:00 PM

I shoot both, but I tend to shoot my recurve better. It is also quite a bit faster. Shoot both, it's fun!

Hud · December 06, 2015, 02:47:00 AM

The proper arrow will make either shoot better.

Rob DiStefano · December 06, 2015, 08:30:00 AM

the trad bow type is the least consideration. first and foremost it's the archer, then the arrow, then the entire bow.

mike g · December 06, 2015, 11:37:00 AM

Most if not all trick shooters use a Longbow....!!

December 06, 2015, 03:01:00 PM

Quite often I read of references to 3d scores and the bow and shooting styles of 3d shooters. 3d courses are a variable that is hard to gauge. Now if an olympic shooter could hit a perfect round on the long targets and then use that same bow to go shoot skeet, it would really get my attention. However, I believe that would come into the category of different tool for a different job. There are at least two types of forgiveness in a bow side torque and forward motion variables. I am not so sure that limb shape is always the deciding factor, I have shot recurves that, as far as I could tell, had no sensitivity issues. Balance, grip and feel is a personal thing, a bow has to match the shooter. However, as a shooter with a less than 28" draw and I have seen the same with other short draw shooters, there are some bows, regardless of the final limb shape, where if one already has a draw that barely gets the limb working, and then if a shorter than normal draw is pulled the arrow will be much slower than a draw closer to the bow's design. In hunting situations, it is quite easy to get a shorter than normal draw. A bow that is designed so that a shooter's draw length lands in the pocket of the bow's tiller would be an advantage, especially in hunting situations.

flyguysc · December 07, 2015, 06:55:00 AM

Equipment makes some different,but it's the shooter and the quality of time invested into becoming the best shot. That's what makes the different

damascusdave · December 07, 2015, 08:47:00 AM

As anyone with an RER LXR that question and we would likely tell you there is no difference

DDave