Broadhead Tuning - Wood arrows

[Kbob]

Here is the update, no photos... sorry!

Put the heads on the stronger spine lodgepole shafts. Great improvement but now they are diving at ~20 yards. Maybe a nocking point issue?? They seem to fly really well for about 15 yards but then are hitting the target at any longer distance at a 45 degree angle (point down). I will fiddle with nocking point and see if that cleans things up. At this point it seems that my earlier issues were definently spine related, thanks everyone!

[Petrichor]

Here is the update, no photos... sorry!

Put the heads on the stronger spine lodgepole shafts. Great improvement but now they are diving at ~20 yards. Maybe a nocking point issue?? They seem to fly really well for about 15 yards but then are hitting the target at any longer distance at a 45 degree angle (point down). I will fiddle with nocking point and see if that cleans things up. At this point it seems that my earlier issues were definently spine related, thanks everyone!

It could be. Are you shooting with a cant? If so your indications will be at a cant also. Could be nock high if shooting with no cant. If shooting with cant could be nock high and weak indicating.

[slowbowjoe]

Sometimes, arrows dropping past 20 or 25 yards is simply due to the grains per pound... too heavy ant they drop off quick.

[Petrichor]

Sometimes, arrows dropping past 20 or 25 yards is simply due to the grains per pound... too heavy ant they drop off quick.

X2

[MnFn]

I think Orion is right. spine issue.
I  can shoot Douglas fir 65/70  out of my 50-55 # bows. 29” long with 160 grn broadheads. Three 5 inch feathers, but four 4 inch works well too.

[Huntschool]

I am gonna bet this might just be fixed by using larger fletching.  If not then heavier spine and larger fletching.

JMHO

[Kbob]

Thanks everyone,

Petrichor, not much of a cant when I shoot. Hopefully I will have time this evening to fiddle with nocking point and see if that helps.

Slowbowjoe, I shoot a similar weight arrow with my aluminum, what I'm seeing is less of a loss of power and more like wind planing but always down?

[Petrichor]

Thanks everyone,

Petrichor, not much of a cant when I shoot. Hopefully I will have time this evening to fiddle with nocking point and see if that helps.

Slowbowjoe, I shoot a similar weight arrow with my aluminum, what I'm seeing is less of a loss of power and more like wind planing but always down?

What is current knocking point and are you shooting split or three under?

[Kbob]

Sorry for the lack of reply everyone, internet seems overloaded here in MT and I've been having issues getting things to post.

Update, Lodgepole (stronger spine) arrows seem to be working well. However we have had some serious wind so I haven't shot more than 15 yards. My nock point was about 1/8" high and that has appeared to clean up the dropping point end. We have better weather in the forecast so I should be able to stretch out the range this weekend and see how things look at 20-25 yards.

[Petrichor]

1/8 seems low. Too low of nocking point will cause back of arrow to hit shelf popping the back up driving arrow into dirt. Might I recommend bumping up to 3/8 when you test from longer distances. 3/8 is usually where I start when tuning a bow and moving up from there if necessary.  Low nocking point might not reveal itself with the thinner carbon arrows. With the thicker wood this issue would be exaggerated.

[slowbowjoe]

When I have that issue of broad heads dropping, first thin I do is nock the arrow with cock feather IN rather than out... see if it then flies high, or spot on... which usually indicates a point, shaft, or nock alignment issue.

I have a cob job spin tester, and highly recommend you rig one up to spin check. Can be as simple as a couple pair of crossed nails on a piece of scrap lumber. Or, a couple bucks at the local hardware store for some roller bearings (lots of kinds available). This rig will also give you an excellent reading as to whether the shaft itself is straight.

Also... while "shooting the same weight BH and field point" is highly touted, you might try going up or down a little on BH weight and see what happens.

[Kbob]

Thanks Guys,

Petrichor, sorry I realize now how I said that made no sense. I was at 1/2" high on the nock, now it is 3/8" high.

Slowbowjoe, I picked up some bearings. Hopefully this weekend I can put one together. Good call turning the arrow around, makes sense as a quick check. If I cant get these BH to work I will consider dropping weight. Just trying to make use of what I have on hand.

[Kbob]

Thank you Everyone! Arrows are flying true even in the April blizzard we are having right now. From what i can tell it was a little bit of nock high, a little bit of weak spine and a little broadhead alignment so i'll give everyone the credit if it comes together on a turkey next weekend. 

If I can get them to post I'll finally follow up with some pics.

[Petrichor]

Thank you Everyone! Arrows are flying true even in the April blizzard we are having right now. From what i can tell it was a little bit of nock high, a little bit of weak spine and a little broadhead alignment so i'll give everyone the credit if it comes together on a turkey next weekend. 

If I can get them to post I'll finally follow up with some pics.

Glad to hear it!!