[Closed] Any Archers in the House?

Was expecting more Ambridge content, if I'm honest.

'Arrowist' for bow users is the correct stw term, iirc 😉

[archery geek]The proper name is a "toxophilite"[/archery geek]

Sorry, I'll stick with "arrowist" in future so I don't confuse the R4 listeners! 😀

I used to flirt arrows with a compound bow national level too, packed up about 4 years ago to much time needed for training & competitions and my body & head just had enough, sticking to playing on my bikes and a bit of photoing

I'm a recent arrival at archery. Been going for 18months and seem to be pretty good. I was lucky enough to pick up a very good Hoyt recurve bow set via my coach. Now drawing 40lbs. Shot 286 in a round of worcesters the other day bit chuffed with.

Had 5 years or so in the early noughties where I gave up the bikes and took up archery instead. Got to the edge of Bowman level but it was taking too much time to get any further and I developed some nasty form habits that weren't going away so started pedalling again.

Still got all my gear though...

45lb Olympic recurve (Merlin riser and some very nice custom Border limbs).

35lb Olympic recurve set up for barebow (nice heavy Spigarelli riser and some cheap W&W limbs).

1960s Border one piece 'hunting' recurve. Beautiful bit of kit.

Mongolian style horsebow.

65lb Victorian longbow.

Every so often I think I ought to drag some of the kit out and get back into it a bit...

Never really tried compound - picked them up and had the odd shot, but they frighten the life out of me! Bit too much like shooting a rifle too...

Not a bad score Stoner! I've shot a few "Perfect Portsmouths" in my time - it becomes a "brain game" on the last end!!

Mongolian style horsebow.

I keep lusting after those KG Archery bows that have a hint of Mongolian about them... And the Samick SKBs... Love the simplicity of them!

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Field archer here. Great fun. Hoyt 23riser and hoyt limbs, wooden arrows, so hunting tackle.

As you have your own wood, dont worry to much about backstops and banded foam butts. Do some stumping and hanging targets of foam in a sack. Thats all I do.

No compounds for me though, they would staright through.

Where are you based? I want to buy some wood, but cant find any where I live :-(....cash waiting.

I'm in Lancs, Ribble Valley... Never been to a proper field shoot but I've got the space to set something up on my own land.

Where/what do you shoot?

I've ordered a Ragim Black Bear... I really wanted a Bodnik Bearpaw Kiowa but I thought it best to go for the budget version until my draw weight settles down...

Kiowa:
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Black Bear:
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Where/what do you shoot?

South Glos....with hardly any trees 🙁

My land is a very steeply banked deep valley, so as you say, backstops won't be a problem! I've been stockpiling cardboard packaging to make some simple targets and will probably go for sacks in the less accessible areas so I can leave them in place.

I was a national standard U16s archer back in the early 90's. Just as I was getting [i]really good[/i] (5th in the country), I went to college and back interested in *cough* [i]other things[/i]

I used to shoot HT when I was younger. I was never particularly good but enjoyed it a lot. Our local club wasn't a million miles from you: http://www.derwynd-fac.uk/

Due to some internal politics I was too young to be privy to, we ended up leaving and setting up a new club in the adjoining field; I was a founding member of Owlet Hall Bowmen. The last I heard the club's future was uncertain due to the clubhouse falling victim to an arson attack, whether they're still going or not I don't know.

Still got my bow (some take-down recurve or other, 38@28") but haven't drawn it for anything other than show-and-tell in well over a decade, possibly two. I've still get my home-made arrows too.

Target Compound here, managed to just clear MB. Just loved it. Unfortunately due to a prolonged visit from the black dog, shooting and biking toook a side step. Hoping to get back into it following the summer. 🙂

Longbowman here... well I used to be. Wrist injury and home politics has meant I've not shot for over 6 years... I am even thinking about selling my custom bow as I can't shoot it any more...

Took it up last summer, slowly getting into it and building a decent recurve. I only score every so often and dont get to the field as it's indoor season.
As with everything needed a big bow (72") so had to wait for a hoyt riser to come at ghd right price. Arrows are 34" long and like broom handels.
Get to take the little un so it all about fun.

