Bare shaft tuning

[Buckeye1977]

This evening I did some bare shaft tuning for the first time on a new to me bw plv. Was frustrating for the first half hour or so but kept at it. With a lot of help I've received from here and you tube I finally got it! My bow is 50@28 and I draw 26 and was shooting gold tip 500's. The final length ended up at 30" with a 125 grain point and we're flying like darts at 20 yds. I tried a 145 grain point and got a slight nock left but probably wouldn't take but maybe an 1/8-1/4" off arrow to make it fly true. Wondering everyone's opinion about going to heavier head or just leaving well enough alone and stay where I'm at? Also wanted to thank everyone here that has given me advice on arrows and tuning! This is truly a great gang to be a part of!

[Pine]

I shoot 125gr most of the time .
If it's tuned in good for you , then call it good .
If you want to shoot heavier points , then go for it . You will just have to shorten your arrows some , but you still have a few inches left to play with .

[the rifleman]

Tune your arrows to your choice of broadhead weight up front.  Factor in desired foc as well as gpp you'd like.  This is of course if hunting is your goal.  For 3d and stumping you might want a light 125 relatively speaking head for flatter trajectory, but for hunting you might want (might) more weight up front.  Tune your arrow based on what you want to accomplish w your bow.  Sounds like you are on the right track...

[Shadowhnter]

You are around 44-46 lb draw weight considering your draw length, and shooting a light-ish carbon arrow. If you are considering hunting whitetails, Id also consider more point weight. I had a heavier recurve bow around 50# at my draw,and with almost an identical arrow, performance was lacking at times for deer, even at 10 yards..

[JRY309]

When I bare shaft tune I like a slight nock left or slightly weaker shaft when bare.Adding the weight of the feathers will slightly stiffen the spine.I also feel it will make it alittle more forgiving if you would have a bad release.

[Buckeye1977]

I will mainly be hunting deer, turkey, and maybe a hog. So I'm thinking the heavier head will be better. JRY309, do you think by adding feathers and a wrap it will stiffen up enough to go from 125 grain point to 150?

[trad_bowhunter1965]

I would spray my bare shaft with foot powder to see if you might be getting some contact. I shoot 29" axis 500 at 52 lbs. 27.5 draw my point weight 175 gr  with a 50 gr brass insert and my bare shaft groups with my field points and broadheads Try adjusting your brace height.

[Buckeye1977]

The arrows fly perfect with 125 point and slight nock left with 150 point so don't think I'm getting any contact. I've adjusted brace height also to where the 125's fly true and also nock. The 125's fly like darts at 20 yards but concerned with light tip weight and penetration.

[Bladepeek]

A VERY LITTLE reduction in length will have quite a large effect - much more than a change in point weight. I definitely would not take off more than 1/8" at a time if you're only going up to 150gr point.

[JimB]

Being well tuned is most important.For sure,you won't be able to see any penetration difference with 25 grs. added.

[NBK]

I don't think a difference of 25 grains up front would make a lick of difference on a fletched carbon shaft. Maybe wood but not carbon. I'd leave the length alone if they're flying well.

[Longtoke]

what are the arrows going to be used for? How much do the arrows weigh?

If they are for hunting I would try to get them around 450 grains or more if you want.  If for targets then a 360 grain arrow is fine.

[Buckeye1977]

Right now the arrows are about 410 grains bare shaft and I'm gonna put wraps and 3 5" feathers on when done. They will primarily be used for deer but occasionally turkey and maybe a hog.

[NBK]

I don't think a difference of 25 grains up front would make a lick of difference on a fletched carbon shaft. Maybe wood but not carbon. I'd leave the length alone if they're flying well.

[katman]

Does not sound like you shot any fletched shafts yet. Fletch two up and shoot them with the bare shaft, if hitting same shoot fletched with 125 and 145 gr broadhead along side field tip for comparison. You may not need to change anything.

For 25gr tip weight increase I would start at removing 1/16" for carbon if they show slightly weaker then I want, can not put it back on. Removing a quarter inch will move that bare shaft stiff a lot.

[Buckeye1977]

No I haven't shot any fetched yet. I'm gonna fletch a few here soon and see what I've got. Thanks, Nick

[katman]

Excellent, for hunting the broadhead being tuned is the goal.

[Buckeye1977]

Just wanted to give an update on the tuning I've been doing on my black widow longbow. I ended up going with a 175 grn point and shaft ended up at 29". Bare shafted a little weak so added some feathers and a wrap and the arrows were grouping pretty decent. I ordered some 175 grn 3 blade vpa's and received them a couple days ago and went out this morning to shoot a few against my field points. To my amazement they shot like darts and hit exactly where I was looking!!! I want to thank everyone on TG that helped me through this process. Without your help I would've been lost and probably given up on it. Great place to be a part of!

Thanks, Nick

[Sam McMichael]

Once an arrow is flying right, I quit screwing around with it. I just don't see any gain in going from 125 to 145 grains that would be worth the additional effort to do so.