Newbie needs help

[Kevin007]

Hi,
I am new to recurves and in need of some help. I have been shooting compounds for quite some years and now just getting into traditional. My wife recently bought for me a Martin X200 50lb/28" bow. I can pull it and hold it comfortably at anchor (where my mouth is) just fine for a few seconds.

Here is what I need help on...
1st: What do I need to setup the bow for target shooting and possibly hunting? I am planing to shoot off the shelf. What do I need to do to keep the bow noise down (if any).

2nd: What do you recommend for arrows. I have a 26inch draw for compound. I haven't measured what my DL would be for recurves. I am assuming my DL is different.  I prefer to shoot aluminum arrows (brand/arrow weight/fletch recommendation?).

3rd: where do I place my noc? Dead center or 1/8 off center or any recommendation?

4th: What would you recommend for finger shooting -- split-1 over and 2 under/3under/2under?

5th: What other equipments, brand, etc... do I need to get started. I not looking into buying the most expensive thing out there yet but something decent (not junk) to get started.

I appreciate all the help I can get.

thanks,
Kevin

[McDave]

Traditional archery doesn't really require a lot of stuff.  You need some kind of shooting glove or tab.  I recently started using the Dura Glove ($24.95 from Three Rivers), which I like, or there are many others to choose from.  You need some kind of quiver, which is really a personal preference.  You can use Cat Whiskers for a string silencer (about $2.00 anywhere), or any number of other string silencers.

Then there is the matter of arrows, which are very important.  To get started, you might want to try 2016 aluminum arrows.  I would leave them cut long, maybe 30", and use 125 grain points.  At the same time you're buying the arrows, get yourself a bare shaft cut to the same length, and make a promise to yourself to learn how to bare shaft tune after your shooting style settles down some.  After you learn bare shaft tuning, you'll probably want to cut your arrows down some.  Most trad archers use three 5" feathers.  Plastic vanes do not work as well if you're shooting off the shelf.

You should buy a bow square and nock tool.  You should initially set your nock so that it is 1/2" above square, measured to the bottom of your string nock.  You should nock your arrow under the string nock.  You will probably want to adjust this after you learn bare shaft tuning, but it is okay as a start.

Shooting split or 3 under is a personal preference.  I shot split for 20 years and recently switched to 3 under.  If you decide you like 3 under better, raise your nock up to 3/4".

[Kevin007]

McDave, thanks for the quick reply.
I believe my father has some uncut aluminum 2114 shafts that I can fletch and use. Would this be suitable, given my bow specs and DL?

By the way, how must DL would I gain or lose and how much poundage would I lose given my DL on the recurve?

My state requires at least 30lbs for deer hunting. Would I be under bow given my DL?

Again thanks for the advise. I really appreciated.

Kevin.

[moebow]

Kevin007,  Where in MN are you??  I live in Grand Rapids and would be glad to let you try some of my stuff (arrows,tabs,gloves, etc) to get you started.  If you're near by, let me know.  Arne

[McDave]

I've never used 2114 shafts, but from the designation, I assume they must be somewhere in the same ball park as 2016's, so they would probably be okay, particularly since they're free.

You need to measure your own draw length.  You don't want to be shooting a bow where you can't come to full draw.  So take any arrow, come to full draw (such that your string forearm is in line with the arrow your bow arm is fully extended, and your shoulder blades are compressed together), and have someone mark the arrow shaft just in front of the riser.  Then you can measure the shaft to get your draw length.

If you're shooting a 50# @ 28" bow and drawing it to 26", you will be pulling about 44-45#, so you're over your 30# minimum.

[Kevin007]

Moebow, thanks for the offer but I live in the metro area. So it'll be quite a hassle to drive up there. I haven't shot the X200 yet as I don't have any arrows or put a noc on it yet. I just took it out of the box and strung it and pulled it back a few times to see if it feels good to me.

To be honest, I like the bow and how the tension feels when I pulled it back.

Mcdave, I think the 2114 are like 9.9grains per inch. I don't like my arrows to be too light when hunting but I'll try a few of the 2016 and others to see if I like them too.

Reddog, thanks for the advice. I always hunted with an attached quiver on my compound so I am kinda leaning towards that. Although the back quivers looks nice and just goes well with the recurve.

[reddogge]

I guess they pulled my post because I had a link to a product in there.  Didn't mean to do that but was just showing you what a wool silencer was and how it was installed.  Cheap to make yourself.