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Traditional Archery

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MNS
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 3,241
Anyone on here shoot a longbow or recurve? I was thinking of picking it up, just to shoot at targets in my backyard for fun. Any recommendations on a set up? Tips? I don't practice archery at all, so I'm new to it
Jan 26 2014 12:17AM
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corona
Posts: 12818 - Karma: 32,993
threads for morning. I have info for you
Jan 26 2014 1:35AM
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Darth.Maul
Posts: 2472 - Karma: 652
I shoot my compound a ton and could help with form and technique stuff but I dont shoot recurve much sorry.

However I did shoot my best round last week which was super awesome. I need to get myself a target bow one of these days and go for the high 280's
Jan 26 2014 1:45AM
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MNS
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 3,241
It looks like a lot of fun, and something I could do in my backyard. That way I don't have to invest so much time and i would actually end up shooting.
Jan 26 2014 1:50PM
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MNS
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 3,241
Seems like the prices are low then really high, no middle ground.

I can get a low end bow for like $120. Or I can get a decent one and the step up is $500 at least.
Jan 26 2014 1:51PM
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spliff.Life
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 1,549
I used to be into shooting longbow when i was younger, best advice is to just walk around the woods with a bow and quiver and practice hitting random stuff, just like in skiing intuition>training
Jan 26 2014 2:08PM
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MNS
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 3,241
Aren't arrows like 10-15$?

i wouldn't want to break/lose a bunch
Jan 26 2014 2:16PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
got inspired by hunger games?
Jan 26 2014 2:21PM
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corona
Posts: 12818 - Karma: 32,993
yea so I've done a bunch of traditional archery and have hunted with it and such.

So first you have to decide if you want recurve or longbow. personally I prefer recurve. more compact so easier to maneuver with in the bush which is a big plus for me. plus many modern recurves are take down, so the limbs easily unscrew.

For price, 150-200 will get you a decent beginner bow. the bow that seems to be the best beginner bow by a long shot is the Samick Sage. about 150 bucks and honestly will keep you more than satisfied and can be used for anything from target practice to moose hunting, depending on the draw weight.

If you're just getting into it, I'd suggest a draw weight somewhere around 30# for a guy whose decent build so you can get good shooting habits. you can then buy extra limbs in a heavier weight for hunting.

arrows can be pricey, but look around and you can get decent carbon fibre arrows for 5-6 bucks for the shafts. I'd invest in some judo points for target practive so you don't loose them so easily.

yea, bit rushed, i can give more info just odn't have much time right now
Jan 26 2014 2:23PM
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MNS
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 3,241
haha i was actually asked that already. No, a friend with a compound was just talking about trying a traditional and was showing me some bows. Never occurred to me to get one, but it might be fun.

The idea came about when I was thinking of getting a high powered pellet gun to try and slay some yotes near my house. Then gun licensing n what not came about. So i thought about bows, but I wouldn't want to kill a coyotes with a boy (doubt it'd be one hit kill, rather not put it through misery), then i just considered one for fun.
Jan 26 2014 3:16PM
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MNS
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 3,241
Yea from what i've seen, Samick Sage is by far the best entry model.

I was definitely leaning to a recurve. Other option I considered was a hoyt horizon. Or maybe a cartel fantom riser with some samick universals or something.

I have a decent build, but yeah, i'll start out light.

thanks
Jan 26 2014 3:18PM
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corona
Posts: 12818 - Karma: 32,993
is your end goal to go hunting? or just target shooting as a hobby?
Jan 26 2014 7:36PM
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corona
Posts: 12818 - Karma: 32,993
also you'd shoot coyotes with a pellet gun but think it's cruel to shoot one with a bow? don't think you quite know the power of a bow.

a 70 pound compound will pack a way bigger punch than any conventional pellet gun. a pellet gun is a great way to go if you want to make its death miserable.
Jan 26 2014 7:58PM
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willifast
Posts: 248 - Karma: 299
Sorry to thread jack but I have been wanting to get into target shooting again. Did it at camp for around 7 years and was quite good. I shot the camps recurves which were at around a #30 and I have comfortably shot a friends 85# compound. Just wondering where would be a good starting weight for a recurve, not to worried about stance and such but would like some range. Any answers would help.
Jan 26 2014 9:33PM
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MNS
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 3,241
Oh? Well my bow skills are horrible I'm sure. I'm also speaking with reference to traditional bows.

But I'm probably wrong, I was told though that one of the pellet guns that shoot 1200ft/s should take out a coyote no problem.

