Bahrs complete guide to bows

[Bahr]

People have been asking me to write a guide on bows and bow hunting, so here you are.
First off. Im going to constantly be editing and adding to this guide so its not going to be complete for a long while.
second. Im going to start with the very basics you need to know to understand what I write.

The Three Different Types of Bows
Longbow
Recurve
Compound

longbow

This type of bow was the first invented and is very simple. One long stick that is bent with a string attached. It differs from the recurve because the ends of the limbs on a recurve bend up a bit.


Recurve
The ends of the limbs on this bow bend ut a bit to give the bow a little more power than the long bow.


Compound

This is the most advanced kind of bow. It has cams (wheels) on the end of the limbs.
The cams hold the string a bit at full draw so its easier to hold back longer. This is called "let off". Example if you have a 60 pound draw weight and 50% let off, than at full draw instead of holding 60 pounds of pressure your only holding 30 pounds. This makes it easier the hold the string back longer and aim a bit better.
Another thing about compound bow is that you can add many thing to the bow. Such as new fiber optic sights, quiver, stabilizer. ect

[Bahr]

Heres the part most pople were asking me to write.
How To Make a Depenable Long Bow

The first step to me is the hardest.
1. Find a limb of hickory or another type of wood in yuor area. Get a lenght that you think will suite you. remember it will be shorter after you string it. Make sure it is curved evenly. You dont want much of a curve just very slight. If you get a limb that bends more towards one end. Your bow will look like this.



If you bow comes out like that, it will not last long or shoot right. The pressure is not even in the limbs when you draw and will cause it to break.
You want your bow to look like this.



Your limb should be a little thicker than a shovel handle.

2. get a sharp knife. Start whittling the bow flat along the curve, except fo the middle leave it rounded. Thats your "handle". Doing this takes alot of time, dont expect to finish this bow in a few days. While whittling your bow flat you will hit little knots in the wood from where smaller limbs were. I found its easiest to just saw them off with a small saw like on a leatherman knife.

3. With hickory and some other types of wood you should let it dry out for a while 3 weeks at least. It really depends on the type of wood you use. Some work better dry, some green.

4. After its dry you can string it. first cut little notches about an inch down from the end of each limb (now "limb" means each end of the bow) this is to hold the string from sliding.
The way you string it is first tie a loop (slipknot works best) on one end of the string and put it on one end of the bow. Now cut the string a few inches shorter than the bow. Tie a loop on that end. Now Brace the end of the bow with the string on it on the floo and against your foot so it dosent slid. Gently bent the bow untill you can slip the loop on the other end. Now you have a bow! The first thing you do after you finish it is gently draw the string back. If you hear any cracking or popping you might as well throw the bow away and start over. And dont pull the string back more than the bow can handle because Duh, it'll break. Now Here is the number one rule of bows, remember it! Never dry fire! this put massive amounts of stress on the bow and can either break a limb or the string. By dry firing, I mean shooting it with out an arrow.

Now its hard to explain the tricks that go into building a bow. The best thing you can do to learn, is to try it. I doubt that you will make a really good bow on your first try. I diddent, it took me several trys. I still mess up sometimes. Pratice make dosent always make perfect, but it helps.

side note: You can buy bowstring, but nylon string works pretty good too.

[GuyFawks]

An the crossbow. With some plans.

Build a Hunter’s Crossbow

[Bahr]

Originally Posted by GuyFawks

An the crossbow. With some plans.

Build a Hunter’s Crossbow

I never really got into crossbows. But thanks for adding it Guy.

[Bahr]

If you made a good long bow. Im now going to teach you the basics of shooting it.

Rest the arrow on your thumb of the hand thats holding the bow. Nock the arrow in the middle of the string. Now there are a few dfferent ways of holding the string when you draw. The prefered method is putting your pointer finger on top of the arrow and you bird and ring finger under it. And pulling the string back with those three fingers.Put the string in the first joint from the top of you fingers.
Another way, for a bow with a lower draw weight, is to pinch the arrow between your thumb and the middle knuckle of your pointer finger.

Now, actually shooting the arrow. When hunting with a traditional bow (long/revurve) you very rarely have bow sights. Shooting with out sights is called instinct shooting.
The way you do it is basically draw the bow. Concentrate on your target very hard. Only look at the very center of what you want to hit. when you release, follow the arrow to the target with your eyes. If you hit the bulls eye. Be suprised as hell. Because it takes weeks and weeks to learn to hit close to where you want. Traditional shooting takes a LOT of practice. Dont expect to learn it in a few days. You have to have strong concentration. And it helps to have strong arm muscles.

[john lee]

Hello Bahr,the bow with item number 140278631503 has been relisted on ebay,it's now £70.I just wish i had the money.
I do not understand how the ends of a bow make it worth more.Why would it cost more for curved ends than straighter ones.Cheers John.

[Bahr]

I just went and looked at the bow you want. I understand now about the end tips. But that looks like the perfect bow for you. Diddent you say he dosent live far from you? If I were you before I bought it, I would go and check the bow out first. If you doYou should draw the sring and see if it draws smoothly. If you hear a cracking noise dont buy it.
And do not pull the string back and release it with out an arrow. It could break the bow.

