Spine too weak or stiff?

[northland archer]

I know this topic has been covered a lot, even did a search.  Here are my specifics Sheapeater Spirit, 53@ 28" (i shoot close to 29). I am shooting wood arrows 11/32 60-65 with 125grns.  There is no rest, small narrow riser shot off my hand, my arrows are hitting pretty much where i am looking however the nocks are ending up pointing to the left.  Oh ya, i am left handed.  I am really determined to get this bow shooting the best is can.  Thanks much for any input.

[Elk whisperer]

had the same trouble I was to weak

[moebow]

northland,  Need more info.  Dacron string?  From what you say, I'm guessing a little stiff.  Have you got any 160 grain points to try??

Where are you? I'm in Grand Rapids and might be able to help.  Throw me a PM.

[northland archer]

I will try a heavier point, the string is a modern ff string.  
moebow, i am in Owatonna

[George D. Stout]

The majority of shooters start with arrows that are too stiff for most longbows.

[pdk25]

Sounds stiff to me, but it is real simple to find out by changing point weight.

[moebow]

South/northland :>) Sorry, thought you were in the "north"  Oh well, I don't get that far south too often.  Try the heavier points then we can go from there.

[Jim Curlee]

I don't know anything about the Sheepeater bows, but if they have no shelf, the arrow has to bend around the bow. This is called the archers paradox.
I have found with self bows, that I have to shoot arrows 7-10 lbs under the weight of the bow.
Jim

[northland archer]

I will give it a try.  Moebow, i use to live in Duluth.  Still spend a lot of time there.
Thanks for the help all.

[Roconman]

I have the exact same bow as you except mine is 50 @ 28.I had a lot of tuneing problems when I first got mine, I'm sure because of it being non-center shot. All the arrows I tried showed weak even some 80/85 shafts that I had. Here are a few things that I did that helped a bunch.First I replaced the FF string with B50,next I raised the brace height to 8",Bret recomends 7 1/4.I asked him about this and he says it is no problem.It was also much quiter.I ended up using 40/45 cedars and 2018 Eastons, I never could get carbons to shoot out of it.I really love this bow but it had me pulling my hair out when I first got it.If I had it to do over again I would have got the cut in shelf I'm sure it would have been much more easy to tune.Dan

[hayslope]

For a Southpaw, that sounds stiff to me.

[moebow]

WOW!!! Roconman,  What's your set up for the 2018s?  They spine to about 70# compared to your 40-45 cedars.  Just wondering.  I can only get 2018s to fly well with 60# plus longbows and those with a cut out shelf.

[Roconman]

Moebow, My 2018 are full length with 175 gr.points.the cedars are cut to 28 1/2 with 125 gr.points. I have had good luck with high FOC 2018s in lighter bows I bare shaft tune and have quite a collection of shafts,with much expermenting these gave me the best arrow flight.

[moebow]

Thanks Roconman.  That explains it.  I'm old and still like 125 or maybe 145 grain points the best.  Haven't played with that extreme of a set up on my bows.

[DV of WI]

I've got the same question. Shooting my selfbow last weekend in Mankato 10 deg. Brought everything form inside to outside for the first 15 min. shot fine then started to get some bad nock location. How does the cold efftect the spine? I would think the colder it is the stiffer the spine but not sure. I have yet to test the theory? Were you shooting indoors or out?