Though did get asked if i had a long rod the other week!

I was in the middle of doing my tests to get a hunting license for bow when i upped sticks and moved to the UK from Denmark, so the silly powerful compound bow is lying unused in the loft.
Have got a nice laminated Longbow that get some use in the garden instead.
Can we all come try your course when finished councilof? 🙂

if anyone is interested in a cheap compound bow (lefty) let me know

My dad shot for many years, Infact he started the club in our village. I packed up when I was 18 I think it was as I went from being top of the juniors to bottom of the seniors over night! Apparently I still hold some club records (Portsmouth indoors). That'll be thirty years ago now
I had a Les Howis Portland (we all did), we went to Welbeck to meet Les and get the grips custom made for us. Not sure where my bow ended up. I have a Portland here but it's not mine and it's too short for me to shoot.
Dads health problems meant he eventually gave up recurve bows and shot compound instead.
I have shot a bow since I was 18 but I now do target rifle shooting (small bore and full bore).

Conversely I used to shoot full bore years ago and even have a couple of cadet national caps. I've enjoyed taking up archery as a way of getting back the enjoyment I used to get with a rifle.

Started shooting recurve in the early 80's, got reasonably competitive as a junior and got an U15 title. Then moved from one part of the nation to another and discovered field archery and compound bows... and then beer and sleeping in on Sunday mornings. A gap of several years and took it up again whilst at nautical college in the early 90's, shooting with a real ale drinking club that cleverly disguised itself as a field archery club.

A mate (and mountain biker that several on here will know) has taken it up over the last couple of years and I find the technical advances that have been made in materials fascinating!

I shoot NFAS (animal faces and 3Ds, no round faces, unknown distance, up and downhill), have a couple of borders, a KG, a Donadoni, and a cheapy bucktrail

I'm in Lancs, Ribble Valley..

An NFAS stronghold, lots of clubs to choose from. From chatting to people the odd club has a bit of politics but most seem OK, if you have a wood to practice in you can go independent once signed off. Signing off depends on the coach as to the hoops to jump through but could be as simple as a club night and a Lancashire League shoot to get the mechanics

So, I've decided to go traditional, 1-piece recurve field bow and I'm in the process of setting up a field course in a wooded valley that I own.

Border Archery 3Ds in April are a good way to go through arrows

Happy to chat, or come round and see how many of your trees I can hit

I keep lusting after those KG Archery bows that have a hint of Mongolian about them

My land is a very steeply banked deep valley, so as you say, backstops won't be a problem! I've been stockpiling cardboard packaging to make some simple targets and will probably go for sacks in the less accessible areas so I can leave them in place.

Cardboard is rubbish if you shoot a decent poundage it holds the arrows, use bags of old clothes easy cheap, I would use coffee bean sacks or those reusable garden sacks. Or buy the foam strips off eBay and make your own bosses

i got one of these big bags you get bulk deliveries of gravel etc in, stuffed with old foam and scrap plastic, seems to work well as a target and not cost anything.

Remember when i tried with 2 straw bales as a target for my compound, shot right through them and arrow ended up 50m out in the field behind house

Cardboard is rubbish

It's what we always used, ten sheets of corrugated cardboard lashed together, slotted in between stakes in the ground.

Wow, didn't realise there were so many arrowists about! It does seem to be one of those hobbies that people drift in and out of, but like bikes, people always tend to drift back at some point.

I used to shoot as a youngster (until around secondary school when bikes took over) and I got back into it in my early 30s - I was moving away from my drinking buddy/neighbour and we were looking for something to do which allowed us to hang out/chew the fat once a week but didn't revolve around alcohol!

Anyway, long story short, he couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo so soon lost interest, but it came quite naturally to me and I won the club champs within 2 years. However, it was the progression to National level that stopped it being 'fun'. Hours of traveling, days spent bow-tuning... I guess that's why the simplicity of bare bow/field appeals - back to plinking arrows for fun!

