How Can Brass Insert Bend Without Carbon Damage

[cloudbaseracer]

Guys,

I had a bad shot that hit a piece of steel.  It blew the nock out and bent the field tip and also the 100 grain brass insert.  The strange thing is that I fully expected a destroyed arrow or at least the insert shoved back inside.

Any of you guys had this happen before?

I am actually worried that there is something wrong with the shaft even though I have tested it thoroughly.

[motorhead7963]

I have had the exact thing happen to me, I shoot GTs and use the 100grn brass inserts. When it does happen depending on the particular arrow I will generally relegate that one to a practice arrow only, especially if I cant get the insert out. I believe I have 3 currently in my gear box waiting to be reused just not for hunting and a broadhead. I have yet to ruin an arrow when it happens which is generally when I connect on my 3D target leg or some where else it shouldn't go.

[JamesKerr]

I have had it happen but strangely enough it has always been in conjunction with a bent steel broadhead adapter. I have bent 3 or 4 steel broadhead adapter's over the past few years but not damaged the arrow as far as I can tell. I have never had it happen with brass inserts and blunts or field tips or even an aluminum adapter which I am now using. Come to think of it I have bent more steel adapters than anything else with the use of a brass insert. Aluminum adapters, field points, and blunts all have held up fine on hard impacts.

[ChuckC]

I think the type and extent of damage is dependant upon the type of hit.  A straight on solid hit will typically drive the insert back into the shaft and it is toast.  An oblique of angled hit, especially with a long broadhead, or with a point like Hammerheads which stick out to the side quite a bit will typically cause a bend in the head, adapter or insert, with or without shaft damage.

ChuckC

[cloudbaseracer]

I guess what I am asking is how can the shaft flex so much that the brass insert is bent?  This is all within an inch of the front of the shaft.  I cant get the shaft to flex that much in such a short distance. Sure, it will flex over a longer radius but this is crazy!

-James

[old_goat2]

Happens all the time with my N-fused ST Epics, replace the insert and it's back in business.

[MCS]

Big Jim told me to watch for that. It is strange but it does happen.

[BigJim]

I wouldn't worry about the arrow...providing you have determined it was cracked/split.

I too am amazed, but it happens.

BigJim

[cloudbaseracer]

So I looked closer and the arrow is actually cracked....BUT......not on the the front end. It has a small crack at the nock end that goes about an inch or so towards and down one side of a feather.

I guess when the front flexed so much and bent the insert it then transferred that energy to the opposite end?  It threw out the nock and cracked the shaft.

Do you guys know if this can be repaired?  Part of me thinks that it could be epoxied back together? Maybe glue the nock in there with it to make it all one solid piece?

[Bldtrailer]

That is why I foot my carbons on both ends

[motorhead7963]

I would tend to think the arrow slapped something during the incident, especially if it is cracked on the opposite end, now with that said. I have done a repair only once to that particular type of issue, and I would use caution doing so if you do what I did. I cracked one of my arrows on the trailing end and it didn't quite make it to my fletching so I got out some monofilament fishing line and tied/wrapped it round the back end of the arrow and then coated it with the glue of my choice which is Goat tuf glue. I then glued in the nock so there was a lot less chance for the arrow to split upon release. Result was, I shot that particular arrow for another 2 1/2yrs until I robin hooded it and then it was toast.

I have bent several brass inserts with no damage to the shaft. I just pull the insert, check the shaft, and if no cracks, install another insert.

As far as repairing a cracked shaft, I would not. If I was just going to use the arrow for stumping or such (and had the length), I would just cut off the cracked part and refletch. Either that or trash the cracked shaft.

Bisch

[Bldtrailer]

Carbons can split at either end from a hard frontal hit( thus the need for footing and "nock collars)

[Lonehowl]

Yep, I've had it happen twice. Hit a piece of concrete both times. It don't take much to tweak brass.
Mark