Strike plate damage from vanes

[Al_D]

Hello all, quick question.  I imagine this is probably a tuning issue (I'm still waiting on my bow tuning kit to come from Amazon) but I wanted to pick your brains a bit on this.  It looks like the vanes of my carbon arrows (Beman ICS Bowhunter 340s) is damaging my strike plate, which looks like just moleskin.
       

Is it the tuning of the bow, or would I be better off getting a better quality rest and plate?  Thanks in advance.

[moebow]

Al,

YES!!! Tuning issue!!!!  You don't say the draw weight of your bow but unless it is in the 70-80# range, 340 spine arrows are WAAAAAYYYYY too stiff.  PLUS, MOST folks cannot shoot plastic vanes off the shelf.  Not saying it can't be done, just that it is more difficult than it needs to be.

WE need to know your draw weight and draw length and desired arrow length to help much more.  But whatever you do, ditch the vanes and get arrows with feathers on them!

Arne

[Al_D]

Thanks moebow.  I was shooting these with my compound bow which was 70# prior to picking up my recurve.  I own a Ben Pearson Cougar, 45# @ 28", and 31" arrows seem to work best for me so far.

[moebow]

For inexpensive, try some 1916 aluminum arrows with feathers, or if set on carbons look for 550 to 600 range spine and again with feathers.

Arne

[joe skipp]

Solve your problem by using a good Elevated rest like Flipper Rest I or II. My personal feelings, anytime vanes are used, go to the elevated rest.

[Al_D]

Thanks for the advice everyone.  I'm going to tune the bow and then look at the elevated rest for now, as I had convinced my wife that this would be a cheap hobby for me and buying new arrows may not sit too well with her right now     Or I may just keep using moleskin until I can get feathers on.    

I think the feather fletching idea sounds good though.  I know a friend of mine has put fletching on his own arrows before, he may be able to help me with removing the vanes and getting on some feathers.

[Stephengiles]

If your going to shoot off the shelf you need feathers. If your going to shoot vanes get an elevated rest. A bear weather rest is less than 5 dollars. Take moebows advice and get different shafts. Go to an archery shop or somewhere online that will let you buy individual arrows. It will be cheaper than what you are about to attempt. Trust me I learned the hard way. You did notice moebows a coach,take his advice it it will save you a lot of headache and money.

[Flying Dutchman]

340 is waaaaay to high spine for a 45 lbs traditional recurve.

[katman]

Originally posted by Flying Dutchman:
340 is waaaaay to high spine for a 45 lbs traditional recurve.

x2, your arrow is smacking the side plate due to to stiff dynamic spine.

This may help with tuning,  http://www.acsbows.com/bowtuning.html

Originally posted by joe skipp:
Solve your problem by using a good Elevated rest like Flipper Rest I or II. My personal feelings, anytime vanes are used, go to the elevated rest.

I agree that he should go to an elevated rest if he wants to shoot vanes, but doing so with his current setup will not solve anything. 340's just wont work off a 45# bow!

Also, it sounds like you are pretty new to trad. If so, you really need to enlist the help of some experienced trad guys in your area that can help you out in person. It will really lessen the frustration and learning curve!

Bisch

[Al_D]

Advice well taken, thanks everyone.  I'll try hitting up a local archery place nearby and talk to him about grabbing a couple of aluminums with feather fletching.  I figured my arrows were probably wrong for the bow, but I was just too dang excited not to shoot it when I got it.

I have a few friends who shoot trad that are helping me out, but we all work and are trying to juggle families so we don't get together as often as we'd like.  One of them has some aluminums sitting around he's going to check out for me and throw my way if they'll work.