I have a 50# osprey for sale if you are interested

Don't tempt me! That's one of my dream bows but (thankfully for now) far too heavy. I used to shoot around 53lb on my Hoyt/Winact limbs but as mentioned earlier, I had a bad left collarbone fracture that healed overlapped and it causes quite a lot of pain, so I've dropped down to a 35lb bow which will give me around 38-40lb on my fingers.

Unfortunately due to a prolonged visit from the black dog, shooting and biking toook a side step.

There has to be some sort of cause/effect lesson to be learned here! I've benefited massively from both sports at tough times - it was a real kick-up-the-arse from a good friend around 8 years ago that go me back on the bike after a messy divorce, and I don't think it's over-egging it to say I have him/bikes to thank for where I am now.

Cardboard is rubbish if you shoot a decent poundage it holds the arrows

I put a couple of layers of canvas-backed carpet in there - it stops ACEs from my olympic bow so shouldn't be a problem with POCs/field piles. Plus, shooting bare bow, I'm not expecting the centres to get shot out too soon!!!

Of course, anyone will be welcome to come and have a play once my little shoot is set up - beer fridge on site and plans for a pizza oven are already underway! 😀

I put a couple of layers of canvas-backed carpet in there - it stops ACEs from my olympic bow so shouldn't be a problem with POCs/field piles. Plus, shooting bare bow, I'm not expecting the centres to get shot out too soon!!!

Get some foam (matress memory foam) cut a slot, drop in some carpet. Stuff in a an old fertalizer/coal sack. Band it up or tape. Install in the woods. I sometimes hang mine in a net for a swinging target. Takes the punch out of arrow. Old leisure centre gym mats work well...at distance.

I'll dig some pictures later of my traget designs.

I had a shoot this morming....broke one arrow trying to get through a stupis daft gap...but thats half the fun.

I paint custom field archery targets, good excuse to painting and drawing.

http://brokenarrowuk.com

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If I'm ever up in Lancs, Ribble Valle, I might take you up on your offer of trying out your range.

I'll bring some targets for you.

councilof10, I went straight into shooting compound 😀 (never had a go with recurve) not scary at all, but I never dry fired mine !!! although I did see it happen a few times. I did come from rifle shooting background so that may have helped.
I must admit some archers never liked it when I said things like arrow flirting, point and shoot, pull it back till it stops and shoot the dam thing 😆 .
I never bothered with the keep pulling and relese then hand behind your head follow through type thing, it had stops for a reason pull it back till it stopped then hit the trigger, simple. I know im bad 😯 but it worked

The targets look great Redthunder! Do you buy foam in blocks or strips? Is it expensive?

I can see the attraction of compounds - from a technical POV they're incredible - but I've never been tempted to buy one... I'm loving the idea of going back to basics at the moment!

What happens if you dry fire a compound? I imagine it could be costly!!

It's what we always used, ten sheets of corrugated cardboard lashed together, slotted in between stakes in the ground.

Still a pita to remove arrows and not waterproof

Bags of clothes hanging from branches are great, the weight of the bag soaks up a lot of momentum and when it starts to swing it really plays with the mind

Lancashire League is at Foxhill Bowmen this Sunday, might be worth having a chat with them. It not an open so they hopefully will be relaxed about showing you what's what if not ring around

As for bow weight in NFAS you can go heavier with good form as you shoot less arrows in competition ideally 36 or 40 or in my case 120 over a full day

Of course, anyone will be welcome to come and have a play once my little shoot is set up

A smart archer would organise a working party.....

Even smarter would be "bring your own target"

I never bothered with the keep pulling and relese then hand behind your head follow through type thing

I've never seen anyone shoot like that outside of movies, I don't think.

Lancashire League is at Foxhill Bowmen this Sunday,

Bloody hell, there's a name I've not heard in a while.

What happens if you dry fire a compound? I imagine it could be costly!!

Dry firing any bow is a Bad Thing generally, TBH.

A smart archer would organise a working party.....

Ha, not a bad idea! I'm spending every spare minute digging paths/steps and trying to barrow a wagon-load of wood-chippings at the moment... Next step is to build a bridge over the brook, and then I can shoot zig-zag fashion across the brook with a couple of long targets down the middle - I've got clear line-of-sight for around 80-90 meters in places.

