Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Recurve Question

What do the terms radiused grip and stacking the draw mean? Also, I have an old Indian Archery Deerslayer bow that I had refinished. It looks and shoots great. What makes the new bows better than this one?

If I remember my terms correctly, a radiused grip refers to the arrow shelf, meaning the sight window/shelf junction is rounded as opposed to a right angle. The stacking refers to the draw weight of the bow--starting off easy and ending up hard. Not a straight line such as a 56# bow at 28" draw not accumulating 2# per inch of draw, but perhaps 1# the first few inches and then progressing to maybe 5# per inch the last few.

Now, if I'm wrong, it is because of my advanced age!!

Stacking: Abrupt increase in draw weight during later inches of draw. Caused chiefly by large differences in string angle at early and later stages of draw. Especially noticed in short bows. (Tim Baker archery glossary)

Thanks..... And what about the question concerning the Indian Archery bow? I understand the advancements made in the compounds over the years, but what makes a recurve bow from today that much better than one from yesteryear? I know there has to be some improvements.

LostArra--thanks for the clarification--abrupt was the word I was looking for but my hard drive locked up.

Since wood is wood, I'd have to say any improvement in today's bows over yesteryear's bows is due to the synthetic materials and glues used.

The glass, glue, limb cores, and design is better. The newer non stretch strings can wring several extra fps out of bows built for them.

Thanks all..... Like I said, I have the Indian Archery Deerslayer which shoots great. My son shoots a Black Widow,and there is no doubt about it, it is a great bow. He thinks I need to get one also. I shoot a compound and am just getting into a little traditional shooting after many years. I am not ready to put out that kind of money for a recurve when I have one that shoots fine.

If you like your bow...stick with it (no punn intended). When it comes to archery, speed SELLS, not kills.

Jerry,
Stick with the deerslayer as long it shoots fine and you like it.