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(five House Points to the first person who can tell me what work ideally needs doing before I can shoot it again)
(five House Points to the first person who can tell me what work ideally needs doing before I can shoot it again)
Well, a nocking point might be handy for a start!
The hoovering?
Well, a nocking point might be handy for a start!
Bingo, well spotted. I don't have a square (or the facilities to bow-tune), need to borrow one at some point.
The hoovering?
I totally knew that was coming.
Hoyt Excel 23" riser and Hoyt F7 38lb limbs.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/715/32600364004_812d6d512a_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/715/32600364004_812d6d512a_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/REMors ]Briken Arrow Boar Target and Bow[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/ ]SGMTB[/url], on Flickr
Another...
Hoyt Horizon with Quattro Limbs 32lb.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/634/33443375715_636c7b7222_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/634/33443375715_636c7b7222_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SXh3s8 ]P1410114[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/ ]SGMTB[/url], on Flickr
An old 1954 Falken 38lb. The was given to me a couple of years ago by an old archer who had it new.
Still shoots great and shoots of the shelf.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3864/33060796540_28555cd1fa_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3864/33060796540_28555cd1fa_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SntdZs ]P1360913[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/ ]SGMTB[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2845/33288343622_02813cc24a_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2845/33288343622_02813cc24a_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SHzsP1 ]P1360176[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/ ]SGMTB[/url], on Flickr
That Falcon is gorgeous! I love the soft acceleration those old glass lam bows impart into the arrow, much easier to tune that that harsh snap you get with modern composites.
Cougar, a square edge like a book is perfectly good enough if you've not got a bow square... just remember to fit the bottom nocking point 10-12mm higher than dead square from your arrow rest.
Cougar, a square edge like a book is perfectly good enough if you've not got a bow square... just remember to fit the bottom nocking point 10-12mm higher than dead square from your arrow rest
1cm sounds a bit high to me!
I shoot off my hand so I know when its too low. My rule of thumb is just high enough that the fletch doesn't cut into my hand on release.
I wouldn't go more than 3 or 4 mm above parallel.
But then everybody's different
Great pic redthunder
I wouldn't go more than 3 or 4 mm above parallel.
I always thought the general thinking was between 0.25 and 0.5"... I've still got it marked on my bow square from my recurve days! All those joyful hours shooting bare shafts through sheets of paper...
Seen a couple of YouTube vids lately that say half-an-inch, but as you say, probably depends on the individual, their lose and the bow.
An old 1954 Falken 38lb.
Nice. Same weight as mine too.
I wouldn't go more than 3 or 4 mm above parallel.
That's about what I was taught, though really it should be tuned, paper targets and such. TBH, I was always rubbish so it probably doesn't make much difference.
colournoise - Member
Cougar - Moderator
For a start, you'll need someone to help you how to work out whether you should be shooting left- or right-handed.
Or, left eyed or right eyed.
(I'm sinister but shoot right handed).
I used to shoot at school, but never followed up once I left, although it's something I've often considered it. Still got my bow, a Slazenger IIRC, arrows, bracer, finger guard, etc, and the handed-ness is something that was a bit of an issue, as I'm right-handed, but my dominant eye is my left, and when I used to shoot small-bore rifle I had real problems trying to shoot a right-handed bolt-action rifle with my left eye, so when it comes to using a bow I is confuzed!
There's a forum called Archery Interchange that was set up by a guy I used to shoot with - there's plenty of advice about eye dominance problems...
Although I seem to remember it was struggling for funds so you might have to pay a subscription to join now... worth a look - it's far from rare to have eye/limb dominance arse-about-tit, I'm sure there must be work-arounds.
I know a couple of archers that switched bow-hand after injuries, and eye dominance doesn't seem to be a massive problem for them...
I know a couple of archers that switched bow-hand after injuries, and eye dominance doesn't seem to be a massive problem for them...
Modern coaching orthodoxy (for beginners at least) seems to place all the emphasis on the dominant eye. When I started shooting (in the early 80s) the hand you held the bow in just depended on whether you were right or left handed.
With all the other things that can go wrong as you draw and take a shot, eye dominance is well down on my list of worries.
The work-around I was taught to deal with shooting wrong-eyed was to draw as normal, and just before loosing close your dominant eye for a final tweak.
I do that at the start of the draw to fix the correct sighting image. a quick wink just confirms Im using my correct eye. As long as you dont flap the bow around too much after that it's not a problem. Ive never aimed wrong eyed.