I'm think 6-8 or so targets would make an interesting little hour's shooting before/after work. Perhaps use the same target from 2 or more pegs.

Dry firing any bow is a Bad Thing generally, TBH.

I remember someone getting hit on the head by their broken upper limb when they inadvertently shot with a split nock - effectively a dry shot as the arrow stayed still. Made one helluva crack in an echoey old sports hall!

Wood chippings!!you are too posh

60m is about as far as NFAS go out too.

I would not keep to fixed pegs for practice unless you are gap shooting

A slow motion video of an arrow hitting my foam soldier target.

Shows the archers paradox quite nicely as well 🙂

Better pix later... just can seem to get on my main PC at the monent.

@councilof10
The premium target prices are all on the website and vary for different sizes. Hand pianted in acryclic an roofing membrance. They can last many years depending on intensity of use (I had a club Bear Target last nearly 2 years with compounders beating the hell out of every day).

They hold there colour extremley well and can even be washed (hose pipe only), but I reckon you could wash them in the washing machine if your brave enough.

Wood chippings!!you are too posh

My old man is a tree feller and he's always looking for some unsuspecting fool to say "sure, I'll have a bit of that wood chip off you...".

I've had about 3 tons of it steaming away on my drive for the past 6 weeks... (3 tons is a pile about the size of a people-carrier. Thanks pop!)

Great video Redthunder - I think I might be on paper faces for a while, lots of other costs involved at the moment so targets will have to be as cheap as possible! Where do you source foam for butts?

Where do you source foam for butts?

the foam pops up on ebay occasionally

I would try packing the wood chip into bags and use that as targets

I would try packing the wood chip into bags and use that as targets

That's not a bad idea! Got a few bulk aggregate bags lying around - I might be able to use some of those...

Got a weekend of step/path building planned, I'll post some pics next week - a bit of advice regarding possible pegs/targets would be greatly appreciated from those who've experienced a few field shoots... 🙂

Are you a gap shooter or [s]instinctive[/s] looking for arrows?

if gap then its about getting the consistency so progressive distances pegged and well measured as you want to go to a peg work out distance and therefore the gap. Same for an steep up hill and a steep downhill. You are effectively aiming so distance estimation is conscious so it is that and consistency you are working on. finally a close small one as the weasel target is a PITA

if [s] instinctive [/s] looking for arrows I would not peg out instead just freestyle to shooting point, try and vary distances and up/ down more randomly, I assume you will be the only one shooting so it's easier. Also make yourself an arrow rake and when placing targets think about where the overshoot goes as that is what will break/ lose arrows. One comfortable shooting then add lines that have trees on the edge of the line of sight to the target as this screws with the mind

whatever you do commit to one system as mixing doesn't often work well

I shoot gap with a bare bow... As a former target archer I naturally revert to using a reference point.

The distinction always interested me - surely most 'instinctive' archers use some sort of gap system, even if it's subconscious...

I don't think I've ever met a barebow shooter who shoots pure "instinctive" as I understand the term.

Whenever a barebow shooter describes their technique to me, its either gap shooting, point of aim or mark on bow.

when I shoot, at my very limited distance in the garden, I focus only on the target, I don't "see" any part of the bow.

Very different to the sights on my compound with the little eye in the string to sight through.

Been fascinated by instinctive shooting since I read about Anders Lassen (only non commonwealth to receive a VC) as a kid, and how as a kid he was shooting pigeons in flight with a home made bow and arrow

I was given a Dunlop longbow as a child and my "tuition" consisted entirely of watching "Robin of Sherwood"! I suppose I shot completely instinctively - I don't remember it ever occurring to me to use a "gap" or mark on the bow.

But years of using sites makes it almost impossible to ignore reference points... I guess the best system uses a bit of "instinct", particularly when shooting up/down hill or in crosswinds etc.

since I read about Anders Lassen

You've just put me in mind of Lars Andersen, worth a Google if you've not heard of him. His "history lessons" are a flight of speculative fantasy and to be taken with a pinch of salt, but he's got some crazy skills.

