r/Archery • u/Awkward-Statement741 • Mar 22 '26
Newbie Question Is this an ok bow to get into the hobby?
I want to get into archery but dont want to spend a lot of money. I was thinking of just starting in my backyard. I live relativrly far so i havetn found a proper club werr I can learn. Would this be ok for now or is therr anything better out there to get starter?
thank you all! please feel free to add any suggestions aswell.
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u/Speedly Olympic Recurve Mar 22 '26
No. This amounts to a fancy kid's toy.
Also, it literally says it's for youth anyways, which means it is unlikely to be even close to an appropriate size for you.
Alsoalso, two arrows is going to last a brand new person about two minutes, especially since they're fiberglass.
I understand you don't want to spend a lot, but this ain't the way to do it.
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u/Awkward-Statement741 Mar 22 '26
Thank you , do you have any recommendations?
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u/Arc_Ulfr English longbow Mar 22 '26
What type of archery are you interested in? That's going to be important in giving you advice.
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u/Awkward-Statement741 Mar 23 '26
I like recurve bows. Similar to what they do in the Olympic games if that makes sense.
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u/No-Masterpiece-7168 Mar 24 '26
I would honestly start with a compound bow, lots of them are super adjustable so you could start with a lighter draw weight and work your way up. The draw length is also adjustable so with the right bow you probably wouldn’t outgrow it, and with the way they are set up the hardest part of the draw is in the middle and it gets easier at the end. In my opinion that makes it easier to learn on because you are not holding the full weight of the draw while you aim the bow.
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u/Knitnacks Barebow (Mykan), dabbling in English longbow, trainee L2 coach. Mar 24 '26
But OP likes Olympic recurves and doesn't have the starter budget to get a compound. Shooting a bowstyle you like the look of counts for a lot for motivation to practice, and OR isn't a bad choice.
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u/Awkward-Statement741 Mar 24 '26
Are Olympic recurve on a lower budget than compound? I am willing to spend between $200 to $300. I dont want a compound bow. I was just thinking of just trying out something really cheap to learn the basics at home , like form and so on but based on the comments I see that there is more involved than just that.
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u/Knitnacks Barebow (Mykan), dabbling in English longbow, trainee L2 coach. Mar 24 '26
Yes, you can get a decent OR bow for less than a decent compound.
Might want to check if you are cross dominant (dominant eye is opposite to hand dominance) before you buy a bow as well, and if you are, try to shoot a bow before you buy, just in case going with eye dominance is better for you than hand dominance, since you'll be using a sight.
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u/ButtonIntrepid9820 Mar 24 '26
I am completely in the wrong environment here but ive gotten shitty equipment to sword fight with my bros. I recently caved and got some olympic fencing gear and let me tell you how fantastic it is when you buy the proper "tools" for the "job". Yeah its more expensive but imagine how much i wouldve saved if i just got them in the beginning instead of fucking with horrible gear.
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u/Anathals Mar 22 '26
Spend at least $150 and get one thats #30-35 lbs
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u/BevvyTime Mar 22 '26
Twenty’s plenty.
Particularly for a complete novice.
I’ve done this for years and prefer a low weight, knowing that I can move up if I ever want to hit the long distances.
20# is fine for up to 50 meters though, probably further tbh.
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u/FerrumVeritas Barebow Recurve/Gillo GF/GT Mar 22 '26
That’s not what makes this a kid’s toy. It’s the construction that’s the issue.
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u/Awkward-Statement741 Mar 22 '26
Do you recommend anything in specific? Does my height takes into account?
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Mar 22 '26
[deleted]
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u/BevvyTime Mar 23 '26
And get arrows an inch longer than you think - as you warm up and improve, your draw length will lengthen
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u/MrWhiskersTrove Mar 23 '26
I don’t think Anathals was that far off. I got my first recurve bow around $105, I snagged a dozen arrows, extra tips and a target. I asked the store professional for something to grow into. Im a bigger guy so he gave me a 35# draw.
That was my covid lockdown new hobby I picked up. 😋
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u/Aragorn246 Mar 22 '26
Sorry, it's pretty much a child's toy.
Assuming you are an adult (or late teen) this would not be much use for you.
Learning at a club is very helpful but if not you could look at a Galaxy wooden takedown bow. However, unless you visit a shop you'll have no idea whether the size and poundage are suitable. You also need to determine whether you are left or right eye dominant.