[john lee]

Originally Posted by Bahr

Do you mean this pic?

Hello Bahr,no it's i think what you call nocks that are curved.
This is part of the discription as per maker.
Self lemmonwood,d-section English longbow.Complete with 10 strand laid in dacron bowstring.
Finely shaped buffalo nocks with an extra groove for bow stringer.
Checkout the item for a full description.Cheers John.

[Bahr]

The nock is on the back of an arrow. Thats what clips onto the string. Your talking about limbtips. And the reason it cost a bit more is because those limb tips are very well made. not just the cheap little cuts in the wood in my guide. I think this dude knows what he is doing. I'd buy it.

[john lee]

Originally Posted by Bahr

The nock is on the back of an arrow. Thats what clips onto the string. Your talking about limbtips. And the reason it cost a bit more is because those limb tips are very well made. not just the cheap little cuts in the wood in my guide. I think this dude knows what he is doing. I'd buy it.

Just wish i had the money.
Checkout his bows for sale and he's only 19!
eBay My World - doml17

[Bahr]

Yea. He has some really nice bows. Ive made a few but none that looked that good. Although since your learning it wont hurt to get a cheap bow. when you start to get good than yu should find a real good bow. Right now you just need something to practice with and figure out the basics.

£70 Do you know what that converts to in american money?

[john lee]

[quote=Bahr;
£70 Do you know what that converts to in american money?[/QUOTE]

Hello Bahr.£70.68 = $115.00.Cheers John.

[Bahr]

$115, well for the bow thats a pretty good price. But like I said before. Just try to find a cheap bow to learn with.

[ja15060]

i already made a bow yet it looks like total shit... but it's pretty damn good when it comes to making an arrow hit a target...

[homedefender]

what about exploding arrow heads? any ideas?

[Bahr]

Originally Posted by ja15060

i already made a bow yet it looks like total shit... but it's pretty damn good when it comes to making an arrow hit a target...

The best bow I ever made looked like a piace of shit. I diddent shave off any bark or anything I just put a string on it. It worked really good for a while but I diddent let the wood dry out, so it broke.

Originally Posted by homedefender

what about exploding arrow heads? any ideas?

One. You cant make explosive arrow heads.(That I know of, It'll probly be extremly hard to make if there is.) But you can make an explod on impact arrow.

This is the last time I post this so listen/read good.

Fill an arrow shaft up till theirs about two inches left with black powder. then you take a 22. bullet. take the lead out crimp the end and turn it backwards in the end of the arrow the rim on the 22. will match perfect with them arrow and it wont slide in. Now you put clay, silly putty, sticky tack or something like than and put it over the end of the 22. now put a tack in the clay pointy end on the side of the back of the bullet. Remember 22.'s are rim fire you have to put the tack on the rim not the middle. Now shoot something hard and the tack will hit the 22. the 22. will go off causing the gunpowder to go off and........KABOOM!

I may put pictures up after a while if I feel like it. And Ive tried a few different explosive arrow designs. This one works best.

[Vallen]

i don't think you'd need the tack on the end of the .22 shell the force from it impacting should be enough.

[Hetfield]

If using a center fire it's usually easier to stick a BB to the end.

Large area of solid metal = More chance of it standing the impact and crushing the primer. With a tack you've got a chance of the "Pin" part sliding and breaking off.

[Bahr]

Originally Posted by Vallen

i don't think you'd need the tack on the end of the .22 shell the force from it impacting should be enough.

I thought that too. I tried it. It dont work. Just take my word for it.

Originally Posted by Hetfield

If using a center fire it's usually easier to stick a BB to the end.

Large area of solid metal = More chance of it standing the impact and crushing the primer. With a tack you've got a chance of the "Pin" part sliding and breaking off.

Centerfires are to big. You have to use a 22. Its the perfect size. It'll fit in the arrow but the rim keeps it from going all th way in. And thats why you put like gum or something over the end of the 22. you stick the pin in it and it'll hold it in place. And just to be clear for other people. You do not put the pin in the middle. A 22. is not center fire. You put the tack on the edge of th shell. So it hits the rim of the bullet. Explaining the word "rimfire".

[Hetfield]

Ahhh, thats the thing, Over here you can get .22 centerfires. The primers are Tiny!

I always use a 12 bore shotgun primer though, without the rest of the shell, just the primer.

[Bahr]

List of basic things you need to shoot a compound bow, coming soon.

[Bahr]

Here is the basic stuff you need for compound bow hunting.

1. Sights. Almost all good bow sights these days are fiber optic.Nnormally they have 1 to 5 pins. the most common is three.

2. Quivver. An attachment that goes on the side of your bow, can hold up to 10 arrows

3. Release. It clips on to the bows string under the arrow. And it has a strap that goes around your wrist and has a trigger to release the string. Makes it easier to draw and hold.

4. Stableizer. A piece of rubber and metal that goes on the bottom of the bow to weigh it down a bit. Helps keep the bow from shaking when your trying to aim.

I know its worded like shit but im working on getting pictures and links to go with it in a little while.