30 yard shot grouping...

[vandeman17]

Just wondering what you guys find as an acceptable grouping size for your shots at 30 yards? I have been shooting every day for the past couple weeks to get ready for the season. 

[NW-GSP]

at thirty yards the vanes on my arrows are touching eachother, It all depends on what you max acceptibale range that you would shoot at an animal is to determine what your grouping should be.

[Gringo31]

I think most guys at 30 yards are putting them all within a soft ball.

[JPhelps]

Here is a 40 yard group I just shot.  The Martin Onza 3 is dialed.

 

[bobcat]

Here is a 40 yard group I just shot.  The Martin Onza 3 is dialed in.

I'd have to be at 20 yards for a group like that. But then I've only shot my bow maybe three times all summer.

[coachcw]

phelps looks like your hitting right buddy by the time you get to fiffty
 you might be off two to three inches ! I expect better from you . 

[JPhelps]

Yeah I was just shooting for groups . I mean I was trying to visualize the vitals in the middle of the target   I'm out of excuses, I need to make a micro adjustment to the right

[blackhorn]

I want to say a general rule of thumb is two inches off for every ten yards, but I try to make it only one.  Some days are better than others.

[sebek556]

this is my 50 group, note the top one I shot at a different spot for fear of breaking arrows, down to 5 right now 
and yes I moved it to the left 3 inches 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Old school says in a paper plate BUT I guess thats changed from 40 yrs ago  Phelps quit hand feeding those damn arrows into the target   

[Annette]

Yeah I was just shooting for groups . I mean I was trying to visualize the vitals in the middle of the target   I'm out of excuses, I need to make a micro adjustment to the right

[jackelope]

I wont shoot groups at 30 yards for fear of ruining arrows.
 

[JPhelps]

I think 1" for every 10 yards is a good goal to shoot for. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

this is my 50 group, note the top one I shot at a different spot for fear of breaking arrows, down to 5 right now 
and yes I moved it to the left 3 inches 

lOOKS LIKE MY OLD TARGET ...Got me a new one now 

[sebek556]

  did I forget to mention that was with broadheads? yah think this x-mas Santa should have a new one in his bag for me, I've been a good boy 

[vandeman17]

My group at 30 yards is about softball sized with the occasional one that leaves me going

[sebek556]

everyone gets that one sometimes, if your confident in your shooting at 30, try 40 and see how that's going. One thing about archery they further out your shooting consonantly in practice only makes your closer shots better. Your sight could actually be off 1/4 inch at 20 or 30 yards and never know it until your shooting 40 or 50 yards. After you've shoot out a good distance and having it hit on, when you move back in closer it will be that much tighter 

[Mudman]

my 20yard is tight , 30yards about baseball and 40 softball size with a few wanderers occasionally. I think anything smaller than volleyball is acceptable.

[huntnnw]

once my bow is dialed I usually only practice at 70-100 yards...makes the 40 and under seem easy

[PolarBear]

I wont shoot groups at 30 yards for fear of ruining arrows.
 

[coachcw]

like nw said , typically after i'm dialled in I shoot one at 70,60,50,40,30,20, each day then if some thing dosn't hit i go back to work . I try to limit the number of arrows outta my hunting set up and shoot my back upfor rythm .

[lokidog]

I think most guys at 30 yards are putting them all within a soft ball.

That's where I'm at, usually a little tighter at 30.  Should have been shooting more to get my arms not so shaky.  My target sucks too so it is hard to pick a small spot to aim at.

[blacktailcody]

I am breaking arrows at thirty yards.

[Johnb317]

That's why you're supposed to use the multiple targets on the bag! 


My grouping doesn't change much with distance... even tightens up a little.
For me it's a concentration thing.   Kind of like shotgun shooting... I do better with live birds than clay pigeons.
If I could regularly practice at 70  I would, but the neighbors would complain about me shooting across the street 

[coachcw]

aim small , miss small .

[Hunter Dug]

Dont even practice at 30 yards to expensive.  Practice 40 with a five spot target, 20 arrows a day if possible.  Makes 20 and 30 second nature.  This is what I think. Everytime you loose and arrow at a single spot target you should have the fear that its goiing to hit the last arrow you shot. If you dont feel that way keep practicing.     

[elkoholic]

I have been shooting 50-93 yards all summer and can put 6 arrows in a 6-8 inch group at  93 yards, under 30 yards feels like a gimme now... I have screwed in broadheads in about a month ago and can shoot all 5 spots with them out to 75... cant freekin wait until september......

[deleted BGS]

Ya what everyone else has said, 40 and is like a tap in putt, i rarely shoot at under 40 now. clipped 2 vanes last night. I am figuring my shots are going to be 40-70, which is what I have been shooting my broadheads for the last month at.

