How dense can you be !

[acedoc]

I have been off archery for some time due to various reasons and recently restarted. I have been shooting a Sky Achery wildfire with 2xl longbow limbs 50 @ 28. I had a variety of arrows and decided to use Beman bowhunters 340 full length and was disappointed with the arrow flight accuracy.
I will confess that I have not been able to bare shaft tune either this bow or my Trinity longbow which is being rebuilt by Ed Boyd. Ed had initially sent all my tackle and he chose the arrows and field points based on his experience. I have a long draw length 31.5 inches and had fallen into the common thought pattern that a long draw needs a stiff spine. This was borne out by the slight nock left being shown by the Beman ICS arrows so up in spine I went. Arrowdynamic heavy hammerheads, axis 300 and Black Eagle vintage 300 full length were all added to the repertoire with mixed results - I could not get the Black Eagle or Arrowdynamic shafts to either fly well or group. They were consigned to the arrow box while the axis were like darts and consequently were subject to much attrition.  
I then decided to work up my own arrows as by this time (2 yrs of archery) the fletchs are in need of replacement. I was leaning towards aluminium arrows and after poring over tradgang posts and fidgeting with the spine calculator I was unable to find an arrow save the axis which were ok as per the spine calculator.
Some where I read a post by Big Jim regarding false weak spine reading and this prompted me to watch a video on arrow tuning by Black Widow archery. One aspect which struck was the influence of the quill of the fletchs hitting the shelf.
Today I had some time off and decide to sort out this mess.
The following were the arrows I made up along with the broad heads or field points I had.
Beman ICS
150 gr field - 500 gr
Stinger 100 gr- 449.4 gr
Eskilites 135gr- 491.4 gr
Tiger shark 175 gr- 514.2 gr
My home brew Hill style 3:1 260 gr-612 gr

Axis 300 with footing and hit insert
Stinger - 517 gr
Eskilite- 559.4 gr
Tiger Shark- 584.6 gr
Home brew- 680.6 gr

AD HH
stinger - 560.6 gr
Eskilite- 602 gr
Tiger Sharks - 625.6 gr
Home brew - 724 gr

Black Eagle vintage 300 with footing and 50 gr insert
Stinger - 562.8 gr
Eskilite - 604.8 gr
Tiger shark - 627.4 gr
Home brew - 726.8 gr

I have been shooting off a rest on the ILF bow and after reading a bout guys shooting carbons with 2-300 grains up front I took a 106 grain broadhead some one gave me and put it on the bowhunters. They spined weak again and I realised that Big Jim was right and I was getting a false weak reading.  I kept on putting heavy points in sequence and the flight became dart like at 260 grain heads. As per the spine calculator this was very weak spined but rocks for me.
Then I put the heavy home brews on the AD HH arrows which immediately flew better. Then I experimented with the eskilites on the full length black eagle thinking that the longer length might do well with Less point weight. I was again proven right and got good groups. The Simmons head tied up nicely with the AD HH arrows.

So I think that my requirements will be easily met with the Beman arrows while keeping the pocket book happy.
There was also an issue in which the quill was impacting the rest and throwing the point of aim off.

There is no denying that the axis 300 are the most durable and consistent shafts but they are pricey.

Thanks to all of you who take out the time to write posts and share ideas and experiences. Special shout out to Big Jim for putting in simple words that thick skulls like mine can comprehend.

[McDave]

Enjoyed reading your report.  Here are a couple of observations.

You didn’t mention refletching your own arrows.  When you find an arrow you like, you are apt to shoot it a lot, and fletches do wear out.  I would guess that I typically refletch an arrow 3-4 times before it is broken or lost.

You mentioned that you don’t tune your arrows yourself, but have watched the Black Widow video on tuning.  I would encourage you to tune your own arrows.  It is enjoyable and will result in a better flying arrow than you are likely to get from an arrow chart or calculator.

The exception to this would be if your shooting form is not very good.  It is difficult to get a good result from arrow tuning if your shooting form is not consistent.  But from your post, it seems you have a high level of interest in traditional archery, and certainly should devote the effort to develop good form, if you haven’t already done so.

Are there hunting opportunities where you are in India, and what activities are you doing with your bow?

[acedoc]

Hunting opportunities don't exist but I am gearing and saving up for a hunt overseas.
I am just now tuning my arrows as I only had one arrow setup which was well tuned.
I am trying my level best to get a form and accuracy. I was doing pretty well with the Falcon before limb tips gave way.
I aim to get a setup I can repeat from any archery shop as and when I reach either America or Australia for the hunt.
Preferred quarry is hogs as they are just right for a bow somehow.

At present I just punch foam to get in shape for a hunt whenever I can.

[30coupe]

Nothing wrong with the Bemans. I've been using the ICS Bowhunters for years and nothing I've killed seemed to object. I'd hazard a guess that very few archers could shoot the difference in them and the Axis shafts.

Unlike compound bows, stiffer spine is NOT always better with traditional gear. In fact, I've had the best arrow flight with slightly weak (according to the charts) shafts. I only draw around 27 to 27 1/2" with traditional bows and my creaky old shoulders have me shooting 45# these days, so I like heavy arrows with high FOC or EFOC at around 519 grains and 23% FOC with 500 spine shafts cut to 29".

Hope you get to try your bow on something other than foam one day soon.