Paper Tuning

[Fleatrap1]

OK gang I need some help here.

I am shooting a 45# Bear Grizzly and I draw just shy of 27".  I am using goldtip 3555/500 carbons with 125 gr points and 5 gpi plastic weight tubes.  I have been shooting for three months solid and so far am happy with my results.  I can stack arrows from time to time out to 15 yds.  My consistency is just not good, I know form has a lot to do with it and practice because I'm still new to this.  Today I finally set up a paper tuning area in the garage and shot through paper from about 15 feet.  Both bareshaft and fletched arrows were tearing to the left, about a 2" tear.  According to the chart I downloaded that tear to the left means I need a stiffer arrow???  I have some 400 carbons and they did the same thing.  Last resort I took the weight tube out of one of my goldtips and put a 100 grain head at the tip.  A perfect tear, well kinda now it is tearing high like I need to adjust my nock.  The nock point I can deal with but what about the spine....do I really need a stiffer arrow?  That just doesn't sound right or should I just get back to shooting and forget this paper tuning idea??

[Fletcher]

I know nothing about carbons, but a nock left tear normally indicates weak, unless you are stiff to the point that the tail of the arrow hits the window kicks the tail left.  You can tape on some leather or Velcro to build the side plate out a bit and see it that brings your arrow into tune.

[Stump73]

I would invest in a field point test kit and try it with different points that will tell ifyou are to stiff to get a false reading. If you are weak you shorten your arrows about an 1/8" at a time to stiffen them if not already cut to short.

[Hot Hap]

Right handed?

[Fleatrap1]

Well I walked away for a couple of hours then came back to it.  I forgot my finger tab and shot bare fingers for a few rounds....low and behold I'm shooting bullet holes through the paper with my fletched shafts.  Went back to the house a grabbed my finger tab and made a conscious effort to think about my release and more bullet holes.  Re-assembled my arrows with weight tube and 125 tips, all still good.  I guess I get sloppy with my release and didn't know it!  

I did adjust my nock up 1/4 inch and shot a couple bullet holes with the bare shaft arrow.  Think I moved when I squeezed the nock ring because I started ripping paper again about an 1" above the entrance hole of the arrow.  Thanks everyone for the advice.  I'm quite the amateur, but loving every minute of it!

[xtrema312]

I don't know how long your arrows are, but I suspect too stiff and showing false week. Try some heavier points and see what happens.

[Shawn Leonard]

I agree with Todd, even full length those arrows with that point weight would seem stiff. Example. I shoot a .500 spine out of a very high performance recurve(Caribow Tuktu EX)it is 54#s at my 28" draw and I shoot a 29" 35/55 with 190 grains up front for perfect flight. 35/55 trad shafts are 30"s full length and I believe their others are 30"s as well(athough I have people tell me they have them in 32"s) I have yet to see any. Also when you paper tune with Tard bows you need to be 12-15ft. for proper results. I say way to stiff out of that bow. You could shoot a .600 spine cut to 29"s with 175-200 grains up front and get very good results. Shawn