Yes I remember when Lars Andersens video made the rounds on Facebook etc, was hilarious to read the comments, see how worked up some people got because of it.

Yep, another fan of Lars Andersen... I particularly liked his rebuttal to all the negative comments. The guy is an amazing talent, completely bonkers, but a lovely bloke!

Lars Andersens

Is he the speed shooter? Apparently he's had the top joint on one of his string fingers removed to speed up his shooting.

He got so fast and then couldn't get any faster. So that was the next step!

Or so I was told at the weekend.

What???... How? Why? Who???

Not been able to find anything about him having his finger chopped, and I looked both in Danish and English.
Its nice to know that he only started when he was 40 🙂

This is how urban myths start! 😀

This is how urban myths start!

Hence the "or so I was told"!

Buy in fairness, we may have been talking about a different speed shooter. It was from a chap who did horse archery telling me about how it differed from "normal" archery and how a lot of these speed shooter techniques are what you use in horse archery.

Given the risks and the unknown outcome of nerve damage when you amputate something, I'm thinking it would be highly unlikely that someone who relies on dexterity would do such a thing!

Great urban myth though, when I hear it back again I'll know it came from your mate! 🙂

Since losing half my index finger on the string hand my shooting has improved quite a bit (see bugger thread)

According to coach something to do with triangles and banjo releases.

😀

I suppose it's like shooting 3-below but with only 2-below... Less string squeeze and no nock pinch...

I would imagine nocking the arrow would be a bit more fiddly though... Surely not something you'd do deliberately?!?

Despite my clumsiness, no, it's not something I'd recommend doing to improve your marksmanship!

Quite a bit less string pinch. No nock pinch, and no issue with nocking as I never used that finger.

Tiller can be adjusted to work with buggered geometry too

Have you had to go a bit lighter with your limbs? I reckon I'd get sore fingers if I lost the input of my strongest digit!

I've gone up recently from starter limbs of 33ish to Hoyt f7 36lbs and drawing about 40 (I'm 6'4")

I don't think I've ever met a barebow shooter who shoots pure "instinctive" as I understand the term.
Whenever a barebow shooter describes their technique to me, its either gap shooting, point of aim or mark on bow.

I think a lot is dependent on the Association and club, my club is only NFAS, there is no history of target, Archery GB, GNAS, EFAA etc. the coaches shoot instinctively so they teach that although they don't get all into the hype etc, Some in the club shoot compound with sights no-one is bothered.

Marks on the bow are specifically banned in the NFAS sightless categories

Instinctive shooting is all about good form, staring at the target and practice (and looking for arrows). My technique is, look at the target, select point of focus, draw, anchor, release, go look for my arrow. Of course there is an unconscious calculation going on but it's not as simple as people think as often even with poor execution (inconsistent back tension, poor anchor etc) a good hit on the target is achieved which indicates some compensation going on

there are some good archers out there who can shoot "instinctively" or "non reference", anyone who gets uptight about others style (as long as it is safe) needs to chill out.

Well that should be fine for 100yds outdoors, so you've got no worries there! Your release will probably be cleaner as well - less string friction... Hell, I might chop my finger off too! 😀

Great urban myth though, when I hear it back again I'll know it came from your mate!

Yeah, its a bit like last summer there was a story going round that a certain well known Welsh bowyer had lost two fingers in a band saw accident and had given up making bows.

Just before Christmas we went to a seminar he was organising. Standing around chatting you coulds see a few people subtly trying to check out his hands. However all ten digts were present and correct and he is still making bows.

My technique is, look at the target, select point of focus, draw, anchor, release, [b]go look for my arrow.[/b]

I can relate to this! 😀

My technique is, look at the target, select point of focus, draw, anchor, release, go look for my arrow.

My techniquie is more : draw, release, anchor, swear, go for a sherry.

I was purely talking about the odd ones out where I don't drop the arrow before I get to even draw the bow 🙂

Which reminds me I need to get these bloody nocks sorted that are slightly to big for my string.

Aim Small, Miss Small !

About 15 yards that shot.

The badger is standard foam with a slit cut in the middle. Currently using a dense blanket inbetween. But carpet would do. The foam essentially hold the arrow up.

