Which is faster a Long bow or a Recurve bow?

[ToddRvs]

#5074

Given the same draw weight, same draw length, same arrow weight, which bow would shoot a faster arrow. I ask this question because I am building a new bow and I am deciding between a recurve and long bow.

My last long bow was 66 inches long and when it was strung had a length of 63 inches, Brace height was 6 1/4 inches rated at 41.6 pounds at 28 inches ( I actually draw 29 1/2 inches so at my actual draw length the bow was drawing 47 pounds) I was using a 467 grain arrow and through a chronograph set 10 feet in front of the bow I recorded a very respectable arrow speed of 181 FPS.

Can I expect the same or better from a recurve with the same draw and draw weight. Also does backing a bow actually increase it’s speed or just it’s strength.

[Cottonwood]

#36946

Having both, I feel I get more speed from the recurve. 8)

[Steve Branson]

#36963

same poundage and same arrow, recurve technically should be faster.

[Holten101]

#36969

ToddRvs wrote: Given the same draw weight, same draw length, same arrow weight, which bow would shoot a faster arrow. I ask this question because I am building a new bow and I am deciding between a recurve and long bow.

My last long bow was 66 inches long and when it was strung had a length of 63 inches, Brace height was 6 1/4 inches rated at 41.6 pounds at 28 inches ( I actually draw 29 1/2 inches so at my actual draw length the bow was drawing 47 pounds) I was using a 467 grain arrow and through a chronograph set 10 feet in front of the bow I recorded a very respectable arrow speed of 181 FPS.

Can I expect the same or better from a recurve with the same draw and draw weight.

That is a very complex question. I see no reason why equally prestressed bows (i.e a longbow with as much reflex as the compared recurve) should not be equally fast. Some recurves are actually slower because the recurve mechanics dictates increased width/mass at outer limb.

ToddRvs wrote: Also does backing a bow actually increase it’s speed or just it’s strength.

Its more a question of mass and amount of stored energy. Reflex = more stored energy, but highly stressed back, which usually means backing!

Low mass, lots of reflex and high draw weight = high speed (tweaking all three will increase or decrease the stress of the materials).

Cheers

[Cottonwood]

#37061

Todd – I stumbled across this, this morning and thought I’d pass this along. It looks like it might be a good project at a low cost and end up with a nice Longbow.

http://cgi.ebay.com/U-finish-take-down-hickory-longbow-/320576256385?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

[ToddRvs]

#37246

Cottonwood wrote: Todd – I stumbled across this, this morning and thought I’d pass this along. It looks like it might be a good project at a low cost and end up with a nice Longbow.

http://cgi.ebay.com/U-finish-take-down-hickory-longbow-/320576256385?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

Thanks for the link but I really want to it myself from scratch. Like the last bow I made then Broke…

[Frank H V]

#43301

There is an awful lot of emphasis put on speed. A recurve should be faster given equal draw weight, length,arrow weight. Usually the longbow is quieter Usually, we all need to remember quiet is improtant. There isn’t a bow made including the wheelies that will fling an arrow faster than teh speed of sound (about 1100fps) Id go with quiet myself other thing being equal & not worry too much about a few feet per second.
One thing that may be in favor of a little more speed is it Might allow a heavier arrow at the same speed as a slower bow initally?
Frank

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