Recurve practice

[MCgunner]

I've gotten into compound bows, for years shot a recurve. Not really hunted, just shot it off and on and did some bowfishing with it. It broke, I got this compound now.

But, my wife got me a little 30 lb toy recurve at a garage sale years ago and I've just started playing with it. I find that I'm accurate to 15 yards with it and 20 is a challenge. Now, this is cool at back yard ranges. I can shoot up to 40 in my yard and 20 yards with the little recurve seems more of a challenge than 40 with the compound. But, as follow through and consistency is even more important at the lower velocities, I'm thinking the recurve is good practice.

Does anyone else play with recurves to hone their compound skills? Aiming is instinctive rather than using sights, but I'm thinkin' it'll make me a better bow shot. Am I off base on this?

I'm thinking about ebaying another recurve to replace the 45 lb I broke. You can get 'em pretty cheap on ebay from time to time.

 

[arcticap]

I have a similar weight recurve that's a PSE Bullseye take down model. I used it to learn how to shoot arrows since that was something that I hadn't done since I was a kid. I shot it indoors at 33 feet and I probably should take it outdoors sometime and increase the yardage. But I never really considered it a toy but rather a short range target bow. And I put sights on it. They're definitely a challenge and fun to learn to shoot with fingers or a tab.

And I bought even lighter recurves for my kids.

PSE has some models in your weight range that are reasonably priced.

http://www.pse-archery.com/cat.php?k=135536

 

[snakeman]

i do I have a 20 pound cheesy recurve that gets me plenty of draw and follow through practice these are fun to shoot and can really improve your sense of arrow trajectory and flight patterns

 

[MCgunner]

I'm just guessing at the draw weight. It's pretty cheesy, LOL, but like you say, fun to play with.

 

[JTW Jr.]

I use my sons 35# Hoyt Game Master II quite often in between days of shooting my compound. My home practice lane is only 20 yards ( though I can push it to 30 yards ).

His recurve doesn't have a sight so it adds a bit more challenge than my decked out Avenger.

 

[Jason_G]

It is good practice IMO.
Recurves are about all I shoot. I started with a little 45# Stemmler Jaguar (still have it) that was given to me. It was marked 45#, but I think it is probably closer to 30#, and I know what you mean about the accuracy drop-off at longer distances. Lighter arrows might help, but they need to have proper spine as well, and that can be more hassle than a "toy" bow may be worth. The longer distances are tougher with lower poundage bows IMO. Many target archers that shoot recurves shoot with poundages upwards of 120#, so that there's much less arrow drop, and wind is much less of a factor. I'm man enough to admit that I ain't man enough for a 120# draw, and since I bow hunt with mine, I usually keep distances within 20 yds anyway. That's about as far as I feel comfortable shooting with mine.

Jason

 

[nmlongbow]

There is far less than 1% of target archers that shoot 120# bows. Flight shooters will shoot those weights but that's a different game completely. The majority of FITA and Olympic shooters shoot bows between 30-45 lbs.

Many of the top archers will shoot bows as low as the 20's to develop good form, follow through and release.

A 35lb bow will cast an arrow out to 90m just as easily as a 70# bow with the right arrows.

I play with recurves to hone my recurve skills. Compounds were never as fun for me as trad bows. My 3d rig and hunting rig are Zippers with 48 and 65lb limbs. FITA rig is an old Sky Archery recirve with sights and stabilizer.

Check out zipperbows.com

 

[JTW Jr.]

I was at the archery shop when a " he-man " came in and told the shop guys he wanted a recurve , and that he used to shoot all the time and needed a 110# recurve. Said he shot it all the time , hours a day , but that it had been a year since he shot.

It was evident he was blowing smoke , when he could not pull back a 50# recurve even 1/3 of the way.

Don't get caught up in the hype that shooting more poundage = better archer. As XD 460 said , most archers are not shooting heavy poundage bows , especially if you are going to practice quite a bit. Even a 40# recurve will start turning your body to jell-o after extended practice sessions.

Just like the shooting sports , people sometimes use more power than they need and just develop bad habits.

Find out what you can pull comfortably , the last thing you want is to go to heavy and get an arm , back or shoulder injury.

A few months ago at the outdoor range with my son , I had put my compound down for a little recurve father & son shootoff , a few guys were there shooting recurves as well. They inquired as to what pull the GMII was , when I told them 35# , they laughed and said " grow a pair , ours are 65 # ".... and then he proceeded to miss the straw bales at 20 yards.... in a polite voice I said " Might wanna use that pair to walk and find that arrow "

While I do love my compound , I find the recurve more challenging and just as fun.

Darn you guys , now I got to buy my own

 

[MCgunner]

Yeah, I hadn't messed with my bow in years when, about 6 months ago, I decided it was time to break it out, buy some arrows at Academy, and start playing with it again. It's a 45 lb bow. After about 4 15-20 minute sessions that day, I put it up, went to bed, and the next morning I had muscles hurting I didn't even know I had, LOL!

