Archery

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I started out shooting longbow style. It takes some time to get the hang of the aim but it can be done.

They are not exactly high tech. Modern Compound bows may match their power, or come close but that is a whole other beast. It is like comparing sundials with digital clock-radios. They both have the same function but they reach it in totally different way.

A longbow is what you make when you don't have the technology to make a recurve bow, when you release a recurve the string accelerates, on a D bow it decelerates, so you get the same power for lower draw weight with a recurve. The main historical advantage of a longbow was every farmer and his sheep having one.

[Togakure]

I haven't since my teen years, but enjoyed it when I did. I worked at a summer camp for 12 weeks a summer over three summers, and there learned archery basics, and eventually, taught archery basics to kids and teens. My most memorable moment was after demonstrating a shot at the target. As I was talking, one of the girls screamed and pointed at the target. Blood was dripping down it. I checked, and unfortunately there was a good-sized lizard behind the plastic, skewered. Guys thumbs up, gals thumbs down. That same lizard ended up served to me hidden in a mug of tea, but that's another story (and no, they were not successful in getting me to drink before noticing).

Summer camp: ya gotta love it.

[Vuk]

This summer I am pulling the carriage spring off an old truck of mine, and am cutting off some of the frame. I plan on making an 800 lb + draw, come-along spanned steel crossbow (mostly out of truck parts, with some steel cable and a come-along from the hardware store) and some steel spikes for it (bolt is not the correct word).
It won't be as heavy as it sounds...probably only 80-100 lbs, so it should still be very portable. Basically I want a portable siege machine. If I build it successfully, I will put up pictures.

[Tuuvi]

A longbow is what you make when you don't have the technology to make a recurve bow, when you release a recurve the string accelerates, on a D bow it decelerates, so you get the same power for lower draw weight with a recurve. The main historical advantage of a longbow was every farmer and his sheep having one.

What I read in the Traditional Bowyer's Bible is that longbows and recurves perform well for the same reason, they have a high string angle. Straight short bows generally are less efficient, can't be drawn as far and are uncomfortable to shoot because the limbs are put under a lot of strain when they're fully drawn. Recurving the limbs fixes these problems, so basically, recurving is what you do to the limbs of a short bow to make it perform like a long bow.

I think it may be true that recurve bows have a little bit of an advantage over longbows in arrow speed, but longbows are more accurate and are quieter (which is an advantage while hunting). To me it seems that longbows and recurves are basically equals.

[edyzmedieval]

That's basically the idea behind a yew longbow for me, although the effort is great, the reward is worth it. I saw demonstrations on YouTube with a yew longbow and looks more interesting that just pulling the string on a composite/carbon bow.

I wouldn't mind shooting a strong crossbow either but in many places I think it's illegal.

[Fragony]

Attaching some stabilisers will make a recurve much easier. Should be able to hit anything within 30 meters first time you shoot it. A titanian arrow is just going to fly through anything in it's way, it's very light but it will pierce through absolutely anything

[edyzmedieval]

Anyone tried shooting with a natural composite bow? (made from natural materials, without any technological advances such as fiberglass and carbon)