Have you ever spend time in the woods? Have you ever enjoyed archery?
Archery is a very interesting hobby it does not matter if it is for fun or for hunting. Hunting has also proven to be important exercise both mentally and physically.
Bows have been in use for many years since the beginning of human history for hunting food and in warfare. In the modern world, bows are used in sport and recreational activities. Their models have been advanced with the arrival of new technology not much has changed.
In the early years, bows were usually made using bamboo, yew, rosewood, and etc. What are modern bows made of? They are mostly made using carbon fibers and fiber glasses.
Bows are usually preferred over guns in hunting because they are quieter. There are many types of bows and arrows.
So how many types of bows are there? There are close to 8 types of bows types of arrows include clout, target, barreled and breasted among others. Before buying a bow one should consider its use and also his preferences.
Types of Archery Bows
Like their name, they are curved in shape; its shape is actually what makes it one of the most powerful bows by increasing the efficiency of the shooter while using minimal effort. They are made using wood and fiberglass. They were mostly used in wars but could also be used in hunting because they are quieter and smoother.
Recurve bows are easy to use hence ideal for those who are just starting archery.
It is made of recurve bows that are on limbs and can be detached. The limbs of the bow are made using fiberglass and riser made from wood, aluminum, and carbon.
It’s one of the best archery hunting bows; you can disassemble its parts for easier transportation and storage and can also change the length of the limbs to match the archer’s preference and stability. They are easy to use and cheap maintain. Today takedown bows are mostly used in Olympic archery.
It is also known as the archery bow traditional. It is probably one of the oldest in archery.it is long with almost straight limbs which are very narrow. It is made of wood called yew, ash, elm with strings made of hemp, flax or silk but Dacron commonly used today for strings.
In ancient times it was used for both hunting and also as a weapon in war. Unlike other bows, it has a shorter lifespan because it’s narrow and eventually breaks.
Longbows require a skilled archer since it is difficult to master how to use it.
They are bows which are operated mechanically and usually use cams, pulleys, and cables in their functioning. They are light in weight with an amazing speed made of fiberglass, carbon, aluminum, and magnesium. Its limbs are stiffer and stronger compared to other bows to increase its energy efficiency and accuracy, one usually has a number of cams depending on their level of experience.
They are very easy to use but can be a bit tricky due to their different sizes, style, and configuration found in the market. Hunters love this kind of bow because it is not only quick and effective it is also fun to use and can be used to hunt big games due to its strength.
Accessories like sight pins can be added to it to increase efficiency and accuracy. With all this greatness, however, compound bows require a lot of maintenance due to its many parts and can be quite expensive.
Basic Parts of a Compound Bow
- The riser- it’s the middle part of the bow with the grip.
- The limbs-they are flexible made of fiberglass that planks at the top and bottom
- cams
- cam systems-also known as pulley system they are used to reduce the amount of effort required
- Bowstrings
- Cables
- Cable guard
- Cable slide.
Types of Compound Bow
It only has one power cam which is mounted on the lower limbs and used to store energy and flex the bow limbs. The upper limb holds an idler wheel this uncomplicated design makes it easy to use.
- high accuracy
- quite in operation
- cheap in maintenance
- easy to use
- Low power output
- Nock travel issues.
Made of two cams which are either circular or oval in shape working together in a single bow for maximum power in arrow shooting.
They are more powerful and with more speed than single cam bows.
Today’s twin can bows are advanced with better strings which do no stretch the cams out if sync easily.
They are enjoyable to use, offers the option if adjustment and are more precise and powerful compared to the single ones.
- More precision
- Higher speed and power.
- noisy compared to single cams
- Prone to synchronization
They are the advancement of the twin can bow but with a single power cam and control cam.
This type is designed with the cable connecting from the lower to the top limb.
- very precise
- very fast
- easy to maintain
- quite in operation
- expensive to maintain
It is a development of the hybrid cam bows.
Its set up is slightly different; the upper cam cable connected to the lower cam and vice versa making their movement dependable on each other.
- higher speed and power
- higher accuracy
- Legal issues.
They are Japanese type of bows taller than other bows and made using wood and bamboo used in their archery known as kyudo. They were mainly used as weapons in war.
ModernYumi bows are made from fiberglass, carbon fiber, and lacquered bamboo. Standard bamboo Yumi is more common in archery today even though it’s more expensive than the others
It is made from curved arms facing away from you. The string is usually very tight enabling the bow to draw a greater length.
The reflex has the speed and power like that of recurve or longbow.
They were mainly used during the war as weapons in the early years. Today they are commonly used for hunting with barrel, stock, trigger, and stirrup.
Crossbows are easy to use and very accurate even at a huge distance. Unlike other bows, it has a trigger which is fired to release the string and arrow.
This type of bow contains accessories to help with aiming, drawing, and firing.
Long Bows vs. Recurve Bows
There are many forms of archery i.e. target archery, field archery, hunting, traditional archery, and 3D archery. Choosing between recurve bows and longbows depends on the style of archery you are planning to practice. Some of these forms specify the type of bows to be used like in Olympic target archery while others will go with the preferences of the archer.
LongBow
This is ideal for fun hunting and traditional archery. They can also be used in field and bowhunting.
- Easier for beginners to use
- Mild in archers fingers and joints
- Quitter than recurve bows
- Lower draw weight
- Hard to store and transport
Recurve Bows
Can be used for target archery, field archery, and bowhunting.
- More power and speed than longbows.
- More accurate.
- Provide a correct draw weight
- Easy to store and transport than longbows
- They are versatile
- require skills in using
- stressful to archers grip
- Noisy compared to longbows.
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How to Make Different Types of Bow.
- Find a tree, usually, oak recommended.
- Cut and split the tree approximately 6 inches by 1 in thickness.
- Let the wood to dry usually 3 – 4 weeks.
- Debark your bow with a drawknife and mark the shape of a broadside.
- Smoothen the shape using the drawknife.
- Taper the sides of the limbs with the knife.
- Make string grouser at400 angle on the outside
- Sand down the edges and tips, front and back surface
- Create a tiller tree to test flexibility
- Shorten the parachute cord to make a small bend in bow.
- Sand and finish the bow.
- Paint the bow dry and wrap the handle with heap cord
- Create final bowstring.
Conclusion
What is the best type of bow? In most cases, the compound bow has proven to be the best. Choosing a bow requires a lot more than the consideration of just price; your interest, your strength, type of archery and much more. For a beginner compound bow or crossbows are the best choice but if you like challenge recurve bow is the one for you.