Howdy, All.  I'm new to this site and I have some "trad" acquaintances tell me that, "All things equal, same poundage, arrow weight, string material, release at same trajectory, etc a long bow will cast an arrow further than a recurve.  I've only been a traditionalist for 5 years (sadly) and have never done a comparison.

I don't "buy" this because I look at it from a stored energy delivered to the arrow perspective.
They say that the same stored energy of the bow (recurve or longbow) the longbow will out cast the recurve.  I don't buy it.  Input, please.

Got me!  I'm a woodbender.
   
-Brett

Being all things equal,  there are several longbow models that are reflex/deflex that pound for pound will cast as well, or better then their counter part, the recurve.  I own an Harrison that I would put up against most any recurve. The newer designs and technologies are used in longbows are awsome!  You just have to take the bows out and shoot them to see for yourself.  I have, that's why I own so many! lol  (longbows)  

There are so many design variables that go into this equation that's it's almost impossible to determine.  For example, because of the differences between recurves and longbows, bows of the same weight will not store the same energy so immediately they are no longer equal.  In general, not always, but usually, a "normal" recurve will have more cast/performance/speed, whatever you want to call it, than a straight, slightly reflexed and even slightly reflex/deflex longbow.  A highly reflex/deflex longbow/hybrid may or may not out perform a recurve.  But really, who cares.  Shoot what you like.

All things being equal...things would be equal. However things are almost never equal, bow designs DO vary in efficiency and individual bows of the same design will even vary slightly. Ask your aquaintance how long it hasbeen since his last bowel movement...apparently he is full of....

The arrow cannot tell what shot it - the fastest tuned arrow leaving any bow will have the best cast. The bow looses all control once the arrow leaves.

Steve

I discussed this topic with Steve Turay of Northern Mist Longbows at Kzoo. He did a test between a well known recurve and a deep limb core Hill style LB.

500g arrow shot by both, the recurve smoked the arrow, LB made less smoke.

700g arrow  shot by both, the recurve lost 40 fps and the LB lost 7fps.

A bow with good cast may not be the fastest, but retains more of its performance with a heavier arrow. Kind of like a Diesel engine I guess.

Eric

Our website has a fairly lengthy discussion regarding bow performance (not just about OUR bows, but bows in general).  

http://acsbows.com/bowperformance.html

Performance isn't an obscure and impossible-to-measure thing.  The laws of physics apply to stickbows just like they apply to rockets.  Steve B is correct - the bow that stores the most energy and delivers most of that energy to the arrow will always be the best performing bow, no matter what the arrow weight.  The arrow cares not from which bow it was shot.

I would most likely get a couple of somewhat equal bows find a good sized field and do some testing....it's fun..bowdoc

QuoteOriginally posted by WESTBROOK:
I discussed this topic with Steve Turay of Northern Mist Longbows at Kzoo. He did a test between a well known recurve and a deep limb core Hill style LB.

500g arrow shot by both, the recurve smoked the arrow, LB made less smoke.

700g arrow  shot by both, the recurve lost 40 fps and the LB lost 7fps.

A bow with good cast may not be the fastest, but retains more of its performance with a heavier arrow. Kind of like a Diesel engine I guess.

Eric

Eric,
     I think this is one of the most quoted old wives tales in trad archery.

"Longbows throw heavy arrows better"

The longbow loses less percentage of arrow speed because its limbs are usually a heavier  mass weight design ( thicker) than a recurve.

A heavier arrow makes less difference to the longbows, relatively speaking, because the overall mass being moved, ( limb mass + arrow mass ) hasnt changed as much  as is the case with a 'curve.

Even if the percentage difference is more with the curve, all else being equal I bet the 'curve is still slightly quicker.

You may disagree, but a chronograph will tell the real story.

Also, I realise there are some exceptional performing long bow designs out there, but I am speaking generally.

Just out of curiousity, can you remember what the chrono speeds were for longbow and recurve at 500 grains and then 700 grains.

If my thinking is correct, the recurve should be a fair bit quicker at 500 grains and still a little bit quicker at 700 grains.

Well said John!!

Folks take a few minutes and read the information on John Havard's site.  It's not about smoke and mirrors.  It's math pure and simple.  If a bow of equal draw weight stores more energy and is more efficient in design, it will be faster with any arrow.  

Mike

longbows rule. Recurves are prolly faster though but my homemade longbow will shoot a 14 grain per pound arrow with authority and you can`t hear the longbow shoot.Recurves are loud to me. RC