Scythian Accuracy Advice?

[sparrowfoot]

I have a Grozer Old Scythian bow which is fun to shoot, fast, light and excellent for avoiding undergrowth on field shoots, but I'm having trouble getting consistent accuracy with it.

I've tried a variety of styles (different anchor points, strength of grip, three fingers under, two fingers under, mediterranean, tabs with/without finger separators, gloves) and they are all roughly the same.

It is the shortest of the bows of this type, is that a factor? Is a short bow simply more unstable?

Are the reflex bows with long, rigid siyahs (e.g. Kassai Wolf) more accurate?

[Schme1440]

Originally Posted by sparrowfoot

I have a Grozer Old Scythian bow which is fun to shoot, fast, light and excellent for avoiding undergrowth on field shoots, but I'm having trouble getting consistent accuracy with it.

I've tried a variety of styles (different anchor points, strength of grip, three fingers under, two fingers under, mediterranean, tabs with/without finger separators, gloves) and they are all roughly the same.

It is the shortest of the bows of this type, is that a factor? Is a short bow simply more unstable?

Are the reflex bows with long, rigid siyahs (e.g. Kassai Wolf) more accurate?

I am going to say one word which from what I have expereince is the most critical thing about shooting trad bows of any sort.

The kew word is "ARROW".

Make sure the arrows are perfectly matched for the bow. I went to see an expert (Carol Edwards) and spent a good couple hours shooting different spines and diameters and arrow points. Went through over 20 combinations. Eventuall settled on a 8/32 diameter spined at 30-35. The 2 doz I bought were all checked for straigness and spined to match. I could shoot 6 arrows at 20yds on 60cm face and could garantee all 6 would score. The right arrows make all the difference.

[sparrowfoot]

Thanks for the reply. That certainly seems like sound advice. However, I don't want to start the quest for the perfectly matched arrow and then find out that it there is some kind of limit to the accuracy of the little bow.

How accurate? Well I typically get an average score of around 6 at 20 yards on a 60cm face. I wouldn't mind so much if they were all reliablely in the blue, but there is much more scatter than that. While I don't often miss, I do often get 1s and 2s.

[Schme1440]

Originally Posted by sparrowfoot

Thanks for the reply. That certainly seems like sound advice. However, I don't want to start the quest for the perfectly matched arrow and then find out that it there is some kind of limit to the accuracy of the little bow.

How accurate? Well I typically get an average score of around 6 at 20 yards on a 60cm face. I wouldn't mind so much if they were all reliablely in the blue, but there is much more scatter than that. While I don't often miss, I do often get 1s and 2s.

I bought mine off ebay for £80. I even think it was fibre glass and not wood. 20yds I could group all 6 arrows in the gold on a 120cm. My best groups were half that size. Get the arrows right and a little practice, maybe some advise from some proper trad shooters, and you should see the groups get better. Also a consistant hand position helps. I had a mark on the bow where the arrow would rub and I used this as an alignment tool to make sure the arrow and hand were always in the right position so there was minimal change with the nokcing point between arrows and ends.

[Schme1440]

Originally Posted by Yorker

What I am concerned about is you considering getting it into the blue an achievement :/

My thoughts exactlly. After testing many shafts I noticed how much difference they make. Arrows whould be my first thing to check. I paid just over £100 for 2 dozen arrows which uncluded a £30 taper tool and glues, nocks.......... They dont cost alot so getting a matched set and assistance is relativly inexpensive but so worth it in the beginning.

[sparrowfoot]

Thanks Schme1440 and Yorker - valuable advice, much appreciated. Looks like a trip to Carol Edwards is required.

Re my original question, does anyone have any experience of the relative accuracy or ease of shooting of the different asiatic bows that are available?

[FlightyRachel]

Hi Sparrowfoot! I have a Hunnish bow and I find it the hardest bow I own, to shoot accurately. (I also shoot recurve and longbow). I'd be delighted to get a group anywhere with it, blue or even green! LOL

I have heard that it is hard to match arrows to Mongo type bows, but the person that told me knows Schme so it might all come form the same source! The arrow people I use have been spot on with my longbow needs, but I do find my Hun arrows skew left. I don't know if that's them or me though. I don't practice with it really, I bought it as a fun bow, but tbh it's not much fun! I find it really tricky to shoot!

[sparrowfoot]

Dear FlightyRachel

Thanks for your reply. This is part of my question really - do people just buy these as fun bows, and are they too tricky to shoot well? Or is it just a case of the right arrows and practice?

If the answer is "too tricky" then I may try AFB.

[darthTer]

Originally Posted by sparrowfoot

Dear FlightyRachel

Thanks for your reply. This is part of my question really - do people just buy these as fun bows, and are they too tricky to shoot well? Or is it just a case of the right arrows and practice?

If the answer is "too tricky" then I may try AFB.

AFB isn't that easy either.....or is that just me!!!

I think if you have a good reliable shooting technique, and have a decent trad type skill level, you will be able to shoot anything.

I would suggest that once you have reliable arrows, it then comes down to practice & how committed you are to that disapline. Personally, I shoot recurve and my main "weapon", and got the AFB for fun.

Asiatic bow can be as accurate as any type of bow (as proven throughout history...), but you really need to put the time in.

[FlightyRachel]

AFB has an arrowshelf, which does take away some inconsistency I guess..

I'm not sure how helpful I am to you Sparowfoot, I'm ceratinly no expert in traditional shooting.. But for what it's worth, one of the reasons I feel it's not worth my while thinking of the hun as anything but fun, is that in Nfas shoots I'm shooting as HT, against recurves with wooden arrows. There is no category specifically for the Asiatic bows. I can't compare my scores with other mongo types and see whether I am just really bad, or if they are hard to shoot well!

I don't know how much field Schme has shot with his, and how he finds his scores compare with others.