long distance tuning

[the rifleman]

Today the winds were relatively calm and I decided to see what my arrows were doing at 100 plus yards.  I lined up with a distant tree top, then pointed the arrow further skyward and let fly.  Then another.  Both arrows could be seen clearly in the sky and their position was dead straight the whole way up.  When I located them in the yet to be planted bean field they were very much in line with each other, although about 30 yards apart (need to work on my up and down at that range--hahaha).  I may try a broadhead sometime to see if there is any difference.  I was unable to see a bareshaft when I shot it and took that to mean that it also flew straight.  Of course it goes without saying that you need to be sure you have a safe area with no one around...

[McDave]

There is an uninhabited area behind our range, and sometimes as a final salute to an arrow that had its point broken off, we will fire it off in that direction.  It makes a beautiful sight as it flies off into the sky for the last time.  The amazing thing to us is how well they usually fly without any points at all.  We have maybe a hundred years of combined archery experience among the three of us, and none of us really understand how an arrow without a point can fly perfectly straight, often as not without any noticeable wobble.

You can make a broadhead arrow and even though everything seems perfect and straight, a long shot in the breeze can show things that a 15 yard test shot may not.  What always still amazes me is how nice net length wood arrows fly from a longbow, even though they should fly stiff and show it in flight, but they most of the time do not. I use to spin my broadheads, but a broadhead that spins true and is the same weight as a good flying field point can still fly funky is the wind, whether it is a fletching thing or just a lot of wind drag I do not know, but setting broadheads with roller jig and then flight shooting them and taking point on long shots on a windy day tells me if what I can expect.  That is why farmers mow alfalfa, so us kids can go out and take long lob shots at passing clouds.

[Mr.Vic]

Guess i never really thought much about what my arrows were doing at 100 yards. But i know what they can do under 20 yards.

[tracker12]

Not sure I see the value in what a arrow is doing out at 100 yards.  I would think shooting at a distance that you can hold well on a target say 40 yards would be more telling

[tracker12]

Not sure I see the value in what a arrow is doing out at 100 yards.  I would think shooting at a distance that you can hold well on a target say 40 yards would be more telling

If an arrow that flies like a rocket way down range versus one that acts up when interacting with differing wind forces or reacts differently as it is slowing down, will also be an arrow that will be more sensitive to varied draws and bad releases.  Just like it was discovered that with certain mechanical heads an arrow can have a maximum speed limit, when it becomes aerodynamically unstable.  It is equally as possible to have other effects on the slower side of things, an arrow can become unpredictable and vulnerable to aerodynamic influences.  Some arrows don't do so well in the wind at slow speeds when they have too much fletching.  Other arrows need more fletching to remain stable at slow speeds.  When you launch an arrow up the in air, it gets going pretty slow before it comes down.  On windy day it is telling, but mostly it just a good excuse launch arrows and watch them fly.  When doing it with friends, it gives everyone time to comment how bad someone's arrow is flying.   Example, the last time we played the shoot up in the air game, my friend shot an arrow up and out, as it was coming down it was plain to see that the feathered end was kicking in an off time rotation.  He does "Dang and that's my favorite arrow."   Somebody, namely me, had glued one feather on a little wanky and it was kicking the arrow around.  Of course the reason it was his favorite arrow was it was the one that never flew where he was pointing it and he never points his arrows where he thinks he does.

[Sam McMichael]

Other than the sheer beauty of a nice arrow flying through the air, I see no real usefulness in the super long shots as far as tuning is concerned.  I only really concern myself, from a tuning perspective, to my hunting distances. However, I must admit that an arrow seen against the sky sure is pleasing.

A while back someone from Black Widow suggested to back up to do a final check on arrow flight.  It gives the eye time to watch better.  if an arrow is not doing what you want at 60 yards, it is starting to do what you don't want at 20 yards.

[Pine]

Not deep at all, I am just trying to get people off of the 20 yard and under thing.  It is summer time, a time to experience the youthful joys of of arrow flinging adventure.  Go out a fling a few far ones, you may surprised what you see.

[BAK]

I shoot at 160 yards all the time.  It is amazing what wind can do at that distance.

[old_goat2]

I do the same and its not really tuning in my eyes but it is a great way to see your arrow better in flight to see if you're getting good flight and that your arrow is tuned or not!