Beginner's Longbow & Arrows
 

With a free local outdoor archery range nearby, and a little spare time on the weekends, I'd like to play a little. Haven't picked up a bow in 10+ years, but I used to enjoy it. I learned with a longbow, and I'd prefer to stick with the style. What do you recommend?

A bit about my parameters:
- Woman, ~120lbs (not too much upper arm strength).
- Target practice only, no hunting.
- Under $200, but sturdy.
- No "broad arrows" permitted at the range.

I know next to nothing about bows, though I would think that the compound bows would be a bit easier to manipulate, draw, etc. From what I understand, the compound bows are purely about function where as the longbows are more about form these days.

One of my friends got a (more expensive than you want) pink compound bow recently. It's fun to shoot!

Girls and their pink weapons. They start at such an early age.

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Aaah, great topic. I used to fling arrows back in the days when a wore a Boyscout uniform. Like Walt said, longbows are gnarly and all... but largely obsolete. It's my understanding that they're show pieces that don't pack a lot of oomph until you become fairly skilled. If you want to focus on form, yeah, get yourself a longbow. But if you're more into putting 'em down range and the thttchok! of an arrow hitting a target, compound is the way to go. Don't knock technology; it's still just a bow.

Anyway, here's a similar thread at a bow forum (that you've probably already seen): Beginner Longbow. Lots of jargon, but you can dig out some product names.

I'm a big advocate for buying used sporting goods, so I'd recommend finding a bow that suits you and then looking for a similar one at used sporting goods retailers or ala Craigslist. Bows are like fitness equipment: purchased with the intent to regularly use but rarely used. You should be able to get a great deal on a like-new starter set.

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So, yeah, it's been my experience that you can get a good starter compound bow for less than a longbow that you won't grow out of quickly. This is based off wandering around at Dick's Sporting Goods, talking to those weird guys who prefer bows over rifles for deer, and a cursory Google search.

Generic but useful information on compound bows, proper sizing.

Get yourself some bullet points or field points and have at that bullseye. Broad heads, on the odd chance you don't already know, are the triangle or diamond-shaped razorblade arrowheads that are used for hunting. They're no good at a target range because they chew up the targets and are often a bitch to retrieve.

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Mmm, this thread totally makes me wanna get back into archery. Thanks a lot, GG... as if my man room isn't clogged with enough goddamn projectile weapons. ;)

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Thanks, Raptor! What great advice.