38lb bow, 200fps 😉 well the last time it went the cronograph.

DONT FOREGT TO SUBSCRIBE :-)))))

I don't think I've ever met a barebow shooter who shoots pure "instinctive" as I understand the term.

I was an instinctive archer. If you'd asked me before drawing where I was going to be aiming, I wouldn't be able to tell you. Only at full draw sighting down the arrow could I co "yeah, about there."

Which reminds me I need to get these bloody nocks sorted that are slightly to big for my string.

That's what teeth are for. (Insert joke about Beiter nocks here.)

I will try go bite the buggers later 🙂
been using the hot water and pressing them together but they always seem to pop back out fairly quickly

I was watching a video of making horn-insert nocks on traditional arrows, linen whippings, the works... Got a hankering to make some even though I know they're be carp compared to some nice Bjorns...

I think I have an arrow fetish, I've got umpteen sets that I've made and never used!

I'm booked on a 1.5hr taster course in a couple of weeks.

I'm slightly concerned that it'll turn in to yet another hobby to become obsessed about and spend inordinate amounts of money on.

But Little John is buried in my local church, so all I'd really be doing is maintaining a tradition.

It needn't be that expensive.... I got going with a second hand Hoyt gold medallist - a 30-odd year old design that is still perfectly capable of winning tournaments. You could probably get a decent set-up, including arrows for a couple of hundred quid. Lots of people buy all the gear and then sell up, there are a couple of great second hand equipment sites on Facebook where you'll get loads of good advice and end up with so ring far more serviceable than the starter kits shops sell.

It's probably closest to golf in that it's a mind game. The equipment actually makes very little difference (assuming it's well set up), but it is nice to have pretty toys!

I'm slightly concerned that it'll turn in to yet another hobby to become obsessed about and spend inordinate amounts of money on.

Anecdotally, a tale my then-mentor told me of his experiences at a GNAS shoot: He turned up to find everyone with All The Gear, tricked out bows with sights and release aids and all manner of toys, and all wearing what looked like cricket whites. He'd rocked up in jeans, they looked at him like a tramp in Harrods.

They apparently have three minutes to shoot three arrows, and most of that time was spent coming to full draw, coming down again, fiddling with the bow settings, rinse and repeat. He shot three arrows in about 20 seconds and outshot the lot of them. I fear the last part there may be exaggeration, but the idea of a guy dressed for field archery going to a target shoot like that amuses me greatly.

You could probably get a decent set-up, including arrows for a couple of hundred quid.

It doesn't have to be expensive. As a random example,

http://www.quicksarchery.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=19_501&product_id=11

I wouldn't buy anything at all until advised by the club (and then the first thing I'd buy would be arrows, that way you're losing your own rather than someone else's). For a start, you'll need someone to help you how to work out whether you should be shooting left- or right-handed.

Cougar - Moderator
For a start, you'll need someone to help you how to work out whether you should be shooting left- or right-handed.

Or, left eyed or right eyed.

😉

(I'm sinister but shoot right handed).

I'm right handed, right eyed, shoot a right handed bow but shoot catapults t'other way round!

Alternative archery supplies for cheap kit.

They apparently have three minutes to shoot three arrows, and most of that time was spent coming to full draw, coming down again, fiddling with the bow settings, rinse and repeat. He shot three arrows in about 20 seconds and outshot the lot of them.

LOL. About as reliable as the apocryphal mountain biker, on a single speed, thrashing the keen roadies...

three minutes to shoot three arrows

"Six arrows in three minutes old chap, Six" 😉

Whoops its Alternative Sporting Services,

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I could probably get 12 off in minute quite easily.

I'll try on Thursday.

Or, left eyed or right eyed.

(I'm sinister but shoot right handed).

Quite. I'm left-handed and left-eye dominant, but shoot right-handed as that was the only equipment available to me when I learned. I should probably have re-learned, but it's too late for me now I fear.

About as reliable as the apocryphal mountain biker, on a single speed, thrashing the keen roadies...

Probably. Like I said, it's a second-hand anecdote.