tuning a recurve

[dinorocks]

I read that if you hunt whitetail deer with a "low-poundage" bow (in my case, a 2006 45# 60" Super Kodiak) it is very important to make sure your bow is tuned properly so the arrow hits the target straight.  Can anyone give me any suggestions on how to tune my bow?  Or is it not the bow that needs to be tuned but the arrow instead?  If it is the later, I'll search the forums for matching the correct arrow weight, etc. (unless someone can steer me in the right direction).

Thanks,
Dino

[TimZeigler]

Dino,

When it comes to tuning its more than just the arrow.  And it should be done for any bow regardless of the draw weight.  This includes setting up your brace height, your knocking point to meet your style of shooting, and whether your shooting off the shelf or an elevated rest.

Arrows are probably the most difficult thing to tune, just figuring out which size will work for you can seem overwhelming when you compare sizes between manufacturers. You need to match the point weight up front with the shafts that your going to be using, that matches your draw weight.  And even the type of fletching that your going to use.  Theres really no cut and dry answer to what you'll need to do, but there are alot of variables that need to be accounted for and checked during the setup.  What are some of the symptoms your seeing or hearing that would make you think your arrows aren't flying true?

[ishiwannabe]

Im new to trad myself....but by tuning a curve I think they mean brace height and nocking point. With that goes tuning your nocks, so that they "fall off" the string if ya tap the string. Im sure someone will be along that knows the finer details a lot better.
Arrow weight...spine....I will leave all that to someone like Shawn or Curt....cause, like I said...Im a newbie too. But Im sure everyone here will hook you up.
I should mention I will be following this post to obtain any info too...LOL.

[McDave]

The main elements of tuning the bow are to set the brace height and the nock point.  The main elements of tuning the arrow are to select an arrow that has the right spine and weight for your bow.  Then there are more subtle elements, but if you get the four items above right, you will be 95% there.

If you search under these four elements: brace height, nock point, spine, and arrow weight, you will find many, many posts.  They are also discussed in all the popular books on archery, such as Instinctive Shooting, by Asbell.

If the arrow wobbles, it won't consistently hit in the same place, and some of the bow energy will be wasted in making the arrow wobble instead of flying true toward the target.  If the arrow is too light, it won't penetrate as far, and shooting it might damage your bow.  If the arrow is too heavy, it is hard to shoot accurately because it drops too much in flight.  The lighter the bow, the more these things have to be perfect since you have barely enough power to do the job anyway.

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

http://www.bowmaker.net/index2.htm

[Woodduck]

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=41  

Lot of links in this 'Shooting' forum

Here's another, I had bookmarked:

  http://www.meta-synthesis.com/archery/archery.html

[Jerry Jeffer]

Check this out. Read about tuning.
 http://www.bowmaker.net/index2.htm