I was out stumping just a little bit ago. I was shooting rather well, which made my day. Suddenly, a chipmunk stood his ground, barking his warning. I felt threatened. I was scared. I took the shot, and hit high, right above his head. Sparks flew, the chipmunk ran, I smiled.
Anyway, as soon as I found my arrow, I gave it a quick once over, flexed it and commenced shooting at any unsuspecting stump or leaf. The second shot I heard the smallest little tic. It hit true, and a clover flower gave up the ghost.
I immediately checked the bow(a new to me Kerner I havent shot nearly enough). Glad to say, it was fine, not a mark. String seemed fine. Must have been the arrow...
Upon retreiving my arrow, I checked it AGAIN. Nothing...then I noticed a small spot where the wrap was scuffed. Flexed that end, I almost broke the arrow...
To say I was mortified is an understatement. I cannot imagine what would have happened if that arrow blew apart at full draw or release. Bow damage...bodily damage...
The archery gods smiled on me, the fool, today. Make sure you inspect your arrows after EACH shot...closely.
Working on the pics...
A normal arrow...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w29/ishiwannabe/100_2341.jpg)
After I helped it break completely...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w29/ishiwannabe/100_2342.jpg)
What brand is it?
I've been horsing around with some CX Heritage and missed - newbie here! - and they haven't blown up.
I actually missed once and it went past the target - I only missed by 1 or 2 inches, I promise :D - it bounced off the ground and under a boat trailer. I heart the arrow point hit metal, and dug itself in the dirt behind the trailer.
Shot them afterwards with no issues.
Maybe you had a dud?
I'm no engineer, but I believe structural integrity is key in materials like carbon. It's rigidity could become a disadvantage if minute fractures are present. But like I said, I'm no engineer.
It isnt the fault of the manufacturer at all...It was a shot into a rock wall containing a agitated ground grizzly.
Im simply stating that you(we) should be sure to check all the arrows after each shot.
For the record, it is/was a carbon express rebel 45/60. I shot the Muzzy with these arrows last year, then hunted with them and have shot them numerous times since. These arrows could all get busted tomorrow and I will have gotten A LOT of use from them.
It was meant in no way to bash CE. I was bashing me for being complacent.
Yep I use wraps too and the fact that they can hide damage to an arrow is a little unnerving. Glad you caught it before the big breakup.
Just have to check them every once in a while, have had them break both with stick and wheels. Stick nothing happened, wheels bow went to pieces and put a grapefruit sized knott on my arm. Happens a lot when you are shooting tight groups and whacking them together.
I had no intention on pinning it on the manufacturer. But there is always a chance of having a flaw in the shaft. And let's face it, whatever happens to it, ultimately we are responsible for it, with all the physical stresses exerted on arrow shafts. Eventually they all will fail, but some sooner than others.
right on ish.
Had one blow up on me last week. Just a minor cut on my arm, it also was in the wrap. Arrow looked fine.
When I flex mine I to it in three places:
Grab the ends to flex the middle.
Grab the point and about 8 inches back of the point and flex.
Grab the nock and just in front of the feathers and flex.
I have had a few nock end catastrophies where the nock end partially cracked, almost a de-lamination. I want to see if I can come up with some pin nocks or something for these CE Heritage shafts.
With my compound I shot ACC and their nock bushings saved many arrows from super hard hits. I know CE makes a bushing that goes on the nock end, I need to see if they fit my CE 250's.
Glad you are safe. Busting an arrow on anything other than a successful harvest always feels like I lost an old friend!
Now that's frightening...
What could have happened is the scary part...
yep, same thing has happened to me a time or two in the past.
I have gotten in the habit of always picking up my arrow and flexing it before shooting again when i'm out stumping.
btw, the last one i broke, was an aluminum footed carbon 400, when i picked it up and flexed it, it just snapped right in half about three inches below the fletching.
Its a good idea to check your arrows, no matter what kind you shoot. A aluminum arrow or cedar arrow can come apart, too...also a good idea to check your arrow nocks for cracks...never had an arrow blow up on release, but have had a nock or two blow up...not a fun experience...Glad you caught that one...
David
Jamie, I had a bow come apart due to a arrow broken under the wrap area. Thank goodness you discovered the break before more things broke. Ed
yip i check my arrows after every shot when out stumping
I'm thinking that as mentioned... Checking an arrow front, center and back after each shot is a GREAT IDEA! During stump shootin' or a missed 3D target for sure.
... mike ...
Jamie, I am a newbie to carbons and use a wrap too. I have been shooting my arrows into grass in the yard and into the air at aerial disk targets and never checked them after the shot. The only time I check is if I heard one hit something. I did not realize how important it was to check and how to check a carbon arrow. You probably just saved me from a feature accident. Thanks for posting your experience. Brian
I was shooting a carbon express with one of those G5 small game points and the impact of the grass in my yard caused the arrow to break right behind the insert. I couldn't believe they were that fragile. I have some axis 400s and 500s, footed on both ends and have never broken one. The only one to break was done by a buck which took off on it's mad dash with the broadhead end sticking out about six inches.
I always had people tell me about carbon arrows blowing up on a shot but I had it happen with a Cedar arrow. I also flex every arrow.