bow press and bare shaft tuning help

[BULLBLASTER]

you can always screw a broadhead on and shoot it at 20 yards and see how it does.

[earlmarne]

havnt decided on a broadhead yet.i think im going to pick up some shuttle ts when i go up there this weekend.

[earlmarne]

plus im gettin like 3 n 4 inch groups with field points at 19 n that just dont feel acceptable to me.im sure i am one of the variables makin that happen but i want to take out all others cuz at this point im not sure i know what the hell im doing n dont feel comfortable hittin the woods

[RadSav]

Where was the impact of that bare shaft in comparison to the fletched shaft?

[earlmarne]

well my first shot was directly right about 4 inches with the nock way left after a few shots it stayed right but only around 3 inches still with knock left.the bow only rests in my lifeline of my hand with no fingers touching so i see no way i could be torquein the bow atall.

[RadSav]

well my first shot was directly right about 4 inches with the nock way left after a few shots it stayed right but only around 3 inches still with knock left.the bow only rests in my lifeline of my hand with no fingers touching so i see no way i could be torquein the bow atall.

So, directly right has nothing to do with yoke or control cable tuning.  Possibly nothing to do with arrow rest tuning either if you are shooting through paper well.  Probably nothing wrong beyond weak arrow spine.  Try a 300 spine or drop 10# off of the poundage and see if there is any improvement.

But, at 19 yards 3" is really a very minute problem when bare shaft tuning.  Myself, if it paper tunes and shoots broadheads well I'd forget about it.  You're set up is caught in that inbetween spine area.  So you may not find a better solution with spine unless you play with poundage. 

You do want at least 125 grain points.  Especially if you are not shooting Blazers!  That will weaken spine a few pounds, but that's about it.  Far more important to have FOC close to 10% than to have spine 2 or 3 pounds one way or the other.  1/2" shorter arrow length and you get that 2 pounds back.

[earlmarne]

understood.thank you.ill have to pick up some broadheads n shafts this weekend n give her a go

[jechicdr]

Since you are just starting out, I would not beat yourself up about your field point groups.  They will tighten up as you practice and your form and muscle memory improves.  Though you may not have the perfect arrows for your bow, most of your variation in shot groups right now is probably more related to your form.  This should not prevent you from choosing the right arrow and point combination now, before you get to the fine tuning, otherwise it will be a pain later (and after you bought 1-2 dozen of the wrong arrows).  Improving your form will tighten your groups to a point, then tuning may improve that further.  If your form is not perfect, then even with a perfectly tuned bow, your shot group will be large.  The process of tuning your bow and improving your form can all be done at the same time, but don't think that shot variation is all due to improper tuning.  When you move on to broadheads, then your groups will expand and the broadheads will likely shoot right or left, possibly even higher or lower than your field tips.  Tuning the broadheads is actually considered "fine" tuning.  I would hold off on moving to broadheads until your bow is "gross" tuned and you are consistently shooting field tips.  That likely means that your form is not too bad.

[earlmarne]

understood.thanks for the advice.

[snarkybull]

one of the first mistakes i and many other archers made when taking up this costly and frustrating obsession is thinking that maximum drawing weight would be really cool or more deadly or just more manly.

accuracy is deadly, and clean kills are really damn cool.

your form will likely improve with less poundage.  and your spine will be more appropriate with your current arrows.  try 65# and see if your bare shaft group doesn't get a darn lot closer.   and don't worry when your bare shaft is sticking out of the target crooked - only the impact location matters.  arrows will always wobble badly without vanes.