Long Bow Advice

[mountainm]

Recently been having a couple of goes with longbows at events I've been attending, people have been asking me if I shoot and I've been getting very favourable feedback so I'm encouraged to give it a go. Having made my own bows as a kid and messed about in the back garden with a composite bow I've have had a bit of practice but I'd like to do the job properly. I think the bows I tried were a 40lb draw strength which felt pretty easy to me - what advice do people have about budget (how much should I save up to get all the gear). How long will a wood bow last me? What draw strength should I get etc.

Any good Archery shops near York?

Thanks

Mike

 

[Paul72]

I recently took up longbow shooting again after a break of ten years and I'd really recommend it. Buying a longbow is not the cheapest option however you can get them made just for you and this is the best way to go. I can give you a couple of pointers on places where to get them if you want to drop me a PM. A well-made bow should last you years, I hadn't used mine in 10 years but it shoots as if new (remember as well that longbows recovered from the Mary Rose were still able to be test fired in a lab!), draw weight etc will depend on factors such as your height and draw length so you'll need to know that before ordering a bow.

You can also buy ready made arrows but I've always found it cheaper and more satisfying to make your own. You can alos personalise them much more easily.

 

[DavidJT]

Hi Mike
I think draw weight should depend on your size and strength, and what feels natural to you. Most LBs I have used have been around 40 - 50 lb (at 28"), which suits me.
If well made and not abused it should last you a lifetime. Don't know the York area for shops, but you could price things online. Bickerstaffes would be a good starting point.

http://www.bickerstaffebows.co.uk/

word of advice... I also started on LB but after a couple of years went over to American Flatbows (what Americans call a longbow), which I'm know much happier with. Perhaps try to have a go with an AFB before parting with your ££? EFAA or NFAS clubs should be happy to help...

http://www.nfas.net/clubs.asp

http://www.efaafieldarcher.com/club-directory/clubs-with-14-target-courses.html

Good Luck!

 

[Ogri the trog]

I only shoot for recreation now, using the same bows that I had more than 15 years ago - longevity should not be an issue.

Ask around your club to have a shoot with other bows if you feel 40lb is too light - to see what weight you can manage now or how much training and effort you'd have to put into building up to a heavier target bow - about 55 to 70lb would be nearer the mark I reckon. Then you have a few choices as to how to proceed
1, buy a second hand bow - but make sure the previous owner was of similar draw length to yourself - the easiest way to break a bow is to over-draw a short one bought for a bargain price because it was too small/light for you.
2, Get a bow made for you.
3, Buy a part finished stave and finish it off how you want it.
4, Make one from scratch
5, Borrow a bow from a good friend

As Paul mentioned, it's not going to be a cheap venture but it can be a whole bunch of fun!

ATB

Ogri the trog

PS, Lucky enough to own three bows made or tillered by Ron Bickerstaffe, Pip's father!

 

[Rod Paradise]

So long as you don't start using that old York law about shooting Scotsmen.....

Best bet is to contact the BLBS and find a local club. (Although I checked their site & the links aren't great).

BLBS: http://www.askarts.co.uk/
The only Yorkshire club I found : http://www.scortonarrow.com/

The club members will know the good bowyers (both pros & amateurs) - join, use a few different bows & learn what draw weight/length etc suits you (as you shoot more you'll build up your string callouses & shoulder muscles which will adjust your bow requirements - although more bows the merrier tends to be the attitude).

 

[mountainm]

So long as you don't start using that old York law about shooting Scotsmen.....

Best bet is to contact the BLBS and find a local club. (Although I checked their site & the links aren't great).

BLBS: http://www.askarts.co.uk/
The only Yorkshire club I found : http://www.scortonarrow.com/

The club members will know the good bowyers (both pros & amateurs) - join, use a few different bows & learn what draw weight/length etc suits you (as you shoot more you'll build up your string callouses & shoulder muscles which will adjust your bow requirements - although more bows the merrier tends to be the attitude).

So if I join and turn up without a bow/equipment they'll have stuff on hand I can borrow? Didn't want to turn up like a complete numpty. Guess I should just give 'em a call

 

[resnikov]

There is a club in Selby http://www.selbyarcheryclub.co.uk/

 

[mountainm]

There is a club in Selby http://www.selbyarcheryclub.co.uk/

I was just about to post that up, just found it. Fancy a go?

 

[resnikov]

I was just about to post that up, just found it. Fancy a go?

Nah not at the moment, got to much else one plus they got a waiting list for newbies.

 

[Ogri the trog]

I think its quite normal for archery clubs to have a waiting time before letting you loose on the field. They'll run regular beginners events or welcome days to teach the etiquette and safety procedures of the shooting line.

Frankly, Mike, I wouldn't spend any cash before you turn up as there may well be kit available through the club or discount available at certain suppliers.

As you said, give them a call.

Ogri the trog

 

[Rod Paradise]

From my experience (Green Hollow Bowmen, Glasgow) Ogri's right. They'll do a beginner's course to make sure you're safe (on the one I was on a woman was eventually turned away - for some reason she just couldn't couldn't pick it up enough to be safe). There was club kit to use & we used some of it (bows/arrows) for a long time before buying our own. Bracers, tabs & quivers once I'd tried a few I decided on what I wanted to use & bought my own fairly early.

I started on a club 40lb bow, moved onto a club 55lb one, then bought a 40lb carriage bow for target, then a 60lb bow for clout. Starting out you don't know how you'll develop so buying bows early isn't the best idea, as I gained in strength & learned to use my shoulders better I could not only handle the heavier bow, but I found I developed a slightly longer draw length - which made a difference to the arrows I bought as well .

 

[mountainm]

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[ateallthepies]

If you go down the route of buying a professionally made longbow then as the others have said first try a club bow to find out your comfortable draw weight. For an average man a longbow of 40-50lbs should produce good repeatable form for several hours at a time. You use a completely new set of muscles loosing a bow than any other sport and if you go too heavy too soon you can do damage that may stay with you forever.

After a while your muscle and tendon strength will increase and you will find the bow you started with will become easy and a joy to shoot all day. There is nowt wrong with sticking to this bow but you may want to increase the weight or try a new discipline and this is where it can become expensive.

As I make my own bows I went up in weight from 50lbs in roughly 10lb increments to 80lbs over roughly a year whereby I hurt my shoulder as it was too soon for me and have gone back down to around 50lbs.

A Bickerstaffe bow is a good choice and cared for will last years. It's just a shame they cost so much. Building your own can reduce this cost a lot. A basic Lemonwood and Hickory Bickerstaffe bow is £295. For this money I could make at least 10 identical longbows and a couple dozen arrows but my labour is free which helps!

Good luck on your archery quest,

Steve.

 

[mountainm]

All signed up on my beginners course. Nice bunch of people at Selby. Really looking forward to it.

 

[Badger74]

Try these for starter longbows.

http://www.archery-centre.co.uk/

http://www.steveralphs.co.uk/alb3.html

I had a Steve Ralph bow and it was fine, i regret selling it on.

 

[Paul72]

Try these for starter longbows.

http://www.archery-centre.co.uk/

http://www.steveralphs.co.uk/alb3.html

I had a Steve Ralph bow and it was fine, i regret selling it on.

My bow is by Steve Ralphs, they are very well made and it's still going strong. You should give him a call, he's a very interesting person to talk to!