Ok my fellow companions. A few questions

[Dillon]

Hi I am still kinda new to archery and I have a few questions to ask.

How do I pull back the bow?? Do I pinch the arrow with my thumb and index finger, do I use my index finger and hook the string above the arrow and hook the string my middle finger below the arrow or do I hook the string above or below the arrow entirly?????
I have seen it done all three ways, so I have been wondering wich is the correct way....

With compound bows, what gives them their POWER??
Do they flex ever so lightly you just dont see it, is the string elastic or what??

How much do Good arrows cost???? I have some crappy ones that are fiber glass I have never checked the price on more pricier arrows..

I have a very big background with guns, and I know the FPS Velocity of just about any Caliber, and how every small change in velocity will affect the impact and stuff, but I never really known how many FPS an arrow has??

What is the highest pound bow??

What are a few really good Bow brands that make bows that are legendary amongst archers????

THANKS everybody for taking the time to help a newbie like me..  :D

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I am a little afraid of answering this, it seems like baiting but I will try anyhow. As far as drawing your bow,you can do it anyway you like as long as you have a consistant anchor point..however you might find it difficult to hold the arrow and not the string. pinching the string can cause your arrow to come off the rest and hang in space also. I hold the string with my 2 middle fingers under the arrow and bring my thumb nuckle to the corner of my mouth. Compound bows do not have any more power, they have let-off meaning when you come to full draw you are holding less weight. the "power stroke" caused by the cams rolling over is what gives them their speed. The energy is stored in the limbs like a regular bow, but compounded by the cables similar to a block and tackle. there is no elasticity whatsoever. Arrows cost depending on what material you want them made out of, you can get decent aluminum for around $40-$50 a doz. cedar arrows $75-$80 carbon can run from $75-$80 of course you get what you pay for if you want quality expect to pay around $120.     As far as highest pound bow...You will find that 70# is about as high as you will find there are a few out there that go as high as 100# but that is very rare. I heard of a 96# recently but it probably takes 3 guys to string it and if someone is shooting it they probably aren't pulling it 28". Most bows will be between 40# and 65#. I am no expert and I am sure someone more knowledgable will say I am full of B.S. but welcome to the world of archery you will love it and if you are anything like me you will never hunt with a gun again.

[Curtis Haden]

Originally posted by Dillon:
Hi I am still kinda new to archery and I have a few questions to ask.

How do I pull back the bow?? Do I pinch the arrow with my thumb and index finger, do I use my index finger and hook the string above the arrow and hook the string my middle finger below the arrow or do I hook the string above or below the arrow entirly????? I have seen it done all three ways, so I have been wondering wich is the correct way....

Most traditional archers use a "split" (index finger above, and middle & ring fingers below the nock) or a "3-under" hook on the string.  There are a few other ways, but these two are the most common.
 
With compound bows, what gives them their POWER??
Do they flex ever so lightly you just dont see it, is the string elastic or what??

Compounds rely on cables and pulleys/cams.  The longbow or recurve uses only the energy stored in the limbs of the bow.

This is a traditional only forum.  We don't bash people who chose to shoot compounds, in fact, many of us are former compound shooters, but here we talk about traditional bowhunting and topics related to the longbow and recurve...

How much do Good arrows cost???? I have some crappy ones that are fiber glass I have never checked the price on more pricier arrows..

You should be able to find some quality arrows for around $45 to $55 per dozen.  Prices vary greatly between shaft material and/or the intricacy of how the arrow is built -- up to $100+ per dozen.  You can order arrows from many online vendors in dozen or half-dozen lots, or, even pick up some indvidual shafts at Wal-Mart from late summer through fall.

I have a very big background with guns, and I know the FPS Velocity of just about any Caliber, and how every small change in velocity will affect the impact and stuff, but I never really known how many FPS an arrow has??

Gravity and velocity work the same on arrows.  A   very general  range of velocity from traditional bows would probably be from 130 fps up to around 200 fps, depending on the draw weight, arrow weight, and design efficiency of a particular bow.

What is the highest pound bow??

I dunno... Most healthy men of average strength shoot bows between 40 to 65 lbs. of draw weight.  Some lower, some higher.

What are a few really good Bow brands that make bows that are legendary amongst archers????

HA!  Ask this question of 1000 archers, get at least 2000 answers.  The legendary names that spring into my mind are: Fred Bear Bows, Schafer Silvertips, Brackenburys, Robertson Styk Bows, Howard Hills, and Black Widows, in no particular order.  But I'm just a "johnny-come-lately".  I'll probably get slapped around for leaving out someone else's ideas about "legendary"...

There are   many very good, well established, and dependable bows out there to chose from.  The list is joyously long!        

THANKS everybody for taking the time to help a newbie like me..    :D  

Welcome, and good luck!  I'm assuming since you're a "cadet member" that you're a young person.  This is a great place to learn, so keep on asking questions and enjoy yourself!

[fxe]

I will take a stab at some of your ?
Most people use the push pull method I think.You push with the palm of your hand while pulling the string with the other hand.
Most people use split finger for pulling the string.What I mean is the index finger goes above the arrow while the middle and ring finger go below the arrow.I shoot three under.This is just like it sounds,all three fingers go under the arrow.I sight down the arrow and this puts it more in line with my eye.
I'll pass on the compound ? as I'm not sure.
How much arrows cost depends on what you shoot carbon,aluminum (sp),or wood.I'm taking a wild guess of about 70 dollars a dozen would put you in the ball park.
Velocity anywhere from 150fps for self bows to around 200 fps for the faster bows.I think most will fall in the 170 to 180 range.
Highest pound bow,dang if I know!!
Bows wow there are a crowd morrison,adcock,dye,brackenbury,black widow just to name a few.
Hope this helps some.I am fairly new to trad so,take my advice with a grain of salt.

[Pluck Yew]

Dillon, get ye to a archery store..ask yourself what is my draw lenght? should I shoot fingers or tab? what poundage can I comfortly draw?..bows are matched to their user..better yet get thee to a trad archery shoot.. and keep asking those Q's...    

Shawn...

[Dillon]

Thanks alot everyone!!
Although I have seen a 123# longbow and 1 man used it for about two hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes You are right smonte I will have to look into my local archery STORE.
Now to look into those brands hehehe.,..
AND yes Curtis Haden im 15..