This thread is excellent! Made me remember why I stopped shooting 25 years ago... and I've finally put some of my old gear on the 'bay to help pay for shiny bike things 😉
/stealth for sale ad
I have always followed this method.
http://www.sciencemadesimple.co.uk/activity-blogs/left_or_right_eyed
You can also draw back the apperture with both eyes open and it should land on your dominant eye.
Might help some you here 🙂
...
As for so called instinctive shooting (I think everyone adopts a kind of hybrid affair of instinctive, gap, luck etc.)
Look at the target and nothing more and loose. Aim small, miss small. Anything longer than about 40yards for myself I have to start looking for mark higher up the target or a point in the trees above. And use you Hunting Tackle vision mode ;).....and both eyes open.
I dont think there are many so called instivive archers who can shoot truly instictive beyond 50yards and be accurate and consistant.
Ps shooting hunting tackle, that is.
Pps Im shooting tomorrow, hopefully...I'll try the 12 arrow minute challenge. Or how many arrows I have in the quiver anyway.
Not sure this is entirely in the spirit of the forum, but what the heck. Marksman Imperial with arrows and bits n bats. Only one on ebay. Open to offers!
When my portland 2000 is found, I'll be selling that as well...
Took my new bow into the wood this morning for a first try - a bit of stump shooting. Being the first time I've shot in anger for a few years, and being the first time shooting bare bow for a few decades, I was rather pleased with my results.
I would say now that my aiming was almost 100% instinctive - I didn't have any "sight marks" to go off, but I was within a foot of my targets from the first arrow! I even managed to Robin Hood a nock on the first end at around 30 yards.
Tried a selection of 'stumps' at approximately 20, 35 and 65 yards. First impressions of the Ragim bow are that it's incredibly fast for the poundage (35lb so around 38 on the fingers). It's whisper quiet and lots of fun! I was amazed at how flat the trajectory was at the longer distance with all my arrows going above the target on the longest stump.
The POC shafts felt nicest, but my old indoor training arrows - Easton Platinum Plus - were noticeably faster and grouped tighter. I think I need to put some brighter feathers on them!
One other observation, the smell of damp POC shafts... Wow! Took me straight back to being an 8 year old when I went to Archery World in Preston to get my birthday present of 6 arrows!!!
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/604/33297225622_664583712f.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/604/33297225622_664583712f.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
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This pic shows some of the new steps I finished this weekend - they make life a lot easier!
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3761/33297228632_a506e947ff.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3761/33297228632_a506e947ff.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
I have always followed this method.
The way I was shown was broadly the same. Make a pinhole / small hole in a sheet of A4, hold it at arm's length (both hands) and focus on a distant object. Bring it towards your face and you'll end up at your dominant eye. Repeat a few times to be certain.
Anything longer than about 40yards for myself I have to start looking for mark higher up the target or a point in the trees above.
That's your Point Blank range (not right on top of it as everyone thinks).
And use you Hunting Tackle vision mode 😉
Yay, another HTer.
the smell of damp POC shafts... Wow!
It's very distinctive, isn't it. I remember getting some little pencils once (like the ones they have in places like Argos) that smelled the same; I went "oh, cedar" and folk looked at me like I was some sort of tree-sniffing [s] freak [/s] expert.
Would love to see some of your longbows Harry, it's something I fancy doing... I've got some good straight ash bows tht I'd like to have a try with...
Pleased to oblige:
Triple laminate, bamboo/maple/lemonwood:
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8024/29528636782_2f18b3d653_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8024/29528636782_2f18b3d653_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/LZkYXh ]2016-09-12_09-02-04[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/48658534@N08/ ]Cyber-frog[/url], on Flickr
Primitive ash flatbow made from wood collected from local woodland:
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8093/29639408045_148d12b16c_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8093/29639408045_148d12b16c_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Ma8HoD ]2016-09-12_09-01-24[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/48658534@N08/ ]Cyber-frog[/url], on Flickr
Double laminate, Hickory and lemonwood:
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8202/29015200413_c6e1dea92c_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8202/29015200413_c6e1dea92c_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/LcYud6 ]2016-09-12_09-03-34[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/48658534@N08/ ]Cyber-frog[/url], on Flickr
I've been meaning to put some of my archery stuff up on the 'last thing you've made' thread for a while now....
Those look fantastic! What is ash like as a self-bow material? Quite fancy having a go at one of those some time...