[briancorneal]

I think 1" for every 10 yards is a good goal to shoot for.

Yep!

[BOWHUNTER45]

should I walk out into my yard and show ya what a 30 yrd group looks like with a WASP .....?  THATS WHAT I thought 

[BULLBLASTER]

Please do bh45! Just be careful I heard sometimes foam target's bend the weak aluminum ferrule on those...

[BOWHUNTER45]

I think I will just ignore that comment 

[BULLBLASTER]

I think I will just ignore that comment 

  i dont think harassing you will ever get old... 

[coachcw]

should I walk out into my yard and show ya what a 30 yrd group looks like with a WASP .....?  THATS WHAT I thought 

Do you have a wide angle lens ?

[Angus]

I've been shooting 20-30 arrows a day out to 60 yards, 30 yards and in I can cover a 5 shot group with a baseball, from 30 to 50 a softball, the last 10 yards with a paper plate. won't shoot at an animal beyond 50.

[stickinmaster]

I've been shooting 20-30 arrows a day out to 60 yards, 30 yards and in I can cover a 5 shot group with a baseball, from 30 to 50 a softball, the last 10 yards with a paper plate. won't shoot at an animal beyond 50.

Im with you, cant belive people even think about shooting past 50.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Well I used to talk like that but after practicing at 60 & 70 and taking a couple critters at that distance I will not think twice about it as long as I know the yardage and it is a clear broadside shot ...The bow has the ability as long as the hunter feels comfortable with the shot ..couple elk I shot the arrow passed threw like butter so that tells me there is room for alittle longer shot ...But most of the critters I have killed have been inside 30 ...which I prefer 

[Angus]

I have little doubt my bow could drop a deer or elk out to 60-70 maybe 80+ yards as will most bows on the market today, what stops me from shooting beyond 50 is,(and this is just me, your results may vary) I can hold steady all day long shooting at a target at 50 yards but I know if I'm looking through my sights at a big bull/buck at 50 yards and beyond I'm going to have some adrenalin pumping and a little if not alot of shaking going on, at that distance a little shaking can make for some poor shots, something I personally try to avoid, again, thats just me. 
If another hunter has the confidence and skill to make those long shots, more power to him, I'm envious, but as Clint once said, "A man has to know his limitations" and I know mine is 50 yards.
Is it 9/1 yet?

[sebek556]

Angus something for you to try, in my Army unit we used to do a thing we called stress fires all the time. The idea behind them was to get your heart rate way up and possible nerves going as well.  It was set up as a course, you ran 100 yards carrying full water jugs(5 gallon each) into jumping jacks or push ups, run with more cans, more jumping jacks or push ups, anther  run with cans, pick weapon, load weapon then go through a urban warfare course with someone yelling at you the whole time.   

[Fullabull]

I shoot at different points at 30 yards because I do not want to mess up my arrows at this time. It's to close to the season to be shooting groups now. just shoot at different locations on your target. Save your arrows 

[deleted BGS]

I am really curious as to why people dont shoot 50 yds or beyond? Are they shooting old bows, not trying to make people mad, but it gets irritating to hear this. I know people on here shoot better than me and I am grouping arrows in a plate at 60 with lots of speed and impact.

[lokidog]

I am really curious as to why people dont shoot 50 yds or beyond? Are they shooting old bows, not trying to make people mad, but it gets irritating to hear this. I know people on here shoot better than me and I am grouping arrows in a plate at 60 with lots of speed and impact.

I think a lot of people here do target shoot out there, just don't hunt at those distances.  A lot can happen to an arrow or a deer/elk at those distances. 

I used to shoot to 100 yards out in the dunes of Southern OR, paper plate five of six but would not shoot at a critter that far.  Though I did estimate a 100 yard shot at an elk a guy I was hunting with gut shot, sliced the skin on the brisket behind his legs, guess it was 105....  I did end up sinking one in him at twenty at least.

Right now, I am happy with my 40 yard groups of cantelope size for my upcoming moose hunt.  My groups were smaller when my eyes were better and my tremors were less....   

[sebek556]

target practice for out is great, remember the farther you are out the more little errors show. Hunting I want up close, elk or bear I will go 60 cause I have tested my self and my bows power out to 60 and know I can brake cows ribs and still have 9 inches of penetration. Part of the joy of bow hunting to me is the stalk, sneaking in close to your prey. Using your skills and abilities to get past the animals natural senses and abilities.

[mfswallace]

I shoot at different points at 30 yards because I do not want to mess up my arrows at this time. It's to close to the season to be shooting groups now. just shoot at different locations on your target. Save your arrows 

Just cut 2 different fletchings off today at 30, down to 5 good arrows.  Won't be grouping anymore, wish I would have read this yesterday

[demontang]

Here is what I tried for out to 50yds 

[BOWHUNTER45]

sweeet...