Strings and nock fit?

[JamesKerr]

What size nock for a 5/16 carbon arrow will fit a 14 ff strand string. The ones I have on mine are kinda loose. They just barely hang on the string.

[Keith Langford]

put a pot of water on the stove and bring it to low boil, reduce heat and dip nock in water and hold for 25 seconds, pull out and place on string and lightly pinch nock, hold for about 10 seconds, it will fit perfecly and it will stay there.

[Reaper TN]

After a bit of experimentation, I now have my strings made with 14 strands of D-97 served with .024 Halo.  It's a little snug with my standard GT and CE nocks until 100 shots or so then its perfect. I have found that CE standard nocks are slightly tighter than GT's with this combo.

[Swamp Yankee]

It took me a lot of years futsing around with nocks, boiling water, etc to figure out the easiest way to fit nocks to a bowstring.  Learn how to serve your own string and keep a variety of different size serving threads on hand.  All you have to do is figure out which thread or combination (double servings are fine) of threads on any given string fit the nocks you have.  10 minutes max to serve a string; much easier and simpler than messing with the nocks.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by JamesKerr:
... The ones I have on mine are kinda loose. They just barely hang on the string.

good.  that's just what you want for splitfinger.  

imo, nocks that hang onto strings will inconsistently unload off the string during release, making for inconsistent arrow speeds.

[Charlie Lamb]

I'm with Rob. Tight nocks affect accuracy, arrow speed, bow noise, etc. If the nock "just" hangs on the string you have the perfect fit.

Nocks before the Bjorn nock was introduced in the sixties didn't snap on the string or hang from it at all and nobody worried about their nock's fit.

[Swamp Yankee]

Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
I'm with Rob. Tight nocks affect accuracy, arrow speed, bow noise, etc. If the nock "just" hangs on the string you have the perfect fit.

Nocks before the Bjorn nock was introduced in the sixties didn't snap on the string or hang from it at all and nobody worried about their nock's fit.

X2

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Originally posted by Swamp Yankee:
It took me a lot of years futsing around with nocks, boiling water, etc to figure out the easiest way to fit nocks to a bowstring.  Learn how to serve your own string and keep a variety of different size serving threads on hand.  All you have to do is figure out which thread or combination (double servings are fine) of threads on any given string fit the nocks you have.  10 minutes max to serve a string; much easier and simpler than messing with the nocks.

I couldn't agree more.

[LBR]

Learn how to serve your own string and keep a variety of different size serving threads on hand. All you have to do is figure out which thread or combination (double servings are fine) of threads on any given string fit the nocks you have. 10 minutes max to serve a string; much easier and simpler than messing with the nocks.  

Yep.

[Pat B.]

I agree with Rob and Charlie, however, knew that was coming lol, I'm a hunter and a lot of my hunting is from tree stands. My average shot is 15 yards or so..  I stand almost always on the platform and will hang my bow on a hook with an arrow knocked. This way I can keep my hands in pockets or a muff to keep warm and keep movement down. The wind blows ! I like my nock fit a bit tighter than they describe.. Maybe because I shoot 3 under.  I could care less whether my arrow speeds vary by 5 or 10 fps or whether my accuracy strays a inch at 15 yards.. My goal is to put an arrow into the vitals of an animal at 15 yards.
I don't want the wind blowing the arrow off my bow while it's hanging, or the arrow falling off the string when I reach for my bow.. I want my nock fit just a tad tighter than loose! Not tight but just right, lol..
            I'm a hunter and I also believe in Murphy's Law..
   Like Chad mentioned it's easy to come up with a
serving combination that will be perfect, experiment!

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

I agree with you regarding nock fit and arrows falling off strings. With all due respect to those with differing opinions, I think the whole thing about erratic speed and accuracy are a bit overblown (unless you really have to shove the arrows on the string, in which case we’re talking about extremes). I spent a lot of years shooting NFAA Barebow competitively. With very rare exceptions, everyone in that class string-walks, which necessitates a somewhat snug nock fit (since your hand isn’t touching the nock). If a snug nock fit caused such speed and accuracy inconsistencies, folks in that class would never be able to break 500 on a field round or pound out six-gold ends on the American round. Yet those things are the norm for those who win.

Personally, I like my nocks snug enough to not fall off with a light tap, yet loose enough to not be able to lift the bow by the arrow. For me it’s a nice middle ground and works well both on the target range and the hunting woods. And of course, I always make my strings fit the nocks; never the other way around.

[dpg]

Jason-

Perfect answer....especially the last line.  If you tweek each nock to fit the string, you have 12 variables per dozen.  If you make the string to fit the nocks, you've eliminated the variables.

[Steve B.]

I serve the nock area with artificial sinew.  It is sticky and "holds" the arrow but easily lets go at release

[stujay]

Like Jason's reply.  

[Guru]

I like my nocks to just barely hold the string and with the lightest tap to release. Just how I like them....

I also like to serve to make a nock fit and not fiddle with every nock to fit it to a string.

As far as the arrow blowing off the string, thats seems to be more of a arrow holder issue.
Something like the Kwik-lok arrow holder is the best thing to hold an arrow while hanging on a hook on windy hunts. Even with a tighter nock, an arrow can still blow off the shelf. This is eliminated all together with a quality arrow holder.

[Pat B.]

You're right Curt, that comment wasn't on topic..

And my nocks certainly aren't tight enough to hold an arrow on if it blew off the rest.  I have had that happen but prefer not to hunt when it's that windy !!

[Charlie Lamb]

Jason... excellent response and testimony to the forgiveness of cushion plungers and flipper type rests.
   

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Charlie,

Ironically enough, when I shot NFAA Barebow, I didn't use a plunger. Actually, I never used one on a recurve up until a few years ago. Most of my recurves still have a rigid strike plate, and I shoot my longbows off the shelf. Nock fit is the same on all of them.

[Charlie Lamb]