Experience hits the long range

[RadSav]

After sending all my Washington legal Bear bows to my buddy Del so he could use them on his gator hunt.  I was left with only the new Bowtech Experience for the bear hunt this week.  I've got a few other Bear hanging on the wall ready to go, but all are set up perfectly for out of state hunting and I didn't want to mess with them.  And of course the Dark Horse beauty that is my blind queen (too pretty to go outside).  So finally out of the garage and off to the long range we go!

After working on Smossy's bow a little at the long range it was time to sight in the new Bowtech Experience with broadheads.  Took about four shots at twenty to get the zero just right and adjust the sight scale.  Arrow flight was perfect so no adjustments needed.  That was very nice!  Now, normally that takes me to 100 yards next.  But I forgot my branch clippers and there was too much new brush in the way for 80 to 100 yards.  So I guess 70 yards would have to do to verify the Archers-Advantage markings. 

The computer had told me 33 on the scale.  Nope!  Just low and to the right.  34 too high and right!  33.5 was just about perfect (looks like 3 fps different from the A-A program).  Then walked the arrows to the left a couple clicks at a time.  Finally a three shot group to verify - shoots pretty darned good!  Back to 20 to see if the extra left clicks had a major impact.  Nope, good to go!

Sure love sighting in using Archers-Advantage!  Less than 15 shots and sighted in to 100 yards in 2.5 yard increments.  If you guys haven't used Archers-Advantage or shot the new Bowtech Experience you are missing out!

[dupedc]

You make it sound so simple! I enjoy reading your posts and learn from them. Thanks.

[rtspring]

Rad, never shot a bow in my life. But always enjoy your posts!

Thanks

[Igottanewknee]

Haven't bow hunted for a couple years, but my memory of sighting in the bow with broad heads is a bit different. Shoot 3 arrows, retrieve 2 out of target, look for third, adjust sight. Grab another arrow to compliment the two you got out of target. Repeat step above, but hope you don't loose another arrow. After thirty or so shots your not sure your right on, cause your getting tired. Come back the next day and finish the job. Yes, you make it sound too simple!

[MLBowhunting]

Ok Rad my bow is being mailed to your house to get tuned and sighted lol 

[RadSav]

Haven't bow hunted for a couple years, but my memory of sighting in the bow with broad heads is a bit different. Shoot 3 arrows, retrieve 2 out of target, look for third, adjust sight. Grab another arrow to compliment the two you got out of target. Repeat step above, but hope you don't loose another arrow. After thirty or so shots your not sure your right on, cause your getting tired. Come back the next day and finish the job. Yes, you make it sound too simple!

Well I didn't tell you I tried to shoot one arrow at 80 yards   Thought I could get the arrows past the low lying branches.  Nope!   Spent 10 minutes in the blackberries before I said, "screw it!  That's what I get for being stupid."  I think there is at least one arrow a year left in the blackberries.  All from moments of complete stupidity.

Life got a lot easier the day I decided I wasn't going to try getting my broadheads and field points to group together.  Infact most of my bows these days haven't shot a field point further than 10 yards.  If the broadheads are flying like laser beams that's good enough for me.  In the odd year I decide to use my hunting bow at a 3-D shoot I just click adjust the sight to the field points and then reset for broadheads after the shoot.  Saves a lot of headaches when shooting carbon arrows.

In my haste to get this bow sighted I was shooting two arrows at a time at 70.  Most of the time that's not a problem.  With this BT Experience it wasn't such a good idea.  I have three arrows to refletch today.  It was shooting well enough that the three shot group in the pic was shot holding dead center, left of center and then right of center.  If not there would be even more refletching to be done.  It's one heck of a shooter.

[RadSav]

Ok Rad my bow is being mailed to your house to get tuned and sighted lol 

No guarantees...it's a Hoyt afterall, isn't it?

I will let you know when I get the Hootershooter set up next door.  Then I'll get you down here and we'll make that thing perfect. Just like a Bowtech or Bear

[MLBowhunting]

Lol sure is.  Yeah but with your expertise its a easy day 

[RadSav]

Lol sure is.  Yeah but with your expertise its a easy day 

I was shooting those same Titanium prototypes as you have been using.  We are cutting stamping dies for the new heads starting next week    I will definitely need you and Crazy Larry to come down when we start to play with those little guys.  Might need to get Bowhunter45 down here too since Larry's head will have similar blade shape to the WASP Bullet.

[hughjorgan]

Rad, what broad heads are shooting and are you shooting a one pin slider sight?

[RadSav]

Rad, what broad heads are shooting and are you shooting a one pin slider sight?

On that bow I am shooting the Sure-Loc Leathal Weapon Sportsman's Special with the new S2 scope body (35mm), .019" pin.

Both MLBowhunting and I are shooting a prototype 100 grain titanium ferruled broadhead with the Savora Contender blade configuration.  If unfamiliar with that head it's close to the same shape and size blade as the Thunderhead 100.  Big by todays standards, but I've found it to be a perfect combination of flight, cut and penetration.  The new heads we are designing for Del and Larry will be much shorter.  Similar in ferrule length to the MX series of Muzzy and/or WASP Bullet.  I've also got a surprise coming in the form of a new shorter Contender style blade.  A head I've been wanting to make for nearly 20 years.  Can't wait!

[hughjorgan]

Rad, what broad heads are shooting and are you shooting a one pin slider sight?

On that bow I am shooting the Sure-Loc Leathal Weapon Sportsman's Special with the new S2 scope body (35mm), .019" pin.

Both MLBowhunting and I are shooting a prototype 100 grain titanium ferruled broadhead with the Savora Contender blade configuration.  If unfamiliar with that head it's close to the same shape and size blade as the Thunderhead 100.  Big by todays standards, but I've found it to be a perfect combination of flight, cut and penetration.  The new heads we are designing for Del and Larry will be much shorter.  Similar in ferrule length to the MX series of Muzzy and/or WASP Bullet.  I've also got a surprise coming in the form of a new shorter Contender style blade.  A head I've been wanting to make for nearly 20 years.  Can't wait!

So those are the savoras you have been talking about marketing through your company? Looks like they fly real well out of a tuned setup.

[demontang]

Man I need to get the nerv to start shooting my broad heads at that distance. I really need to pick up some new heads before I do.

[RadSav]

With the right FOC and the right helical all broadheads are pretty easy to get to fly.  Oddly the only popular "New" broadhead design I've had issues with has been the Shuttle-T.  Even that hit with accuracy.  Just flew with what I call "Laziness".  A common issue with heads that use thick blades and are 90 degrees at the rear.  I say "Oddly" because nonvented blades usually fly much better than those with large vent holes.

When the arrow is fletched and weighted right your broadhead should be able to be as much as 5 degrees out of alignment and you'll still get good flight.  We've tested that over and over and over through the years.  Holds true each time.  One of the reasons I keep repeating that 12% FOC seems magical.  Good broadhead flight really is all about bow tuning and the arrow.

FYI - All those broadheads are random in their blade alignment.  Not one is intentionally aligned with the fletching.

[RadSav]

Man I need to get the nerv to start shooting my broad heads at that distance. I really need to pick up some new heads before I do.

Helps your confidence when your broadhead target is 4' square.