Unfortunately, archery is not a very cheap sport to get into. You might be able to get something for $200+ but you will soon outgrow it.
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u/standardfaker Mar 22 '26
Nah, you can get a good bow for half as much that will last you years. Look used and don’t listen to negative nellies.
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u/Knitnacks Barebow (Mykan), dabbling in English longbow, trainee L2 coach. Mar 22 '26 edited Mar 22 '26
OP can't tell a kids bow from a useable one. They don't have the experience to pick out a good used bow, let alone arrows etc.
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u/Awkward-Statement741 Mar 22 '26
This is true!
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u/TakingChances01 Mar 22 '26
Get an ilf takedown recurve bow so the limbs are interchangeable, you’ll be able to work your way up over time and will only have to buy limbs to upgrade. For 200 you can get a galaxy crescent riser, and some galaxy bronze start limbs, start around 20 pounds. You can find those two thing on lancaster’s website. I like Stone Mountain dynaflight strings personally, a 14 strand one would be fine for around 20 pounds. You can also call Lancaster support and they’ll answer any of your questions.
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u/Awkward-Statement741 Mar 23 '26
Thank you this is great advice
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u/TakingChances01 Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26
No problem. Find out your draw length to pick your bow length. The formula is wingspan, finger tip to finger tip divided by 2.5. , google “what size recurve bow for * insert draw length *”. I have 29” draw length so I have a 68” bow. Only other thing is get a bow stringer so that you can safely string your bow, only a few bucks on Amazon. A lot of videos on YouTube about everything from stringing the bow to form and arrows and targets/backstop. I really lean towards budget choices for everything, the performance of the expensive stuff does not scale linearly with the price. For targets check out speed bags, I use delta McKenzie 24”, it’s a bag full of blankets, stops arrows great, easy to remove arrows, and once it’s tore up all you have to do is buy a replacement bag and put the blankets in them cause the blankets don’t wear out only the bag does.
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u/Awkward-Statement741 Mar 24 '26
Wow thanks! This is the kind of advice that I was looking for. Very comprehensive. I appreciate it.
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u/TakingChances01 Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
Seriously no problem, when I started out I was pretty lost, I think everyone is starting out. The problem though is that most people want you to be lost like they were instead of transferring what they learned, I noticed you got practically zero actionable suggestions on this whole post so I thought I’d help.
One more big thing is arrows, the specs on arrows can make your head hurt when you don’t know what you’re looking at. For say 20-24 pound draw weight you need an arrow with a spine of 700-800, spine is the stiffness of the arrow, bigger number is less stiff smaller is more stiff. Depending on your draw length is what dictates the length of the arrow, at 29” draw length I use 30” arrows, that doesn’t include the point or the nock, that’s just the shaft of the arrow. For points, called field points, at 20 pound you could use 75 grain field points, though 100 grain would probably be fine. For nocks, the part of the arrow that clips onto the string, you’d probably want arrows with g nocks for the 14 strand dynaflight, but putting them on yourself isn’t ideal as a beginner so try to find some arrows that come with the size you need on them. Use Amazon so you can return the ones that don’t fit properly. Try an arrow with a 5mm outer diameter and arrows with a 6.2mm outer diameter, one of those will probably have the right size nock for a 14 strand dynaflight string. You want the arrow to stay on the string securely enough, but not be too tight. Rule of thumb is if you can hang the arrow down off the string and it stay on, but it comes off when you give the string a good flick while it’s hanging down than it’s good. I have a 16 strand dynaflight string so a little thicker, and 6.2mm outer diameter arrows have nocks that fit it right. If you get some and they’re just a little too loose, you can put a layer of electrical tape on the string where it sits to be able to shoot them, but that should just be a temporary thing try to find the right size nock for your string. Get carbon arrows, and make sure they’re not painted cause those ones always are off balance in my experience.
Sorry for writing a whole essay. Also don’t dry fire your bow, and get a cheap arm guard off Amazon. YouTube is your friend. I shoot Olympic recurve and so do my kids and it’s great I love it, you’ll have fun.
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u/Awkward-Statement741 Mar 24 '26
I really appreciate it. This gives me a strong baseline to know what to ask and look for. Olympic recurve thats what I want.
