Long bow or recurve?

[KentuckyWolf]

I love both. They have different qualities...but both can silently and accurately deliver a lethal arrow. Recurves are can be faster but are harder to get silent. Longbows are generally a bit slower (except hybrids)...maybe easier to tune and almost always silent with no or little effort.

If I had to pick just one style of bow to shoot for the rest of eternity ....it would however be a hybrid longbow. Seem to get the best of both...in one package.

[Wudstix]

You can see from the list below my name that I'm partial to Longbow, but most of mine have some R/D built into them.

-- Michael

[starshooter]

I guess I am an odd ball as I prefer recurves over longbows. One thing is I like my bows very short with a  shelf that is radiused closer to center. I have shot ASLs for a long time and I am that rare person who made the shift from Longbow to recurve. Usually the trend is the other way. The charm and simplicity of the longbow is not lost on me however. The paradox that associated with the Longbow is not to my liking.

One other thing ,I shoot three under and my bow is tillered for that. Also, I don't use an elevated rest or peep sight. Yes, I have owned and shot a compound for several years
years. Each to his own I guess.
See my signature below.

[Steelhead]

No question about it.Both

[Wild Bill MCP 808]

I like both!

[Gooserbat]

Both, because I wake up in a different world every day. 

[Bowguy67]

Both, because I wake up in a different world every day.

Sounds like my ex gf. Matter of fact sounds like all my gfs

[Vabowman]

LMAO!!! and my ex wife as well..

[luvnlongbow]

A couple of years ago I got bit by the ASL bug and have been shooting one ever since. That said I still play with my recurves sometimes and also my DR longbow a friend made me. While I prefer (at this point) the ASL's, I still play with all my bows at least a little bit.

[Wile E. Coyote]

I have hunted for years with both, but currently its just longbow for me. I just find that I am more accurate and that the longbow is more forgiving of user errors. 

[acedoc]

Recurves like the Toelke ss can be near darn silent. My ilf setup is louder than my recurve. It takes time to get in the groove with a recurve and if you find a bowyer like Dan who stands behind his product it is heaven. The feeling of a "let off" is a boon for me at least.
Yes , it is tougher to shoot well but once you are in form it is no less accurate than a r/d longbow.

[wapitishooter]

I own both but have to say recurves are a better weapon for me.

[Vabowman]

well my only drawback for a LB is that Im super short..5'6 on a good day, most are way too long for I would think

[Petrichor]

You can get the hybrids pretty short. The one I just had built for example is only 52 inches long. I'm 56 also and have two bows that are 66inch that I use frequently and have no trouble with length.

[Vabowman]

even out of a treestand?

[Petrichor]

Not even out of a tree stand. With the 66 incher I currently use I just cant the bow as needed and shoot just fine.

[Bvas]

Terms like rd longbow and hybrid are from what I understand interchangeable.

Yes and no.

The hybrid bow I make is an R/D.  But I also make an R/D bow that I do not consider a hybrid.  The difference to me is in how the string lays on the bow when strung.  If the string contacts the limb after coming out of the string grooves(similar to a recurve) it is considered a hybrid.  If the string makes no contact with the limb other than the string grooves, it is simply an R/D.

Clear as mud, right

[mahantango]

Most of the more "radical" R/D bows are fairly short, 54 -60". I shoot a 56" Kanati and it is smooth, very easy to shoot and has remarkable cast for a short bow.

[Petrichor]

Terms like rd longbow and hybrid are from what I understand interchangeable.

Yes and no.

The hybrid bow I make is an R/D.  But I also make an R/D bow that I do not consider a hybrid.  The difference to me is in how the string lays on the bow when strung.  If the string contacts the limb after coming out of the string grooves(similar to a recurve) it is considered a hybrid.  If the string makes no contact with the limb other than the string grooves, it is simply an R/D.

Clear as mud, right

Ha. Thanks for the info

[nineworlds9]

I shoot and enjoy both but the answer to your question is hybrid.   As in a radical reflex deflex longbow.  The sweetest bows I have shot have all been hybrid longbows, to me they are the best of both worlds.