Recurve or longbow? Why?

[KactusKiller]

I bought my first recurve 6 yrs ago, a bear grizzly. Then 4 yrs ago a super kodiak. I have been hunting with them off and on the last 5 yrs sometimes exclusively throughout the season. I have yet to actually shoot and recover an animal with either one. I have horribly bad target panic when shooting my compound which has really pushed me back to my traditional equipment towards the end of this last season. I may go back to strictly hunting traditional equip. since I don't have to battle the TP shooting instinctive.

My question is why do some of you shoot recurve and why some shoot a longbow? I have never shot a longbow. What is the benefits or reasons for shooting one over the other? Is it just personal preference?

[bk_tradguy88]

Mostly personal preferance. I shoot both, but for hunting I do see some advantage to the longbow. The main two points being that with how the string meets the bow the longbow doesn't snag brush near as bad as the recurve. And the way the limbs pf a longbow bend the lengths becomes lesser as you draw so for me it's easier to clear overhanging brush. Just my $0.2, but you have to be comfortable with what you hunt with. Some people can shoot one or the pther noticeably better. And I always say to hunt with that which you are most comfortable with.
B

[Wayne Meuir]

I think a longbow is quieter most of the time and a recurve is usually a little smoother to draw, but I don't think the difference is enough to worry about on either. I shoot both and don't really have a problem switching back and forth from one to the other as long as the draw weight and arrow weight is relatively the same on both set ups.

[hammackc]

With the more modern if you will hybrid Longbow ( Sarrels), shameless plug, you kinda get both rolled into one, for me, I've found I shoot a Longbow better!

[Bisch]

Two reasons why I like the longbow the best:

1. The sound. Recurves have a twang sound that just irritates me. Lonbows have a thud sound that does not irritate me.

2. I hate stringers! You need to use a stringer for a recurve and you do not for a longbow.

I shoot both about equally but just like the longbow better so I guess most of it is personal preference.

Bisch

[dmaxshawn]

Personal preference for me. Longbow it's quieter. Meaning I can have a second chance at missing again.

[n8vtxn1]

Long bow is quieter but can shoot in tighter places with a shorter recurve. I hunt with both the whole season. When my brother switched to trad bows he felt it was much easier to harvest deer. The just look where you want to hit vs. peep pins releases ect.

[ShaBow]

Like both but tend to lean toward recurve!I think my arrow carries better out past 25yds!

[Ron]

I have plenty of both, but I lean towards the longbow. To me it's smoother drawing, quieter and less hand shock. It's all preference.

[trad"Doc"53]

BOTH!! Just because!!

[moe monsarrat]

Love both but my weapon of choice is the longbow. More forgiving, quieter & I like the grip better.

[Chunky]

These threads come up from time to time on which is best or what is better.

We are a split camp on this. I shoot both and enjoy both....but I think recurves are more forgiving and easier. My reasoning for this (you have all heard it before) is that the extra material in the riser (heavier) is more forgiving. The extra mass makes it harder to move off target with a little flinch or pluck of the string.

The limb design make them a tiny bit more efficient. I think if you shoot a half dozen 40# longbows and the same amount of recurves...the curves will have a higher average speed.

I know that when you go to one of the big shoots, like hill country, cheaster, etc... the top recurve scores are higher than the longbow scores most of the time.

Longbows are cool, and fun to shoot. I took only longbows on both of my African trips. It's not that I don't like them....just that I recommend curves to beginners.

Hey, that is just one opinion....there are some fine hunters and archers here recommending longbows, so it is a personal pref.

[Phillip Fields]

I have both but prefer the longbow. Actually, I should qualify that - I like the modern hybrid longbows, like my 3 piece ACS. In my opinion they give you the best of both worlds.

[Hagen]

I have both. Believe longbows are more critical of poor form. Recurve is more forgiving.

[jmack]

I only own longbows. They are what I like. I do however shoot a recurve MUCH better. On a 3d course, I'll shoot 80 points higher with a random borrowed recurve. There's just something magical about a longbow to me though. It's all personal preference. Howard Hill once stated that he shot a longbow because he wasn't good enough to shoot a recurve. So YMMV... You just have to find what you like, and then shoot the lights out of it.