>>378838Because of the size and the shape of both bows, a same weight draw does not mean the same power of the shot.
From my experience with both, Longbows are good at just launching an arrow far into the distance, but the penetration power at the regular range is, imo, less, just because you cannot open it enough (You're not big enough, dont have such long arms)
An asian (also middle eastern and inner european) recurve bow is much smaller and lighter, so you can bend it much more (You'de be amazed at just how much a recurve can bend without snapping, and actually I have never seen a single one snap). Because of this you can shoot pretty hard with it (almost crossbow like), with unequaled penetration (I have sometimes gone completely through the targets and much of the reinforcement behid with my recurve)
I'll try to put it forward to you in a somewhat cryptic manner that nonetheless is, I think, easy to understand (and I dont know how to explain it better)
A longbow feels more like an "arrow catapult"
A recurve feels more like a "stinger"
I do not know for sure which one is actually stronger (the force the arrow haves at the end of the air travel) but after you let go the string it certainly leaves the bow later in the longbow than in the recurve
