Tuning bow

bones · 03-17-2005, 05:43 AM

Do you think every bow hunter should be able to tune their own bow? If so where do I begin?

bones

Bulzeye · 03-17-2005, 11:35 AM

I like tinkering with it myself, but it's not for everybody, certainly not every hunter.

I feel that every bowhunter should know his weapon well enough to recognize when it is not shooting right, and know how to determine if he has good arrow flight. He should be intimately familiar with his trajectory and point of impact at all ranges within his chosen maximum shot distance, and be realistic when choosing that maximum limit.

Wether he chooses to set-up his own bow and fix problems himself, or pay someone else to do it matters not.

If indeed you are interested, start with Easton's Tuning Guide.
Read the whole thing, and then you'll have more questions.
Easton Tuning Guide

newman1 · 03-17-2005, 12:02 PM

I personally would love to know how to tune my bow.Like Bulzeye i love to tinker,I can do some stuff for myself but when i get carried away i usually screw thing up ,and back to the pro shop i go

BGfisher · 03-17-2005, 02:00 PM

Ah yes, but by screwing things up you learn, too. Maybe it's just to keep your paws off what you don't understand, but that's not the answer either.

I'm a tinkerer. Had nine different drop-aways on my bow last year. Playing and playing to get very last fps out of the bow. That's how you learn how it shoots and how it should shoot. And by becoming familar with it you'll know when something is amiss. Bulzeye cover it pretty well.

To that end I can say I've been shooting compounds for over 30 years now. Never have I had one in a shop for anything. I tear them completely apart and then put them back together. Tune, tinker, tinker, and tune some more. I change things on my bow more foten than I change underware---well, almost. Just like yesterday. I changed the drawlength on my bow just to see what results I'd get. I made it 1/2" longer. Let's just say the results were quite ugly. But if I didn't try, how would I ever know for myself?

For you to know your bow is a good thing. As Bulzeye said, Easton's Tuning and Maintenance Guide can be a big help in the right direction.

26drawny · 03-17-2005, 03:25 PM

Well I think that is a good coment and I think I will have to go check that sight out BG. I think you make a valid point that we owe it to the deer and ourselves.. I like that. I will have to teach myself how to tune.. I for one like to tinker with stuff...lol

rybohunter · 03-17-2005, 04:57 PM

I think a person should know how to do the basics. Sight it in and get your b-heads hitting with field points and know when somethign isn't right. Every hunter doesn't have to be able to rip his bow apart and put it back together. I am getting into this tuning myself thing and although it isn't that difficult, I don't really see myself changing stuff and tinkering for no reason.

nodog · 03-17-2005, 07:36 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: BGfisher

Ah yes, but by screwing things up you learn, too. Maybe it's just to keep your paws off what you don't understand, but that's not the answer either.

I'm a tinkerer. Had nine different drop-aways on my bow last year. Playing and playing to get very last fps out of the bow. That's how you learn how it shoots and how it should shoot. And by becoming familar with it you'll know when something is amiss. Bulzeye cover it pretty well.

To that end I can say I've been shooting compounds for over 30 years now. Never have I had one in a shop for anything. I tear them completely apart and then put them back together. Tune, tinker, tinker, and tune some more. I change things on my bow more foten than I change underware---well, almost. Just like yesterday. I changed the drawlength on my bow just to see what results I'd get. I made it 1/2" longer. Let's just say the results were quite ugly. But if I didn't try, how would I ever know for myself?

For you to know your bow is a good thing. As Bulzeye said, Easton's Tuning and Maintenance Guide can be a big help in the right direction.

Dittos to you and your dittos.

BGfisher · 03-17-2005, 07:42 PM

rybo, you make a valid point also. It all comes down to how much do want to learn and for what purpose. My thing is archery, not bowhunting. Bowhunting, at least the act of shooting, is just an extention of what I have been doing all year long. I'm not near as active or competitive as I once was, but I still enjoy shooting just to shoot. It's my main hobby. I know other people have other varied interest and that's good. I have all the fishing gear and other stuff. I also scuba dive. But for those who do want to learn the ins and outs of bow work, I say more power to them. But, as with a lot of things it get addictive for those with a desire to learn something.

BTM · 03-17-2005, 08:19 PM

Another thumbs up for the Easton Tuning Guide.

Bob Ragsdale's site is also excellent. He debunks a lot of commonly accepted myths.

http://www.bowhunting.net/bobragsdale/ragsdale.html

Sniper151 · 03-18-2005, 12:17 AM

Spending time with a more experienced archer can get you off on the right foot. Ask questions and watch him when he is setting up his bow or maybe he will help you set up your bow. Hands on experience will help you learn faster and you can ask questions on why and how as he is helping. You're going to make some mistakes, everyone does, but once you see it done your confidence will grow and so will your skills. One very important thing to remember is to keep a log on your bow. Such things as brace height, top, bottom and center. Rest location, nock set height, peep or kisser location and cam placement. Than if something goes bad or you change cable or string, you will have a reference to set your bow with out hours of trial and error.
Good Hunting...