Recurve and crossbow questions..

[PaisteMage]

Hello again fellow enthusiasts!

My girlfriend has Carpal Tunnel in both wrists. This is a deterrent for her to go shooting.

She has expressed interest in shooting bow of the recurve type before. Recently a law was passed where people can have a crossbow in my state.

I was thinking of a recurve for myself because there is something traditional about it that appeals to me, less parts, and if a design works it works.

She has said she would "totally" get a crossbow. She also thinks the kids should learn early since she started at 8 years old. I personally have never shot a bow except one time in my life.

What should I expect to pay for a good beginner for both? Is it good to get say a 70 dollar crossbow versus a 40 dollar one? I have seen PSE bows that are recurves and they go for about 120 dollars. For the bows themselves for the recurve I think 125 to spend on the bow itself is fine and I think about the same for the crossbow would be fine.

 

[glistam]

120-140 for a starting recurve is pretty reasonable. A popular one among my traditional shooter group for new people is the Samick Sage, though PSE is also very popular.

With crossbows, you tend to want to spend a bit more. I learned the hard way. 6-7 year ago I got an Eagle I for about $100. It's a recurve-prod crossbow with a skeletal plastic body and collapsible fiberglass limbs. It works, but it's not what you'd call a top quality bow. It will put bolts downrange with decent accuracy and it's powerful enough to hunt with at 180# but the trigger release is not very clean and it takes some maintenance to use regularly (i.e. the various nuts and bolts need to be inspected and tightened before shooting). Most "good" crossbows are $300-500. Excalibur is one of the better recurve-style crossbow makers, while there are many makers of good compound-style crossbows.

 

[JimStC]

If you and your gf are new to crossbows here is a good site to learn:

http://www.crossbownation.com/forum/

Jim

 

[jmr40]

Georgia was the last state to allow compounds for archery season. When I started out in the 1970's I had no choice but to shoot a recurve or long bow. After compounds were legal I bought my first one around 1982 or so. Never used a crossbow, so I cannot comment.

It has been so long since I bought a bow I can't really help on price. I will say that I quite often see some old, but very good recurve bows stuck in the back corner of pawn shops and yard sales for very good prices. I have 2 Browning's that were made during the early 1970's that are still as good as new. I paid $30 and $50 for them. My old Ben Pearson that I got for Christmas 1972 is still as good as ever.

The technology has changed so fast on compounds that a 5 year old bow is obsolete, almost like computers. A 50-60 year old recurve is still made the same as a new one.

Back in the day, most serious recurve shooters used sights. Today very few do. It seems most who choose to shoot a recurve prefer the challenge of shooting "bare bow. I still use sights even on my recurve. Maybe not as traditional as some would like, but not nearly as complex as modern compounds and crossbows.

Either with sights or bare bow shooting a recurve is a very perishable skill. It is something you have to be committed to doing on a regular basis. I can pick up my compound bow after months of not shooting and be pretty confident out to 30yards. With a bit of practice up to 40 or a little farther.

The recurve requires almost constant practice though. I don't bow hunt much any more. I still prefer the recurve, but it will take me several weeks of practice to get consistent at 20 yards. Even at my best I was never good for much more than 30 yards. And if I don't shoot a dozen or so arrows at a target at least once or twice a week during the season I can tell a big difference in my accuracy.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

I highly recommend the Samick Sage recurve bow! Its very affordable and even shoots well with carbon arrows with plastic fins.

 

[PaisteMage]

THe Samick Sage and Martin Jaguar I have heard good things about!

This is something that we will pass down to our children, the sport and idea of Archery (along with firearms)..

You guys gave me some pretty good information and Thanks!

 

[exospex]

I have a Samick Sage and love it. I need to practice with it more than I do now. I started off with limbs that are a little too heavy for me to shoot with good form, so I need to buy some lighter ones and work my way up.

My three sons also got Samick Polaris' for Christmas a couple years ago. Those are nice bows as well.

We all shoot carbon arrows with plastic fins and they work fine.

Overall I'm very pleased with the quality. I think they were purchased through either Three Rivers or Lancaster.