Buying my first longbow

[bj85531]

For my twopenny worth...I bought a double core 50lb, 30" draw from the Bickerstaffe crew and got well looked after, spent the morning up there talking to Pip (learnt alot) I also got them to make me a set of arrows aswell, I seem to remember the whole lot came in at around £290 - £300 ish.

[bj85531]

Oooh I forgot.. I'd also go the glove route as opposed to the tab.

[Schme1440]

Originally Posted by kernowtom

I think the tab -v- glove is personal choice... there are good archers in both camps.. (but I think platform tabs are not allowed under BLBS rules).

Bear in mind that you need six arrows outdoors (plus something for bouncers).. and they do break... so if you are buying 12 I would suggest getting 12 the same, or maybe 8 for outdoor plus four for indoor.. it will be longer before you need any more

But its all about what you want to do..

Well I have a Tab im not using on my Recurve so I will try that first.

I plan on making my own arrows and want to startd with 24 shafts to get as good a matched set as poss.

One last question. I was thinking giving 1" shaft over hang (notincluding point) out the front of the bow. Is this a good length or would I be better giving it less or more?

[provins]

I've been shooting with no tab or glove recently.Just a few wraps around the serving of micropore tape,1" above the nocking point 2" below to accomodate the fingers.
Bow is 45lbs,this seems to work ok for me and feels very natural.

[alanesq]

I like this idea of no tab or glove and will give it a try myself !

I have been shooting without a bracer for a while now (ok with longbow but my flatbow I am unable to stop it twisting and so the string always hits my arm?)
I find that with my longbow if the string hits my arm it is a sure sign I am doing something wrong and it helps concentrate the mind ;-)

Having no tab or bracer to worry about would make life much easier - especially in field archery

btw - I have a 60lb English longbow

[Schme1440]

I have shot bows with out tabs and arm gaurds. Its all ok untill something goes wrong then it hurts like hell. You can do it but I found it aint something that can be done all the time. Well maybe the arm gaurd but after time you fingers wont thank you for not using a tab.

[alanesq]

Yes, I can confirm it hurts if the string gets you but with the longbow I have not had any problem - the flat bow has made my entire arm black through a bracer in the past!
Maybe this is why I dont feel I need one now - its normal to me after this bow ;-)

Has anyone used / comments on the "saunders finger guard"
its a rubber "tube" which fits on the string and gives a sort of tab which is attached to the string
http://www.merlinarcherycentre.co.uk...ger_Guard.html

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by alanesq

Yes, I can confirm it hurts if the string gets you but with the longbow I have not had any problem - the flat bow has made my entire arm black through a bracer in the past!
Maybe this is why I dont feel I need one now - its normal to me after this bow ;-)

Has anyone used / comments on the "saunders finger guard"
its a rubber "tube" which fits on the string and gives a sort of tab which is attached to the string
http://www.merlinarcherycentre.co.uk...ger_Guard.html

Never used them, but I don't think they'd be legal under NFAS shooting rules (other societies may vary)

[Schme1440]

If it turns our I would require a shooting glove on my bow hand, alot of people used golfing gloves, does anyone know if the 2 finger glove that is supplied by Richard Head longbows, is any good? I guess it doesnt really matter.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bow-Hand-Prote...QQcmdZViewItem

Also can any one rate this bow
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...0901&rd=1&rd=1

[Schme1440]

Just checked out the bow on ebay. Its a Traditional Longbows bow. Think ill bid on it. £50 at the mo not bad. Little heavy but Im a strong boy and I can manage.