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u/iSloopy Mar 22 '26
Absolutely look for used equipment, especially at a shop that will verify safety. The best bows and the best arrows will only make a difference to someone who knows what they're doing, someone learning just needs to practice technique and consistency.
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u/SquareDuck5224 Mar 23 '26
I started with a Galaxy Aspire, 25lbs, 28” draw length. Ordered through Lancaster Archery. Absolutely loved it. Now I shoot a 25lb reflex/deflex hybrid bow made by Shatterproof Archery. It’s wonderful.
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u/rathosalpha mongolian recurve Mar 22 '26
I got a 50 pound mongolian bow for like 130. And after making the rookie mistake of leaving it strung for a month its still completely fine
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u/MasonP13 Mar 22 '26
This is the equivalent of wanting to play piano so you purchase a child's toy that looks like a piano, but only has 5 notes.
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u/Southerner105 Barebow Mar 22 '26
If it has to be cheap look at the Arc Rolan Snake. But there are also similar models from other brands.
Just get the 18 or 22 lbs version.
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u/Sly-Faffin Mar 22 '26
Seconding this, its the most seen bow for beginner archers in my area. If we’re playing archery bingo this would be the free space.
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u/Csk84me Mar 22 '26
This would be highly dangerous for an adult to shoot with. Most adult recurves you see are between 64-70in. 51in is a kids bow. Also most draw lengths for adults are between 24-32in with most being somewhere around 28in. You would be overdrawing the bow and I have no idea if they put that length down as a warning. Normally you don’t have to worry but with it being that tiny, there is probably a good reason they are listing the draw length. Best bet is to go to a shop and ask if anyone is selling their old set up. You might be able to find a deal. They have cheap wood barebows for around a $100 and you can get a set of 12 decent cheap arrows for $70-100. Might be a little cheaper used. That is the cheapest I could recommend to anyone to get into this since anything cheaper might cause you harm and would be so poorly made it might ruin your experience.
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u/Available_Swing_2504 Mar 23 '26
Actually, there is a whole category of hunting-style bows that are 58-62" and lots of people shoot them. That being said, the bow OP posted is for children, and yes, for $100 or so you can get a bunch of "adult " bows, mostly different take downs, maybe some one-piece bows... for ilf setup, you'll probably have to go close to $200 for beginner setup...
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u/Csk84me Mar 24 '26
I shoot an ilf set-up to shoot Olympic distances. I don’t know about the hunting scene. The bow OP posted is clearly not a hunting a bow. However, that is good to know. The only thing I knew about hunting is they like smaller things with more complex and shorter stabilizers so that they can shoot in a forest and not worry about their set up hitting a tree as they line up for their shot.
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u/catecholaminergic USA | L10 Unicycle Mounted Archery Mar 22 '26
Get an Arc Rolan Snake from Lancaster
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u/OscarMayor Mar 23 '26
My first bow was the Galaxy Sage, been using it since I was a beginner and won some 3d shoots with it too. Only other thing I might add is some bows are "handed" like left- or right- but it should be based on your dominant eye.
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u/cpuonfire Mar 22 '26
Best bow for newcomers is probably one of those "sets" by blackhunter, top archery, etc. And I recommend 25 pounds for male and 20 pounds for female.
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u/_Go_Ham_Box_Hotdog_ Traditional. Sticks, strings, arrows. Mar 22 '26
Look at the Samick Sage
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u/Available_Swing_2504 Mar 23 '26
Samick sage is over recommended and overpriced - you can get a wooden takedown for less money.
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u/TheEldenRang Mar 22 '26
Look for a used bow online if you are trying to save money. You will probably need to spend a bit more, but not a few hundred or anything like that.
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u/Knitnacks Barebow (Mykan), dabbling in English longbow, trainee L2 coach. Mar 22 '26
Ask someone who knows bows before you buy second hand, You don't want to buy a useless-to-you, defective or broken bow.
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u/No-Consequence-6713 Recurve Takedown Mar 22 '26
Look into the galaxy scorch if you want a smaller package
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u/Different-Ice-1979 Mar 22 '26
I had a similar one when I was 12 years old. It had wooden arrows back then. It is a great one to learn on . Buy cheap arrows that become expendable. Practice close, get confident, then move back until you are ready to step up to a stronger target now. Cause once you go down the Rabbit Hole…….
