am I on the right track

[jamesgrogers]

I am new to the trad archery thing and am getting kind of frustrated here is my settup Bob Lee 54" hunter 42' @ 28, DL 27.5" approx, BH 7 7/16, nock 3/8 above 0, leatheron shelf, velcro rug for plate, Beaman ICS Hawk 500 cut to 29.25 to BOP. Now for the problem I have been trying to tune the arrows for the last 3 weeks I started with full length and worked my way down through the point weights and arrow length.  I think 29.25 is as short as I want to go for arrow length I have tried 200, 175, 145 and 125 gr points I have OL's tuning guide. the 200 shows weak aout to 20 yds with the bare shafts hitting about 8" to the right, the 175 bare shafts hit bout 4" right, the 145 bare shafts hit about 4" right and the 125 bare shafts hit 1'6" to the right of the fleched.  All the fleched shafts hit high and to the left (I am right handed) with the 125 gr. points hitting WAY to the left. I am also showing wear on the plate I have had to replace the plate in only 4 weeks of shooting. Am I on the right track I am getting frustrated with not being able to hit what I am shooting at from 8 yds all the way to 20 I can not hit the spot to save my life.  I know that good shooting takes time but it would be nice to show a little improvement at least be able to tune to get the right arrows I keep thinking that my next shot will somehow miraculously bring it all together but it hasn't.

[JrsyBowHunter]

Personally i think your arrows are way over spined, being your only pulling27.5 draw i would say your only pulling 40 lbs, i would give 1916 aluminum arrows a try being your just getting started in trad archery, they will be much easier to tune for you, i'am shooting carbons now but when i have to get new arrows i'am going back to aluminum, with my carbons i have 245 grains of weight up fromt to get them to fly good.

[stickandastring]

I also am new to the trad thing. You probably bought a fine bow. As im new I dont know, but ill tell you what helped me. Im learning that the Easton charts or any chart for that matter cant beat experience in bow building. I bought from a custom bowbuilder here in Pa. Fedora's bows. The difference was no guessing. I was told what would spine correctly for the bow and sold the right thing the first time. Im sure its the same with most bowyers. Try to find a shop or builder close to you that can help you through the problem. Although Im sometimes right and left, I know thats me. When i have my form dead on, the arrow always flies true. See what you can find online and even email a builder, Most are happy to help

[Shawn Leonard]

I would agree you are overspined and you are getting a false result as the arrows is kicking so hard off the bow. I would try 325 up front on those arrows, but than you are way heavy. Get some carbonwood 2000s and cut them 29.5"s and add a 50 grain brass insert and 125 grain point for 175 up front anfd I promise you will more than impressed with arrow flight. Shawn

[Shawn Leonard]

Kustom king will have the 2000 in the vapors or carbonwood and the brass inserts as well. Shawn

[jamesgrogers]

Thanks for the replies I have done some research on the suggestions made and correct me if I am wrong but I believe the vapor 200's spine at .500 the same as the beeman 500's so I do not see the difference if I am correct in my thinking I should get the same result with both arrows.  since the first post I have replaced the side plate with some saddle leather that is considerably thicker than the velcro rug that was on the bow and the groups are coming together so far, I will have to shoot some more to be sure as I have only shot about 3 times since the change.  According to OL's tuning guide and the way the groups were positioned the arrows were showing weak spine not stiff spine as the above replies suggest but I am not familiar with how a false showing is possible I am not saying that you guys are wrong I just need to do some more reading on false showings to understand what is happening.  If it is truly weak then the thicker side plate should bring things closer together and if you guys are right and it is a false showing the things should get worse "am I correct?"
again thanks for the replies and any more wisdom that you can throw my way will be greatly appreciated.   james

[jamesgrogers]

I meant vapor 2000's not 200's in the above post

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

James,

You're correct. The Vaper 2000's spine the same as a Beman 500, so you wouldn't see an advantage there. Beman now makes an ICS Energy shaft in lighter spines (.520, .600 and .690), but they are very light so you'd probably need to load up a slightly heavier point to get them flying well and above 8 gpp.

If I'm not mistaken, a few other carbon shaft makers offer spines that light too. Personally, I'd try a .600 and play with the point weight to see if you can get tuned straight.