shooting trouble

[Grunter]

Not sure why but the last two times out practicing (outdoors) I've had to go searching in the rhubarb for rogue arrows... here's what happens:

Shoot one or two broadheads... things are okay, hitting where they should be for the most part then all of a sudden I get a flyer. Don't understand why, haven't changed my footing, posture, pin sight, angle, etc. and I can't feel that I'm torquing the bow or string but the arrows goes high and left as if I was aiming at a 40-yd target (practicing at 20 yds) and about two feet to the left...

I find the arrow, get setup again, shoot a few and ta-da! Another flyer!

Any suggestions?

[Duggernaut]

It could be:
-an off center insert in that arrow,
-fletching contact on that arrow,
-a drop away rest not acting the same all the time,
-a bent arrow
- a nock not indexed the same as the others,

just to start.
Is it the same arrow that flies off? What kind of rest are you using?

[jackal]

Im betting its your broadheads they are planning in the wind ,I would suspect you are shooting fixbladed broadheads different styles of broadheads take alot more tuning than others.First thing is to make sure your vanes are inline with the baldes of your broadheads that shoould help some .

[Grunter]

Douger - I haven't had the forsight to mark, etc. the problem arrows :loser: but a very good idea! I would just stare in fascination when it happened... lol.

I'm using a Trophy Taker drop-away rest that has been consistent and flawless for the last 4 years, not sure if something different may be the case now?

Jackal - something I've never heard or known until just now... aligning the blades with the vanes! Why didn't I think of that!?! :angry_mad

The broadheads are fixed, NAP Thunderheads. I have been seriously considering getting lighter arrows and broadheads (currently have 400gr. shafts with 125gr. tips) for a little better speed and more flat-shooting. Any recommendations on hunting broadheads?

[jackal]

I use a rocket steelhead its an expandable but im going to give the slicktrick fixbaldes a try this year havent shot them yet but ill let ya know how they work when i do .

[Mikey]

First thing I would do is make sure its the same arrow thats a flier or not .... like Doug says

While not to Argue with Cody i dont beleive that vanes and blades need to be aligned .... I do however firmly beleive that the vanes and blades must be at the same offset angle ... ie: if you fletch up your arrows at 2 degree offset ... then you should pick broadheads with a 2 degree offset ... otherwise your Vanes will fight with the blades

525 is heavy fer sure ... but it depends on what you are hitting and what kinda bow you are using ....
For me for example I use about 425 grains completed arrow weight I pull my Super tec at 67 pounds and I get about 295 or so out of it ...for about 72 (ish) pounds of KE ... Plenty for any North American Game. Like Cody I also use Rocket Steelheads but have in the past used Rocky mountain premeires ... I am gonna give Rockets "Ultimate Steel" a whirl this year

Arrow specs: Easton Epic ST 340 spine cut at 28"
ST insert
100 gr BH
2" Blazer Vanes
X nock

[Grunter]

Thanks for the technical stuff guys, that is certainly a weakness for me in archery... My first attempt to trouble shoot will be to determine if one arrow is the problem. I did check the fletches to see if one was loose, etc. but that wasn't the case.

As far as my current setup goes - I'm using Beman ICS Hunters, 28" but have no idea what the offset is on the fletches... but there is some offset there. I don't think the NAP Thunderheads have any offset to them (at least not visible to me.)

When I tried the chrono last year I was getting a pretty slow speed, around 235 so I'm not sure if that's due to the total weight of my arrows, or the bow... a PSE Bruin Synergy 8 set at 63 lbs.

I'm gonna have to try my field tips too and see if that makes a difference, maybe the broadhead on one of the arrows is the cause too? I dunno.

Sounds like the expandables are popular... never tried them. I will probably stick with the setup I have for this season as I'm used to them and sighted in for that but will be looking for lighter arrows and tips post season.