As for hunting, MAYBE. But most likely not.
Jan 26 2014 11:46PM
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corona
Posts: 12818 - Karma: 32,993
well if you're a good build and planning on hunting and don't want to buy a second set of limbs later then it might be a good idea to get something about 45# to start.

downsides of course being developing bad shooting habits and safety, depending on where you have a target set up. But if I was to exclusively do target shooting I'd get 30# and then get a second set of limbs for hunting.


and yea, you CAN kill a coyote with a pellet gun, but it's minimal. You CAN kill large game with 223, but you really wouldn't want to. the average 1200 fps pellet gun is still going to have less energy than a .22 and unless you hit it dead on in the perfect spot it's just going to suffer a lot till you get a second shot in.

an arrow will have about the same energy as a .22, but it has the advantage of being able to have cutting edges so when it punctures the heart/lung area it'll cut them up when the animal moves at all making it very effective for pretty much any animal up to moose. and with an arrow it doesn't go through as much pain if you hit it right since the animal will immediately go into shock and so long as you don't go running in towards it and just let it do its thing it'll just lay down where it is and die fairly peacefully as it bleeds to death internally.
Jan 27 2014 7:42AM
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corona
Posts: 12818 - Karma: 32,993
oh and a point for arrows, a lot of people think they'll just get the cheapest wooden arrows to start since they'll loose them and such. problem being those $3 arrows won't be spined correctly and just won't shoot as well as you'd like. would definitely invest double and go for properly spined carbon fibre arrows. You can get half decent shafts for $5-6 each.

then you can also change tips, and you'll find out very fast that it sucks to shoot an arrow into mowed lawn at a low angle with a field tip. it's surprisingly difficult to find. so you can change up to shooting a couple Judo points or similar if you have a target setup that makes that a problem.
Jan 27 2014 7:52AM
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iFlip
Posts: 4544 - Karma: 19,145
I've done a lot of bowhunting and target shooting/competition. While I use a compound now, I got my start with a recurve. One bow does not fit everyone. I strongly recommend you go to a shop that specializes in traditional bows. There are not a lot of these out there so if this is not possible, at least go to an archery shop and get fitted for draw weight, length of draw, etc.

As someone mentioned, you do not want the heaviest-pull bow you can manage. If you are shooting too high a poundage bow you will develop bad habits, rush shots, etc. Someone mentioned 30 lbs - this may be a bit low but it entirely depends on your build and strength. I would say don't go for anything over 45 lbs.

Bows range from cheap beater type bows to elegant works of art. Lancaster Archery is perhaps the #1 supplier of traditional archery products as well as archery products in general. http://www.lancasterarchery.com/ You would do well to give them a call and discuss options. If you decide you want the top-of-the-line traditional bow, Black Widow bows are extremely highly regarded. http://www.blackwidowbows.com/ I would not recommend this as dropping over a grand on a bow that you are not sure is for you seems like a terrible decision. Lastly, the best forum devoted entirely to traditional archery is the Leatherwall. http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/lw/THREADSX2.CFM

Traditional archery is an art form and takes a tremendous amount of practice and patience. There is so much to learn. You cannot just go buy any old arrows. The spine of arrows shooting out of a traditional bow needs to be more forgiving, unlike carbon fiber arrows. The feathers/vanes need to be actual feathers, not plastic vanes. This is really just the start...
Jan 27 2014 11:02AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
I fucking love archery. It's been forever, I should set up again and start letting shit fly. I used to be really good too!
Jan 27 2014 1:05PM
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corona
Posts: 12818 - Karma: 32,993
I disagree with this. you can shoot just fine with carbon fibre with a recurve. just need to get the rght spine to match your setup. I shoot carbon express predator II's right now and for a cheap carbon fibre I couldn't ask for better. they shoot just fine.

also if you want to go a bit cheaper, plastic feathers work well too. and you can shoot vanes if you're not shooting directly off the shelf.
Jan 27 2014 4:16PM
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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
Any suggestions for a take down recurve set up? I'd like to get into to target shooting and small game birds
Jan 27 2014 7:49PM
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corona
Posts: 12818 - Karma: 32,993
Samick Sage is probably the best you can do for a cheap beginner to intermediate take down recurve. If you have a long draw, the Samick Journey. Same bow but 2" longer so you won't get as much stacking or pinching when you're drawing well over 28".
Jan 27 2014 11:46PM
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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
And what would you suggest for arrows?
Jan 28 2014 1:15AM
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iFlip
Posts: 4544 - Karma: 19,145
Arrows depend entirely upon the bow you are shooting. You cannot buy the arrows before the bow. Buy the bow then have someone knowledgeable set you up with arrows for it.
Jan 28 2014 1:22AM
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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
Good to know. But unfortunately I have to buy online, no shops where I'm at. I read a bunch of reviews in the sage, so probably going to go with that bow
Jan 28 2014 1:37AM
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corona
Posts: 12818 - Karma: 32,993
if you're buying online just phone the shop that you're buying from and usually you can get someone who knows what they're talking about to help you out.

Also once you know exactly the bow and draw weight you've settled, get your draw measured and then there are plenty of spine calculators that you can use to know what arrow to get, although generally if an arrow is advertised as being meant for a 30-50 lb draw and you're in that range then you would no doubt be fine.
Jan 28 2014 9:43AM
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