Recurve VS Compound Bows

[Admin]

Alright, I'd like to start a discussion about the differences between recurve and compound bows. (there are other kinds of bows as well, but that's for another thread!)

[AK]

I shoot a compound. Nothing fancy. Got it when I was 5 or 16. Before that I shot regular old bows and was and probably still am alot more accurate with a long bow than a compound. That is not to say I do not shoot or know how to shoot my compound bow well, I just prefer the long bows. I was going to get a sweet a** recurve from this one catalogue, but.....I'm thinking and have been thinking, I should take that cash and buy quivers and arrows like a mofo! Ammo. It is funny but before coming to this site I was rather set on ordering one, then after thinking out some zombie scenarios and what not, I NEED AMMO! I also got some books a while back from Primitive Archer on making your own bows and arrows, arrow heads and stuff.

Are there any other archery goons on this site?

[Admin]

Are there any other archery goons on this site?

Well, I know that I, for one, have been pretty seriously into archery for about 25 years, I'll be waiting for other people to respond here before I talk too much about it. I'm interested, and I've taught a few classes here and there, but I'm not an "expert" by any stretch of the imagination.

Maybe you could share some of the wisdom from your bow making books?

[OVERKILL]

 I've shot bows since I was a kid. For beginners I would suggest a compound. They don't have to be unstrung for storage and with sights and a release aid, combined with the low hold weight, accuracy is more easily achieved. Sights can be added to recurves as well, but you hold the full weight of the draw, and need to be stronger and have more endurance to hold the bow at full draw long enough to aim. Also, I've been told that compounds have less limb vibration and greater potential accuracy.
 Compounds are much shorter than recurves ( and recurves are typically shorter than long bows or stick bows, but that's another story). Being shorter they are typically better for maneuvering through thick brush. Parallel limb compound bows are extremely small and light, almost as light as a recurve.
 That's one area where the recurve has the advantage, weight. One piece wood recurves are extremely light and feel like your holding a feather when shooting one. Aluminum riser and fiberglass limb recurves are still typically much lighter than compounds, if weight is a premium, the recurve wins.
 Compound bows require a bow press to change the string or disassemble. A recurve only requires your foot, knee and hands to remove the string. Most takedown models only require a hex wrench to take the limbs off the riser, and some models from Bear no tools, and when taken down stores in a very small package. Recurves win in ease of maintenance, only waxing the string occasionally is required, and unstringing the bow when not in use.
 Compounds win in the power arena typically. Unless you look really hard or go to a custom bowyer, a 70lb draw weight is about max on a recurve, but seems like a 70lb draw on a compound bow is pretty standard, with higher draw weights available as well. But the way a compound stores and releases energy, I'm told is better, and even with the same draw weight a compound shoots faster.
 

[AK]

If you know how to string a bow, you know how to perform a nasty figure four leg lock! Maybe I should have put that in the pappy forum!

I could post of the stuff from the book. If you know any native peoples they are always good to chat wood shop with. If you literally have to make something from scratch, like a bow and some arrows, I've seen em do it pretty darn quick, and they do have little tricks and stuff that I know I never thought of, and I shot bow for some time. Building and shooting are two different things. I am no expert either. I just love to shoot. Now I actually could make a bow and some arrows with limited equipment or next to nothing.

Does anyone prefer the graphite over wood? To me it doesn't matter really, but I do prefer the whistle of the wood. I remember a school camping outting where the instructor, our vice principal got us all to string our bows backwards. I was a kid, but I was pretty sure that the way were being told to string em up, was not the way we were taught at real camp where I actually learned to shoot. Of course being a kid and in no position to correct the man, the class continued to do so, and I was made to, because he thought I was gonna break the bow. I recall, "Don't bend it like that!! We have to pay for those!" And of course a few kids managed to lob some arrows in the general direction of the target, but once someone tried to open her up, SNAP! Lucky it missed his eye, but he had a wicked red line welt across his whole face chin to forehead.

And that was it for archery for that trip. 

And yeah the recurve has the compound beat on weight, although I was lookin at some new models, that fold right up into your back pack. Very expensive gear!! But I suppose if you had the bucks and you loved compounds and wanted one that you could pack around without the horns stickin out or whatever, then that would be compound to get.

Just want to add, I love watching the face of people drawing the bow for their first time....no faith in physics!! I was the same way my first time, all cringy and expecting it to whip back and snap me in the face, but after you have a little confidence in the design of the weapon, it is awesome.

I need to get back to firing an arrow per second. My arrow draw is really sloppy now, and I am reduced to target shooting in my garage. There is no where one can go and shoot without hassle around here. They closed the archery range and so far no one cares or wants it back, besides probably me and the other 6 people that used it. In the garage I am one shot every 2-3 seconds and I just can't break that. And a second to second count is pretty long. Easily long enough to draw and fire and repeat, but I dunno, just can't break the two second barrier, and I think it is my draw. It isn't smooth. Practice practice practice....

