Bare Shaft Testing

[AlbertaHunter]

When bare shaft testing should the arrow go into the target perfectly straight? My bare shafts group with my fletched ones but they ALWAYS go it know high, when I move the nock down they go in left and dont group with the fletched ones. Also when bare shaft testing is it important to hold the bow vertical?

[Don Stokes]

AlbertaHunter, much depends on how far you are from the target. If you do it at close range like I do, the results you state mean the arrow needs to be a little stiffer. Having the nocking point too high allows a weaker shaft to shoot straight in by robbing some energy from the arrow.

I always cant my bows, whether bare-shafting or not. I would recommend tuning the same way that you plan to shoot the bow in the field.

[McDave]

If you shoot bare shafts with a canted bow, as Don suggests, then just do a mental adjustment for the amount of cant.  If you're shooting with the bow canted to 1:00, then an arrow inclined toward 1:00 would be "nock-high," and not "nock-high right."

I prefer a little nock-high when I bare shaft rather than perfectly straight, as the fletches easily and consistently correct a little nock-high, and there is less likelihood of any bounce off the arrow shelf.

[cbCrow]

You know there are sooo many variables when you bareshaft, such as release, target material and density, bow arm, etc,I don't really bother with it. Since there are much easier ways to get good, acceptable arrow flight that is what I choose. I have basically used paper testing since I started shooting many years ago and in the last 2 years been using Stu Millers DSC and paper testing to get excellent results. I find the DSC is right on 99.5% of the time and usually only have to worry with nock height. I have always used the kiss principle when it comes to archery and believe if it works don't fix it. This just my thoughts as I would rather use my time to shoot than getting perfecto arrow flight.

[Don Stokes]

If you're hunting with broadheads, nothing less than perfect arrow flight is acceptable. I'm trying not to mention "irresponsible".

[cbCrow]

I could not agree more. I paper tune starting at10',than go to 10,15,20yds. and make sure I have a perfect "y" shape tear in the paper. Than I spin test my BH's to make sure of them. Than shoot 2bh,2fp at a  5" piece of cardboard to make sure they are hitting out to 20yds. My equipment has never failed me if I do my part it does what it is designed to do. I'm trying not to mention the word"irresponsible" to. Every one knows what it means to aSSume and I won't play.              

I don't paper tune; never could pull it off.  I thought the standard was to paper tune at 6 or 7 feet.  Curious... what good would it do to paper tune at 10 to 20 yards?  I'd think any arrow should straighten out by 10 yards.

[AlbertaHunter]

Thanks for all the help guys

[cbCrow]

Good question Jim. I really don't believe in archery that standards are cast in stone due to the fact of so many variables. So when I said 10' it was because my walking stride is 32" toe to heel and basically I just walk from the target 2-3steps to begin, so lets rephrase " starting at 5-10', because you are correct in what is stated. I shoot at those other distances because if you shoot enough arrows into paper ther you will start to get a feel of trajectory as you tears will start to look different. That is basically the only reason and plus the fact the arrow with yellow fletching really shows up good against the light brown paper and that to me is what archery is all about the flight of an arrow.