Liking your range 🙂
You need one of these... 🙂
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/595/33443374865_94242daf81_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/595/33443374865_94242daf81_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SXh3ct ]P1410056[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/ ]SGMTB[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3755/33443375275_74a9bd80a6_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3755/33443375275_74a9bd80a6_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SXh3jx ]P1410070[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/ ]SGMTB[/url], on Flickr
2m wide and 1m tall.
@richs
I guess this bow..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marksman-Imperial-recurve-bow-plus-arrows-and-archery-kit-/112333082796?hash=item1a2792d0ac:g:uVAAAOSwXYtYxb~c
Hunting Tackle Vision (TM) 😉
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/730/33443374505_3fdbebd209_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/730/33443374505_3fdbebd209_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SXh36g ]P1410044[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/ ]SGMTB[/url], on Flickr
Hah, ace. Nice shooting (so to speak).
I think that's how a lot of drivers see the road, TBH.
@richs
I guess this bow..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marksman-Imperial-recurve-bow-plus-arrows-and-archery-kit-/112333082796?hash=item1a2792d0ac:g:uVAAAOSwXYtYxb~c
Yup. Bargain, even if I say so myself.
That marksman is nice but I'd be careful , it's not got ILS fittings so you'll struggle to upgrade the limbs due to the fitting on the riser, plus at 66" is will stack like a git once you start to draw past 28".
I think you'd struggle to go wrong with one of the Korean risers that have come out in the last few years, light limbs to work on form and you can then swap these out as you look for better sightmarks outdoors after a year or so.
Love the initials on the score book - is that what you write in it? 😉
Those look fantastic! What is ash like as a self-bow material? Quite fancy having a go at one of those some time...
Ash is ok, it sometimes gets a bad rep but it's inexpensive readily available and will make a perfectly adequate bow. For those reasons it's ideal to start with. You can even make an English longbow that conforms to all the rules and costs almost nothing in wood! My first longbows were like this, around 45 lbs from a 76" bow is not high performance but 5 years down the line they are still in one piece. I'd suggest starting with a flat bow made from commercial timber to start with though as it's easier to tiller a flat bow and the design is little more forgiving of errors. You can also go straight to making and skip all the tedious seasoning stuff.
The ash bow in the pic up there was a bit more involved as it's from a local coppice and is complete with knots, curved back and a wibbly profile! I made that to prove to myself I could do it! It shoots well though.
I'd recommend having a go at making a bow, it's very satisfying to shoot with something you've made with your own hands.
That marksman is nice but I'd be careful , it's not got ILS fittings so you'll struggle to upgrade the limbs due to the fitting on the riser, plus at 66" is will stack like a git once you start to draw past 28".I think you'd struggle to go wrong with one of the Korean risers that have come out in the last few years, light limbs to work on form and you can then swap these out as you look for better sightmarks outdoors after a year or so.
Have a word with yourself. It's twenty quid for everything! Fully expect to get less than a ton for it all. In beginner recurve world that's a wooden handled kit bow, and I bet you advise new riders that carbon rimmed 27.5ers are future proof and make the trails come alive 😉
@hamishthecat lols! My mum's kit. Never thought about her initials until you said it!
This pic shows some of the new steps I finished this weekend - they make life a lot easier!
Far posher than anything I've ever seen at a shoot
I dont think there are many so called instivive archers who can shoot truly instictive beyond 50yards and be accurate and consistant.
Probably because they rarely practice at that distance
I'd recommend having a go at making a bow,
Incidentally, do home-made bows fall foul of any sort of regulations? Like, if I rocked up at a shoot with an "I Made This" bow would anyone care or would it be "no chance sunbeam, health and safety innit"?
Have a word with yourself. It's twenty quid for everything! Fully expect to get less than a ton for it all. In beginner recurve world that's a wooden handled kit bow, and I bet you advise new riders that carbon rimmed 27.5ers are future proof and make the trails come alive
LoL legend!!
I've just seen too many people rush out and get cheap kit that doesn't suit them! You get all sorts of long term form issues from being over bowed, not to mention a poor release due to fingers being pinched by the string angle.
As for new riders....always a plus bike with boost rear end.... 😉
You get all sorts of long term form issues from being over bowed
Plus there's an element of willy-waving, like people going bowling casually who go straight for the cannonballs. Sure, you can draw a big daft bow; will you still be drawing it with the same enthusiasm six hours later?
