What are common compound bow accuracys?

PetePala · 11-23-2004, 06:31 AM

I know Im at the low end of the curve - but what is common accuracies among bow hunters from beginner to expert - but all still with a hunting compound bow?

Ive heard "well you have to be able to hit a pie plate at 50 yards"

Whats a pie plate? You mean the tin it comes in or the small plate you get a slice in?

Id be real interested to know how you pros are grouping at what ranges!

Pete

Rangeball · 11-23-2004, 07:18 AM

A good rule of thumb I often see bounced around is an 1" for every 10 yards. So0

10 yards= 1" grouping
20 yards= 2" grouping
30 yards= 3" grouping

That covers the ranges most people shoot at whitetails. If you can consistently keep it within these groups and aim for the right spot to give you the most margin for error in the kill zone, you'll kill alot of deer, novice or pro...

Up to those points, the kill zone on an average whitetail is about 9", so in reality a common pie tin will do, provided you aim correctly. However, that doesn't leave one much room for error, and you should practice until you can at a minimum shoot the above groupings.

BobCo19-65 · 11-23-2004, 07:56 AM

PetePala, welcome. Rangeball hit it pretty much on the head.

If you are new to bowhunting, make sure you know your effective range. My advice is this, know your individual effective range and don't shot at deer sized game past that. I would say that a 3" group is where to start. You may only be able to shoot a 3" group 15 fifteen yards, which would then be your effective range on deer. However, I wouldn't suggest shooting at deer with a bow past 30 yards even if you can shoot a 2" group at or past that range.

Always practice past this effective range however. That is how you will improve your skills.

zak123 · 11-25-2004, 08:29 PM

Accuracy depends on what I am aiming at. If I am shooting from 40 yards at a sheet of white computer paper, I won't get very good groups. Probably about 5". If you stuck a pine cone on the target, then my group would shrink. If you have an aiming point, then you will shoot smaller groups providing you have a constant anchor point, etc.

Bigpapascout · 11-26-2004, 04:55 PM

I can hit a nats rear end at 40 yards

BGfisher · 11-26-2004, 08:03 PM

Ah, the old paper plate theory arises again. Plates are made for eating from, not shooting. You shoot something, cook it, and put it on the plate.

I'm not an expert archer anymore but still hold my own. On average days I can hold 3" to 4" groups at 40 yards. On the good days I can shave that in half. I have a lot of good days. When I shoot 20 or 30 yards I often only shoot one arrow at a bullseye and walk to retrieve it. Just ain't no sense to crashing arrows. Not at $12 apiece.

It's generally accepted in bowhunting circles that 1" for each 10 yards is the benchmark to reach for. And the best way to achieve this is to practice shooting form and forget everything else till that form is very very consistent. Consistency is the key. The bow/arrow combination will drill the same hole every time, whether tuned or not. The only variable is the shooter.

Leverdude · 11-28-2004, 06:47 PM

I usta shoot at dots on a burlap bag filled wth rags. Found with practice 3" groups at 30 yards were not real hard to do pretty regular. Only thing is deer dont come with dots on them, unless theyre real small anyway. I hate to admit it but I stuck a couple last year & almost quit because of it. I hunt with a gun too & never had an issue but I did have a habit of taking out the shoulders. With a gun that worked, with a bow it didnt, not always anyhow.
I bought a 3-D target & practice on that all over my backyard. I have my son move it around & put it at different angles & ranges & lemme tell you, it worked wonders. Took some work on my part but out to 37 yards I can kill a foam deer all day long. Hunting I try to stay under 25 but am confident that 30 or 35 shouldnt be a problem, out that far range estimation becomes my issue. Under 25 I can hold dead on & its in there although at 25 I'm a couple inches low, not enuff to matter but if I shoot at my 3" dots at 25 I need to put my sight on the top of it to hit the bottom, 20 yards dead nuts & 10 yards hold on the bottom & hit just above center.

I also found this helped my gun hunting. I took a nice 170 lb 4 point monday in NY & hit right behind the shoulder for a change. I think its the first deer I ever shot that I didnt destroy at least one shoulder.

Practice on a target face & when you think your ready buy a 3-D target. Bass pro has the riverbottom buck Delta target for I think $59.