Okay, this summer, my neighbor sold me his old Browning Nomad I recurve bow as well as some Microflite 8 arrows tipped with old Bear Razorheads in a cool 8-arrow Bear quiver.  Since my buck tags are currently filled, I thought filling doe tags might be made more interesting by using some of my backup bows, including this one.  Which brings me to my question.

I never noticed this when practicing this summer in my drive, but when it's quiet in the woods I hear a problem.  When I draw back one of these old Microflite arrows, they sound really loud.  Loud enough that on a still day, there's little doubt that a close deer would hear it.  Is this normal?  The hollow shafts appear to be acting like a speaker and taking the sound of drawing the arrow back and amplifying it right out the nock end end of the arrow.  (In other words the friction of the draw seems to be traveling down the shaft to the nock end and making the sound there).  Very peculiar.

This bow has a quiet rug for a rest, and I have tried roughing up the leather arrow plate which has quieted the draw of other bows for me.  But in this case, it appears the arrow is acting as the noisemaker itself.  My hearing is lousy enough that I'm shocked I hear this so easily.  Is this normal for old Microflite arrows?  And is there any cure beside really drawing slow (or lifting the arrow off the rest using my index finger during the draw), or perhaps using the drawing noise to actually stop the animal?

I been shooting Micro-Flites for the last 3 years and never had a problem.

doug77

I shot Microflite out of Hill bows back in the early 80's and never had any trouble.  I was using the plain leather one piece rest/plate that came with the Hill bows.

Like I said, I never noticed it when shooting in the drive, but on these stock still days in the field, it's just weird that I hear this noise when drawing those arrows.  Especially with my limited hearing (though my deficiency is more in the high-range stuff, so this must be a little lower pitched).  

It's a crazy thing, but those of you who have them, I'd ask you to draw them in a very quiet environment and see if you notice it.  I probably am making too much of it.

As a side note, I'm pretty excited about trying to spill some blood with this older set-up.

Bryce:  Micro-flites do have a little texture to them.  Usually they don't create any noise when drawn across the shelf.  Might try a softer strike plate leather, or give the shafts a coat of car wax.

Try taking some 0000 steel wool to them and polish em up. that might do her...

I had been wondering the same thing about the 0000.You could follow up by buffing with a paper towel and rubbing them down with Armorall or similar silicone product.

That is why I never shot aluminum, same thing happened with them for me. I agree that maybe polishing them a bit or using velcro on the strike plate. Fiberglass should be quieter than aluminum at the shot though, so thats a plus. I used to love the old MJ Log fiberglass shafts, heavy and durable, even more so than the micro-flites. Shawn

Could it possibly be the nock on the arrow rubbing against you glove/tab differently than the nocks on your regular setup???  Try drawing with just bare fingers to see if there's any noise.  I shot aluminum for 2 years before switching to Microflites in 1980.  The microflite shafting is several times thicker than the 2117 aluminum shafting I used.  Even though it was hollow, I never had any ringing or other noise from it.

I just checkd some different Micro Flites about 10 to exact in my man cave very quiet. I heard no noise from any of them. I'd try some steel wool on you arrows or change you rest/strike plate.

doug77

Thanks for the ideas guys.  Going to be fun messing with my backup bows in my late seasons with only does on the menu.