Buy bows at BSW

Would you rather like a recurve bow that is also used in olympic archery on FITA targets or maybe a classic longbow, with which you can go on a journey through time and feel like one of the historic archers of the vikings or in medieval times? In archery there is a huge selection of various bow types from numerous manufacturers - and no matter if you are just beginning to do archery or if you are already very experienced, you will find a bow at BSW that suits you and your preferences.

Frequently asked questions

Particularly beginners in archery face lots of unanswered questions about which bow they should actually choose. There are also many different questions and answers about archery in general, which we have summarized and answered below.

A three-piece recurve bow is ideal for beginners, as it has the advantage that it can be adapted to the archer's progressing skill level. With this bow, also called take-down recurve bow, the limbs can be exchanged making the draw weight as well as the bow length adjustable.
Archery is a very old sport, yet still today people like to shoot traditional bows. These include longbows, recurve bows and horsebows. This sport, however, has also evolved and the modern compound bows inspire numerous archers. Compound bows are built with cams, which means that less force is required to draw the bow, as it is with a pulley system. Even the classic bows have evolved though and are now also available as three-piece - so-called take down recurve bows, where the limbs can be exchanged.

To avoid twisting the limbs on your bow, it is generally recommended to use a bow stringer. Detailed instructions can be found with each bow stringer or in the linked video.

Buy bow stringers

We highly recommend using a bow stringer

This is a legitimate question that beginners in particular ask themselves over and over again. In our country, Germany, no type of bow is considered a weapon. Please check the laws and regulations in your country to be sure.
There are no clear guidelines for clothing in archery. It is advisable, however, not to wear too loose clothing, so that you do not get in contact with the string or even the bow when shooting. Otherwise, the clothing is adapted to the circumstances. Indoors, most archers are dressed rather athletically. When you are outside, you of course dress according to the weather.
The cost of equipment varies greatly but it does not necessarily have to be expensive for beginners. You can get good bows in a complete set between 100-200€ at our store. A set like this contains everything, from the bow to the accessories, that you need to get started. In addition to the purchase costs, you have to pay the club fees if you want to shoot in a club etc.
The bow is considered a piece of sports equipment and can theoretically be used anywhere. But unfortunately, it is not always that simple. You always have to make sure that you do not endanger anyone or anything. If you can do that and the owner agrees, you can shoot on any private property like your garden or a field. The same rules apply to woods and meadows, of course. However, in this case it is far more difficult to really eliminate the risk of hurting anyone. Archery parcours and shooting ranges of clubs are a much safer alternative.

To make sure that the first training session does not end with blisters and bruises, it is always a good idea to get some protective equipment as well. The fingers of the draw hand are protected with a shooting glove or finger tab, the forearm with an arm guard. A simple side quiver helps you to keep the arrows at hand in a tidy way.

If you want to shoot not only traditionally but sporty/Olympically, you should add a sight, an arrow rest including a button as well as a stabilizer to your equipment.

The longbow is the original form of bows and usually has straight limbs. In modern variants, these can also curve slightly forward. The longbow´s curvature is relatively even over the limbs. A recurve bow can be considered a further development of the longbow. It has strong curves in the upper part of its limbs, the recurves. Due to these additional curves, more energy is transferred to the arrow with the same draw weight than with a longbow and therefore higher arrow speeds can be achieved.
In theory, there is nothing wrong with starting archery with a compound bow. It should be noted, however, that a compound bow is a technological and very delicate device that requires correct handling for safe shooting. Particularly in this case, it makes sense to inform yourself about topics such as the draw length and the draw weight before buying a compound bow. In the end, the bow must fit the shooter. Therefore, many manufacturers have models with a wide range of adjustments in the product range, which can be adapted to almost any archer and are therefore perfect candidates in the beginning. For example, we recommend the Edge series from Diamond, the Hoyt Powermax, and the ever-popular Fred Bear Cruzer G-2, all of which are available in the Ready to Shoot Package including all attachments. All you need then is a release and a few arrows.
Lbs is the abbreviation for the English unit pound and is derived from the Latin word "libre". It is a common unit of measurement in archery and is used to indicate the draw weight of the bow, which is usually measured at 28" draw length. One pound is equal to about half a kilogram.
Because the bow can break! When a bow is drawn, it stores energy, as the limbs want to return to their original position. When released, this energy is discharged. When an arrow is nocked, this energy is transferred to the arrow and launches it forwards. This way, the stored energy is dissipated. If no arrow is nocked on the other hand, the energy is discharged into the bow. This will usually damage the bow at its weakest point. You may also injure yourself in the process. A bow should therefore never be dry-fired - for your own safety and the protection of your bow!
Three-piece recurve bows are also called take down recurve bows and can be taken apart. They consist of the two limbs and a riser. The advantage of these bow models is - on the one hand - the easy transport and storage. On the other hand, they can be adapted to the shooter and his or her learning progress. This is because the length and draw weight can be adjusted by exchanging the limbs. This makes the take down bows a great choice, particularly for beginners.

