What longbow should i get

Really, bow length boils down to personal preference and what feels best in your hands. I advise going to a pro shop that has a good selection and trying bows of different lengths. If a bow feels good to you, ignore the length. This is a tough one, and a lot depends on how much money you want to spend. I'll start by saying all bows are not created equal.

There's a huge difference between a well-made bow and a poorly made bow. I've shot both custom and manufactured bows that were terrible. I've also shot both types that were great. Fortunately, you can choose from a ton of great options. For manufactured bows, a lot of the major compound companies are now offering traditional equipment.

These bows average about half the cost of custom bows. I've also shot Bear and Martin longbows that performed very well.

Custom bows do have their advantages. Well-made models are great performers, and each bow is truly a work of art made to your specifications. If you order a custom bow, trust the bowyer and listen to his or her suggestions on bow length and materials.

There are literally hundreds of custom bowyers, so do some research before laying down any money. I haven't shot them all but some custom recurves I've been impressed with include Palmer, Horne, Stalker, Foley, and Robertson.

One thing you should always consider is the warranty. If a company, whether a large manufacturer or a one-man custom operation, isn't willing to back its products, don't take the chance. Go with one that believes in its bows and is willing to back them.

Probably the most informative part of this column is my advice on how to hide your new purchase from your significant other. I've tried every excuse in the book, and these are some that have worked for me in the past.

Ultimately the longbow that is right for you will be one that is sized appropriately according to your body measurements, is comfortable for you to shoot, and is suitable for your intended use. Now you know, generally, what to look for, but what factors go into finding the perfect longbow for your size, strength, skill, and preferred archery sport? Below is a guide to help you navigate your longbow selection process. Longbows are simple tools; by this, we mean they are constructed using fewer components than modern bows.

Despite their simplicity, there are a few different types of longbows, each suited to different kinds of archery. Figuring out which type of longbow is right for you is about knowing what you need from a bow and what you want to do with it. There are three main types of longbow: English longbow, American longbow, and Horse longbow. Each of these three types has its own evolutionary history, and because of this, they tend to each suit different kinds of archers.

The English longbow is the most recognizable type of longbow due to its long history and prominence in the film industry. The English longbow is, well, quite long, even for a longbow. With an average length of 1. Historically, these bows were used in battle or hunting and had high draw weights that required a considerable amount of strength to shoot.

Nowadays, most people who shoot an English longbow tend to prefer them for target practice because they can be manufactured to have lower draw weights, making them great for the repetitive nature of practice shooting. The American longbow is a relatively new invention, dating back to the s. The American longbow is more or less an evolutionary form of the English longbow mixed with the American flatbow commonly used by indigenous peoples throughout the North American continent.

The American longbow is shorter than its English forefather. Unlike the English Longbow, which has been adapted to have lower draw weights, the core of an American longbow is often constructed out of hardwearing materials, like fiberglass, which helps it stand up to high draw weights.

The added force you gain from a higher draw weight makes the bow better suited for hunting than modern English longbows. The American longbow also features a notch designed to hold the arrow, which lends archers a little added stability over the English longbow.

This feature is also appreciated among hunters. The horse bow is a longbow that behaves slightly like a recurve bow, giving the archer the power that comes with a recurve bow and the forgiveness of a longbow. Size-wise the Horse longbow is the shortest of the longbows, coming down to an average length of 1. When you go shopping for a Horse or hybrid longbow, you will notice quite a bit of diversity among the building materials because, historically speaking, this bow design traveled the world.

Developed in the s and used for target shooting and hunting. For this article, we are using the term Longbow to mean an English Longbow. Made from either one piece of wood such as yew or osage orange. The tighter the growth rings the better for compression strength. Good bows are also crafted from many straight grained wood laminates. Speed and performance are key to good wood choices.

Steeped in nostalgia and romance, everyone loves an English Longbow. Should that be Welsh Longbow? Recurve bows are shorter in length than a Longbow. Easier to use in difficult environments.

Perfect for dense forests or from horse-back where a longer bow would be a hindrance. The recurved tips of the bow enable enhanced speed and power to the shot. Do you want to connect with your battle-hardened ancestors of old? Do you like to smile a lot and have lots of fun?

If the answer is yes, then this is going to be the bow for you. Styles include Victorian style target bows and longer draw length military warbows. This is what we love about traditional archery. Most people when learning will start with a recurve bow.

There is a reason for this. Recurve bows are easy to find and easy to use by everyone no matter what age, and they are very forgiving to shoot. Shooting your recurve arrows from a shelf rather than your hand is easier. The handle on a recurve is like a pistol grip. If you want a vast choice of arrow materials, then this may be the bow type for you.

If transport is an issue and you would prefer to pack the bow up into a small case then think about a takedown recurve. A longbow should fit to your height plus a couple of inches as a rough guide. Too long and there is a waste of energy with the extra height of the limbs at full draw. There are several methods to string a Longbow.

There are push-pull and step through methods. The top quality Pacific Yew used for our longbows performs faultlessly and consistently and with the proper care should last a lifetime.

It is interesting to bear in mind that each longbow originally comes from a tree that is many hundreds of years old and each stave can contain over one hundred years of growth rings. These longbows are a work of art and a labour of love though ultimately they are intended to be used and enjoyed, preferably on a hot afternoon in your favourite piece of countryside. Though these longbows are suitable for anyone, young, old, beginners, experienced there are a couple of points that should be considered before buying a longbow.

Being over 6 feet long, ease of transportation is a factor to consider. Most archery clubs should embrace the use of a self Yew longbow but check first and also for those people who enter competitions it would be worth checking the bow fits exactly with your required specifications.

If you are an experienced archer you may be wanting a different draw weight bow. A self yew English longbow will in my experience out perform a similar weight wood laminate longbow and may therefore allow a lighter draw weight. The smooth and even distribution of power in a self yew English longbow during the draw also allows higher draw weights to be reached more comfortably. Bow take around weeks to complete. For beginners a rough guide for an optimal yet comfortable draw weight would be 30 lb for females and 35 - 50 lb for males, measured at inches draw length.

These longbows require no maintenance but there are a couple of points to consider in their care. The most important consideration in the care of these longbows is that they should not be stored in hot conditions or anywhere near a radiator or heat source.

Excessive drying of the bows natural ambient moisture levels will result in increased stress on the wood and could lead to warping or even failure. The natural moisture levels in the wood also means it is very strongly recommended that yew bows are not used when the temperature is below freezing.

Damp conditions can also be detrimental, leading to a reduction in the bows draw weight and can in extreme conditions cause warping of the wood.