It used to be a bit of a running joke at my club. One of the Strong-Like-Bull archers had some silly weight compound bow, when the new starter wannabe Rambos turned up he'd give it to them to try and they wouldn't get anywhere near drawing it. Then he'd give it to me, a 9-stone 14-year old, and I'd pop it to full draw (partly muscles in the right places but largely technique) and give it back. What we never told them was, I could almost certainly have only done it once.
Incidentally, do home-made bows fall foul of any sort of regulations?
Nope, no regulation as such. The bow will have to comply with the rules governing the specific bow type though, realistically this means any home made bows in the UK used at a target shoot are most likely to be Longbows. Barebow is possible but unlikely to be competitive with modern manufactured kit.
home made bows in the UK used at a target shoot are most likely to be Longbows.
Nowt wrong with homemade kit but be careful if you want to be competitive though. Nobody would stop you shooting, but if you rock up expecting to win, need to be sure your kit complies with the category you think you are shooting in.
There are quite strict definitions of what constitutes a longbow, and the rules differ slightly between different governing bodies.
For instance, I have a 100% bamboo longbow that is fine for GNAS target shooting but would probably be lumped under hunting tackle in NFAS as their rules say there must be some wood used in a longbows construction (bamboo being a grass).
as their rules say there must be some wood used in a longbows construction (bamboo being a grass).
Jesus, and I thought cyclists were pedantic!!
@councilof10
Liking your range
Cheers, had another half hour this morning shooting stumps so I'm getting a feel for where targets could go.
The ground is heavy clay that hardly dries out in summer, and as you can see, there are lots of steep embankments... My idea is to dig out some meter-wide squares to give me an almost-vertical target so I can just shoot at clay/soil. I could them mount some faces on canvas-backed carpet and hang them in my recesses when I'm having a proper shoot.
Do you think that would work? The carpet would give a flat surface for the target paper and the clay would stop the arrows... I can just bin the carpet squares if they get shot out, and they'll be easy to carry/store in the dry.
Can't beat carpeted recesses when you need something to aim at.
Jesus, and I thought cyclists were pedantic!!
Oh, it gets worse that that...
Just under GNAS/Archery GB rules:
A longbow can have a sighting mark/band for target shoots but not for field. It can be bamboo backed for most shoots but not for flight shooting. Bamboo can be used in the bow but not in the arrows. Longbows must be over 66" long except when they can be as short as 60" long (if your arrows are less than 26"). A longbow limb thickness must be at least 5/8th its width and its cross section is typically 'D' shaped except this isn't properly defined and so any shape is technically actually allowed*. Horn nocks must be used, but are not required for flight shooting.
I can keep giving examples like this all day!
*(BTW if making an Ash longbow as suggested up there ^ I'd not do a 'D' section as it puts a lot of compressive strain on the wood and Ash doesn't do well in this situation.)
There's a helluva lot to be said for loading up the quiver, wandering round the wood and shooting at stumps and clumps!
I *quite liked* the level of geekery involved with my old GNAS club, but you've really got to be mustard to carry on enjoying it... I found it interesting while I was learning, but when I started to hear the same old anecdotes repeated ad nauseum, I knew I'd had enough!
I won this one :-)... rib cutter, during today's shoot.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/652/33477195155_f8fb7fef9d_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/652/33477195155_f8fb7fef9d_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/T1gnMV ]Jason and the Argonauts - Broken Arrow Target[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/ ]SGMTB[/url], on Flickr
and only managed 8 arrows in 52 seconds...12 might might be pushing it for me.
Incidentally, do home-made bows fall foul of any sort of regulations? Like, if I rocked up at a shoot with an "I Made This" bow would anyone care or would it be "no chance sunbeam, health and safety innit"?
NFAS have a primitive class, the best archers are still good and the scores high
Just under GNAS/Archery GB rules:
A longbow can have a sighting mark/band for target shoots but not for field. It can be bamboo backed for most shoots but not for flight shooting. Bamboo can be used in........
Which is why the NFAS a boon a lot less rules and those generally sensible
The ground is heavy clay that hardly dries out in summer, and as you can see, there are lots of steep embankments... My idea is to dig out some meter-wide squares to give me an almost-vertical target so I can just shoot at clay/soil. I could them mount some faces on canvas-backed carpet and hang them in my recesses when I'm having a proper shoot.
I'd watch out for digging down and getting close to stone or buried roots