Ed Scott Owl Bow--Arrow Help!!!

[fishone]

I just picked up an Ed Scott Owl Self bow, Mesquite with elk Sinew. It scales 40-41# @ 27" which is my draw length. The best flying arrows are 45-50# @ 26 1/2" bop with 160 gr pt. However I am getting "arrow slap" which is making a loud noise. The brace height appears to be 5 3/4" with the nocking pt at 6/8". I shoot 3 under. The arrows are flying right at the target, but I need to get rid of the "noise" of the arrow hitting something. All you guys that shoot self bow, what do I need to do???? (1) Buy some 40-45# woodies (2) change the brace height (3) change the nocking point or (4)??? Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Craig

[Jim Wright]

Raising the brace height a bit in increments, checking as you go would be an easy fix if it works. Contacting the bowyer can't be a bad idea either.

[Pat B]

Leave your arrows longer. That will help them get around the bow. Make some 45#-50# spines arrows 30" long and see how they fly.

[BRITTMAN]

Fishone you said your draw is 27 but your arrows are 26 i/2 . If your arrows are 26 1/2 your probally drawing to 26 in. which would put your weight at 37-38 . Your arrow sounds to be to stiff and yes I think 40-45s would work better cut to 29 in. with 160 gns. . I shoot a Owl 53lbs at my draw with 60-65 , 29 in. long , nock point 3/4 braced at 6 in. This is on his 5 curves model , on the Bush bow brace at 7 in. A few more things to try is cant the bow more and see what happens , my Owls shoot better with more of a cant than my glass bows do also nock fit could be causing this if you have a tight nock to string fit . Give Ed a call hes not to scary and he will help you also .

Mike

[fishone]

Thanks for the information. I sent an e-mail to Ed Scott and have not heard back from him. Brittman, the arrows are 26 1/2 bop. At the tip of the point they are 28". I am going to try to increase the brace height to 6" and see what happens.

[Winterhawk1960]

I would be very careful about trying to get to much brace height out of the bow. Not trying to tell you what to do.......but when I talked to Ed up at Comptons this year he told me that they were pretty "limited" with the acceptable brace heights. I just don't want you to end up with an un-usable bow.

Winterhawk1960

[BRITTMAN]

It depends on which model you have in his hunting bows , his 5 curves will run 5 to 6.5 , his Bush bow 6 to 7 , horse bows 5 to 6 , longbows and such are on the low side . Ed told me it was better to call him because he doesnt check the  computer much at all . It really makes alot of differance on which model you are shooting as all Owls are not the same model . I like the 5 curves and the bush bow because you can brace higher on them .Trust me I called him MANY times trying to figure out which model would fit me best .

[Art B]

Sinew bows are different animals!

What was the temperature when you "scaled" your bow? Have you checked weight at different temperatures and humidity levels? Your bow may be 10# or more heavier when it cools down. What is overspined now may be perfect later on as the days cool.

[fishone]

Thanks Art! I am not familar with self or sinewed bows at all. This is new to me. I will keep checking the poundage as it gets cooler.

[Mark Baker]

All things considered, and especially with primitive bows, the brace should be as low as it can and still get good arrow flight.  If your arrows are flying well, don't adjust your brace.  It could be a spine thing (try the longer arrow), or you may be torquing your release a bit (more noticeable the shorter the bow).   Make sure your form is good.   Another trick to try is to shoot cock-feather in.  Sometimes that helps.

[Mike Yancey]

Marks right on the brace being low as well as the form. Another thing is in the grip and degree of canting the bow. Some bows will like a firm grip while others a softer. Work on the form and grip it will make a huge difference especially on a light poundage bow.
 Art B is also very right when he said that a sinew backed bow will change ponndage on you, what works today might not work tomorrow. They can and do change with the weather. I have had them pick up 10 pounds easy but don't seem to affect my arrow flight only the speed. I shoot 60/65 out of most of my 60 lb bows with a 28 1/2 inch arrow drawn around 26.

[sweeney3]

I have an Owl bow (love it) and took care of that clap sound by tweaking the brace height just a bit.  Shoot a few, twist/untwist, shoot a few, etc.  If that doesn't work you may have to change point, spine, etc.  Part of the fun of selfbows and other primitives is that there is no magic formula.  You just gotta play with it till it works.

[fishone]

Thanks guys, everybody's response is appreciated.

[smoke1953]

I found torque caused that with the Bob Brillhart osage I was using and when moved my hand further around the side of the bow(picking up the suitcase) the slap didn't occur.

[fishone]

Thanks smoke1953!