First Bow

Okay guys, I'd like to get into archery and just shot my friend's longbow and loved it. I was thinking about getting a recurve for under $200. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Well, I'm a total archery noob myself, but I recently got my first, an old school English longbow, from here:
http://www.woodbows.com/

They have the best price so far, and some of their bows are stocked by Kult of Athena (http://www.kultofathena.com/archery.asp) as well. Of course your requirements might be different, so definitely shop around.

For hunting, or just archery?

Jason

Thanks for the suggestion glistam. And probably just for archery Jason.

Avoid the temptation to be lured into longbows. These are the most difficult bows to use.

The best thing would be an entry level take down recurve bow.

The easiest to shoot are the beginner compounds, but then you don't learn any good archery technique because these easy bows make up for a lot of shortcomings in the archer. So I would avoid this temptation as well. But this is what most novices get.

Most archery facilities have a club and rental bows. You should look for one in your area.

I would recommend a Martin X150 around $219

Avoid the temptation to be lured into longbows. These are the most difficult bows to use.

The best thing would be an entry level take down recurve bow.

Disagree completely. I've owned many of each, and will never own another recurve. A reflex-deflex longbow will beat it everytime for me and is far easier to shoot accurately...

To say a longbow is better than a recurve is better than a compound is just chest thumping. To claim one gives you better "technique" , again just ones opinion , not gospel.

Everyone has their favorite.

Traditionalists will rag on anything not a stickbow , compound folks will bag on anything without cams , recurve folks ....etc

I say try them all, only you can decide what you will like. Or you may end up like me , and have a compound and a recurve ( sorry no stick bow YET ! )

Each has its strengths and weakness's , try and then decide. Go in eyes wide open , don't discount anything until you try it.

Find a good bow shop and get measured up. Most of all, enjoy !

I've read several reviews online from satisfied owners of the Samick Sage recurve (http://www.3riversarchery.com/product.asp?i=2490X), which is available for $140 from 3Rivers Archery. It's a no-tools-required takedown desgin and is available in weights from 35 pounds to 60 pounds.

I currently have three traditional bows -- a 55# Martin Howatt Hunter recurve, a 40# Samick SLB-II longbow, and a 40# Seven Meadows Archery Magyar horse bow -- but I'm tempted to pick up a Samick Sage for an inexpensive takedown.

For a beginning archer, 35# would be fine for target shooting. Archery uses muscles differently from other exercise and until you work up to heavier draw weights, you should go with a lighter bow, no more than 40# IMHO. With a takedown design like the Sage, you can start light then buy limbs with a heavier draw weight down the line if you want to hunt with it.

Along with the bow and suitable arrows, you'll need a shooting tab or glove, an arrow rest, a bow stringer, and a quiver. I also suggest a spare string. The Sage's string doesn't come with a nocking point installed but you can tie and glue a piece of dental floss on so that you are consistently nocking the arrow in the same spot.

I really should go to a local archery shop to check out what they have.

Dave- If you want to get that bow I found it for $10 cheaper.

http://www.lancasterarchery.com/samick-sage-takedown-recurve-bow.html

That looks like a good choice, 762.

Ask them for an extra bowstring at the same time. This is the first spare part that you will really want to have on hand.

You will also need a brace height tool, otherwise you cannot control string length and tension setting.

I wanted a recurve pretty badly and ended up with a PSE Blackhawk. Great bow for the money. A buddy of mine owns an archery shop and is the one that suggested it to me. It's an all-wood recurve, mine is 40# but I believe they come in different draw weights.

Martin Howatt Hunter. Other good choices, of course....

I really should go to a local archery shop to check out what they have.

Dave- If you want to get that bow I found it for $10 cheaper.

http://www.lancasterarchery.com/sami...curve-bow.html

Cool, thanks. Lancaster Archery is about an hour's drive from me and where I got my longbow.

Martin Howatt Hunter. Other good choices, of course...

Unfortunately, these are now going for about $549.