Tuning arrows with feathers already on them..

[DanielB89]

How do you guys see what needs to be done with arrows that are already fletched?  I have a bunch of arrows I got in a trade I would like to try to make a much heavier arrow with, but I have no idea how to PERFECTLY tune a fletched arrow.  The only way I know how to tune is to bare shaft.  I want field tips and broadheads hitting the same spot, and I have never been able to achieve that without bare shafting..

teach me your ways!

[AkDan]

you can paper tune, if you think you are way out, or out enough you'll break shafts at distance.

or the better option is bare shaft planing.   Its basically group testing, shoot a group of field points and a group with bh's and see where they impact in relationship to eachother.  Do not pay attention to the shafts angle, just group locations in reference to one another.  

Pretty simple, I think Ol Adcock still has it on his site, the info that is.

[JJY]

Broadhead tuning or walk back tuning. I like shooting 2-3 broadhead arrows and 2-3 field tip arrows at 30-40 yds and tune as you would bareshafting until they group together and where you looking or aiming.

[30coupe]

I paper tune. I've never had an issue with the broadheads and field points hitting in different places as long as I get bullet holes with my field points when paper tuning.

The key to successfully paper tuning is to shoot with you bow perfectly vertical. That way you can be sure what the tear is telling you is accurate. Once I have the arrows tuned, I can cant the bow and still get bullet holes in the paper.

[LittleBen]

Take a piece of plastic wrap, press and seal kind works the best, and wrap it over the feathers of one arrow to press the, down flat against the shaft ... Carefully.

It's not gonna hurt them, so relax.

Bare shaft tune as normal.

[katman]

Why not just strip feathers off one? Even though my current arrows are tuned I occasionally shoot bareshaft to check, so good to have one available.

[BWallace10327]

That seems excessive.  Why not try the 3 rivers spine calculator.  I've used it alot with good success.  Maybe I've been really lucky, but I've gotten good broadhead flight and grouping with field points of the same weight if my arrow flies well with field points.  My release isn't perfect, so the gain from bareshafting is negligible anyways.

[J. Cook]

I do bareshaft when I can, but Ive also had success tuning fletched feathers.  Our rigs are slow - maybe some maxing out at 185 fps.  With those speeds getting broadheads and field points to impact the same should be simple.  I say don't over think it and shoot them together and adjust just as you would a bare shaft based on impact.  Even arrows not tu ed to my bow will group broadheads and field points - but will fly poorly. At the slow speeds and heavy arrows we shoot - I've just personally never witnessed significant planing.

I also paper tune!

Bisch

[old_goat2]

A fletched shaft will do the same thing as a bare shaft, it just won't be as exaggerated. If I can see the arrow is flying clean with feathers, it will be pretty close to the same bare shaft. Other good trick to see if arrow is kicking if to shoot towards a dark back drop. We have a moose 3d target at our club that I like to use, but if you don't have white or brightly colored feathers it won't work to do that. Other trick is to have s youngster with quick eyes stand behind you from a slightly elevated position to watch your arrow as it leaves the bow. They have to have quickly focusing eyes though, my wife will watch and say, yeah it looks good, but I could see a big kick off the bow. All of these techniques though require a lot of discipline from the shooter though, so you don't try and pick your head up and peek at the arrow flight, you will affect the flight of the arrow if you do. Good luck!

[BHall]

Originally posted by 30coupe:
I paper tune. I've never had an issue with the broadheads and field points hitting in different places as long as I get bullet holes with my field points when paper tuning.

The key to successfully paper tuning is to shoot with you bow perfectly vertical. That way you can be sure what the tear is telling you is accurate. Once I have the arrows tuned, I can cant the bow and still get bullet holes in the paper.

x2

[NothingHappenedToday]

Dip the feathers in water to flatten them. Flies like a bare shaft.

[kiamichi kid]

Perhaps I'm over-simplifying this but if I have feathers on I get about 3 yards from my foam target and shoot as I normally would. The angle of the arrow sticking out of the foam target is the exact same angle of the tear I would get from paper tuning and the exact same flight as a bear shaft at that distance. It has worked well for me this year.

[Chris Pharr]

For those paper tuning, what distance do you shoot from? I went by the Easton tuning guide's criteria of 4-6'and get pretty darn close to a bullet hole, except a fuzz nock high. In the "tuning help please" thread I started, I think I've deduced I'm way stiff, but I get a good hole pretty much every time. Same result at 12' from the paper as well, as per the Easton tuning guide again.

[knobby]

My son (focoblackwidow) and his buddy tune fletched arrows by recording each other using their smart phones. I've watched them do it and it's pretty simple. The guy with the phone is recording while looking over the bow arm shoulder of the shooter. After the shot, they slow the footage down to watch what the arrow is doing as it passes the riser and beyond.

[Chris Pharr]

That's a good idea. Never thought of that. Also probably makes picking out habitual form issues a breeze as well

[Mr. fingers]

Paper tune. Or,strip the feathers off one and bare shaft.
I have used both methods and both will get you there. In tune is in tune. When I paper tune I'll check it with a bare shaft and its always right on  and vise versa.