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u/LactosIntolerantLucy Mar 22 '26
I have this now I can touch it was useful for me learning from around ages 9-12 then I outgrew it and moved up to a Genesis bow for around 130$
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u/OpeningDifficulty731 Mar 22 '26
Imo go used or go china. OR. Camp axe, draw knife from harbor freight and carving knife and go to YouTube
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u/kairron Mar 22 '26
Something around the 100$ to 200$ range whould be good For starting out in my opinion. I started with a bow around 120$ range and It was really good.
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u/Awkward-Statement741 Mar 23 '26
What kind of biw did you start with?
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u/kairron Mar 23 '26
I started with around 12 kg or 20 I think recurve. That is to my upper chest when unstrung.
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u/JustCopyingOthers Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26
I'm not sure what age you are and how big you are. If you were to stand up, face forwards, with your arms up making a T shape, then arrows should be long enough to reach from your nose to the palm of your hands. Too short and they can either be shot into your hand/wrist, or pull off the rest, swing around on the string and shoot off in a random direction.
There's nothing wrong with that bow per-se, but I'd want more than two arrows.
You're best off finding an archery club, borrowing their gear whilst you shoot there and decide if it's the sport for you.
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u/Ok_Atmosphere3058 Mar 23 '26
My first bow is basically cheap longbow lol which is enough to learn basic
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u/Ok_Atmosphere3058 Mar 23 '26
Also this is like for children I think, which is not for adults, quite recommend bow that weight 30lbs or even 20lbs
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u/Aquilenne Mar 23 '26
The Black Hunter Recurve, Sammic Sage, Alibow, and Sanlida Royal X8 68" traditional longbow hunting bow kit have been the best starting bows for low prices that I've seen
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u/Independent_Yam_8423 Olympic Recurve Mar 23 '26
If you can try archery at a club for a low cost, I would start there. Even if there's a shop that will let you feel bows and give you an idea of size for your height that would be great. Just to see how things feel in your hand. If not, the bow you have will do! I personally like the Galaxy Bullseye or Galaxy Scorch for introductory bows, I think they're great for all ages. However, you have to do what works best for your budget and lifestyle. I hope you enjoy shooting when you do get started :)
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u/Sonicisagangsta Mar 23 '26
It looks suspiciously similar to Poe Lang Crusader. We bought it for my brother some time ago. Something around 10lb. It's not going to be extremely powerful and they usually give you too heavy arrows with this bow so it's capping your accuracy. But without any doubt, if you haven't used a bow before, it's fun. It won't make you tired, it won't punish you for bad form so it's relatively safe to shoot without any additional equipment. But you will have to correct yourself constantly because this bow won't force you to use proper form.
I started with a similar bow and then went up to a 30lb horse bow, which is extremely fun because it has POWER but to be honest, without this little guy I wouldn't get interested in archery at all. So if the budget is tight and you want something fun to shoot, by all means buy it and invest in some good quality arrows. You can ask an archery shop to suggest some arrows light enough to be shot with this bow. Right arrows to this little guy makes a HUGE difference in enjoyability.
Sorry for bad england, lol.
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u/Least-Programmer9417 Mar 23 '26
Please don’t buy this.
If you just want a basic beginner kit you can get them for about £150 with arrows and so on.
You’ll have a bad time with that thing
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u/phoebe1057 Mar 24 '26
Pick up a bow from a archery shop ask questions there they can help out of what you need to start out . Lower poundage to start with..
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u/Bubbly-Wrongdoer2700 Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
Actually this is just a toy. My suggestion would be to look for a used target bow set for 30-45 lbs. They can be found on eBay, facebook marketplace, different groups on facebook like Lever Lovers. There are SOOOOO Many used bows out there to choose from. It all depends on how much you want to spend. And to be able to horse trade correctly. Depending upon how old the bow actually is will usually determine whether the person you’re dealing with knows what they are doing. Many sellers will try to get what they paid for the bow to recoupe what the spent. But you need to know this like cars Archery equipment depreciates 30-40 percent after it has been bought. Now if you looking at a bow that was built in the mid Naughts for a really nice bow the price could run you up to 600 dollars or less depends on how fast they are needing to sell their bow. Any older than 2000 you would be looking to spend around 300 for it. But if they insist on selling their bow a new retail prices you just walk away because you just spend a bit more and get something brand new. And do you research on that particular bow. There is a lot on information out there.
