Ok. First off here's the bow specs:
Bob Lee Signature, Right hand 3 piece take down recurve, 60"- 57# @27". I'm probably pulling 58-59#'s at my draw length. I shoot with a cordovan leather tab.
Everything I throw at it shows way weak (nock left). I've ran Axis 400's with 200 grains up front. Way too weak. This same arrow shoots bare shaft darts out of my 56" 55# @28" ILF set up.
Next up were Axis 340's with 200 grains up front. They showed about the same as the 400's, maybe a touch better.
After that was a CE 250 with 200 grains up front. Still weak. The best result I got was the Axis 340 with 125 grains up front. It still showed weak but was a little better. That arrow only weighed 430 grains! No way I'm doing that!
What gives???!!! I don't have any Axis 300's or I would have tried them too. I need help from all you Bob Lee guys!! I just got this bow today and the darn thing shoots right where I'm looking despite the crappy arrow flight. I don't want to give up on it yet!
Thanks for the help!
Shorten arrow or build strike plate out a touch?
Are you impacting with your fletched shafts and are just simply nock left? Or are you bareshafts impacting to the right of your fletched group completely?
Weak should be an easy fix. Lighten up the tip/build out the strike plate.
My widow is about the same # and length as yours, I ended up going GT velocitys 300 spine cut to 30.5. With 300gr upfront. It came in a tad weak. But keps me in the 10+gpp ballpark. How long are your Arrows?
If you have some heavier field tips(300gr), I would try that first. Be careful of the "false weak".
Use bare shafts.
My bare shafts are generally impacting left of my fletched arrows AND showing nock left. I cut the 340 until I couldn't take any more off and I built out the strike plate to a 1/4". No luck.
This is a nice bow but I'm afraid it does not like me. I've owned and tuned dozens of recurves and longbows and I've never had this issue. I'm going to have to send it on down the road.
I ended with the arrow being 28 1/2" from nock groove to the front cut and weighing 492 grains. not gonna cut it.
for right handed shooter, the bare shafts impacting left of the fletched arrows would normally indicate a stiff arrow.
I have a couple of Palmer recurves that I believe are very close to the Bob Lees. Your bow is probably very efficient. Therefore, it may take a slightly stiffer arrow than other bows. It is probably also cut to or slightly past center. Check string and arrow alignment. Shooting small diameter shafts can move the arrow too close to the center that it paradoxes wrong. Nock fit can also cause huge tuning problems.
My first move would be to build out the strike plate or try a bigger diameter carbon. I would guess that .400 spine with about 150 up front would be close. Good luck!
I'll take another look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow be before I do anything drastic. I just love my Axis arrows. It's going to suck if I can't find away to use them and make my desired arrow weight. Thanks for all the replies!
I have a Bob Lee and they are definitely cut past center. It took me a while to get it right but I did.
Go to Stu's spine calculator and plug it in. I ended up with a 1/8" strike plate. When I worked it out on the spine calculator it was perfect.
Big Bob Lee fan, they are not finicky bows. Mine shoot an assortment of spines.
I don't think you mentioned brace height, a few twist can make a big difference.
I am certain you can find the sweet spot, I agree I would be careful you're not getting a false read.
Agree with redfish also, the I think the BL info plugged into the Stus calculator is spot on
I shoot my 48# bob lee at 27.5 inches with a gold tip 500, 30 inches long with 125 grain points and they fly like darts. I also have a 53# bob lee and it also shoots great. I would call JJ at bob lee bows. I'm sure he wouldn't mind helping out.
I think you're on the border of a .400/.340 depending on your draw length. Are you sure you aren't having any type of form issues or torquing the string or bow?
Tuning can be very frustrating. I have had more than my fair share of tuning frustrations..
Matt X2. Give JJ a call.