First attempt at tuning

[CAT22]

I've taken the advice of many here and things are shaping up nicely with shooting thus far. I've got some new arrows on the way and i am going to attempt to bare shaft tune. I read an article from OL Adcock that was very helpful but have some concerns/questions. I've printed up the examples of where my arrow will go to indicate just about everything. over/underspined, hi/low nock, etc. My issue is this.... i'm just not that good yet to keep what most would consider a "solid" group at 20 yards. In fact I rarely shoot that distance yet. 12 yards, I'm good to go. Can I bare shaft tune at 12 yards or will I require accuracy much further than that to get reasonably close to tuned. I understand from the article I read that the further the better, but to what degree? Keep in mind, I'm a 20 yard hunter. I like getting close, part of the fun and my draw to trad! Always was with the wheel bow too and will probably stay well inside that for a while until I improve. Will have the field point test kit from 3rivers for this process. Thoughts? My first post was "knowingly overspined" and I wasn't going to buy new arrows! funny how this happens, eh? Figured I throw that out there before someone gave me the business!

[SS Snuffer]

You will be able to see the arrow flight, say at 20yds. when the bare shaft flys straight and dosen't curve to the right or left you have got it tuned. Curving up and down is in your nock placment or your release.

[JimB]

Just shoot as far back as you can and be safe.Being farther back than your hunting shots just helps confirm that your tuning is really on the money.You don't have to have super tight groups,you just shoot a lot and average the results you are seeing.If your bare shafts are grouping with the fletched,at say 25 yds,and ultimately later,your broadheads do the same,you are there,regardless of your group size.

I often refer back to OL's tuning information.It has helped me a lot.I follow it to the letter.I generally start tuning at 15 yds and as I see it coming together,I move back and eventually get to 30 yds.When I get to where I have confidence in shooting the broadheads at that distance,I am done.Then I can go back to working on me.

I also like to keep my hunting shots 20 yds and under but tuning farther just gets them dialed in.A well tuned arrow will penetrate better and be most forgiving of release or other form errors.
Good luck with your tuning.Once you have a setup tuned,the next one will be much easier.

[hvyhitter]

Tune at 12 yards then keep practicing as your form may change a bit as you get better and that may have an effect on your tuning. Check your tuning again in a month or two and you may have to tweak it a bit. I also wouldnt even try to broadhead tune till maybe June so that everything else will be settled in and give you true results........

[JimB]

Really good point there.

[cacciatore]

Yes you need to go step by step and you'll go farther awqy as you improve your shooting.

[Friend]

Bare shaft tune at what distance you feel comfortable and retune as your comfort zone increases.

One option is to find your point-on distance and see how you fair shooting your fletched arrows.
If you can discern some moderate grouping, then work with bareshaft tuning. This has worked well for me in the past.

I typically bareshaft tune 5 yards beyond my effective hunting range. Ex. 20 yards would be the absolute max for me to loose an arrow on a deer. My set-up is bareshaft tuned then at 25 yards and my fletched shaft, Bare shafts and fletched shafts w/3 Blade 1.5" dia BH's will all group w/i 2.5"s at my effective 20 yard hunting range. There are much better archers out there, but the aforementioned has worked well for me.

[Shawn Leonard]

Heavyhitter has sound advice. If your form is not great and ya move to far back than your release and form will play to big a factor to know if the shafts are tuned. 12 yards is fine, it will give ya confidence and than ya can move back with that confidence. Also take everything ya read with a grain of salt, grouping under 4"s at 20 yards with 4 or 5 arrows is rare for most guys out there and I have seen some awesome shots and shoot with a couple. Shawn