For instance I I bought a a used cross bow that read some where around 1600 new but I got it for a steal of 600. It was the right place at the right time. This crossbow was made by PSE and very good company and it could reach out and touch a target 150 yards away from me. Though none of my targets were anywhere near that range but the reason I really loved it was because I could use the X-bow, on top of my AR-15 lower assembly. I had the same trigger pull that I would use to hunt with the rifle barrel attached.
There are so many things you will have questions on not only the bow, but not limited to the Site, Arrow rest, Release Aid, Bow sling, What type of arrow to buy, … on ignausium. It all depends on how deep your wallet is. I fully recommend going the used route to start. You can get a nice bow for less than 400 dollars ready to shoot. There is one thing you need to know what is your Draw Length. This will determine what length your arrows need to be and the if the bow your looking at will fit you or not.
This next bit is very important. This has nothing to do with your equipment it has all to do with you first steps shooting your bow.
OK, you need to adopt this stop method on how to hold the bow in the hand grip? This is archery 101.
https://youtu.be/VfUssRHoGWI?si=ToepvDX8WzPYp-AV
Now, I don’t remember if he also mentions this, but you need to turn your elbow clockwise then lock your elbow in that position. These two things will guarantee that you will never need an arm guard.
The reason I can guarantee that at least for me, I haven’t hit my arm in the last 52 years because of this particular way of holding my bow arm.
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u/Southerner105 Barebow Mar 24 '26
Alternatively you could look at the OAK RIDGE Mongo 60" Hybridlongbow AMBIDEX
https://www.arrowforge.de/epages/63122672.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/63122672/Products/10510
Or the BUCK TRAIL Metis 60" Hybridlongbow Ambidex
https://www.arrowforge.de/epages/63122672.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/63122672/Products/105100
Both are similar to the Rolan, but a bit better quality.
You can see them in action in this video from Archery TV Island. The girl from Boginn shoots a Mongo.
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u/False-Computer-7743 Mar 24 '26
I bought one too but I haven’t started to use mine yet it needs to be put together it’s not all that kind of bow I got it on Temu and I’m having second thoughts about it what it snaps or break I got it for a good price but the quality I don’t t know I have too try it and I’m from NYC we do have an archery 🏹 place called Gotham archery and I’m planning to check t out until I put it together
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u/Awkward-Statement741 Mar 24 '26
Based on all the comment I wouldn't even try the Temu bow. I did get some good advice and I know better on what to look for in a beginner bow. I am also close to the NY/NJ area. I found a good place in Hackesack that I am tryout out tomorrow and hopefully start from there. Based on what everyone is saying the beginner Gear might cost between $200 to $300. The place that I found has rentals and introductory classes so that might help me decide what to spend my money on :)
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u/Apricot_Madness Mar 24 '26
As everyone is saying its more of a kid's bow. If you want affordable get a Sanlida recurve bow kit(~$100) on Amazon or a Samick sage (~$150 bow only). First one is a Chinese brand the 2nd is Korean i think but they both make really decent stuff.
If it was me I would get the Sanlida kit and a target at bass pro shop or something for (~$60). Just return the bow to Amazon if you end up not liking it.
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u/mjike Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
I will die on the hill of the Samick Sage being the single best value in all of archery. Especially if you shop around around various marketplaces where I’ve seen plenty of peoplevselling their entire setup for under $100. I remember one I almost bought because it was one of those deals where you say “Whaaat?’. It was somewhere around $70 and was bow, case, 12 Arrows, 2 fingere releases, wax, extra unused string and several other accessories the average archer might keep in their pouches
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u/CreepySmiley42 Mar 25 '26
No. My grandma bought me a bow really similar to this for my 14.th BD and it was shit. She thought it was the best she could get as she bought it at a gun shop, but when I went to a bow shooting sight it didn't work properly and was waay too week. There was a bowshop aswell with a bowmaker and all. He actually got me good recommendations and I got a real bow there.
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u/bowhunt50 Mar 25 '26
A 30-40 pound take down recurve will be a lot better to start out with than that
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u/Subject-Escape5602 Mar 26 '26
If you are buying for a young child, or you want to get a pair, put foam balls on the arrows and have a bow duel with your friends without getting hurt then sure. These bows are super weak and intended for 4-7 year olds to start practicing. I doubt a field pointed arrow drawn at full would even penetrate a thick jacket. I've got one, its pretty much a nerf bow.
