Should I see Improvement with Custom Arrows?

[bad arrow]

I have never shot a custom arrow in my life. Been trad. target shooting off and on for over 15yrs. I've always made my own and I'd like to stay with wood. I order bare POC that are matched to my 55# bow, stain, seal and RW helical fletch. My arrows hit the plate 80% of the time @ 20yds. but I'm wondering about the other 20% that miss. Seems I'm not getting really any better and wondering if the inconsistancies are more a result of the arrow and not shooting technique. Would it pay me to spend some big money(relatively speaking) for a dozen custom arrows just to maybe see? I don't have a $1000 allowance  :D   , Thanks.... Phil

[Mr Green 740]

One word for you. CARBON.

[jarhead_hunter]

I would suggest you try either Surewood Douglas Fir shafts or Hildebrandt Sitka Spruce shafts.

These fir and spruce shafts seem to be of a higher quality than most of the POC available these days.

Charles.

[bad arrow]

Also,I've culled the arrows that aren't hitting the plate and have found that those arrows will maybe hit next go around. Wondering if its still a "bad arrow" but just got lucky shooting it again?....Phil

[Bjorn]

Carbon is good but good arrow is a good arrow regardless of material, and a crappy arrow........well you can guess the rest.
Do you bareshaft or paper tune to check?? Fletching hides a multitude of sins.

[bad arrow]

Bareshaft and paper who??? ...Phil

[Bjorn]

Do a couple of searches here arrows need to be tuned to the bow whther they are carbon, alu or wood.

[Kip l Hoffman]

If y ou are hitting a paper plate at 20 yards 80% of th time you are scoring at minimum a 252 on the NFA standard 20 yard target.  the 5 ring is 3" in diameter.  The 4 ring is 9" in diameter. I am giving you 24 arrows in the 5, 24 arrows in the 4 ring and 12 arrows in the 3 ring.  That is some pretty salty shooting.  What you need to do is carefully mark and then start culling arrows that don't hit 4 ring or better.  Just note which arrows miss and if you atart to see a pattern after 10 misses with the same arrow it is safe to determine that the arrow for some reason is not a match.  I did this back when i was shooting alot of woodies and even though they claim to all be the same spine and the same weight, there can still be differneces in the shafts.  When you do get your 12 arrows all shooting 4's or better your confidence level will go up dramatically.  And confidence is the biggest single factor to good shooting.

[bad arrow]

Sounds like my arrow making knowledge (especialy the nomenclature) needs to expand a bit. A bit more time at the bale would'nt hurt either    ....Phil

[bawana bowman]

This may sound bad, But not intended to, how big is the plate?
If shooting a 9" plate at 20 yards and only hitting 80% then I would call it more form error than faulty arrow.
Try this, when you release arrow "do not" move your bow arm until after the arrow strikes the target.
I'll bet even those bad arrows will drastically improve.
Unless an arrow is way under or over spine, or your nock point is not right, I just can't see the arrow missing a 9" target 20% of the time without human error involved. Not at 20 yards.
Do yourself a favor check out this link to OL Adcocks bow tuning guide.
 http://bowmaker.net/index2.htm

[bad arrow]

Bjorn, sorry if I came across as curt and smart alecky. I thought at first when you asked, papertuning and bareshafting was a way to check for straightness and was too embarrassed to ask. So my next question is, whats a good spine tolerance(?) +/- pds. on a batch of woodshafts? Phil

[Stumpkiller]

Short answer is "yes", custom arrows vs. what we used to call "barrel arrows" (as in, "arrers are over there in thet barrel fer 69¢ each") will be noticably better.  BUT, a bad bow set-up will throw good and bad arrow poorly.

I enjoy making up cedar arrows and am willing to sacrifice some accuracy because I like everything about cedar arrows.  Just my odd tastes.  

By shooting bare shafts (points, but no fletch) at a piece of paper hung in a frame and observing the shape of the tears you can tune the bow.  You can do the same, mostly, shooting at a target from a short distance and seeing how the nocks align with eth tips.

[bad arrow]

It looks like a great link bawana bowman. I'll definately give it a good read.... Phil

[bad arrow]

Just want to reiterate,"I target shot off and on". Mainly off. Just getting back into it after laying off for several years. I know my technique needs work. Joining this forum I'm realizing I was developing some bad shooting habits. But I also realize my equipment needs tuning also. Just kinda wanting to start getting into it a little more seriously this time. Thanks all.....Phil

[arrowslinger22]

JMHO, but until you know your form is good and consistently so, I would not worry about your arrows any more than making sure spine is right.  Work on one thing at a time and get it right, then move to the next.

Or just shoot and have fun, that's what I do.

[trad_bowhunter1965]

Originally posted by Bjorn:
Do a couple of searches here arrows need to be tuned to the bow whther they are carbon, alu or wood.

DITTO

[lpcjon2]

I would say check your form and tuning set up first. And if those 20% are the bad hits after you shot the 80% first ,it's you and loos of focus after many shots.Any arrow(mostly) can be tuned with the bow to hit a pie plate.$120.00 carbons or aluminum will not make you shoot any better(maybe if you use wheels) I shoot wood only and I make my own and as long as I focus and make them tuned to the bow I hit the mark.In trad it's you almost always then the gear.JMHO

[Steve Clandinin]

Some real good info for you here.I've shot cedars for 45 years and even though you think they're matched there could be alot of variances.Do you have a spine tester and grain scale ? and do you make sure they are dead straight? Plus what others have said the actual shooting process.Overall arrow weight plus added FOC weight can make a huge differance.
After so many years of shooting I make my arrows for me amd MY set-up and know what works for me.You'll get it ! besides this is what all the funs about.LOL

[mike g]

Threrea a differance between Custom arrows and Matched arrows....
   Make sure your Arrows are Matched Spine and weight....A Custom fancy paint job will not make them shoot any better.
   Work on your form and follow thru....
Then again, there nothing wrong with having a nice set of Custom Arrows they make ya feel better....
   Besides form, there is confidence, if you think your the best shot, you will be....If you think miss, you will....

[Huntschool]

Bad Arrow:

Where are you in KY?