A tuning conundrum.

[swampdrummer]

I'm having a bit of a problem and I thought maybe typing it out and getting some input from the gang here might help.
Since the Rod Jenkins clinic way back in October of last year I've been swapping and buying bows,looking for just the right grip and weight. Before the clinic I was shooting bows in the 52-58 # range and after the clinic I've found myself to be MUCH more accurate with bows in the 42-45# range.
I have finally found a keeper and it is a JK traditions Kanati.
43@28 58"
I'm pulling 29.5 now so I imagine I'm up around 46-48#
The kanati is center cut and the side plate is right at a 1/16th of an inch.
B50 string
3'5" shield cut fletch
I am right handed.
Heres the conundrum.
I'm shooting vapor 400s cut to 30.5 Same arrows I was using when I was up in the 50#+ range bows.
I've got 225 gr FT and a 100 gr brass insert. They fly fine when fletched. I decided today to bareshaft them. They are showing just a little stiff (nock right) No suprise there. To correct that one usually adds weight up front or shoots a longer shaft, yes? I went all the way up to 300 gr FT plus the 100 gr brass insert with no change. Still nock right and about the same distance(nock right) as the 225 gr+100 gr up front. I even went so far as to build out the sideplate with a match stick under the velcro. All weight changes were tested against fletched shafts and they were for all intents and purposes hitting in the right spot. Grouping together in a 4-6 inch circle at 20+ yards. The fletched were hitting the target straight. The bareshafts still showing stiff (nock right)

Just to confuse things I went and played with Stu's calculator. After inputting all my data it is saying I should be shoot the 225 gr ft with the 25 gr aluminum adapter! This makes no sense at all! But I build up a couple of shafts just as directed and go out and shoot them. Bareshaft showing just a little weak (nock left) Just about like I want them so that I can add fletching and stiffen them up just right.  Now heres where it gets hinky! I built up a couple more with 225 ft plus 25 gr adapter and fletched them up. The fletched arrows with 225+25 are still hitting the target as weak!(nock left) I shot them with the bareshafts and again. Everything is hitting in the same spot more or less. Both fletched and bareshaft showing weak???

Just as a hail mary try I took all 8 shafts 4 of the heavy shafts. 2 fletched 2 bareshaft and 4 of the light shafts 2 fletched and 2 bareshaft.  They ALL went into a 6 inch circle at 20 yards! Looked like a deck of cards fanned out on the nock ends but points in the same spot.

My head is spinning by this time so I gave up for the day.
Questions....

Is there such a thing as a false stiff? I know there can be a false weak from the shaft hitting the shelf as it passes.

Am I better off with a heavier shaft that corrects itself or should I tune(cut) the lighter weight till it hits dead straight then fletch?

I've never run into this before. I usually put the weight I want up front and cut in small increments till the shaft is showing just a bit weak and then fletch them up.

I hope everybody reading this is as confused as me but maybe somebody can make some sense of it!
Thanks in advance
Brad

[ron w]

Since that "WAS" my bow before the trade let me tell what I shot from it other that cedar. Carbon Express 60-75, full length, 100 gr brass insert, 125 gr tip. I also draw 29+". They flew like darts for me.

[swampdrummer]

Thats pretty close to where I'm at with the lighter weights that Stu's calc says should be right but they aren't flying straight when fletched..  But that helps Ron!

Sat tonight for pigs again and it was a deer night. Saw a spotted fawn 3 does and a nice buck in velvet already. Had to be an 8 point plus

[ron w]

How big are your feathers......with carbons I had the best luck when I use 4 fletch! You have new fawns already?

[Ragnarok Forge]

I don't bother with playing with bare shafting impact angles.  I tune my bare shafts to my fletched shafts and then immediately switch to fine tuning with fletched field points to fletched broadhead shafts.  Once I have them tuned at 30 yards I finds the bare shaft tuning has taken care of itself.  The real goal for me is to get my field points and broadheads to hit group together.

[swampdrummer]

I'm shooting 3, 5" shield cuts. May have  to try 4 fletch
Been seeing fawns on game cameras for about a month now  
 
The state changed our bow season last year to take in the rut and started July 1st. They weren't far off!

[ron w]

The rut in July.....Wow! Well anyway I hope you get that arrow problem fixed.That pig you killed with that bow.....did he know you were have'n tuning problems...  

[huntingarcher]

Sounds like you need to sell me that bow.Bet a 35/55 GT will fly straight  for me.

[JimB]

I can't solve all your tuning problems but you said your first arrows were showing stiff,then you built out the side plate.Building out the side plate would make them more stiff,compounding your problem.For the weak arrows you might try building out the side plate.Good luck.

[Bowmania]

JimB and Forge have some points.  Once in the ball park with "bare shaft PLANNING" I go to broadhead tuning.  As a gapper, if they're flying where I look, I feel I'm good.  One last test I do is shoot the broadheads through paper on a calm day.  Start at 17 feet, your arrow should be out of paradox by them.  I actually start at 10 to 12 feet.

Bowmania

[swampdrummer]

Thanks for the thoughts folks. Sometimes the best thing to do is to step away from a problem and it solves itself.

Was sitting here thinking about arrows when I remembered that Ron had sent a FF string with this bow when we traded. Not having anything to loose I switched out strings and went outside to see what we had.
I dropped the nock height by 3/8" and lowered the brace height to 7 1/4" and the heavy bareshafts are flying and hitting straight!

Bareshafts, fletched and broadheads are all hitting in the same spot!
I'll double check it tomorrow but I think I'm good!

[ron w]

I knew it would be some little thing that was throwing you or the set up off. Hope it works out for the best......it's always the lil' things!