TLDR what's your experience with target building, especially with regards to durable stopping? I've included a list of ideas, that I'd like input on, and perhaps ideas for expansion.

Background I'm revisiting the idea of making a full size target. I've attempted it in the past, using foam mats, like yoga mats and foam tiles for toddlers' flooring. I ran out of material and the cost ballooned, so I tried using styrofoam for insulation as a base to glue on the rest... Results were definitely neither inconclusive nor positive.

But I'm back! In the meantime foam has just gotten even more expensive, and my archer at home needs a target for shooting an additional 500 arrows a week, for the few days we can't make it to the range.

Optimally we'd build a full sized target for 122cm faces, as my archer is shooting either 60 or 70m, depending on the mood.

Yoga mats and the like seem unlikely given the price. So I'm hunting for alternatives. And this is where I'd like to pick your brain.

I wanted to use straw, but was advised against it at the range. The common perception was that the straws are too abrasive or develope too much heat.

So here's my ideas so far, let me know what you think and if you've tried any of my ideas what your conclusions were:

• drop the idea of a full size target at home, and just shoot a bare mat at a couple of meters. I mean my archer still get 4 or 5 training sessions in each week, at full distance, so according to the coach it would be better than not training at home.
• various constructions where I fill some compartment with some loose material.
  • either in the shape of a bag, maybe made of tyvek. Maybe filled with blankets. That is what this seemed to be made of, when I examined it at the local shop https://www.hattila.com/en/cubes-and-blocks/6817-era-target-bag.html or shopping bags and other light plastic materials as suggested here https://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Archery-Target
  • The bag filling material ideas, but in a wooden frame, with tyvek front and back. Maybe several layers of tyvek, so the filling material can be compressed.
  • Foam mattresses looks like they can be obtained for cheap used. But I don't think that the material can stop an arrow without ripping the spin wings off occasionally.
  • We have a small, 60x60cm, EVA foam mat. But it's too thin to stop the arrows. This mat could be reinforced with an a additional mat, at this size the price isn't astronomical, and placed in cutout in the center of a 120x120cm soft masonite board. I mean going below 8.5 avg per arrow is a bad end for this archer. So 9/10 of the arrows will be in the foam, and the last will be in the soft wood fiber board.
• Robbing a bank and buying an actual target /s

Edit(s): typo fixes

cross-posted from: https://piefed.social/c/historyart/p/2175744/portrait-of-an-uzbek-archer-vasili-vasilievich-vereshchagin-19th-century-ad

cross-posted from: https://crazypeople.online/post/19734054

cross-posted from: https://piefed.social/c/historyphotos/p/2048557/manchu-archer-qing-china-1874

Post linked here: https://archeryapps.bearblog.dev/developing-an-archer-search-engine-part-1/

Feel free to give me any feedback!

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/42891024

I get why it is dangerous to use a light weight spinded arrow on a heavier bow, but is it just as bad the other way around?

Some months ago I made a post asking about denim finger tabs, and said I'd try it out and make an update. I ended up forgetting, especially because I've been spending less time online (humblebrag, because I'm proud of it). Also, I only went to the club about once per week, and had to skip a few weeks.

Anyway, here's my experience.

My club also had some old/used leather tabs that you can borrow, and I used them a few times to compare. The thing about the denim tabs is that they are kinda thin by default. Even if you double layer (which is easy to do with most denim materials by just bending it in half), they are still much thinner. Another issue with denim is that if you just cut it, it starts fraying at the edges and falling apart very easily. An easy way to solve this would be stitch/sow the edges; however, the stitch also adds an imperfection (becomes less smooth) to the tab. I'm too inexperienced to say how much it affects the release, but it's worth mentioning.

In short, they are viable but require more craft work than just cutting a piece in the right shape (layering, and stitching). Someone also mentioned canvas, and I'm thinking of trying that sometime later. For now, I'll just keep borrowing the old tabs.

Edit: Also, for some context, I've been shooting recurves in the 25-32lbs range.

What reliable bow string would you recommend for a 62 inch recurve takedown bow? The string that came with my starter kit frayed by the third session and I've heard some strings can last up to three years with regular use if properly maintained.

The vambrace design is still a WIP though.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/33947227

https://www.runjeetsingh.com/inventory/196/steel_hunting_bow_kaman