When the limb snapped on that one, I was so into it, I wanted another. Instead of a recurve, I decided to try a compound and see if my bad eye could use sights. I'd never shot with sights before. WOW, that thing is WICKED. LOL But, there's just something sweet about hitting with nothing, but a stick. LOL I want me another moderate pull, 45-50 lb recurve again. I will hunt and bowfish with the compound, but I like the challenge of the recurve. I ain't good enough with one to risk hunting with it, though. Well, it's just that I'm a LOT better with the compound. If I used sights, might be okay, but I just don't see shooting a recurve with sights. Something just wrong about that.

 

[TimboKhan]

I recently cleaned the last of my junk out of my mothers basement and I found a Bear recurve that I had honestly forgotten I even had. It pulls at about #20, which is fine for me since A: I have a bum shoulder and B: I have no intention on hunting with it. I shoot for fun, and I actually prefer the challenge of the recurve.

But, I have to say, the bow bug is starting to get it's hooks into me again. I used to shoot everyday through high school, and then went without shooting for almost 20 years, though I kept abreast of all the new stuff and have salivated over some of the new bows that have come out. Now, it is time to start shooting again...

 

[Voodoochile]

I've been shooting archery for 30 years & started with a Bear Grizzly recurve then went with several different compounds through out the years but recently have gone back to shooting my Recurve & bought 2 others.
I like the simplicity or traditional gear, shooting with nothing on your bow but the string & padding on the shelf, relying on your minds eye to guide your arrow to it's mark, very satisfying.

I still have a compound & yes normal practice with a recurve of at least 60% your normal compound bow weight will help you in the long run on holding, being steady, & control, but I may give my compound up completely if my shooting improves to the level that I want it to be.

I normally shoot to 30 yards with my 52# T/D Recurves in hopes that by hunting season I'll be ready, only 10 more yards to go.

As XD 460 said, a 30# bow is plenty for targets & small game hunting & even most Olympic shooters don't pull more than 45#, now if you wanted to eventually try hunting Deer with a recurve bow I would work your way up to at least a 45# bow, you wouldn't need any more than that unless you were to go after game like ELK or something..

 

[MCgunner]

Man, I got into it yesterday. It's been 100 degrees down here and with the humidity, I try not to stay out in it too long. Sweat getting in the eyes isn't conducive to accuracy, anyway, LOL, but I'd go out and shoot 15 shots or so, come in and sit in front of the fan, go out a little later. I'm just HOOKED on it. LOL Yeah, I need another more serious recurve. I got to where I was hitting well from 25 with my 45 lber, well enough that I was confident I'd be close to effective enough to hunt with it to that range by bow season if I kept it up. But, that compound is a surgical tool by comparison. LOL I'm not a great bow shot, so I think I'll give the animal a break and stick with the compound for hunting.

I'm going to shoot more recurves if for no other reason than to take the shot count off the compound's bowstring. I don't have a press and it's sorta costly to replace a worn string. I'm going to have to do that after bow season just to make sure, I guess, though it doesn't look that worn. I really wanna get better with the recurve, though, and the only way to do that is SHOOT the things and train the muscles and they mind. Practice, practice, practice. Fortunately, it's fun to practice.

Just looking at that site arcticap posted, they have some rather affordable recurves that are BRAND NEW on there. I might just have to save up for one. A take down would be rather cool, too, if not quite as traditional.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I learned to shoot on a recurve and shot it from when I was 10 til around 16. Then I got a compound and toyed with that for a little while and hunted with it until around the age of 21 then I switched back to recurves and longbows and have never looked back.

Everyone goes through their heavyweight phase. You realize your accuracy sucks and then you go back to lower poundage. Its a natural cycle. After years of practice I cannot shoot accurately past 25 yds. I have a 54 lb recurve and it is perfect after a while of looking for the right one.

 

[MCgunner]

I like this one, adaptable to bow fishing. I enjoy bow fishing. It's only 120 bucks!

http://www.pse-archery.com/prod.php?k=135538&sk=135538&u=kfish

 

[arcticap]

My older PSE Heritage Series "Bullseye" has brass fittings for installing a sight, an arrow rest and a stabilizer in the front.
Plus the limbs can be replaced.
I can't tell from the photo if the Kingfisher has the same fittings and they may not even be important to you
My PSE Heritage recurve was made in Korea while the newer ones are now made in Italy.

 

[JTW Jr.]

this is the one my oldest son uses , the long stabilizer I put on for him to try out , he has since taken it off and went to a much shorter one ( 8" ).

