Archery

Anyone here into archery, in any form? I've posted some stuff on Bowhunting forums and have gotten some typical responces. I have some technical questions and was looking to see if anyone here is in the know.

I am semi-new to being a serious archer. I know the terminology and the basics about tuning in a compound bow. But I want to get better.

Thanks! I hope someone can chime in.

I took a class and it was tons of fun. Some day I hope to be able to get a left handed recurve so I can get back into it. They're not cheap though.

Why a recurve? Other than the desire for the traditional feel.... I know of many left handed, target style, compounds that can be had for reasonable prices. I even know a guy who shoots a compound with his fingers, rather than a release.

To me, the greatest benefit of a compound is let-off. When I tune my bow to hunting weight (71lbs at 29 inch draw), the 80% let-off means I can hold at full draw for a long time. Let-off is good for you body. LOL

What exactly would you like to know? I'm more of a traditional bowyer but I try to be knowledgeable with even the wheeled ones.

i only shoot a bow for the earlier less pressured hunting seasons (although it is my first reccommendation for people wanting to improve their pistol shooting). i practice w/ a release & fingers. switching to fingers moves my POI 2" right & 3" down at 25M.

I like recurves the best because of an old shoulder injury. A 35 lb recurve is easier to draw and hold long enough to get a good shot off, vs. a 30 lb compound bow which I have to struggle to get past the let off point. And by then my shoulder is seizing up and I can't put the arrow where I want it anyway.

I'll never get to hunt any big game with that kind of draw weight, but could still go for targets and varmint hunting at least.

you're just in the wrong state. in certain states the only requirement is that the bow send the arrow at least 100 yds. at 20yds broadside a 40# recurve will give you a thru & thru on a 100# doe so a 35 could get the job done if you do your part.

OK, thanks. Questions...

1.) What is the advantage of the double cam compound bows that are out there now?

2.) Is brace height something that can be adjusted? My guess is no, at least not easily.

3.) Multi-pin or single pin adjustable sight? What doe you prefer?

4.) Arrow fletching... Right now, when at full draw and aiming, the fletching touches my lips, just under the kisser button. If I move the fletching down an inch, will it effect arrow flight? If so, how and why?


Romy... If you want to hunt and get the archery experience, why not a Crossbow? I know... I know... Some j-holes scoff at people who use them, but, IMO, it is perfectly fine and ethical for a person with a disability/injury to use one. Just don't use any magnifying sights, or rest the X-bow on anything to steady your aim.

Thanks again... Ill have more later probably.

double cams offer more let off and reapply the force of the bow more smoothly

Thanks pops, we might have some deer that would work on. I'm not sure if there's a state regulation on the poundage. I can definitely get close enough though. As kids we used to play this game to see who could get close enough to the deer to slap their rumps while they were sleeping. Probably not the smartest game... :rofl1: I'm pretty sure crossbows are flat out illegal here for hunting though.

Fred Bear impressed the heck out of me with his shooting grouse on the wing with his bow. That would be pretty awesome to work up to.

We only used a single pin sight. It was really basic, just a piece of foam stuck on the bow with a pin in it. Worked really well though.

Dual cam bows are more maintenance intensive and complicated, but they "can" offer a higher level of performance. Think of them as MS Paint and Photoshop. If you don't know how to use the stuff, photoshop is just a bloated MS Paint.

Braced height is the distance between the string and the stave at the grip. Some compound bows offer a bit of adjustability here but you're limited by your cam setup and the limbs in general. The bows that do offer noticeable adjustment without compromise in performance are pricey.

I prefer no pins...but I also prefer to shoot real bows . If you're going to be hunting it's good to have more than one pin...but keep in mind that your pins only help if you can accurately judge distance. I cannot, which is why I prefer to shoot by instinct. When I try to sight by pins I have a tendency to choose the wrong one, which can be a critical mistake when you're trying to bring down a deer.

Post a pic of your in full draw...mainly I would like to see your draw hand. This is hard to explain in text, and it's hard to understand what people are doing just the same.

I sight down the arrow when I sight, and the nock should be in the vicinity of your cheekbone...not your mouth. If you're using a peep-sight then it's not in there quite right or you have some funny form going on.

If you move the nock up or down the string it will very much so tamper with your aim. Lowering the nock on the string will make you should in a higher arch and raising the nock will lower your arch

One time at summer camp..

Lol that is really all I've got! I used to do archery a lot at summer camp and got a ribbon for "MOST IMPROVEMENT"
as in.. first day I was dropping it, second day I figured out how to hold it..then only hit arrows at the ground.. then other people.. then trees..and eventually got it AROUND the target lol

I took an archery class in college and quite enjoyed it. Would practice more if I had a range to do so with. Tried out in my backyard with a small target and a 40# recurve my uncle gave me, but the arrow went through the target (scored a 9 though!) and put a hole in our fence lol. I'll have to wait until I can build a more substantial target in the future.

I reckon one day I'll shoot just for funsies, though. Either target or 3D, or both. And on that same 'one day' I will also craft my own bow, because I've always wanted to for some reason.

I get what you are saying.

But you used a poor analogy. LOL I am in IT and MS Paint is not even close to Photoshop.... Unless a Ferarri and a Pinto are the same to you.


Gotcha. Thanks. I understand what brace height is and how it effects performance. I realized after I sent this post, that this was a silly question.

Yes, I am going back to a multi-pin sight. I decided this after shooting yesterday. I am pretty good at judging distance, which I confirm with a LRF. My original thought on a single pin was that I would be able to see more of the target area.... But what I am finding is I get to focused on that one pin and I aim there no matter the distance. I am going to find a good multi-pin that works vertically.

Guys like you can just 'feel' it I guess. I need all the toys, at least for now. I do have a lot to learn.

Maybe someday I might even try a "real" bow. LOL



Good info about the arrows. I'll ask wifey poo to take those pics tonight.

Thanks!