Need help with an in person bow comparison

[jlbpa]

I have 62 inch 47lb at 28inch recurve made by a bowmaker and I draw 30 inches and shoot off the shelf

Anybody live within 3 hours of the Frankfort / Lexington area of Kentucky who shoots a similar bow and would like to try mine?

I'd like someone to shoot my bow and give me their opinion. I'll come visit you.    I struggle with the accuracy of the bow.  

I currently have 4 other recurve bows and when shooting them I can group easier with them because they seem to shoot to my instinctual point of aim.

I took my bow bowfishing and kept missing.  I switched to my one of my old bows and got a carp.

The bow I'm having problems doesn't seem to shoot to my instinctual point of aim.

I need to see if my issues are real or if I'm just snake bit.

Anybody want to help?

Thanks
Jim

[Stumpkiller]

I have 11 bows that were all made by bowyers, or at least bow makers, but do not live nearby.

Are you hitting right (under-spined), left (over-spined), high or low?  Have you tried building out the riser pad?  Adjusting brace height?  Altering arrow spine?

What is the exact difference of your problem bow vs. your other bows?

[jlbpa]

it  goes right. so I switch to heavier arrows and still have problems and switch back to the lighter arrows and heavier points and think I've got it but still end up having problems and then start dreaming about the herters 50 lb bow I bought the heavier arrows for that shot those arrows like darts and I could group them well and it shot to my instinctual point of aim ...but the bow broke several years ago.  And then I go back to my 40lb bows and they just lob the arrows so then I go back to the 47 lb bow and miss the target to the right and put one in the tree that backs the target and then I switch to a 45lb bear grizzly but that doesn't have the same snap as the 47 lb bow maker bow.... then I get out a 65 compound bow I borrowed that I can hardly pull back but can shoot 6 inch groups for as long as I can pull it back and when I can't pull back anymore  I go back to my recurves...... took the compound out a couple times last year but couldn't get the bow back when the deer came but I had the compound bow because I didn't feel confident with my 47 pound recurve.   Then I took my 47 recurve and missed one on the last day of the season last year...shot over.      Archery season closes jan 21 this year.... I'm wishing I would have just shot one with my 30-30 rifle in this rifle season a couple weeks ago.... but I was out today and saw a lot of tracks in the snow and put  a camera out.  I'm excited about getting one with a bow.....

I need someone to shoot my bow and show me what an idiot I am.

[Ray Hammond]

from what I hear, it sounds to me as if you are shooting too many different bows. I'm going to assume you are not having arrow flight issues -underspined, overspined, etc.

Your "instinctual" point of aim, as you call it, will be different for every bow you own...maybe not much, but every bow shoots differently.

Example- I shoot a Centaur 56" LB that's 58@28 and about 61-62 at my draw.  I shoot it very well, and have taken a lot of game with it.

My wife and daughter gave me a Lost Creek Life Ender for Chistmas that is 60" 48@28 and around 53 at my draw.

I walked outside and started shooting everything to the left and high- because I was using the 'instinctual point of aim' that I had learned with the Centaur.

I adjusted by moving my left hand (I'm right handed) and in about 6 more arrows I had a 3 inch group at 18 yards with five arrows.

You're going to have to learn where your bow shoots and move your point of aim to match it. I hope that makes sense.

I've been doing this so long now its sometimes difficult to tell someone what I do 'instinctively' at this point....pardon the pun.

[Hawkeye]

In most cases, you can make adjustments to a bow through its nock point, shelf material, and strike plate to make it shoot to your "instinctual" point, or natural sight picture.  Also, be sure your bow's brace height is correct.  That can also wreak havoc of your accuracy.

If you are consistently shooting high, try lowering your brace height.  If shooting to the right (right handed shooter), build out your strike plate a little at a time. Same shooter shooting left, use thinner strike plate or a "softer" material.  And so on...

A nice video that shows how to do this is Rick Welch's "Accuracy Factory."  There are probably others, and would not be surprised if a You Tube search gave some good tips, as well.

Good luck getting things dialed in.  In most, most cases, it is the set up or the shooter's form (back tension?) giving erratic results.  

It is possible to find a faulty bow, but I believe it is very rare to do so from anyone who has successfully built bows professionally.

Final thought... do all you can to make sure the bow set up is correct, and talk to the bowyer if you are still having trouble.  Most of them really care about people doing well with the bows they slaved to build!

[hvyhitter]

Not all bows have the same grip and not everybodys hand is the same so some bows will shoot great and some you have to always work with. I keep the ones that fit me and the others go down the road..........Like Predators shoot great for me but Widows dont, I own two Predators and no Widows.............

[Biathlonman]

Give me a shout.  I'm at the juncture of Fayette/Scott/Bourbon counties and would love to take your bow for a spin.  Have been wanting to try a recurve longer then 60".  I've got an indoor range in the basement and plenty of room in the yard.

[Kevin L.]

Originally posted by Ray Hammond:

Your "instinctual" point of aim, as you call it, will be different for every bow you own...maybe not much, but every bow shoots differently.
 

Exactly. While I shoot different bows over the spring and summer, in July I make my pick for a primary and backup, and just stick with them. Usually, it's the same two bows that shoot very close to the same for me, with the quietest getting the nod for the top spot.