Bows not shooting where you look?

[Traddict]

I have a go to bow that I shoot pretty well.  Shot another bow a few days ago, and shot it well, but hit about 6" to the rt at about 18 yards.  Grouped very well with it, but everything to the rt.  Both arrow setups were flying very well.  Is there a way to tune the second bow to hit where I look?  I know you would eventually adjust, but I'm not interested in that.  I would like to be able to pick up either bow and still be on.  Thanks in advance.

[jamesh76]

You need to bareshaft tune the 2nd bow. If you are RT handed and hitting right you are underspined.

[Rob W.]

You can change strike plate thickness but it will make the arrow spine react differently. It usally only takes me a few shots to adjust. If I'm going to switch between longbow and recurve during season I shoot the day before I hunt and a few when I get out of the truck. I also practice only with broadheads when season gets near.

[Night Wing]

I have two 66" Blacktail recurves, but the poundage is different on both of them. They both have the same brace height, shoot the same length arrow, the same point weight, the shelf of both bows are cut 3/16" past center with the side plate thickness being 1/16".

Are both of your bows the same model and length? Are you shooting the same arrow length and point weight? Is your side plate the same thickness? Is your brace height the same?

For a right handed bow where the arrows are consistently shooting to the right, it's a sign of a weak arrow.

Two solutions. One is to lower the point weight. But, if you want to shoot the same point weight, lower the brace height.

[McDave]

Assuming you are a RH shooter, it is possible that the new bow has the shelf cut to or past centershot, and the other bow is not cut in as far.  Many longbows are not cut to centership, while many recurves are cut to or past centershot.

You could build out the sideplate of the new bow until it impacts the same place as the old bow.  This may require you to use a weaker arrow shaft.

To further fine tune, a stiffer side plate, such as leather, will move the arrow impact to the left, while a softer sideplate, such as a rug rest, will move the arrow impact to the right.  But this fine tuning won't make a 6" difference at 18 yards.

If it were me, I would pick the bow I like the best and make the adjustments to the other bow, because the bow will probably perform best the way it was designed.

[Gen273]

+2 on what McDave and Nightwing said.

[joekeith]

It could be brace height.......

[cacciatore]

+3

[Winterhawk1960]

If it were me, I would cut me some shims out of double sided carpet tape. It is much easier to fix my bows that shoot right of where I'm looking. I have a lot harder time correcting the ones that impact left of where I'm looking.

Winterhawk1960

[ishoot4thrills]

Ditto with everyone above!

[Friend]

Great advice has been presented.

Further information may be required in order to narrow down the possibilities.

Are you shooting right or left handed?

You may consider providing the following info:

Previous bow make, shelf cut-out, specs, actual draw and arrow specs. Was this set-up bare shaft tuned?

New bow make, shelf cut-out, specs, actual draw and arrow specs. Was this set-up bare shaft tuned?

The guidance, which the gentlemen have already provided you, comes from years of considerable experience. Confidence in their responses is a very high level and only handicapped since the advice is provided from afar.

Best of luck!!!

[YORNOC]

There is not a bow in the world that can specifically shoot where you personally look. If you find one that does such a thing, set your hooks in it and never let it go. Truth makes "you" adapt to the bow,not the other way. No bow can "know" where you individually look, so you HAVE to adapt....like it or not. They are all different, as are we!

[hvyhitter]

Some bows will just point and shoot better for you than others. Its sometimes a matter of hand and grip fit and alignment. Bows that dont shoot well for me just dont get bought.

[Red Beastmaster]

I have several bows that I shoot in a more or less rotation. Sometimes I will shoot one right on with the first shot, but it usually takes several arrows before my mind makes the adjustment.

Getting all my recurves and longbows to hit where I look could get real crazy real quick. I think I would be mentally making the adjusment before I could physically change the rest.

I look at nothing other than the spot I want to hit. I guess if you used an aiming system of some type it would be possible to make adjustments to the bow.

[Terry Green]

All the bows I own and I have owned shoot where I look but a couple.....due to being cut way past center.  I liked the bows and the way they shot.....so I just built out the side plate so they too shoot where I look.  And I am a right hander.

The ones I am referring to shot the same as yours. ....to the right.  Never shot a bow that shot to the left but a few selfbows.

I think it is very typical for most bows to shoot where you look if you are an avid shooter that has matched equipment .

[Swamp Yankee]

Originally posted by YORNOC:
There is not a bow in the world that can specifically shoot where you personally look. If you find one that does such a thing, set your hooks in it and never let it go. Truth makes "you" adapt to the bow,not the other way. No bow can "know" where you individually look, so you HAVE to adapt....like it or not. They are all different, as are we!

Bingo.  These threads make me crazy.  An untuned arrow may shoot left or right of a tuned arrow; but ultimately it's the grey matter between your ears that determines where that arrow goes.  If a tuned arrow hits right; it's only because you need to aim left.  If shot from a machine, different bows will likely hit different points.  Its all about your brain, not the simple stick and string.

[Bowmania]

Swamp Yankee,  I think your saying that Traddick brain is wrong and his bow is right.  I disagree.  I'm a gapper and had a long bow that I shot for 3 years - at 20 yards it shot 6 inches to the right - great arrow flight BH's shot through paper.  My brain did not adjust.  I finally took a rasp to the bow window and bango it move over the 6 inches with the same great bullet (BH) hole through paper.

My brain is never wrong WHEN IT COMES TO BOWS AND ARROWS, I adjust them to meet my needs.  A "simple stick and string" is easier to adjust than "the grey matter between your ears".

As stated, moving an arrow impact to the left for a RIGHT handed shooter is much easier.  I use a stick match ain if it's too much I cut it in half.

Bowmania

[MT Longbow]

I have figured out that some bows need a bit more or less "Cant" to put the arrow where I want it to go at 30 yards...a little more or less "cant" really made a difference to my shooting....but then again that is on a long bow that is not cut to center so Im not really rotating around the axis of the bow when I change "cant " in the longbow world.

Anyway try it: right for right and left for left...its the quickest adjustment you can make while shooting.

[Terry Green]

Actually I can't imagine having to adjust to every bow I own every time I picked up a different one.  I got a dozen and I can pick them up one shot at a time and they all shoot where I look.  I have demonstrated this many times before for folks showing what matched equipment will do.....along with proper alignment.

I can choose any of my recurves or longbows and go hunt without any 'having to adjust' shots.

I would not own a bow that didn't shoot where I was looking. ....whether I adjusted / tuned it or not.......again, all of.my bows shoot where I look and most  did so 'out of the box'.

If I had a.dozen bows that all shot different places other than where I was looking???....Now THAT would drive me crazy!!!    

[Traddict]

Thanks for all the replies. My goto bow is 1/8 inch before center including side plate. The second bow is cut too or just past center. I don't own the second bow. I was considering buying it, but have no desire to have several bows that I have to adjust to each time.  Sounds like I need to try building the side plate out a little on the second bow. Terry, what you describe is exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks again.