Archery

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Who here shoots? What bow do you have, what equipment do you use?

I have a Martin X-200 Recurve, as seen here.




It's only a 45# draw weight, but it pulls evenly and smoothly, and shoots far. It's very accurate, and I really enjoy shooting with it. I use wood arrows, and no other equipment, though I might be looking into a quiver soon. It's a little annoying carrying around arrows by hand.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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We have plans...no dreams...no no long term plans with some friends to gather and learn it the Ottoman way. There are people practising it, from the making of the composite bow on.
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[Fragony]

.and learn it the Ottoman way.

That's easy is called missing.

Why use wooden arrow Edyz EmfM? Titanium all the way, ultralight and will shoot right through a steel plate.

[Dutch_guy]

Why use wooden arrow Edyz?

Wrong person Frag.

[Sigurd]

I did archery when I was .. eh.. younger.

I can't remember the specifics but I know it was a longbow (as in not composite or recurve) and I think it was a King bow. I had both wooden arrows and steel tipped carbon arrows. I personally liked the carbon arrows as they went farther and was more accurate.

I don't think it matters what the shaft is made of, but the carbon arrows were slimmer and it had a screw-on steel tip as in opposite to my wooden arrows with a soft metal (tin?) wrapped around the wood tip.
I bet you could get titanium tips for wooden shafts today...

Hmm, to bad I have no sons. Maybe one of my daughters would be interested in archery? It would be the perfect excuse to take up the sport again.

[Sigurd]

I use wood arrows, and no other equipment, though I might be looking into a quiver soon. It's a little annoying carrying around arrows by hand.

Heh, you dont use a wrist protector? I remember not using one when I started archery. If I pulled the cord as far as the arrow allowed, it would slap into my wrist and it really hurt. I don't think I had a 45 lb draw weight. I Imagine a more powerful bow would hurt more.

[Mouzafphaerre]

That's easy is called missing.

Why use wooden arrow Edyz EmfM? Titanium all the way, ultralight and will shoot right through a steel plate.

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There are two techniques: One is concerned with throwing as far as possible; the other is about hitting the target. I may post a couple of pictures showing one of the last native practicers doing both but first I'll have to get them...
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[Fragony]

Was just being a nuissance

Turkish archers are legendary, an able archer was supposed to fire 5 arrows in 2 seconds and hit their target, while riding a horse

[Kekvit Irae]

I used to go to archery tournaments. I used a shortbow. Longbows and recurves were too cumbersome for me, and compounds are for no-skill pansies.

[TosaInu]

Hello Evil_Maniac From Mars,

I do. Horse/shortbows, flatbow, recurve and compound.

I used to go to archery tournaments. I used a shortbow. Longbows and recurves were too cumbersome for me, and compounds are for no-skill pansies.

Compound requires different skills. It looks easy, but it's certainly not a walk in the park.

[macsen rufus]

I was thinking just the other day it would be nice to get back into it, but I guess I'd need to find a good club/range nearby as I've moved since I was last in a club. More eagerness than skill on my part, but I did enjoy it immensely. Field courses were my favourite, rather than an indoor range, but I guess you have to take what's on offer. I'd love to try a traditional English longbow, but the draw would be well beyond me right now.... it seems to be in the blood to some degree, my dad made his own longbow when he was young.

[Orda Khan]

I use a Kassai Hun and so does my wife. I make all our wooden arrows (carbon is a swear word) and I also make leather quivers.



Mouzafphaerre
There are some fine archers using traditional equipment in Turkey, you really should give it a try. I've seen some amazing bows crafted by these individuals, either flight or target

.....Orda

[TosaInu]

I'd love to try a traditional English longbow, but the draw would be well beyond me right now.... it seems to be in the blood to some degree, my dad made his own longbow when he was young.

Hello macsen rufus,

Any bow is available in any drawweight (within limits). If you mean over 90# by traditional, anyone may need a workout first. However, one 90# draw is not the other (just like some 50 F days feel colder than others).

http://bickerstaffebows.co.uk/products.php?id=Standard

You'll find longbows up to 35# maximum (granted that's re-enactment stuff, but still functional), up to 60# (typically 30-60 range) and over 60#.

Grozer makes 30-90 range longbows too http://www.grozerarchery.com/htm/long/longbow.htm

It's often possible to have some customisation when ordering with a bowyer (say you want it at only 20 lbs).

One will have to learn the ins and outs first. Starting with a lower drawweight and then gradually increase that when getting stronger (30, 50, 70, 90, 110..).

[Tristuskhan]

I broke my homemade yew longbow last summer (a pity, I waited for five years for it to be dry and stable). Now I understand why yew that grew in atlantic climate was not used in the middle ages and why bowmakers used Italian or Spanish yew. I still have one long and fine yew branch drying, but it's gonna wait for long before I dare using it.

Until then I use a basic leisure bow (quite an huge one).

[TosaInu]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPKg...eature=related

[Fragony]

Quite a popular sport here as it turns out, got a bow and shot it a few times but it was something I got because someone owed me some money and bows>money especially when they can be dissassembled and put in a small suitcase it makes you feel like James Bond. Shooting it is easy, pull string and arrow goes where you point it (and through things oh yeah, heard it has same exit speed as an 9mm bullet) assembling it is hell can't do it alone at least.

[TosaInu]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKa8...eature=related

[TosaInu]

Shooting it is easy, pull string and arrow goes where you point it (and through things oh yeah, heard it has same exit speed as an 9mm bullet) assembling it is hell can't do it alone at least.

Something like this at 1:33 Fragony? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzss...eature=related

[Fragony]

Something like this at 1:33 Fragony? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzss...eature=related

Well I could probably hit that kid from the same distance if that's what you mean.

