Recurve bow question

[Quagmire]

I currently have a cheap crossbow same as this one


It is very powerful, and seems solid (nice wood stock etc), but is very heavy, and the sights aren't great. Plus its a sod to string! Fired it a few times in the garden, at some old peat grow bags in the garden, thinking it would stop an arrow. It went straight through these, through the fence, into the neighbours garden. Luckily they weren't home at the time!

Anyway, I'm looking at getting rid of this (probably sell it to one of my mates), and getting a recurve bow.

A question to any archers out there, what is a good draw weight for bows (that could be used for hunting for instance?)
I was looking at the Armex Olympic Recurve (think its up to 40lb draw), I'm a young(ish) man, average build and average strength.

Would this be a good all-rounder bow?

Cheers.

[Carrot Cruncher]

Sounds ok, looking on some of the US Bow Hunting sites they often take big game with low draw weight bows (using the right arrow heads). Remember, hunting with a bow or xbow is ilegal in the UK

If you haven't shot bows before you might well find that a 40lb bow will be a struggle to draw and shoot consistantly unless you know how to draw the bow correctly using your back and shoulders, not just your arms.

The best advice I could give you is to find an Archery Club in your area and sign up for their beginners course (around £45). They will teach you the basics and you will get the chance to try out lots of different bow types and draw weights. You might also be able to pick up some good second hand kit, you will definitely be able to get good advice.

It sounds like a boring answer but doing a beginners course really is the best way (unless you know an experienced Archer who can show you the ropes). Most people can shoot a crossbow ok with minimal instruction, but a bow has a lot more variables that can affect the accuracy and consistancy of your shooting

If you can find a Field Archery Club near you then that is even better.

[Red Doe]

I wouldn't give up on the crossbow yet (she says, being the proud owner of two)
Use an airgun or rifle sight on it, will work a treat and make a big difference.
Look for a rope pull, the cheapest method to allow you draw the crossbow easily.
Don't worry about it's range, it's built for power after all!
Recurves, if you've never shot one before try a 34lb given your stats, easy enough to draw but powerful enough to take down any meat (in a SHTF scenario of course) and can be broken down for transport.

[Quagmire]

I've been looking at the Samick Polaris, seems to be a popular choice. Seems it's top power is around 36lbs.

In theory, would that be enough to hunt (say deer) with?
(yes, I know hunting is illegal in the UK, but it's a theortical question)

Thanks

[Carrot Cruncher]

Your best bet is to go and have a look at some of the US or Oz Bow Hunting forums as they will have plenty of experienced hunters to give you advice.

Dont go and ask on a general UK forum like Archery Interchange (one of the biggest UK ones), just the mention of Broadheads brings the natives out in a flurry of indignation

[Quagmire]

Probably going to go for a cheap 55 lb compound, not going to spend loads on some fancy hi-tec target shooter.

On a side note, has anyone got good ideas for good practice targets? I'm sure I heard somewhere that an old hessian sack jammed with old tesco carrier bags are quite good arrow catchers.

PS, this would be an awesome 'preppers bow!' lol

[Carrot Cruncher]

Compound Bows are more accurate and more powerful than Recurves, but also require a lot more maintainance and adjustment to keep shooting accurately, lots of things to go wrong. The standard joke at the club I belonged to was that you can always tell who the compound archers were.....they were the ones stood at the table adjusting their bows

In my opinion (and it is only an opinion, lots of people swear by their compound bows) from a prepping point of view the simpler the better. The simplest would be a "Self Bow" like some Longbows etc, very little to go wrong but not as accurate as either a Recurve or Compound. A Recurve is imo a good compromise between the simplicity of the Self Bow and the accuracy of a Compound Bow.

One plus for a Compound Bow is that (as far as i'm aware, i've never owned one) you can leave it stringed for extended periods when not in use, unlike the "good practice" for recurve and self bows

[Quagmire]

I sold my old xbow to a friend and got a new one off bladesandbows.co.uk which was on special in the end.

Got the 150lb instead of the 175lb, as spare parts for the 150lb are more readily available, and 175lb would be a bitch to cock each time. Plus, I don't need that power to take down a bison lol

[Technik]

Compound Bows are more accurate and more powerful than Recurves, but also require a lot more maintainance and adjustment to keep shooting accurately, lots of things to go wrong. The standard joke at the club I belonged to was that you can always tell who the compound archers were.....they were the ones stood at the table adjusting their bows

In my opinion (and it is only an opinion, lots of people swear by their compound bows) from a prepping point of view the simpler the better. The simplest would be a "Self Bow" like some Longbows etc, very little to go wrong but not as accurate as either a Recurve or Compound. A Recurve is imo a good compromise between the simplicity of the Self Bow and the accuracy of a Compound Bow.

One plus for a Compound Bow is that (as far as i'm aware, i've never owned one) you can leave it stringed for extended periods when not in use, unlike the "good practice" for recurve and self bows

I agree with the above.

I've signed up for an archery course with my oh and will be starting next month, can't wait

[Carrot Cruncher]

Good man, let us know how you get on.