Finally pulled the trigger on wood shafts

Pat B · January 27, 2014, 11:22:00 PM

Rory,sorry if I came off judgmental. To me wood arrows are archery. There are a few DVDs with step by step instructions on how to build wood arrows. Probably even a build along or 2 in the How To section here on TG. Once you learn the basics the sky is the limit. Cedar, spruce, ash, poplar, cane or hardwood shoot arrows will all shoot where you are looking and kill what you are shooting at if you do your part. It all depends on how deep you want to get into it.
Good luck with your new venture. If you love doing it yourself, you'll love wood arrows.

rwbowman · January 28, 2014, 06:58:00 AM

No offense taken Pat. You're the man! (Seriously)
I got a little antsy yesterday when I got home from work and went ape applying points to all of the shafts. I got several of them adjusted and spinning beautifully and decided to full length bare shaft one of them in the living room (pretty cold outside yesterday). It was hitting where I wanted it, just a little nock high. I went back, chopped a wild turkey cock feather, matched a couple of green hens and fletched it up.
I've been shooting indoor trad 3D league with carbons, so I didn't change my nocking point, but I did take my first cedar with me. (It must have been good luck at least being in my quiver, as I shot my personal best last night). I flung it a few times at ten yards before we got started and eight or ten times after we finished. All I can say is I hope the rest of the shafts fly at least half as well as the first! I think I'm hooked.

rwbowman · January 28, 2014, 02:30:00 PM

With a good bit of help from the gang. What do you think?

Pat B · January 28, 2014, 02:44:00 PM

Those should do the trick, Rory.

rwbowman · February 06, 2014, 07:01:00 AM

What a difference an inch can make. After shooting the rookie batch several times full length, I finally got up the nerve to trim them down for sake of tuning. Initially I thought my form was suffering (have some inconsistency issues from time to time), but I should have known better. I cut an inch off of the arrows yesterday and braved the cold outside to see if there'd be a difference and SWEET! Now we're grouping! I can see where this is going: gonna need a dozen more before the end of the month.

Pat B · February 06, 2014, 07:40:00 AM

Wood arrows are as addictive as wood bows. Are you ready for that Rory? d;^)

Zradix · February 06, 2014, 08:18:00 AM

You're a brave man Rory.

I've never cut an inch off an arrow...not all at once anyway..lol

Wood arrows really make paper tuning shine IMO.

Since wood arrows just aren't as consistent as Al or carbons, I always end up with arrows that are slightly different lengths than the others. ...not much difference, just 1/4"-1/8" typically.

I see much more difference in arrow flight between arrows not perfectly ( as possible) spined than ones that might weigh a few grains more or less.

Paper tuning can be done inside too...only need about 9-10' of space...6' from paper, target back from paper far enough so the arrows get through the paper before hitting the target, and then of course space for the target itself.

rwbowman · February 06, 2014, 01:41:00 PM

Well, I was looking at the spine chart on 3Rivers and remembered I bought them a spine group weak in case I had to tune. I pull my longbow to 47lbs at 27" and prefer 145-150 grain point. According to the chart, at 30" to the BOP, a 55-60 is recommended there, so I bought the 50-55 thinking to leave some room for tinkering. I'm getting ready to make a new string that will fit the Bohning nocks better though. I've got my current string matched to the X-nocks on my Axis Trads and had to add a layer of floss to keep the woods from falling off the string. This after shooting one yesterday and basically dry firing my bow (ouch). I may have to take the plunge and do some paper tuning. I've never done any- always bareshafted with carbon and aluminum, but can see why nearly nobody does that with wood.