[OVERKILL]

 A shot every 2 seconds is still pretty fast, that's 30 shots per minute. Twice the output required for the "Mad Minute" and aimed fire from most people with a semiautomatic. I never had any kind of speed with a bow, most of my practice was holding at draw as long as possible to facilitate better aiming in the field, before I got sick I could hold  recurve at full draw longer than most compound users could hold theirs. Any tips on speed?

[Admin]

I've actually got a slick custom made take-down recurve bow that I picked up second hand at a flea market for about $10 

I love that thing. I've got a PSE 2 cam compound as well, but honestly the recurve gets more play than the compound does, to the point that I considered selling the compound, but since it's a left hand bow, the guy I was thinking of selling it to couldn't use it.

I find that I'm more accurate with a recurve than I am with a compound, the sights don't do me any good, and I shoot better instinctively than i do aiming... not to say that either is exactly spot on, but it's enough to put down about 2 deer a year (all I have time for sadly, and haven't even done that this year)

I prefer wood arrows, but the new carbon arrows in the last 5 years or so are getting pretty nice.

Man, I really want to pull out the old bow and go to the local archery range now...

[ZOMBIE_EXTERMINATOR]

why not just a gun jeez

[Robin Holmes]

A few reasons. One. Bows don't jam. Two. Arrows are easier to make then bullets. Three. Bows are silent.

[OVERKILL]

A few reasons. One. Bows don't jam. Two. Arrows are easier to make then bullets (you mean cartridges or shells, right). Three. Bows are silent.

I wouldn't say arrows are easier, but they can be made with more common tools, making bullets (the little part on the end that comes out of the barrel) or CARTRIDGES ( shells or ammo, most often called a bullet, although this is wrong) requires more specialized tools and specialized knowledge, but is really no harder. Since you don't have to wait for glue to dry, as with fletchings (feathers) on arrows or lacquer for shafts or epoxy for some points or inserts, cartridges can be made faster. But I get what you're saying Robin, it would be easier for the average person with little knowledge or tools to scrape up some sticks (or craft dowel rods), feathers, a knife, string and glue to make some useable arrows with makeshift steel or stone points.
 I wouldn't say a bow is "silent", the string vibrates and depending on the type, make and power of the bow they can be pretty loud. Loud enough to give your position away, but not loud enough to hurt your ears, which is my favorite part. I HATE loud noises and like that I can pick up a bow and fire away without having to use earplugs.
 Another reason is some people just don't like guns. Some don't like the "kick", some don't like the big flash (another reason for bows, no muzzle flash), some don't like the noise ( if it weren't for earplugs, I would probably never shoot most guns again). Then there's other people who enjoy them for those reasons, they like the *BOOM, FLASH and KICK.
 Bows have a lot of good points, Robin mentioned a few, and they were good, valid points.

[Robin Holmes]

If I have to, I shoot Compound. I'm a lousy shot though. I'm better with my crossbow.

[OVERKILL]

If I have to, I shoot Compound. I'm a lousy shot though. I'm better with my crossbow.

[/color]

 I think that's the basic consensus for bows and crossbows. Most people will be better with a compound than a recurve and most will be better with a crossbow than a compound bow. To shoot bows requires more practice to perfect technique, form and development of specialized muscles that aren't used for much else.
 It kinda goes back to medeivil warfare between the English and French, the archers armed with bows had to train constantly but could get more arrows towards the enemy with better accuracy. The French favored the crossbow because the could recruit any farmer and have him trained and making hits in a few minutes, giving them more archers to counter the rate of fire of the English long bow.

[silverwolf2332]

I grew up with a long bow and a lot of land to find stuff to shoot. i dont like compounds because they are bulky and i dont like the snap easy hold action it has. if your good enough with a bow you dont need to spend that mush time looking down the arrow, aiming your target up. back in the day the Huns where so good that they wouldnt even aim. they could deliver a deadly accurate shot by basicly hip firing. long bows are also very easy to pack up and become very small unlike compound bows.

[Kilal45]

I had a old recurve bow that my dad bought me but i perfer my gun it may be loud and have horrible kick and big muzzle flash but it is so much easier to use in close combat. I like close combat thats my style i like to feel my opponents bones break to see there pain. People say i am a sadistic maniac but i don't think so i don't do it for fun. I would never fight for fun i always need a reason somthing to fuel my anger. I usualy find that in protecting someone (My sister my daughter My fiance) Someone I love.
P.S. Yes i am 15 and I have a daughter please don't judge me. I take very good care of her and her mom I love her mom very much and her as well. We plan to get married after i finish high school