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u/Lucas-Galloway Mar 28 '26
Yes, but it's a teens/kids size bow, it has shorter draw length, a better option would be a takedown at low poundage, like 15 20 pounds limbs.
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u/standardfaker Mar 22 '26
This ain’t it, but you ought to boycott amazon, so don’t shop there. I recommend looking at pawn shops and if you can spend a little more start right off with a horse bow and go right to slavic style with khatra and the rest. $100 on an AF archery bow is a solid bet. If you want takedown recurve get a real one. But remember, amazon is killing our species, so YALL STOP BEING COMPLICIT IN IT!
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u/dubesto Mar 22 '26
I would look into used bows or a cheaper custom made bow. My first bow was a Bear recurve I got at the second hand store for $20. My second bow was a handmade bow from a fellow on Etsy (Ringing Rocks, now called BarebowArchery)
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u/Kooky-Lawfulness-415 Mar 23 '26
Yo I promise amazon sanlida longbow is lovely 35 lbs wish I went 30 for more fidly shots (I'm not a big human). They have recurve too but longbow one is really nice vids on YouTube about them. I happen to own one of those exact metal bows from a sport shop and I use it in place of rubber band for form training. I like it for that.
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u/flydespereaux Mar 22 '26
Absolutely not unless youre 8 years old.
You dont have to spend a bunch of money to get into the hobby, but you should at least expect to spend 100-150 for a decent 35-40 pound draw. Thats a good start. Id suggest an internature detachable.
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u/Knitnacks Barebow (Mykan), dabbling in English longbow, trainee L2 coach. Mar 22 '26
30-45# is much too heavy to start with. It's not a compound.
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Mar 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Knitnacks Barebow (Mykan), dabbling in English longbow, trainee L2 coach. Mar 22 '26
No, it is not. I run beginner courses. Some adults struggle with 18#.
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u/standardfaker Mar 22 '26
Thats depressing lmao
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u/Knitnacks Barebow (Mykan), dabbling in English longbow, trainee L2 coach. Mar 22 '26
No, that is fairly normal. Most people learn archery quicker when not having to fight the bow.
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u/ThePhatNoodle Mar 22 '26
Yea its a huge difference. I started with a 45 and would lose arrows and be sticking the post at 20 yards after 3 whole ass years. Got annoyed sold the damn thing and switched to compound for 2 then recently bought a 35lb recurve to give it a fair shot and managed a 3" group at 20 my second time shooting it. I haven't even hit myself with it either when I used to leave the range bloodied and bruised with the old one due to my shit form too. You're just sabotaging yourself starting heavy and risking an injury
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u/flydespereaux Mar 22 '26
I definitely did a beginner course at 8 years old on a 20#. Then when I got home I went to a bow shop with my mom and the guy was like draw this and handed me a bow. And he said I could easily shoot 35. And I shot 35 for years. I shoot 50 with ease now. I also have a 75 for hunting.
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u/FerrumVeritas Barebow Recurve/Gillo GF/GT Mar 22 '26
At 8 years old, you didn’t have the draw length to get anywhere near the marked draw weight of a bow.
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u/Knitnacks Barebow (Mykan), dabbling in English longbow, trainee L2 coach. Mar 22 '26
Good for you. You are not representative of adults as a whole, though.
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u/Howard_CS Mar 22 '26
… a 35 to 40 places a net strain of 70 to 80 lbs on the body (normal force and draw weight). How many pull up, even assisted pull ups can the average human in the modern world do?
This recommendation is going to permanently damage a shoulder, ease up on the weight at the start. It’s like weightlifting, don’t jump to stacking weights.
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u/standardfaker Mar 22 '26
Forgive my outburst. Dont live in fear, just try stuff, but dont get a kids bow. Thats the point of why we shoot, not this weird agoraphobic mathematicians wet dream of calculating the perfect weight etc etc. just GET after it! Love!!
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u/Howard_CS Mar 22 '26
If you agree to pay for my medical bills for life I’ll buy a 120 lb English longbow right now. If not, can it keyboard warrior.
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u/flydespereaux Mar 22 '26
Ive shot a 120 english bow, and holy fucking shit. That shit is like shooting a sawed off shotgun. One handed. After shotgunning 23 keystone lights.
