Well I went and did it…

[Rocks]

#3364

As you might know I’m new to trad archery. I ordered a bow from Montana Bows, it’s completed and paid for and should be delivered to my house in the next week or so.

Unfortunately I am at work on a drilling rig a few hundred miles from home. Will be here for the next 3-6 weeks depending on how the job goes. So today I had a few hours off, and decided to head to the nearest town which has a good sporting goods store. My goal was to get some accesories for my soon to be arriving bow. Which I did, picking out a bow quiver, some string silencers, and a nocking tool. Had a look at the limited selection of trad bows they had, got a demonstration on how to use a bow stringer, paid for my purchases and went out to the truck.

I sat there for a few minutes, letting the truck warm up, thinking about the bows in the I had just looked at. Right then I suddenly decided I was going back in a getting myself one of those bows!

So I did. I picked out a 40#@28 Martin Venom longbow, it’s an ugly green, blue and tan riser with a light colored back, and black front. But the only 40 lber they had. The one I liked was 50#, but I want a practice bow… I figure that I need a light weight draw bow to practice with while I’m stuck out here at work until Christmas to work on those bow muscles, until I finally get to try out the 53# bow I ordered.

Got six Easton ST Epic 500’s with 125 field points, set and nocked the bow in the store, cut the arrows at 30″ (29 1/4″ draw), they had a short target range, I shot at five and ten yards, bow and arrows were shooting good, so I paid for it and here I am, back at work, with a bow, arrows and a target.

I know what I’ll be doing for a couple hours a day for the next few weeks, shooting my “first” trad bow. It was funny, when I shot it in the store it immediately brought back memories of shooting the fiberglass longbow I shot as a teenager over 30 years ago, and felt GOOD.

Anyways, just wanted to share that, any comments or advice for a newbie welcome!

[Mark Turton]

#19587

Hi Rocks

Congratulations on your purchase, looking at bows is a little like ‘just going to see some pups’, you know you won’t be able to resist. Good move with the lighter bow allows those muscles to become accustomed to the action of drawing the bow.

Only suggestions I can make are don’t overdo, it little and often, be consistent with your anchor etc. and have fun.

Mark.

[David Petersen]

#19594

Right on, Rocks! One in the bag, another in the mail! Now that’s excitement! I’d expect that sporting good store will be selling more bows soon — to your work pals there who see you shooting! Mark’s puppy analogy is perfect, and his practice advice is good. Expect some string stretch as you break the bow in, which may require putting in a few more twists to keep the nocking point at the same elevation in relation to the arrow shelf. Think I’ll go outside and sling a few myself! dave 😀

[Patrick]

#19628

Sweet! No time like the present!

I know I’m going to start sounding like a parrot here, repeating myself incessantly, nevertheless…

I know I’m going to start sounding like a parrot here, repeating myself incessantly, nevertheless…

(sorry for bad joke 😀 )Anyway…

Do yourself a HUGE favor and buy Jay Kidwell’s book “Instinctive Archery Insights” (revised edition). It will put you on the right course when it comes to shooting instinctively.

Just an example: shooting at LONG distances (100 – 200 yards) will imprint the hold for correct windage into your subconscious, so that it will no longer be a variable. Those long distances greatly exagerate any error in your left/right hold.
(Im paraphrasing of course, there’s more to it than that, but that gives a good snippit)

[Buckhorn73]

#19645

Hey, Rocks, Congratulations. You are now “hooked”. I still have the fancy solid fibreglass green bow of 15 pounds or so, I started shooting with 55 years ago. I’ve now gone through umpteen recurves and longbows to attain that perfect setup and still looking. BUT, the secret is – I’m still shooting.

[David Petersen]

#19910

Patrick — first I’ve heard of the Kidwell book. Very intriguing, judging by the sample you offer. Tell us more, please! Like, where can we get it? Dave

[Patrick]

#20009

David Petersen wrote: Patrick — first I’ve heard of the Kidwell book. Very intriguing, judging by the sample you offer. Tell us more, please! Like, where can we get it? Dave

I bought it at the sporting goods store I buy my traditional equipment from. I was shocked that they had it (none of the employees knew they had it). It’s available here too:
http://www.amazon.com/Instinctive-Archery-Insights-Jay-Kidwell/dp/0963971824

I’m reluctant to give further examples out of fear I will not do it justice. Nevertheless, another example:
Along with shooting long distances to learn windage, long distance shooting will also assist with learning the arrows trajectory, and imprinting that into your subconscious as well. When shooting ALL of your focus should be on the target. When you release, part of your follow-through should include a SLIGHT focus shift to accomodate your arrow as it arcs toward the target. The trajectory does NOT change in relation to your hold/arm when you shoot at closer ranges. The arrow is simply stopped short of it’s full arc by hitting the ground or target.
That part somewhat reminded me of Byron Ferguson’s book “Become the Arrow”, but MUCH better!!!

Also: When you miss the target, don’t consider it a negative. Every miss, just as every bullseye, is a lesson learned.

Incidently, my wife is singing both ours and the Canadian National Anthems tommorow at the Saginaw Spirits hockey game. I’ve been inundating her with info from that same book to help her keep focused and confident. As Kidwell says, “Preparation breeds confidence and confidence breeds success”

[Rocks]

#20139

Thanks for the comments and advice all. I shot for a couple hours today. Just had fun with it, shooting at different ranges between 18-30 yards. Shot some pretty decent groups and everything felt good :D.

I did check my brace height after I finished, I had lost 3/8″, so gave her a few twists and got it back up to what I started at.

Looking at making up some hunting arrows for this bow, the only decent broadheads I can find near here are 160 gr Zwickey Eskimos, might try them out, may as well practice with broadheads. Anyone ever use them?

How cool is that your wife is singing the anthems at the game Patrick… nice!! I’ll definitely check out that book. I have a copy of the DVD Masters of the Barebow Vol 2, just started watching it.

Thanks again for the advice fellas!

[Author]

Posts