Sighting Bands

[jaicey]

I have been shooting Longbow now for about a year.

Out of principle I have to date not used a band and can do okish at 50/60/80

My problem is 100 yds, the angle of elevation to hit (or try and hit) means my fist is obscuring the target.

So I need to find something else as an aiming point - was just wondering the general opinion about sighting bands and whether there is another way to cope with 100yds

[English Bowman]

If your fist is covering the target then a band won't help. What you need to do is find a reference point to put a knuckle against and use that to aim with. The band will help at shorter distances as you can use it to aim directly at the target. (I say, although like you I don't use a band out of principle!)

Daniel

[steve58]

Personally I use a band. I have tried using the arrow point, but can't get on with that method of sighting. In an ideal world I would love to shoot enough that I can look at the target, draw, and shoot just by looking at what I want to hit. (Instinctive? "Become the arrow"? Gap system?) Whatever. I get to shoot three times a week if I am lucky and the band works for me and enables me to hit the target regularly enough to have fun. If I had access to someone who actually shot longbow/barebow and coached I would consider re-learning with that support, but all I hear at the club is "shoot it like a recurve". (And I do understand what the guy is getting at when he says that, but it creates a definite mental blockage on my part.) Thing is I only really start using the band at 60 and below. At 80 the gold sits on top of the first finger of my bow hand, at 100 it lines up with the valley between the first two knuckles of the bow hand. Which distances do I do best at? 60 and below. Stuck really, lighter arrows would be too close to a dry fire and damage the bow, a heavier bow would probably damage me!
Sorry that turned into a bit of a rant.
Good luck finding something that works for you.

[not dead yet]

i only shoot longbow teice a year, normally.

draw aim release. best average 100yds is 118 on a york

cant remember overall scores

[cloutman360]

I don't really shoot target archery with the longbow but I did have a go at the Scorton a couple of times and with a 50 lb longbow I could aim on the boss at a 100 yards using a band set well above the handle, so with the correct set-up it is possible.

[steve58]

Originally Posted by cloutman360

I don't really shoot target archery with the longbow but I did have a go at the Scorton a couple of times and with a 50 lb longbow I could aim on the boss at a 100 yards using a band set well above the handle, so with the correct set-up it is possible.

Wow! I have been thinking of starting a thread on this topic to try and pick up some tips. Do you recall details of your arrows? Fastflight string? tab or glove? The best sight mark I can get is with 5/16" pine shafts, rear tapered, 100 grain piles and 3" low profile fletches. At a guess I'd say they are about 470 grains. I already use a tab and a fastflight string, so no more options there I think.

[cloutman360]

I just been looking at pictures of Scorton from 2001 and what strikes me is my anchor position,it's under the very tip of my longish chin and therefore automatically sets the back of the arrow lower.
See Photobox.

[steve58]

Originally Posted by cloutman360

I just been looking at pictures of Scorton from 2001 and what strikes me is my anchor position,it's under the very tip of my longish chin and therefore automatically sets the back of the arrow lower.
See Photobox.

Hmm, I understand the point. I suppoe I could get a similar effect by tucking my chin in more, lower to the chest. But I worry that might create tension and incorrect alignments through the neck/shoulder area. My chiropractor is brilliant, but the less I see her the better!

[cloutman360]

Forgot to mention my large nose, which makes the whole thing possible.

[long doc]

I use a 55 lb bow at 100 yards and can't use a band so go for the valley on your hand technique.

At the Scorton there was a chimney stack on the house behind my target which I could put point of aim (with my 50lb bow) but shooting the other way I was not so lucky!

Would having longer arrows than you need help?