[TosaInu]

Sorry, 99.9% off topic and still: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqhm...eature=related

[edyzmedieval]

Was just being a nuissance

No need to be, I shoot myself.

Lightweight, and sometimes wood, and these are the school's bows. Will buy a pro one for my birthday, as I'm fond of this sport. Compound is really hard to pull when you start it, but then it's easy. It requires good aim though, as it's a powerful and mean curved little thing.

[Husar]

Never even had one in my hand, but someone(Orda?) posted this here a while ago and it's quite interesting.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

That's easy is called missing.

Why use wooden arrow Edyz EmfM? Titanium all the way, ultralight and will shoot right through a steel plate.

Wood is more traditional, and I like the feel. For target shooting I prefer wood. For hunting I will without a doubt use titanium.

I did archery when I was .. eh.. younger.

I can't remember the specifics but I know it was a longbow (as in not composite or recurve) and I think it was a King bow. I had both wooden arrows and steel tipped carbon arrows. I personally liked the carbon arrows as they went farther and was more accurate.

I don't think it matters what the shaft is made of, but the carbon arrows were slimmer and it had a screw-on steel tip as in opposite to my wooden arrows with a soft metal (tin?) wrapped around the wood tip.
I bet you could get titanium tips for wooden shafts today...

Hmm, to bad I have no sons. Maybe one of my daughters would be interested in archery? It would be the perfect excuse to take up the sport again.

Wood shafts warp more easily, and require more care, but I like them just for the traditional value.

There's no excuse needed to take up archery again. It gets you in the outdoors, keeps you strong (lots of pulling), and is a wonderful relaxant.

Heh, you dont use a wrist protector? I remember not using one when I started archery. If I pulled the cord as far as the arrow allowed, it would slap into my wrist and it really hurt. I don't think I had a 45 lb draw weight. I Imagine a more powerful bow would hurt more.

The secret is to keep your arm bent outward. You don't get slapped very often, and, besides, I usually wear durable, but not too loose, sweatshirts and tops when I shoot. I have shot longbows before, and, using the same technique, it works alright. My worst concern is, as I shoot Mediterranean draw, the inside of my fingers on my right hand bruise from holding the string, which means I'm looking into leather gloves for my right hand.

Hello Evil_Maniac From Mars,

I do. Horse/shortbows, flatbow, recurve and compound.

What bows do you use? It sounds like you're really in love with the sport.

I use a Kassai Hun and so does my wife. I make all our wooden arrows (carbon is a swear word) and I also make leather quivers.


.....Orda

I was really hoping to get a word in here from you, as I gather that you're quite the excellent archer. I've been looking into a Hun or Mongol bow myself, actually, but I'll need to wait until I have the money.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Frag, you don't have to try too hard! But that rate sounds really legendary.

Orda Khan, if you could point any (with contact info) we'll be indebted.
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[Csargo]

When I was younger I used to be able to shoot a bow. I haven't shot a bow in years though.

[Xehh II]

I made my own bow, piece of crap but it's good enough for me.

[Orda Khan]

Thanks Evil_Maniac From Mars ... not sure I'd say excellent but I do OK.

My Kassai Hun is 45# which is plenty strong enough. Shooting Field Courses requires some energetic hiking, shooting three arrows at twenty four targets over roughly six hours and then repeating it the following day. A weight that can cast well without tiring the archer is ideal and, of course, can vary with each archer. GNAS competitions put a safety cap of 60# on bows.

Like a Longbow, this type of bow requires shooting 'around the bow', otherwise known as the archers paradox. Arrow spine becomes more noticeably important than it would when shooting through the window of a modern riser. Because of this, expect to see your accuracy drop, at least until you become used to it and/or find the ideal arrow set up for the bow.

That photo is my latest quiver and the last dozen arrows I made for myself. They are all spine and weight matched ...40# spine, 400gr in weight, with 100gr brass bullet piles and 5.5" fletchings, hand cut to low profile.

If you are considering a 'horse bow' then I'd definitely recommend Kassai's Hun, it really is a wonderful thing to shoot.

www.eastern-archery.com Plenty to see here

.......Orda

[TosaInu]

What bows do you use? It sounds like you're really in love with the sport.

-This is the 60# Crimean Tartar replica (fibreglass, wood and leather), I use 32" wooden arrows with that.



-A Mongol/Chinese bow and 37" arrows like this one http://www.grozerarchery.com/htm/mongol/mongol.htm 25# at 28", 40# at 36" (thumbdraw).

Both are static recurves.


-A 35# Samick fibreglass Korean horsebow, a dynamic recurve. Using 32" carbon.

-I don't know the brand of the flatbow, it's 40#, several layers of wood, top fibre laminated and has a window. Shoots 32" wood.

-I purchased the compound when I was a teenager, it's only 20 lbs. It can still handle 32" carbon and I use it at times.

-Another 'toy' is a bamboo flatbow (Bärentöter is the brand I think). It's also very old and even 40" draw won't get more than ~5# out of it. Shoots 40" wood.

-I've also used several other bows (recently), ranging from a crude branch of a tree, compound (still just ~50lbs model from wayback) and modern recurves (20#-45#) with stabilisers, sights and the whole lot.

I prefer barebow (especially thumb). Doesn't need much time to assemble/disassemble, no worry about refitting parts (compound and sometimes modern recurve), no adjusting sights, no uncooperative parts to 'blame', just me, a stick, a string and not yet broken arrows.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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That's a beauty TosaInu-sama.
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[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I can't remember who said that the Martin was "only" a 45# bow, which it is, without a doubt, but a lighter draw weight also increases stability in the shot, and with a good bow design, can shoot as well as something heavier.