Tight Nocks

[Joshua Grimshaw]

Sand paper for me as well. Quick and easy.

[Stumpkiller]

I have been using the hot water & nail since I stopped finding Mercury nocks.  Lately I poked around to find a faster (and drier) method and came up swith this:  I found a bamboo hibachi skewer that was a tight fit in the Bohning snap nock jaws and chucked it into my drill press.  By running it and pushing the nock into the spnning bamboo it is just enough roughness and friction to open and smooth the plastic jaws.  Working them on and off the shaft and up ane down it removes the bumps and opens the nock jaws.  I did up three dozen new and "proofed" some of my old arrows with this and it works great so far.  

You can even run your fingers into the bamboo with no problems.  I found that as a final step that by pinching the nock closed and pulling it off the skewer it smoothed the groove and was ready to go.  I'd just recommend you raise the table so the tip is well guarded and can't spin too wild.

[RM81]

Thanks for the info.  I'm going to check my nocks when I get home.

[tradbowbrian]

"For those that said performance and accuracy would be compromised, I cannot believe the difference. I have no chrono, but I didn't need one to tell. I gained speed for sure. Accuracy was much better as well. Funny as this may sound, but for all the reading, work on form, follow thru and just plain shooting, correcting my nocks has made the biggest difference. I feel like I've been cheating myself for a while now. Important lesson learned."

I second this- did it earlier this week and was very pleased with the result- a really good tip for us noobs

[Terry Green]

TTT

[Terry Green]

Ttt

[TSP]

Some folks here have recommended heating or boiling the nock horns to reshape them to the string.  I'd recommend against that.  Yes, heating nocks will soften the plastic and make it meldable but it'll also soften the adhesive holding the nock on.  It's a great method for removing old nocks when repairing arrows...just heat and twist off.  But as a string fit method it's risky/scary...just have one come off at a full draw release and you'll find out why in a hurry!  

The safer approach really is is gentle filing.  I use a small slim mill file that fits in the nocks just right...occasional cleaning and it lasts forever.  The emery board disposables are also very good, as mentioned.  Be careful, a little filing goes a long way.

[Lashbow]

This is the first time I have heard of this. With a 16 strand string and probably too thick of a serving. With a new arrow I can actually pull the nock off the arrow before the string. Now this will relax some as I shoot them more. But with all the advantages I have read here about a proper fit nock, I can see some of the problems I have been having in shooting could be resolved.
Can't wait to try

[sledge]

well, call me johnny opposite of johnny opposite!

just playin', robtattoo, you might be my favorite poster...behind ron laclair, of course.  

i was amongst 2 mamas and 2 litters of hogs last week, with my german shorthair sally and my dachshund samson(be nice, now, they're enthusiastic amateurs, just like me), and every time i went to draw, the arrow came off the string.

fortunately, they were too busy with the dogs to notice my ineptitude, and i finally threw that arrow on the ground, nocked another......and missed a beautiful 25 yard shot.

still...i like that rascal to stay nocked.

'course i shoot with the advantage of a mechanical release.

my teeth.

joe

[Johan van Niekerk]

I believe in the goldinocks principle. If its too tight its noisy and affects flight, if its too loose it can come of at the wrong time and cause a lost opportunity or dry fire (happened to my brand new bow less than 2 weeks ago). So you want them JUST right. Goldinocks. (errr Goldilocks    )

[Lashbow]

I took the emery board to my nocks. They were quite tight, with my 16 strand string.
I cannot believe the difference it made in my accuracy. I am not sure if there are other factors involved but I am really happy I listened to the opinions of this thread

[Rick Richard]

I have used the boiling water method where I submerge only the ears of the knock and have never had any issues. I would prefer this method instead of removing material.

[calgarychef]

I like to sand out my nocks too but I like them to hold "just enough."

I've had them fall off my string in the treestand and had to go down and pick them up, that's a pain.  In Africa I had two fall off the string while I sat on a steep and deep donga that was more than a "pain" because it affected the outcome of my hunt.  Come to think of it I lost an arrow in a big spruce and it slid out onto the edge of a branch where I couldn't reach it and it took all kinds of fooling around to retreive it.

I'd still recomend filing them out though, as the otheres have said it makes a bid difference in accuracy.

[Hopewell Tom]

This has been helpful again for me. I agree that the nock has to fit properly-arrows stay on the string until lightly tapped. I'm about to "fingernail file" my 12 Surewoods from Snag after about 300ish shots through a new string from SBD strings. I read before about the serving "settling in" after some shooting. That seems to have taken place and now on to the nock work. I'm looking forward to the improved accuracy. It'll happen.
This seems like one of those "little things" that can make a big difference. I believe it to be important as how can the arrow release cleanly if you to have pull it off with a "pop"?
Method used is your choice, just make sure the fit is good.

[khardrunner]

One the other side of the coin, if they are too loose I have problems with them falling off and then I dry fire the bow. This has happened several times.

[Tedd]

Funny how things come back around and creep up on you. I made up 3 nice arrows and used some new S nocks or whatever they are called for the 5/16" carbon. I have been busy painting the living room and not concentrating well when taking a few shots each day but Accuracy deteriorated before I realized the darn nocks are too tight. They must make the nocks for compound shooters because all the carbon nocks are really tight. This package of nocks seems tighter than they used to be.
Anyone know if they still make that nock tool someone mentioned on this thread?
I think I have some smaller serving but that might get hard on the fingers during a long shooting session.
I have tried the glue on nocks adapters for carbon but they seem to have a big effect on the tune.
Tedd

[ddauler]

Call me old school I still use mercury speed nocks the 5/16 ones on tapered wood and aluminum. Love them serve string to fit and they don't wear out string like snap nock and never effect arrow flight.