Arrow Snapped

[BowHuntingFool]

Well what a drag! I made my 1st cedar arrow and 2nd shot it broke off in my Target?? The 1st shot the arrow hit nock high left, took a second shot to be sure and at 10 feet, same nock high left, the tip and 5 inches of the arrow snapped off and is in my target??

Bow: 50# at 28", my DL is 27.5" FF string.
Arrow: 30" POC 55-60 tipped with 160gr glue on.

What is the problem, arrow to weak of spine, tip to heavy combination of both???  Is the target the problem????


               

[Killdeer]

Were you bareshafting?

  :rolleyes:

[vermonster13]

The 55-60 is the spine of the arrows at 26". So they were weak spine for your set-up, but that shouldn't cause them to break. Could have just been a bad shaft, not all that uncommon with woodies.

[BowHuntingFool]

Yes Killie, Bareshafting!!!

[Killdeer]

Don't do that with wood arrows. I broke a lot of ash learning that. Fletch them and let fly. They do sound like they are hitting slightly weak, and that's a good thing. Feathers will "stiffen them up."

Now stop snickering and start selecting feathers.
Killdeer  :p

[BowHuntingFool]

I just learned something, thanks!!!!!  When they  hit the target, nock was pretty high left! I took that 2nd shot to make sure and guess what, I was sure! I was thinking I should take an inch off the arrows length??? What do you think??

[Killdeer]

"Fletch them and let fly."
If they show up weak, then cut them back. But fletch and try them first. It is easy to cut 'em back, but not to put it back on.

Killdeer  

[Bonebuster]

As Killdeer said, must have fletching. At ten feet, wood arrows are still trying to get straight. Slow motion photography shows them still not perfectly straight even beyond ten feet.  

[BowHuntingFool]

I feel like an idiot, I never knew! That makes sense as they appeared to almost seem to hit sideways!

I shoot into "The Block" target, is this a bad idea for a wood arrow, should I get a bag target??

[George Tsoukalas]

There are  a lot of variables that we are not aware of here-like are you really drawing 28"? Are your shafts  fletched? Is your form good?  How close to center shot is you bow. Seems like your arrows are spraying around the target. I think your arrows are not spined properly for your bow. You may also have a nock point issue. I can't tell if they are heavy or light in spine. The spine rating for a wooden arrow is measured at 26" but translated to 28". Tt therefore is intended for a 28" arrow. Subtract 5# for a 29 inch arrow. Your arrows are behaving like they are 50-55#. Add 5# for center shot. Because of the above variables predicting spine needs for another ca be difficult. I recommend that you buy a test kit of 2-3 different shafts from Three Rivers. Fletch them and shoot them and choose the best shooting arrow. Remember you should see nothing but feathers as the arrow goes to the target. No fishtailing (spine is off) and now porpoising (nock point is off).Jawge

[BowHuntingFool]

George my bow if cut on center, Bear Montana  28" @ 50#, I'm drawing 27.5". I have it tuned for my Carbon arrows so I think my nock point may be a bit off since I had it set for shooting carbons, which flew great. I'm assuming that woodies and carbons will have a different nock point due to shaft diameter??

[Killdeer]

Say, Foo!    
Then tell us how they shoot.

Killdeer