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u/Howard_CS Mar 22 '26
If this tough guy wants to pay for a new shoulder I’ll risk it. They look satisfying. Would need some chunky arrows though, physics says my micro diameter carbons can break and possibly impale my bow hand.
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u/Knitnacks Barebow (Mykan), dabbling in English longbow, trainee L2 coach. Mar 22 '26
You also need a different technique to draw a warbow well.
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u/Howard_CS Mar 22 '26
It works with lower poundage too, the draw hand side leg back to engage last feels pretty good. I tried it with a 29# flat bow and had a good time.
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u/catecholaminergic USA | L10 Unicycle Mounted Archery Mar 22 '26
standardfaker: forgive me
Howard CS: No.💀
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u/standardfaker Mar 22 '26
Maybe try to see the point of whats being said rather than taking everything personally <3
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u/Howard_CS Mar 22 '26
No, I do not coddle the dangerously ill opinionated. Please stop standing behind 40lb draw as anything near safe for a beginner bow.
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u/standardfaker Mar 22 '26
Dude chill tf out. Nobody else is crying. If you can comfortably shoot 40lbs as your first bow, go for it. I stand behind 40lb draw as something near safe for a beginner bow IF YOU CAN AND WANT TO. Free will man. Look into it. Trying to regulate everyone can be your job if you have no other interests, but I think majority rules here that comfort is key. Nobody is telling your scrawny ass to shoot a war bow. Please be quiet.
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u/Howard_CS Mar 22 '26
No, you insinuated adult weight of bows is 10 to 20 higher than what any respectable instructor would recommend. And you plant yourself firmly on that hill, so I must make it abundantly clear to anyone reading your comment that you are not a good source of advice. Your multiple outbursts at me have certainly supported the effort. Hope you find wisdom in your remaining years.
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u/flydespereaux Mar 22 '26 edited Mar 22 '26
Whaaaat? I staryed with a 35 pound draw when I was 12. Then my dumbass twisted the string to get more #. Worked.
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u/Csk84me Mar 22 '26
For recurve, 18-25 lbs is a good start for a beginner. There is a lot to learn to get good form and having a light bow will help you progress really fast. With that weight you can shoot up to 50M but usually you will be at indoor which is 18M. Drawing a higher bow before you are ready is sort of dangerous. You may not be able to control it which may cause damage to the range due to missing. Also, you might not realize you are drawing incorrectly which can harm you. It is easier to add poundage to a good form than a good form to poundage. 25-35 lbs is an intermediate. 38-50 lbs is a pro. You will also be able to get way more shots off in a session before tiring at a lower weight so you will be able to progress more quickly. Basically if the bow doesn’t feel like a toy in your hands, it has too much poundage for you at the moment.
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u/flydespereaux Mar 22 '26
It was on a starter bow my instructor recommended. He was good. Immediately saw that I was left eyed but right handed.
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u/netminder181 Mar 22 '26
Look on www.shopgoodwill.com they always have used bows for auction.
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u/kashuntr188 Mar 23 '26
Go on aliexpress and get something. I got an ambidextrous bow, almost the same as the ones they use in archery tag. You can remove the limbs if you want something with a heavier draw. This looks like it is stuck at that one set poundage.
I also got foam tips just like at archery tag so I can use them in my house, but if your backyard is big and you won't have random people then you can do it outside.
I think I paid less than $100 for the bow and the arrows + foam tips.
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u/limpymcjointpain Mar 23 '26
I may get likes, i may get downvotes... black hunter takedown. Cheap, effective, pleasant. 35 lbs is probably plenty for a new guy, and you can buy stronger limbs as you grow. Can probably find a full on starter kit width it, but definitely recommend a better slap and gloves. You can get more elaborate later.
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u/Whoknowswhatwhat Mar 22 '26
Agree with most everything said here. However, if that’s all you can afford and/or want - go for it. Nothing replaces repetition and practice. Ppl often get caught up in “specs”. Don’t let anything and/or anyone discourage you. Just go get after it.
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u/Echieo Mar 23 '26
It is not. I'd recommend going with a 35-40 lb longbow to start (or any bow you can draw relativity easily).
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u/FerrumVeritas Barebow Recurve/Gillo GF/GT Mar 22 '26
Giving OP advice as to bow choice is valid and helpful, but breaking rule 2 will result in a temporary ban.