The determination of the bow length depends on various factors: Body size, draw length and area of use of the bow. But not every single factor must and can always be taken into account. Therefore, the following applies in general: Longer bows are somewhat more forgiving, but also slower. Shorter bows are faster, but somewhat less forgiving.

The bow length is therefore often dependent on the area of application of the bow.

In sports, you need a reliable bow for optimal results even at longer distances. Therefore, they are usually always slightly longer than traditional bows. Recurve hunting bows are shorter because the distance to the target is usually shorter and maneuverability is an important factor. A longbow is usually based on the height of the archer. Horsebows, on the other hand, are kept very short due to the tradition of shooting from horseback. They are around 50" and less.

Fundamental to choosing the right draw weight is the physical condition of the archer. As a beginner, when choosing the draw weight, we advise you choose a low draw weight. This allows relaxed training of the shot process. A draw weight that is too high not only makes training unnecessarily difficult, but also leads to faster fatigue. As you get better, the draw weight is increased accordingly.

The draw length can be determined with different alternatives.

Alternative 1:

The simplest is probably the measuring arrow. It is inserted into the string like a normal arrow. At full draw, the length is measured from the arrow rest to the lowest point of the riser. Now add 1 ¾" and you have your draw length.

Alternative 2:

Determination based on your span width. Standing a shoulder width apart, spread your arms out to the side of your body and measure the span from one middle finger tip to the other middle finger tip. Divide the result by 2.5 and then again by 2.54. The result is your draw length in inches.

X = span width/2.5
2.54

X = your draw length in inches

Alternative 3:

Determination by arm length. This involves stretching an arm out to the side, turning the head to the side, and measuring the distance between the lips and the lowest point between the index finger and thumb. Convert the result to inches if required.

Which bow should you buy? There is something for every archer!

Nowadays we know that recurve bows have existed for thousands of years - and yet, modern versions of this practical and pretty classical bow shape still are very popular with archers. A recurve bow distinguishes itself by its recurve limbs that enable higher efficiency than standard bows like longbows. Apart from various models of sports- or traditional recurve bows that are available in a set or just the bow itself, you will find limbs and risers you can use for repairing your bow or build one yourself, as well. Compared to the recurve bow, the compound bow is a true high-tech device, whose construction with cams makes handling easier in every situation and requires less strength than other bows. Furthermore, our compound bows are equipped with sights, stabilisers and arrow rests as well of course.

Back to the roots with longbows and horsebows

With a longbow or horsebow, particularly the archery fans that find a classical style of archery important are well-equipped: A longbow as well as a short bow, which is particularly well-suited for shooting from horseback. The main groups are Amerindian bows and Asian or Mongolian bows.

Horsebows are designed after historic bow shapes even today and require different handling than technically optimized, modern sports bows. Of course there is a large variety of different bows for various body sizes, for right- or left handed archers as well as special requirements for the sports bow. On top of that, many of  of our bows can be ordered as a set including a glove, quiver for the arrows, arrow rest and many more accessories. Like that, you are ready for the next parcours or the next tournament at the same time. In the kids and juveniles category you can also find special bows and bow sets for small archers and their first attempts at hitting the target board.

Important rules to follow after buying a bow

Despite bows not being weapons according to German law, you should still be extremely careful when using bow and arrow.
In the following, there are some general rules about the use of bow and arrow:

  • Never aim at other people!
  • There should not be people in front of or behind the target and the immediate area around it!
  • Backstop nettings do not provide sufficient protection for people!
  • Never collect your shot arrows in the middle of it but only after there has been a previous commando! Never stand behind an archer that pulls his arrows out of the target.
  • All archers should be standing at the same distance to the target, never at different distances!
  • Never walk between the archer and the target!
  • Never shoot an arrow into the sky, its trajectory cannot be predetermined.
  • Never nock an arrow and pull the string back without planning to release it.
  • Never release the string without having an arrow nocked (dryfire)
  • Always check your bow before shooting! Never shoot with damaged equipment or equipment that is not in an immaculate state!
  • Wear appropriate clothing that does not interfere with the planned execution of the shot.
  • Children should never do archery without their parents´ supervision.