 

[MCgunner]

Well, I talked myself into that PSE "Kingfisher" bow. If it accepts sights, I might do that, if not, I'll shoot it as a recurve is supposed to be shot. I got it in 50 lbs, I'm up to it. A lighter pull would allow more practice shots per sesson, but the heavier pull will give me better speed/range. I just want another recurve and as bowfishing is fun and I like to do it, figure if I don't hunt with this thing, I can bowfish with it. Ain't sellin' the compound, though. I intend to get it restrung after bow season and keep shooting it. I am getting better and better with the recurve and want a decent one in a heavier pull to replace my old 45 lb Colt Plainsman that has seen its last shot. I think this thing is a take down, replaceable limbs, pretty cool, too.

 

[Searcher1970]

I've been shooting traditional bows for 20+ years now. Back before I injured my shoulder I was shooting a 70 pound bow on a regular basis. Now I comfortably shoot a 50 pounder. A 50 pound bow and a well placed broadhead will down almost anything in North America. A lot of people have the bigger is better mentality, I say find a weight your comfortable with and go with it. A few years ago I was at a 3d shoot. A few of the guys there were giving me a hard time about my "kids bow" it was a 50 inch Osage flatbow. So I asked if they wanted to try the kids bow, what I didnt tell them it pulled 80 pounds at 23 inches. They about blew a gasket trying to draw it..lol I see alot of guys that are overbowed and their accuracy suffers.

 

[lloveless]

I learned in college with a 30 lb. recurve. Then 10 years later a neighbor upgraded to a compund and gave me his Bear recurve which is a 45 lb. I shot it well enough. My wife bought me a Bear compound complete with sights etc. Never could hit the target with that thing.
ll

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Does anyone else play with recurves to hone their compound skills? Aiming is instinctive rather than using sights, but I'm thinkin' it'll make me a better bow shot. Am I off base on this?

Slightly off base.
Your recurve will teach you more about draw and release because it's more sensitive since you're probably using fingers to shoot.
You can put sights on most modern recurves and won't have to shoot gap or instinctive. So, in that respect it is the same as a compound.

The biggest gain from the recurve is that you won't have the doodads and speed to make up for your form inconsistencies. This will highlight your shooting miscues and will make you a better shooter if you take the time to figure out what it is that you're doing wrong and what you need to do to fix it/them.

 

[MCgunner]

Well, it's in the area of follow through and bow movement after the release that I've been having some problems with and making improvements by concentration. It seems magnified in the slower bow. When I get it right, it's sweet. Only thing, I still have some problem getting my elevation down with the recurve not using sights. But, I'm working on that. I can see where that doesn't directly transfer to the compound, but I really wanna get better at instinctive shooting, too.

 

[theotherwaldo]

-By the way, what are the functional differences between longbows and recurves? Most of the authorities seem to disagree on this point.

I shoot a basic 6' canvas-backed red oak 45# long bow, Howard-style. I don't hunt, as I know my limitations and hate to wound an animal. I do, however, take out the occasional grackle and chacalaca if they get too obnoxious.

It's a fun bow to shoot!

 

[MCgunner]

I hate grackles, but they ain't worth losing an arrow, ROFLMAO!. I guess if they're on the ground. But, I air gun 'em. Been thinkin' the tail feathers might make decent fletching. Might experiment. LOL

I know nothing of long bows, never even picked one up. I just had this recurve for years and played with it off and on and did some bow fishing with it which was way fun. I'm setting up my current boat with a shooting platform, too.

I started noticing more onerous looking freying of the cables on my compound. I bought it used and don't know how old the cables/string are. So, I took it by the bow shop down the street and they ordered the cables for it and are going to install it, 100 bucks, but I don't want any splinters. I've heard horror stories reading the web on the subject.

See, this is why I like recurves.....SIMPLE.....K.I.S.S. I WILL hunt with the compound. I owe the deer that much. But, I'm going to shoot that new recurve a LOT.

 

[theotherwaldo]

Don't bother trying to fletch arrows with grackle feathers. They're not stiff enough. They do make nice fletching for darts, though.

Some of the larger chacalaca primary feathers make OK fletching, though not as good as turkey or goose.

I'm looking for a good recurve bow, but all of the used ones that I've seen down here on the border are too beat up to trust and I'm too cheap to buy new. The last one that I used was fun, but that was 45 years ago... .

 

[Jason_G]

There is far less than 1% of target archers that shoot 120# bows. Flight shooters will shoot those weights but that's a different game completely. The majority of FITA and Olympic shooters shoot bows between 30-45 lbs.

Actually, I guess I was misleading. I'm podunk, so when I said "target archers" I wasn't thinking of actual sanctioned organizations. Sorry. I meant local shoots where guys win hunting trips and things like that. Most of the time, there aren't even any bullseyes, just moving targets, animal targets, and things like that. You'll find a bunch of them that are using pretty stout bows.

ETA: What is flight shooting? No one does that here.

Jason