Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => English Warbow => Topic started by: adb on October 14, 2008, 11:00:35 am
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This past Sunday was a perfect day to launch some arrows from my new warbow. It was warm for October (+10C) and no wind. I've been practicing with my warbow a bit more, and I'm able to get it back to 30" now. So... I wanted to see what kind of cast it has. Specs on the bow: 74" NTN yew selfbow, horn nocks, 80#@28". So, at 30", I'm thinking it's somewhere between 85-90#.
I made two types of arrows: First are a regular pine shaft, spined 65-70#. I made them 30.5" from valley of nock to base of head. Weight is 600 grains, with a 125 grain target point. 6" delta cut feathers, with silk wrapping only at front of feathers. Second are some replica war arrows. Also 30.5" in length, 3/8" bobtailed poplar shafts. Self nocks with horn insert, 7" hand cut delta profile feathers. 180 grain bodkin head, and a couple with a type 16 broadhead (hand forged). Weight on the war arrows was 800 grains.
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The look on my face pretty much says it all!!! I'm sure not used to these heavy bows, but I do love shooting them!!
OK, how far did I cast an arrow? Well, the 600 grain arrows obviuosly went the farthest, and I got 205 meters with the best shot, and averaged between 195 - 205 meters (we're metric here in Canada!).
Oh yah, I forgot to mention... I was using a golf course driving range! All the golf is done for the year, and this driving range was closed, but the gate was open, so I thought what the heck. It was handy, cuz the distances are all marked!!
With the war arrows, I was really surprised. They flew to 190 meters! I thought the cast would be significantly less, but I was surprised to find it not that much less.
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Penetration with the war arrows was pretty impressive. It's been freezing hard here overnight, down to around -6 to -7C, so the ground was still frozen when I was shooting. With the hard ground, I was getting 6 - 7" of penetration at 190 meters!
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Thats pretty cool, looks like fun to me and a great use for a driving range also. :)
Nice arc on that bow.
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Thanks, Dana! I really wasn't sure about the driving range, but all went well. It is actually quite a safe place to shoot, as the range is entirely fenced, and out to 350 meters. I don't think it would go over very well during the summer, however!!
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Thats great. I have not been shooting my Warbows as of late, i dont even think I have been to this board in a few months. I have been to into my Native American bows now that hunting is here and show season is over. Where are you located adb? we should try and get together a bunch of US warbow guys and do some shooting.
Steve
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Hey, Steve
I live in the Great White North. Western Canada... Saskatchewan, to be exact. It'd be a treat to hook up with you and do some warbow shooting!! Michigan, however, is a long way from here!
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ahhh, thats to bad. I have a few guys here in Michigan and upper Indiana that I have found that shoot EWB's. Maybe one day we will have a North American English war Bow gathering. Try and get Steve Stratton, Glenan, Nick and the English Gents over here!!!!
You are really not that far, maybe 15 hours to Detroit? If we had a gathering in Lower Michigan and had it over a nice weekend we could all camp out.
Steve
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Nice warbow. Glad i wasn't on the receiving end of one of your arrows. ;)
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I don't shoot warbows but I'm in Upper Michigan :)
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That bow turned out really well Adam and the performance is great. Way to go
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Beautiful bow, The tiller is outstanding and good cast to go with it. Steve
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Nice looking bow and looks like a ton of fun. Ronnie
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Ah but once you're on top of that bow, it's time to make a step up, 100LB perhaps?
The tiller looks sweet, well done.
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Triton,
Yes, I'd like to go heavier. More practice with this one for now. My next goal is to go up to about 120lbs or so. I have an outstanding 80" yew stave I'm getting psyched to make into a heavier warbow.
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Geez, don't blow a nut with that thing :D It sure does look like fun.
I need one of those when i play archery golf ! BTW how many feet in a meter ???
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Hey, John
No worries!!1 It's not as bad shooting this bow as I thought it would be. It's silky smooth to draw cuz it's so long. Yew is really amazing wood... it's very elastic. At this heavy weight, this bow has taken less than an inch of set! It seems way easier to draw than my 70# hickory backed osage bow, for example. I've really been having fun launching some heavy arrows way out there.
I'm going to post some pics of the arrows I made (& was shooting) for this bow, sometime this weekend.
Oh, yah... 1 meter = 1.1 yards. So, 200 meters is about 220 yards. Hey, John, how are those knapped heads I sent you holding up? Have you killed anything with them yet? Can you post some pics of arrows you've made with them?
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Adam, Here you go. The points are great i haven't had a chance to shoot them at an animal but i'm sure they will get the job done.
The one on the left is one you sent me and the one on the right is one i knapped.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/CIMG0682.jpg)
here are a couple more.
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/CIMG0259.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/CIMG0271.jpg)
(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/johnkeehn/CIMG0269.jpg)
John
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ADB,
A word of caution.
I can pull an 80lb bow OK and 90lb with a warbow technique. I can pull 100lb but it isn't comfortable. The steps up above this seem to be big steps even if only 10lbs. While I can get a 100lb bow back to something like an anchor point (not a lot like some peoples though!) I hit a wall mid pull with a 120lb bow. If you can somehow try a 120ln bow and pull it fine but otherwise it may be worth making training bows of whitewood or something of maybe 90/100/110 to increase strength in smaller steps before really going for an investment in a 120lb bow.
The way the bow pulls can be as important as the final draw weight. A long bow is easier than a shorter one but it may depend on where your greatest strength is in the draw.
Good luck but I would hate to see you make a wonderful monster bow and not be able to pull it.
Mark
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ADB,
A word of caution.
I can pull an 80lb bow OK and 90lb with a warbow technique. I can pull 100lb but it isn't comfortable. The steps up above this seem to be big steps even if only 10lbs. While I can get a 100lb bow back to something like an anchor point (not a lot like some peoples though!) I hit a wall mid pull with a 120lb bow. If you can somehow try a 120ln bow and pull it fine but otherwise it may be worth making training bows of whitewood or something of maybe 90/100/110 to increase strength in smaller steps before really going for an investment in a 120lb bow.
The way the bow pulls can be as important as the final draw weight. A long bow is easier than a shorter one but it may depend on where your greatest strength is in the draw.
Good luck but I would hate to see you make a wonderful monster bow and not be able to pull it.
Mark
if it wasn't pullable you could just remove more wood no?
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Of course!
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Hi,
I added some pics of the replica livery arrows I was shooting from this warbow on a new thread, if anyone is interested.